Chapter Seven
Here it is – the reunion between Stefan and Teagan. Here's a little challenge for you all: let me know your favourite ship name for these two :) Read the author's note at the end, please.
Disclaimer – I don't own the Vampire Diaries but I do own Teagan.
Hazel. Those were the eyes, the exact eyes in the exact shade that he had been constantly thinking about for years. He remembered her, of course, thanks to Klaus lifting the compulsion, but he finally got to see her when she wasn't a charred mess. And what a sight she was.
Her medium length locks in such fiery orange were pulled loosely away from her face, with only her fringe falling to the left of her face in a soft wave. Her eyes were outlined in black and she was gripping Kol's arm tightly. The dress she wore was square-necked, with cap sleeves and clung to most of her body, fanning out in a small train at the back. It was bright, emerald green with black lace on the sleeves and down either side of the dress.
They stared at each other for a while before she turned away and Stefan watched her descend the stairs, unable to ignore the fact that she only had three rings on her fingers. He would always remember that she had nine – where were the others?
"It's like 1922 all over again," Klaus remarked as he came up beside Stefan. The younger vampire turned to look at the hybrid with a dark glare. Klaus ignored it. "I think you should inform her that your emotions have returned."
"Only because you allowed them to," Stefan retaliated bitterly. Klaus sighed and took a long sip of champagne before looking Stefan directly in the eyes.
"You are still in love with Teagan," he stated and Stefan rolled his own green orbs out of irritation. He was well aware of the feelings he had for Teagan, ones that he had failed to replicate with Elena even when he didn't know what he was replicating. It had been Teagan that Lexi had used as an example in her temporary hiatus from the Other Side, Teagan that Lexi reminded him of – but had failed. Only Klaus could undo the compulsion, which he had done less than twenty four hours previously.
"And you're in love with Caroline. Neither of those facts means the other loves us in return," Stefan retorted before he disappeared into the crowd. He really needed a drink.
Teagan
"Elijah has a very long stick up his arse," Kol whined as he leant against the bar next to me. We had been downstairs only five minutes and already Elijah had stopped Kol from messing things up three times – only two of which I had been involved with.
"We've been aware of that for centuries," I said, handing him a glass of champagne and taking a large gulp of my own. Kol let out a derisive noise before his eyes narrowed at something. Following his gaze, I found Klaus talking to a beautiful blonde girl dressed in a remarkable blue dress that glittered and fell around her gracefully. Her hair was piled in a curly mass on top of her head and she wore jewellery I was certain I recognised.
"Who is that, I wonder?" Kol asked rhetorically as a mischievous smirk lightened his face. Realising his train of thought, I placed my glass down and we shared a teasing glance. "I believe we should find out." He needed no confirmation from me and I led the way, he waiting for his cue. It was only as I reached them that I recognised her face.
"I know you," I stated bluntly as I popped up on Klaus' left. The blonde frowned at me in confusion. "You're the girl that Klaus has loads of drawings of," I elaborated and saw Klaus glower at me from the corner of my eye. "I'm Teagan," I added, placing my hand out. She shook it.
"Caroline," she responded and I smiled as warmly as I was capable.
"Well, it's lovely to finally meet you, Caroline. I hope you enjoy tonight," I said kindly, a sickly smile on my face as I looked at Klaus. "I assure you, there are better vampires here for you."
"Like me," Kol said as he appeared on my left. "Kol Mikaelson. Might I just point out that you are a most beauteous creature?" he asked rhetorically, kissing her hand with his usual charm. Caroline looked stunned before a sarcastic smile took over her face.
"Sorry, I'm not a victim to charm these days. Nice try though." Then she walked away from us and I stared after her in appreciative shock.
"I like her," I declared as Kol pushed his way in between Klaus and I. "She's got fire."
"I don't know, she hurt my feelings." Rolling my eyes, I gave Kol a sideways glance but he was too busy looking at Klaus. The older Original was staring at us both reproachfully. "Don't worry, she's proved herself. We'll move on to whoever happens to catch Elijah's fancy," Kol assured his big brother and I grinned.
