"It's only going to take us around 8/9 hours to drive to New Orleans" Bonnie said as she helped the others bundle supplies into the car.
"Then all we have to do is find Klaus, but he be could anywhere in that city!" Caroline added, helping Bonnie to lift the heavier bags into the trunk.
"I don't think that'll be too difficult, I think Klaus wants to be found" Damon said, slamming the trunk shut and making his way into the driver's seat.
"Why take her in the first place then? It doesn't make sense" Stefan replied, taking the front seat and getting the map out to look at.
"I guess we'll find out when we get there" added Tyler.
The next morning Elena was keen to speak to Lydia about what had happened to her sister. Just because her and Klaus had somehow ended up sharing a kiss, that didn't mean for one second she forgave him or that things were okay. Things with Klaus were….in a strange place. Elena couldn't really gauge her feelings on him at all. There was no doubt that Klaus was complicated, and Elena wasn't sure she wanted to get herself into a game of 'let's figure out why he's a monster and try and change him.' Everything that he had done in the past still very much haunted Elena and she could so easily picture the look he has in his eyes when he's hurting someone, as if it means even less than nothing to him. Just second nature to him. And yet this week she'd only seen that look once. All the rest of the time something different had gleamed in his eyes, something she couldn't place.
Why had he kissed her, she thought over and over again. If Klaus hadn't cared for anyone since before he was a vampire, why kiss her, why now? Had he planned it this way? Perhaps.
"Lydia I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that-" Elena began, as she entered the kitchen for breakfast and found Lydia pouring out coffee.
Lydia turned to face Elena, and Elena was surprised at just how….fine she looked, considering.
"-Miss Elena, please. My family have served master Klaus and his family here for many, many generations now as servants to the supernatural. We love him as one of our own. What happened was an accident, when master Klaus gets angry he-"
"No, no, Lydia, don't just pass it off like that. You're allowed to be angry, you're allowed to be upset with him-"
"-But I'm not, Miss Elena. Now please, enjoy your pancakes, I'm just brewing some fresh coffee." With that Lydia walked out and into the other part of the kitchen, carrying her empty coffee pot.
Was Elena wrong to expect her to be upset? Perhaps Elena kept projecting her own ideas of how life should be onto other people, after all Elena had learnt a lot over the last few years about just how different the supernatural world is.
Klaus was feeling pretty pleased with himself. He'd kissed Elena and she hadn't pushed him off or tried to slap him, to him that was progress. Important progress. He'd enjoyed the kiss of course, it was a shame Kol had got there first but in the end it didn't really matter.
Klaus poured himself more coffee from his pot and sunk into the chair in his office, a big smile gleaming ear to ear.
"Someone is looking pleased with themselves this morning. Can only guess it has something to do with the doppelganger" Kol said, vamping into the room and helping himself to some of Klaus' coffee.
"You can guess brother, but I will tell you nothing." Klaus replied.
"You know she'll never forgive you for all the awful things you've done, and she'll certainly never feel anything for you. She's too good, too pure."
"Don't underestimate the allure of darkness, even the purest hearts are drawn to it."
"I do commend you for trying, brother"
"Trying and succeeding. I'll have her questioning every thought she's ever had as I niggle my way under her skin."
"For what purpose?"
"Rest assured there is one, I never do anything for nothing." Klaus said, turning and giving his brother one final smirk before leaving to find Elena.
Elena was sat alone on bench in the house's gardens when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.
"There's my girl"
There's that oh so familiar voice, Elena thought. Why did hearing it still make her heart flutter slightly?
"Klaus-"
"-No I don't want to talk about last night, I want to take you somewhere. If you'll let me?"
"Klaus last night when we well, you know, kissed. I was so angry at you, I'm still so angry at you, I just-"
"-you hate me?"
"Of course I hate you Klaus, I'd be crazy if I didn't"
"And yet there is something between us isn't there? I know you feel it, that electricity."
"Yes, I admit, there's… something. I find myself wanting to forget all the terrible things you've done. Wanting to be the light that maybe dims your darkness just slightly."
"You are, Elena. You are that. I care for you, truly I do. But I'm pretty sure your little Salvatore's and friends will be turning up fairly soon, and I'd love to show you a little bit more of New Orleans before you leave. Now surely that's an offer you can't refuse?" Klaus said, holding out his hand to her almost in a peace offering.
Elena paused and then took it. She had no idea why. There was something about him she trusted, something she was drawn to. If the whole world was collapsing and it was all Klaus' fault, Elena felt if he offered his hand out to her she would still take it. She always would. It was amazing how little Elena had thought about Damon and Stefan this week, her world had just been Klaus.
Klaus spent the entirety of the afternoon being a perfect gentleman. He'd shown Elena around some more of his favourite parts of the city, showed her his art in galleries (which she thought was incredible) and fed her the very best food he city had to offer. He'd touch her occasionally, just her hand or her back, just to remind her of the overwhelming connection between them that Elena couldn't quite figure out. And their eyes would linger just a little bit too long on each other's. Elena knew she would have to leave Klaus and his city very soon, but she felt no rush to go.
They sat down on a bench with an ice-cream tub between then and a whole lot of questions.
"So love, since our time together is nearly over, have you got a definite answer for your Salvatore's?"
"I have actually, I figured it out on like my second day here with you."
"So what is your decision?"
"Neither. I've spent so long now either being a lost little puppy or a damsel in distress, I just wanna be Elena."
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear, sweetheart." It was true.
"I can't thank you enough Klaus for helping me realise that. Sure this week has been a bit of a rollercoaster with you, but I learnt a lot about myself and what I need. And in these short few days I've learnt so much about you, I feel like our souls have known each other for years." Elena smiled at the thought that perhaps they have.
"It is not time or opportunity that determine intimacy; it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others" Klaus said with a smile. It was Jane Austen, Elena knew the quote. Klaus reached his hand up to cup Elena's face and lays his ice blue eyes on hers.
Elena felt as if he may kiss her again, and if he didn't she felt as if she may kiss him. As Klaus was leaning in the sound of his phone ringing pulled him away.
Kol.
"We have some visitors at the house brother."
"Unfortunately Elena, it's not Stefan and Damon just yet. Far worse actually; Rebekah and Elijah."
Elena gulped.