Thanks all! Fan Fiction is still having a melt down (not cool FF) but I decided to post this next chapter anyway, I'm on a roll so why stop? As always though reviews would be good so I know you've at least read it :)
Thanks especially to MrsAgentCooper. I love incorporating ideas into my story and yours was inspired and you can read it below (I hope it's like you imagined).
Keeping Up Appearances
Chapter 30: Violets Are Blue
February 14 2015, New York City, New York 8:49pm
"I thought you said Katherine wasn't coming tonight?" Elijah asked pulling him aside at the bar after they'd finished appetizers. Klaus mentally rolled his eyes wishing they'd made that escape now. All he wanted to do was be alone with his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Was that too much to ask?
After the initial awkwardness the group went their separate ways only to find out that Rebekah had been kind enough to seat them all together; including Elijah, Katherine, Kol and his women. For once Klaus was glad Lexi was a chatterbox and between her, Caroline, Stefan and Matt, kept the conversation moving along as best as they could.
"And I thought you said you wouldn't be caught dead here?"
"Well I wouldn't."
"Yet here you are, bow tie and all." Klaus replied wishing he was dancing with Caroline and not discussing Elijah's weird love life, or lack thereof.
"Rebekah made me." He whined like a five year old.
"Oh and if she told you to jump off a cliff would you?"
"You of all people know just how bossy she can be Niklaus." He groaned. "Then she had to throw in the part about sick kids."
"Yeah she did that to me too, although I'm surprised you fell for it."
"Hey I'm not the heartless divorce lawyer you paint me to be." He baulked. "Anyway at least your girlfriend and the boss you need to impress are both here. How am I supposed to waste some time?"
"You could always, I don't know, talk to Katherine?"
"Why would I do that Niklaus?"
"I don't know because you kissed her and then did a Houdini." Klaus added hoping he was getting through to his brother.
"I did not do a disappearing act." He hissed. "The case was over and we never should have crossed that line, it was completely unprofessional."
"Maybe then it was but what about now?" He asked. "People don't just go around kissing people they don't like."
"You might want to tell our brother that." He said gesturing towards Kol who was chatting animatedly with his date while Bonnie looked on.
"The problem with Kol is that he did kiss someone he liked but she rejected him and now he's acting out as only our brother can."
"Someone should tell him the whole jealousy thing is so old." Elijah remarked.
"But yet it's working." He shook his head. "Now stop trying to change the subject."
"I wasn't…" He spluttered.
"Oh come on." Klaus cried sick of his denial. "You don't just kiss someone you have no feelings for, especially you of all people."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You never kiss anyone so this must be a big deal."
"She just frustrates me so much."
"So what are you going to tell me she wouldn't shut up so you had to kiss her?"
"Well it was the only way she would stop arguing." He admitted smiling slightly.
Katherine Pierce had appeared in his world and completely rocked it, if he was being honest. There was no denying she was intelligent and beautiful, and although it annoyed him at first, completely argumentative. Something he was realising was extremely attractive. The problem was he had no idea how to progress their weird relationship from here. She kissed him back so maybe she felt the same way but he was a little too scared to ask.
"Sounds like your perfect type." Klaus interrupted like he was reading his thoughts. "So are you going to talk to her?"
"Mmmm."
"Oh come on brother put yourself, Caroline and me out of our misery." He teased but at the same time hoped he would come to his senses.
"Caroline?" He asked curiously.
"She has to live with little Miss grumpy pants and sometimes so do I, so please for the love of god talk to the girl."
"So you think that's why she's so moody?"
"I don't think, I know." He said confidently. "Only you could have that effect on someone big brother." Elijah was about to argue back when Kol sauntered over.
"So what do you think of my date?" Kol asked puffing his chest out proudly. Klaus sighed thinking he'd never get to have a dance with Caroline at this rate.
"Well she gets ready quicker than you, although that's not surprising." Klaus quipped making Elijah laugh.
"She's a model you know."
"And?" Elijah and Klaus said in unison.
"Well you know she's pretty and…."
"Her hair is certainly glossy." Elijah answered deadpan.
"You are both just jealous."
"Yes I'd much prefer that to Caroline."