"This I have to see," I agreed and we took off into the throngs of people, leaving Klaus shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation. "That was fabulous amounts of fun, though I doubt anyone has caught Elijah's attention. Oh, Rebekah has a date though," I pointed out, eyeing the blonde male next to my sister. He was muscular with pretty blue eyes and deep voice that I could hear distinctly. He looked marvellous in a tuxedo.
"Excellent," Kol agreed with a cheeky laugh. My eyes fell on Rebekah, who wore a green dress too. Hers was very different to mine, made from heavy satin and with only one, off-shoulder sleeve. The bodice clung in fashionably rumpled satin and fanned out in a mermaid skirt. Her hair was scraped back from her face and straightened down past her shoulders. Diamond jewellery set the rather simple look off nicely.
"I do hope you are both behaving." Kol and I let out simultaneous groans and drew our gazes away from Rebekah, who was laughing with her date.
"Can't you just have some fun, Elijah? Perhaps there is a young woman here to occupy your time?" I suggested, instantly looking around for someone that looked appropriate for Elijah. He was very fussy when it came to the other sex and she had to be good enough to keep him away from us for at least ten minutes – a difficult task.
"Stop acting like children, both of you. And on the subject of occupying time, where is Stefan tonight?" he asked and Kol placed a restraining hand on my shoulder as I went to hit Elijah. Realising the minefield he had stepped into, Elijah explained himself. "I only ask as I believe he has something to tell you."
"Enough with your riddles, Elijah. Simply tell me or go away," I ordered briskly, in no mood for games that were not of my own creation. Not believing he would tell me, I began searching for Rebekah and her date, as they had relocated.
"It would appear that Niklaus has restored the boy's humanity." I didn't even have time to twist my head before Elijah vanished into the crowd. Gobsmacked, I looked at Kol, who had his eyebrow raised and his lips pursed.
"Fancy that," he remarked, as stunned as I was. What was I supposed to do with that information? Stefan had his humanity returned and I knew he had his memories returned – but I had heard nothing. Did that mean he did not want me around and he preferred that pathetic little Elena's company? He would be hard pressed to get her attention when she was clearly devoted to Damon.
"The toast is starting," I pointed out as a distraction, noticing our family gathering on the stairs. Kol sighed forlornly and led the way through the crowd. We gathered on the stairs, Kol across from me and me positioned on the step under Rebekah. It was Elijah that spoke and I accidently made brief eye contact with Stefan.
He stared at me with the same expression he had when I had arrived on top of the staircase and I couldn't or wouldn't put my finger on what emotion it was in his green eyes. I began frantically contemplating what would happen next. Hopefully, I would be able to make Kol dance with me before he snatched up the brunette he was eyeing across the room. As a member of the Mikealson family, I had to participate in the first dance of the evening. Maybe Elijah would accompany me? My thought time was cut off completely as my family dispersed and I slowly descended the stairs. Elijah and Kol had found guests to dance with, Klaus had practically pounced on Caroline and Rebekah was off with whoever her date was.
"Stefan," I exclaimed softly, reaching the foot of the stairs to find Stefan looking at me with a strange version of my favourite smile. He held out his hand and I stared at it wordlessly.
"Do you need a dance partner?" he asked and I restrained myself from gaping, instead smirking darkly.
"Here I was thinking I had to be in a burning vehicle to get your attention," I sniped distastefully. Stefan raised his eyebrow but did not drop his hand.
"You burn fairly brightly all by yourself, Teagan," he responded smoothly and I couldn't help but lighten my smirk. It was quite poetic and he had such a smooth voice. Instead of saying something, I slid my hand into his and sauntered into the ballroom. Kol gave me a very conspicuous wink as we passed him and I grinned in response, taking up the dance position.
"So, tell me about Elena. She seems like a lovely girl," I said sarcastically, half trying to annoy a reaction from him and half wondering what the girl's problem was.
"She's better than Katherine," Stefan answered calmly, spinning me around and leading the dance with effortlessness she had missed. "And she's madly in love with Damon," he added as though that was supposed to matter to me. I laughed a tad mockingly.
