Davina didn't go to the office on Tuesday. She had gotten up after a long night of memorizing material, and that day she didn't sleep in. When she woke up though, and read through some emails and texts that were actually directed to her rather than work related, she realized that there wouldn't have been much work getting done.
She had gotten Kol's blessing, he had actually suggested it the night before, but she told Josh she had a cold.
She hadn't actually discussed the matter of revealing their situation to friends, but since he wasn't revealing to family she assumed the answer would be a no. It made sense, might as well keep the secret close, but she felt horrible lying to her best friend.
After waking up and making her decision to stay home she quizzed herself on their basic facts. While drinking her morning cup of coffee, or two, she looked at a little fact sheet she had made. It seemed like a burn after reading kind of thing, and out of her paranoia she had written it by hand, but it helped. It gave the simple facts of Kol and Davina's apparent whirlwind secret romance, and also some facts about her new fiance. His favorite color was red, though she wasn't too sure when she would need to know that. She just liked the idea of having a very solid story, and random facts cement that.
When she moved onto packing her bags she realized a challenge she faced. It was understandably less worrying than the illegal one she was facing, but it was something notable.
She was not quite sure what clothes would be appropriate to wear. She had dresses that weren't work suited, but they were all pretty casual. She wasn't sure if jeans would cut it either. Then there was the matter of Esther's actual birthday event, and she was sure she had nothing that would be nice enough for that.
So with a sigh she grabbed her phone. She didn't have any female friends to call on the matter and Josh wouldn't know nor should she have been talking to him. She planned on calling him when she was out of the country and wouldn't have the time to explain herself. Her excuse would be her lack of minutes for international calling.
She figured she would call the person who was putting her in the situation in the first place.
"Kol, if you don't call me back I swear to god I-"
He shut off the message before Rebekah could continue on. He suspected it would be a rather empty threat, though he would be one of the first to admit his sister had initative on such matters. He didn't think she would do anything crazy over the ring drama though. He didn't feel like explaining things over the phone where there could be miscommunication. Also, he needed to review the facts a little more first.
Before he could move onto matters regarding his faux engagement he had to finish up some business. He had a few hours before he had to return home, pack, and pick up Davina for the flight. He had to email a novelist about their lack of writing, which put their standing with the publishing company. He was sure he was going to get flack from his agent, which meant he was going to be on the phone for the rest of his time at the office.
The only redeeming part of the day was that everyone in the office had gone back to being terrified of him. After what had happened their curiosity was peaked, sure, but that didn't last long. He came into the office with a look on his face that said he was out for blood. That may have not been true, he was actually not all that angry, but that was his default look when preparing to visit with his family.
The only person who kept looking at him was Josh Rosza. Looking back he remembered that Davina was always going over to him throughout the day. It then hit him that he was probably the Josh that Davina was referring to earlier. So he chalked it up to him wanting to know what was going on, only his interest was more personal than nosy.
He heard a buzzing from his phone, and ignored it until he looked down to his cell to see who was actually calling him. He figured it was Rebekah, but it was actually Davina.
"Hello..." he greeted, not sure why she would be calling him. She had decided staying home would be best, and he more than agreed, but he wasn't sure what pressing issue had come up.
"How formal is this all going to be?" she asked, and he heard rustling in the background.
"This all?" he repeated.
"You know the trip, your mom's birthday," she clarified, "all that." She felt a bit daft asking when there were more pressing issues, like memorizing a false part of her life, but she didn't want to look out of place. She was sure there would be enough attention on her already.
"Mother's birthday will probably be black tie," he started, not sure if there was anything else notable. "Just wear a nice dress," he suggested, and she responded with an annoyed huff. His brow rose, though he knew she couldn't see him. It was interesting how quickly Davina had forgone pleasantries.
"I don't think I have a dress nice enough for that," she explained, and the sound of hangers clinking resonated through the phone.
"As long as it's long and looks somewhat formal you'll be fine."
"You underestimate my closet," she countered, and the clicking stopped as she signaled defeat.
"Then buy one and I'll pay you back," he said, and Davina wasn't quick on taking the offer. "Don't let your pride get in the way, it was in our terms," he reminded, and he remembered for himself that was what sprung them into the wedding conversation.
