RELIVE THE PAST

A/N: Just realised that summer's over for most of you and schools are open and people are going back to work. I hope they aren't too stressful. Posted this update to give you something to cheer up the end of the day.

Bella's outfit is on my Facebook and on WordPress blog (links on profile).

I was left dumbstruck and awfully perplexed; watching as my big brother swept up my – well, Isabella. His arms finally releasing her but his lingering touch remained wandering as he continued to caress her pearly skin. I continued to watch as he reached up to trail his finger down her jaw and then stared as he brushed his fingers through her hair.

All through this, she does not pull away from him. In fact she welcomes his touches and permits him to embrace her the way I used to and doesn't even cast me another glance.

Now, I was angry.

This was why he had been leaving the house with no explanations? He had been with her?

All this time - when he was absent from the house – had he been with her? Had he been spending time with my - with Isabella…

"Forgive me…" Elijah finally remembered the curious crowd surrounding them. Though, his continued speech was incoherent because all I could seem to focus on was the possessive hand he had placed around her waist and his hand splayed onto her hip.

Why couldn't he let her go?

Why did I care?

I shouldn't.

My head snapped to the side when realising the music was beginning. My eyes then finally rested on a pair of expectant blue ones, gleaming with anticipation. Without another thought, I had Caroline in my arms and was twirling her onto the dance floor before she could even protest.

As we got into our positions, I involuntarily glanced towards the left where Isabella was giggling like a school girl. MY brother whispering something in her ear and then thankfully withdrawing with a small kiss on her bare shoulder.

"You didn't have to manhandle me" Caroline captured my attention again with her disdain but all I could manage was a small smirk. She simply rolled her eyes at me but allowed me to lead her into the dance. Our bodies simply moving in time with the music and as much as I tried to concentrate on seducing her, I couldn't help but glance at the reason behind my nostalgia.

As graceful as she seemed, her body didn't seem to be relaxed and I could see how her muscles were tightened. Her gaze was almost forced to remain on Elijah while her fingers desperately clung onto him. Even her expression seemed taut and controlled and by that, I knew that she knew I was watching her.

Again, why did I care?

She no longer mine – well, as far as that definition could go.

Caroline seemed to already be falling as her arm voluntarily wound itself around my neck. The touch reminded me of where I was and who I was with.

I should not care.

I will not care.

"You are a wonderful dancer" I murmured into Caroline's ear, loving how she shivered under my embrace.

She pulled back slightly to meet my gaze. "Well - I've h-had training" she wavered slightly and tried to jut out her jaw and remain nonchalant.

"I know"

A smile accompanied the words but it faltered when Elijah and his partner whip past us.

After the dance, I had shown Caroline to my parlour and then shown her to my paintings. Somehow, I wanted some kind of connection with her. A part of me also wanted to prove that it wasn't such a big deal to show her what I had only shown to one person.

However, it backfired when she threw the bracelet at me and stormed out of the room. Rather than following after her, I simply stood there, gripped the table and tried to take deep calming breaths.

Whispered footsteps suddenly broke through the silence and I snapped my head up but didn't dare to turn around. I already recognised the rhythm of the steps and how they faltered slightly before coming to a complete stop. Her own soft breaths filling the quiet which was then followed by her sharp inhale. "She's beautiful" she whispered and this began her footsteps again.

I gulped nervously and then reached to the side to open the bottle of my best whiskey – usually reserved for days I spend alone.

"And she knows better than to be charmed by your money" she added from behind me.

After taking a sip, I placed the glass back down and found the courage of replying, "Just like you..." I muttered with a small and weak smile.

"You knew I never cared for your riches" she retorted with a dry laugh.

I spun around, suddenly directing all my anger and frustration towards her. "Then what did you want from me?" I snapped, glaring down at where she had now frozen. "What are you doing here?" I added with another gulp.

She cleared her throat and rolled her shoulders back, trying t0 maintain her previous fearless stance. Her small pink tongue darted out to lick her lips as she timidly replied, "I was invited by-"

"I know" I snapped and the tried to rephrase what I meant. "Why did you come?"

She crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze, growing defensive as she took confident steps towards me. "Like I said, I was invited" she repeated and walked towards me. My breath was caught when she reached over, her front brushing over mine as she poured herself a drink. Usually, I would break the neck of anyone who would have made an attempt but I simply let it go – for her.

"Elijah didn't have a dancing partner so he asked me to-"

"Be his date?" I interjected dryly.

She stepped back an inch away from me and gulped down what she had poured before nodding. "Yes" she answered in a matter-of-factly tone.

"So that's the only reason?" I arched an eyebrow.

Mirroring my expression, she questioned, "Should there be another?"

"You tell me" I challenged, meeting her eyes and hating the familiarity of her warm chocolate-brown eyes that stared back at me, unblinking and filled with that usual fire that ignited from time to time.