"Please – you forget my experience with doppelgangers. They play two people like harp strings and they enjoy it," I scoffed as we continued revolving with the same ease we had in the twenties – exactly like we did. My face twitched as Stefan pressed our hips tightly together and I couldn't stop the involuntary gasp of air that escaped.
"Then she's going to have to find someone else. I only play games with one special girl," he argued softly, whispering the words seductively in my ear. I barely had time to grin before the partners switched and I was looking at Klaus.
"I see you're enjoying yourself," he noted and I smiled a genuine smile.
"I truly am, though things are certainly different. I-." My voice cut off as I saw Stefan dancing with Elena, the latter leaning far too close to the former for my liking. My eyes flashed.
"I need to talk to you," the naive girl was saying to Stefan as she darted glances to her precious boyfriend, who was dancing with my sister.
"Go ahead," Stefan urged, sounding utterly bored. Elena kept glancing back at Damon and, underneath my raging jealousy, I was suspicious.
"Not here," Elea said in an abysmal attempt at whispering. Stefan raised his eyebrows but nonetheless followed her out of the ballroom. I couldn't believe the situation I had just spoken about was playing out in front of me!
"Oh no, that is not a good idea," Klaus said, forcibly keeping me in hold as I made to launch myself after the pair. "Don't let your jealousy overcome you."
"Says the man that abandoned me for hinting he shouldn't have daggered his sister," I grumbled, still attempting to wriggle free from his grasp. "Come on, Nik, I-." I stopped short and did not blink as both of us realised what I had called him.
"Does that mean you're a step closer to forgiving me?" he asked with his usual amount of snide tone. I looked up at those blue eyes of his and sighed in resignation.
"You gave Stefan his emotions back and I'm thankful," I said vaguely as the song came to an end. I curtsied to Klaus, winked at Kol, and skulked after Stefan and Elena like the jealous ex I was. It didn't take long and I found him in one of the studies, standing over Damon's limp body.
"You always were jealous," he noted, back to me as I leant against the doorframe, sultry smile on my lips.
"And you always were a little twisted," I countered, yet neither of us moved. Silence reigned and I stared at his back, raking my eyes over his lean figure. Rumour had it through Mystic Falls that Damon was the bad brother – but I had seen Stefan in his prime. They didn't come much worse than he did. "It's an improvement though I cannot fathom why Elena would want to break her boyfriend's neck . . ." I trailed off whimsically, eyes planted on his rear unashamedly.
"She wants to talk to Esther, and he'll get in the way," he eventually answered, finally turning to face me. My smile enhanced.
"What if I get in the way? Will you break my neck?" I asked purposefully, licking the corner of my mouth teasingly. I was baiting him, playing my game and we both knew it. I was surprised, however, when he blurred us into the wall and pressed up against me.
"I'd have to find some way to distract you," he growled softly and I smirked, staring into his beautiful green eyes.
"Then I'm going to find Elena. Lord knows I'd love to keep her from doing what she wants." I slipped out of his grasp, heading for the door, and I was not disappointed when Stefan sped over and pushed me up against a different wall. "Don't you remember, Stefan?" I asked rhetorically before flipping us around and clasping our hands. "I'm stronger than you."
"You're right," he agreed before licking my jaw line and biting my earlobe, causing a moan to grind out of my throat. "But I know all your weak spots." I laughed before pulling him from the room and into my bedroom. Both of us forgot about Damon and the party, too busy refreshing stale memories of times long since past.
There it is! Please let me know your thoughts on the Kol/OC sequel set in an AU New Orleans. AND: any Captain America/Avengers fans out there? Has anyone seen the competition Mark Ruffalo is running - I'm excited to see the outcome of that. Anyway, I have a couple of fics related to the Avengers in the works - one is a Steve/OC with side Clintasha and is nearly finished and one is a Bucky/OC that is definitely nowhere near finished. Anyone interested in reading those? I also have an X-Men fic going (Charles/OC) which I will probably finish off soon. Let me know! Love, Bianca :) x