"Do I have a budget?" she asked, and she abandoned her half filled suitcase and went to grab her purse. Davina had lost a lot of her pride in the last twenty four hours anyway. She was scheming to get a promotion, and bribing to get her friend's book in front of the eyes of an editor. In her defense both of those things should've happened long before they would, so she could tell herself she was just doing what needed to be done.
Getting an expensive dress was apparently also what needed to be done.
"Don't go crazy," he warned, "I've heard Rebekah's husband complain about some of the things she buys." His sister did buy most of her own stuff, but Stefan still saw the bills. His family was well off but the Mikaelsons were a breed of their own.
"Is going crazy five hundred?" she guessed, and Kol laughed. It was a quick disbelieving laugh that assured her that she was wrong.
He started to say something that would've been a number, but then he saw that someone important was calling. That someone important being his mother. "Davina, I have to go, just don't spend all of my money," he blurted, ending the call with her to grab his company phone. His mother rarely called him out of the blue, usually she just sent long emails if she was feeling maternal, and she would be too busy planning for her birthday events to take the time for a check up call.
As he grabbed the phone he knew exactly why Esther was calling him. He was sure he had a bitter and curious Rebekah to thank for it.
"Mother!" he exclaimed, hoping putting a smile on his face would somehow resonate through the phone. He never resented her in the way he did his father, but she had a very hot and cold attitude towards her children. Esther Mikaelson loved her children, but the nannies they grew up with raised them. When a death rocked the family she tried to make more of an effort with her kids, cherish the time with them, but she struggled with it. She flitted in and out of their as it suited her conscience, and she meant well but she didn't know how to follow through.
"Kol," she greeted, "how are you doing today?" She was ever the courteous society lady. If their grandmother was alive she would've been proud.
"Wonderful," he replied, and as always he hoped she wouldn't pick up on the sarcasm. He paused, waiting for a response that never came. He withheld a sigh as he went on to ask, "and how are you?" Maybe she did hear the smile in his voice earlier because he could've sworn that he heard hers.
"Well it would be just that much better if what your sister told me was true."
"You know better than to trust-" he was cut off before he could make a comment on his sister's reliability.
"She says that you purchased something from Harry Winston yesterday," she informed him, and technically Rebekah could've wrong. He simply visited the store and to the public he left with nothing, although in truth she was right. "She was thinking you bought a ring, because that's where her mind goes when you mention jewelers," she said, "but I didn't want to jump to conclusions."
Kol said nothing in response. This prompted Esther to say a simple, "so?"
"So what?" he ask, and if she had been in front of him it would be through gritted teeth. His voice was dripping with false sincerity.
"Did you buy a ring? Even if it's a necklace I'd love to know who for."
If Kol ever went out and a necklace for someone he'd love to know who for as well. Buying someone a necklace that cost as much as a modest home never seemed romantic to him, it just seemed frivolous. He had yet to perform a romantic gesture in his life, and he doubted the day would ever come, but it wouldn't be through an expensive necklace. He would hope his mother would know him well enough to draw her own conclusions, but he had to admit that no one really know his romantic habits, not even himself if he was entirely honest.
Kol had been stuck in the cooties stage as a child, and as a teenager he was aware that girls were pretty but never found one he actually wanted to spend time with. Rebekah was sure that he was a gay for a period of time, but he quickly went onto proving her wrong. He discovered casual sex and he stuck with it rather than getting involved in relationships. He always told a dismayed Rebekah that he wasn't opposed to the idea of a relationship, he just never found anyone he wanted to be in one with.
She had told him he was just afraid of commitment. He replied by telling her he'd never experienced it so he had nothing to be afraid of.
"Bex was right this once," Kol said simply, releasing the shock of the century. Or maybe just year. He was sure people expected that he would settle down eventually, just not anytime soon. "I was buying an engagement ring," he confirmed, and he was surprised he didn't hear a shout on Esther's end from Rebekah. She was already in London, and at their parent's house most likely. She was probably lurking around somewhere.
"What's her name?" The shock was present in his mother's voice, even if she tried to conceal it. Through her surprise she was still prying through. Esther was moving onto investigating who he had chosen to marry.