"Okay fine, yes" she agreed and diverted her gaze, making space between us as she walked further away from me. "Yes, part of me did want to see you" she admitted and then spun around to look at me again. "…but I did not come here to disrupt yo-"

"You're not disrupting" I interrupted hastily.

Isabella then continued her path around the room but paused when something caught her eye. "You still…paint" she added, picking up a few strewn pieces and actually trying to make a read of each one. It was something that I admired about her. Her pursed lips and her head tilted to the side as she allowed the piece to speak to her. Each emotion so clearly shown across her face and then settling on one before she moved to the next.

This time, her face fell and I knew exactly which one it was. Her eyes grew wide and then narrowed, perusing the page before her eyebrows knitted. "I wasn't – I mean, I haven't..."

"I did it after you left" I replied.

"It's magnificent" she gasped, looking up at me with what I could only assume was curiosity.

I moved towards her and we both looked down at the painting I had done of her. It was painted from the memory I had of her, by the balcony as she looked serenely beautiful when breathing in the Rome air.

"Thank you" I smiled but then erased it as I handed it to her. "You can have it if you want" I offered and her eyes widened further when she looked up at me surprise. I knew she was about to protest so I amended, "Call it an anniversary gift"

She laughed forcefully and humourlessly. "Divorce papers would have sufficed"

At her spoken words, my humour was erased and my jaw clenched.

Why did she have to bring that up?

She was the one to leave but then again, I always knew that it was bound to happen. I always knew that she would have left but part of me was still surprised that she had given up. With everything that she had said…

After noticing the change in my demeanour, she was clever and quick to change the subject. "You cut your hair" she pointed out and surprised me when she reached up and ran her fingers through them. A small smile tugging at her lips as she nodded, "I like it"

"Yours grew" I threw back and tried to be subtle in breaking from her hold because I didn't like what was happening. I didn't like the familiarity and how easy it was with her. I didn't want to stand here, reminisce about the past and act like we were…friends.

"I still do not understand w-"

My words of indignation were cut off by a shrill ringtone. I watched as she reached into her small black and silver purse and pulled out a phone. She glanced up at me apologetically and then answered the call. "Elijah why are you c-"

A small growl left me and I spun around to pinch the bridge of my nose and kept my head bowed.

"Crap!" she exclaimed and the anger in her voice had me turning around. "I'll be right there" she mumbled and I watched as she put the phone back and then turned around to leave.

Something instinctual within me had me whipping out to grab her arm and pull her back. "What is it?" I asked, booth hating and thankful that I managed the concern in my tone.

"Nothing" she smiled but it was too easy to identify how false it was. "Nothing for you to worry about" she added hastily and patted my arm before pulling away from me so she could run out of the room.

If she thought I was going to ignore that, she obviously seemed to have forgotten the kind of person I was, which was why I was now chasing after her.

However, on my path, I was distracted with the sight of the other Salvatore brother standing by the balcony and arguing with my little brother. I watched as Damon actually found some kind of strength and took Kol by surprise when snapping his neck and throwing him over.

I was both annoyed and impressed.

The rest of my family seemed to have also caught this as they began to rush outside. Other was muttering expletives under her breath which made me smirk.

I was there before them but my victory was worn off when I caught sight of Isabella with my brother standing next to her. However, when looking closely, I found that Isabella was crouched down by the ground, and had arms wrapped around her form.

The small person that was clinging onto her then withdrew slightly. Isabella was now holding that person at arm's length. "What are you doing here?" I heard her mumble with worried tone.

"Oh my God-"

Rebekah's gasp had me glancing at her but she wasn't looking at Kol and Damon. Rather, her eyes were fixated onto Isabella and the young…child? The young boy in her arms craned his neck and I felt...nothing.

"That little boy..." Mother trailed off, lost and hollow as I was.

My sister was next to give her input. "He looks like..." she too trailed off and glanced at me but I refused to meet her stare.

…My blonde thick locks with dark highlights…Isabella's warm brown eyes…my jawline and cheekbones…Isabella's beautiful pale complexion…

I wanted to move and storm over so I could demand for an explanation of for her to lie to me…I couldn't. I had never felt more vulnerable than at that very moment.

With a shaky gasp leaving her, she whipped up to meet my eyes. Hers were apprehensive and glassy while brimming with unshed tears. Her full pink lips were parted as she breathed out the withheld gasped breaths. She was trying to rack her mind for an explanation or an excuse but the sounds that left her, remained incoherent.

It didn't matter because I already knew it was true.

A/N: Well who saw that coming? Klaus a father? Could it be?

MUCHAS GRACIAS to all the wonderful reviews and for giving support by reading this fanfic. Hope that you enjoyed this and it helped in unwinding after a long week.