Nik sighed for what must have been the twentieth time that evening. He had been on edge since he had asked Caroline to meet his brother. He wasn't nervous about Elijah liking her. Contrary to popular belief, he was not blind, he knew that his past girlfriends had been bad for him – toxic even – but Caroline was different.

He was on edge because he had let slip that Elijah had never approved of his girlfriends. The accidental admission had completely unnerved Caroline. She had been nervous about the coming meeting all week. It had resulted in her inviting her friend for 'back-up.' A fact that she had let slip when he picked her up from her apartment. That of course led to an argument which ended with them making out on her couch; and as a result they were now late.

"I still think that it was unnecessary to invite your friend," Nik grumbled pulling into an empty spot outside of the Grill.

"Of course you would think that," Caroline reasoned toying with her phone. "He's your brother; a man who has never approved of your girlfriends, who you now want me to meet. Elena is my buffer. She will make sure I don't come off to abrasive. You know I can be abrasive when meeting new people."

"Wouldn't you want a buffer in my shoes?" Caroline asked tucking a wayward curl behind her ear and turned to face him. "Wouldn't you want someone to take the focus off of you?"

"I suppose so…" Nik trailed off getting lost in the depths of her pleading eyes, they were the colour of the ocean tonight, and every bit as deep. "I might want someone to draw attention away from me."

"And when you meet my mom you are more than welcome to bring your brother along."

"I guess as long as she has agreed then it's alright," Nik finally relented turning off the car and opening the door. He paused when he was outside and noticed Caroline still sitting silently in the car. "Caroline? She does know about tonight right?"

She mumbled something under her breath and gave him a sheepish grin. It faded when she saw the stony look on her boyfriend's face.

"You were just going to spring my brother and I on her," he surmised with a snicker. "And how were you expecting her to react to that, love?"

"Better than she would have if I hadn't texted her when we left my apartment," she smiled again stepping out of the car.

"I hope she's the adaptable type," Nik murmured locking the car and taking her hand to walk to the restaurant.

"Everything's going to be fine," he assured her again when they stepped inside of the Grill. Compared to the heat of late summer the filtered air was like a breath of fresh air rejuvenating his senses. Scanning the interior of the Grill he spotted his brother across the floor. "There's Elijah at that table. I'm not sure who he is talking to – Caroline?"

His wonderful girlfriend had stopped in her tracks. Her entire body stiffened as she followed Nik's motion to Elijah. Her blue-green eyes were trained on his brother. No, he realized, she's looking at the brunette he's flirting with.

"Love?"

"That's Elena," Caroline mumbled inclining her head towards Elijah and the brunette – Elena. "… Flirting with your brother..."

Nik's eyes darted between his brother, Elena and Caroline. Returning his gaze to Caroline he gave a low whistle and reached for her hand.

"I think it's safe to say Elijah will not be completely focused on you."