"Davina Claire," he said, and her name rolled off his tongue easily. He knew that his mother wouldn't recognize her, so it was only a matter of time until they reached the question of her employment. In an effort to avoid that topic he skipped to more relevant matters. "She'll be coming with me to to London," he added, "we were going to announce our engagement tomorrow."
"Oh, then I'll keep it under wraps until then." That begged of question of how quickly and was planning on spreading the news initially.
"You can go ahead and tell Rebekah," he told her in a small act of defeat. Might as well let her have knowledge of a fake engagement this time, because you never know what information she'll want to get out of you another time.
"I am looking forward to meeting your fiancé," she said and Kol was sure she would be using the 'f' word often. His reasoning having two parts. One being that it kept reminding her that her formerly wild son had officially calmed down. Two being that she didn't want to call Davina by the wrong name, and she was probably unsure what it was after just one time hearing it.
She said her goodbyes and Kol was left to go back to work. He found it was hard when your personal life seems to require your full attention. He tried to keep things simple in regards to the personal since he settled into his position as editor. The looming possibility of deportation was proving itself to be a natural energizer.
So while Kol was trying to get work done, Davina was on a bit of a mission herself. She was on a hunt to buy a dress. One to help make a good impression on her future, temporary, in laws.
Davina didn't lack good taste, she just wasn't able to buy the larger scale items before. Therefore she felt out of place at the large department store.
Though her budget of five hundred was apparently laughable she tried to stay closer to what seemed to be the cheaper section. The clothing was still way out of her normal price range, but the dresses didn't boast completely absurd price tags. With a look down at what appeared to be perfectly simple red dress she adjusted a previous thought. They didn't have completely absurd prices if you looked at them through the lease of the wealthy.
Which she was trying and failing to do.
A sales attendant was hovering near her as she picked dresses to try on. When she first approached Davina she seemed to be ready to say a repetitious yet upbeat inquiry about her shopping, but then she saw the ring on her finger. Then she took more of a personal interest.
"There's an Alice + Olivia dress in the back that would just be perfect with your stature," she had told her earlier. That was an awkward way of telling Davina they had a good petite dress in stock. She told her to add it to her growing selection of dresses in her dressing room.
When Davina started trying on the gowns she found that a simple yet classic white one fit her criteria. It also wouldn't alarm her credit card company while she got money back from Kol. A stubborn fear stopped her from buying it though. As she took a final look in the mirror she lingered on the idea of it being tacky for someone newly engaged to wear a white gown. That was the end of the white dress, may it rest in piece (and have found a nice owner).
She ended up with a flowy dark red dress, one which probably would be a bit of an alarm to her credit card company. She would have to be ready to confirm on her cell phone she was actually the one making the purchase, not some fraud with a high end taste. It fit her well though, and seemed to fit google's description of a black tie event gown.
The only issue remaining was how to get it to London without any wrinkles or wear.
"No private plane?" Davina teased, "I'm slightly offended." Kol shook her head, and pulled his suitcase through the crowded airport.
"The Mikaelson plane is being used at the moment," he replied. "We we'll just have to slum it in first class like barbarians," he added, and Davina let out a lighthearted laugh. She knew from booking his flights before that he was familiar with commercial air travel. She also knew he had abused his family's personal plane in the past, and that's why for business and family trips he had to ditch the private airfare.
"Well at least I know you wouldn't relegate me to coach," she said, and there sounded as if there was a warning in her voice.
"Wouldn't dare, Davina Claire," he mumbled, looking slightly amused by his rhyme. They had plenty of time before their plane boarded so they were taking their time getting to their gate. Bag check had taken some time due to their surplus of baggage, including her red gown which she found out could be folded up, just if done with care. As they walked through the airport they had very little to carry, which made navigation easy.
Kol didn't mind travel, he found it rather relaxing had traveled so much and from such a young age that it seemed second nature. He admitted hopping on a private plane was easier than the long process of commercial flying, but he liked airports. Everyone had somewhere to go.
His current travel companion seemed to have other views. She had been joking with nervous laughing ever since they set foot in the airport. For a moment he wondered if she was trying to sneak something through security because she was acting so suspicious. Even her travel shampoo bottles were up to regulation though, and her nervousness revealed itself to be a fear of flying.
"I don't think I'll need these," she declared as she returned from one of the magazine carts, swinging a plastic bag weighed down by numerous newspapers and magazines. "But if for some reason I can't sleep I'll be busy."
The point of the overnight flights were to sleep, but Kol refrained from reminding her of that. The late night flight worked with the time zone change so they arrived in London bright and early. If she wasn't able to sleep he hoped she was ready to ingest a lot of caffeine.
Though if her morning coffee history was any indication she would be up to the task.
"How many times have you actually been on a plane?" He blurted, and the question came out ruder than intended.
Davina's optimistic and excitable look faded away she sat down at the table across from him. She didn't want to get into a conversation about her disdain for flying. She wouldn't call it a fear, more a hatred rooted in fear.
"Three," she answered. First time was flying up to New York, which she experienced in her twenties. She hated the sensation of flying then, which is why she dreaded the round trip visit back to New Orleans and back a year later. It wasn't entirely why she hasn't been back to her hometown since, but sometimes she told herself that excuse to avoid the real reason.
Kol had a look of disbelief etched onto his face, and with a sigh Davina gave a short rationale.
"I never really left my hometown growing up," she explained, "and if I did it was a quick road trip to somewhere nearby. Didn't have a need for flying until I got needed to get here."
"And you're from Louisiana right?" He checked, and she recognized the attempt to review his knowledge.
"That is correct." She settled into her chair, taking a quick glance at her phone for a check on time. They needed to make their way over to the gate soon. After a moment of silence fell upon them she added, "I promise I'm not too bad of a flyer to be around though, I just internalize it."
"Well that sounds like an awful experience," he commented, "internalizing all your fear."
"Well I wouldn't call it fear," she argued, "more of an inexperience."
Forty minutes later when they were seated on the plane Kol learned it was the former. Davina was seated next to him and had insisted on the window seat. He didn't have a preference, since they were rows of two, but he realized she may have not chosen the right seat.
When you the plane started to move and visibly tensed, and after a while ten seconds of looking after ground out the window she shut the window. Then sat looking so incredibly uncomfortable for the next ten minutes. When the plane started to take off she looked like she was about to collapse into herself. Kol didn't say anything because she looked so guarded and he was afraid if he said anything she would flinch.
"Is your girlfriend okay?" the man from across the aisle asked when the plane leveled out in the night sky.
"Fiancé," he automatically corrected, not thinking twice, which made him pause. "She's just a nervous flyer," he said, and he glanced as she focused all her attention on the chair in front of her.
Kol grabbed the plastic bag she had placed under their feet, and handed her a newspaper. It was the least abruptive way he came up with to get her to snap out of whatever she was in.
"I am just not a good flyer," she muttered, giving him a small smile which she meant to be reassuring. Her hands clutched into the newspaper and refocused her attention onto something actually productive.
It wasn't until the flight attendants came around that he stirred her from her state of mind again. She didn't hear him ordering it, so when he handed her plastic glassware , better described as a cup, filled with wine she gave him a questioning look.
"It'll go faster if you're asleep, and I figured red wine, even bad wine, would help," he told her, and she hesitantly took it from him.
"I'm not much a drinker." He could've guessed that much from her small frame. Before he could even try to push the idea of the wine to her further she tipped the cup back and downed it. She handed him the cup without word and he tucked it into the seat pocket. "Okay, I'll try to sleep," she promised him, although the wine probably wouldn't kick in for another few minutes. So the result was her with her eyes squeezed shut as she laid back in her seat.
Kol wasn't sure when, or if, she had gone to bed because before he knew it he was dozing off himself. When he woke up several hours later he found a head resting on his shoulder. Davina was very much asleep, and she leaned up against him.
The wine had worked, and she had fallen into a steady sleep cuddled up next to her boss and fake fiancé.
a/n - I was finally able to update! Life got hectic and then when I finally wanted to update this website decided to mess up. But here were are now, and I hope you liked it. It's a bit fluffy and filler-y but I wanted to throw in some lighthearted moments after last weeks episode (though I hold out hope that Kol is coming back).
Thanks so much for all your love in the form in follows, faves, and comments! To one comment in particular I want to say that Katherine is actually not in this fic present day (though she will be referred to in past). So while I appreciate the time you took to give me an idea it won't work with this fic. The plot will start getting better next week, I promise!
xo,
Luce