"Urgh." Kol groaned. "Hopefully at least you can see her attributes Elijah unlike this pathetic puppy."
"She seems um nice." He offered. Davina was gorgeous and seemed nice enough but there wasn't much going on up top. "I don't know what does she think about art and politics?"
"Why would I ask her something that…"
"Deep?" Klaus said.
"She has plenty of opinions. Davina is...um she's hot." Kol repeated himself obviously unable to come up with anything.
"Yes plenty of thoughts going on by the sounds of it."
"Excuse me where's your date?"
"I'd much prefer to show up solo than bring someone I didn't like to make someone else jealous." Elijah shot back.
"Make who jealous?"
"Bonnie." They both responded without a thought.
"That's been over for weeks." Kol groaned. "Keep up."
"Yes but you still like her, only you're too stubborn to admit it." Klaus said hoping to make him understand.
"I do not and I am not stubborn."
"That didn't sound stubborn at all." Elijah replied tartly. "During appetizers you kept sneaking glances at her."
"And then when Bonnie looked over you felt the need to laugh loudly at one of Davina's bad jokes."
"I think you two need to get lives."
"And I think you need to get out of denial."
"You're one to talk Mr Kiss and Run." Kol growled. "How's that going for you?"
"There were two people in the room that day, why am I suddenly the bad guy?" He replied defensively. "Seriously do you all sit around and talk about my love life?"
"You're one to talk." Kol muttered.
"Enough you two." Klaus cried wondering how he had suddenly become the referee . "Let's just agree that you both need to sort your love lives out tonight, so we can all get some peace and quiet."
"It's interesting how Niklaus gets a girlfriend and suddenly becomes cupid." Kol said shaking his head.
"Yes isn't it?" Elijah smiled knowingly.
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"I heard there was some sort of a problem?" Rebekah asked the young girl looking around curiously. She didn't usually get involved in the small things but apparently the coat check area was bursting at the seams.
"There's a backlog." She explained. "We didn't plan for this large amount of coats and don't have enough hangers."
"Of course not, I mean it is only Winter." Rebekah muttered walking into the coatroom wondering why she employed idiots.
"I already looked back there."
"Well you'll have to excuse me if I want to check for myself." She drawled leaving her out the front.
"There must be some in here." She talk to herself walking around the closet trying to find some extra hangers. Suddenly she was pulled in amongst the multitude of coats and lost her footing. She was too surprised to scream.
"Who doesn't plan for all these extra guests?" A voice asked as he caught her from behind.
"Someone who deserves to be fired." She growled recognising that voice. Stefan laughed before leaning forward and sending her a cheeky grin.
"Do you always attack women in coatrooms?"
"It's one of my best moves, works every time." He said leaning in closer so that he could inhale her heavenly scent.
"Someone is pretty sure of himself." She murmured her lips within inches of his.
"Well you've seen the goods before."
"Twice actually." She replied. "I'm still trying to get over it, although I think you might have scarred me for life."
"I thought we were friends now?"
"Since when?" She teased trying to calm her racing heartbeat from him being so close. She could smell his spicy aftershave and it was making her dizzy.
Stefan wasn't her type at all; at least that's what she'd been trying to tell herself every day since they had dinner. He liked sports and beer and pizza she'd discovered. Rebekah had to admit the pizza was delicious but they had absolutely nothing in common.
That being said she'd never had so much fun with a guy and their conversation had been constant and interesting. He made her laugh and Rebekah had enjoyed every minute of their time together.
"Since I introduced you to the best pizza of your life."
"Well there wasn't much to compare it to Stefan." She drawled.
"Maybe not Princess but I could tell from that first bite you were hooked." He smiled leaning in closer so she could feel his hot breath on her face. Rebekah wasn't quite sure if they were still talking about pizza anymore.
"Maybe." She whispered instinctively closing the gap between them. His lips were smooth and as he massaged them softly against hers Rebekah knew she was a goner.
He placed his hands on her cheeks and pulled her closer deepening the kiss. His tongue found its way into her mouth and she groaned excitedly as she tasted the heady mixture of champagne and cherries from the appetizer. Their kisses became harder and more urgent and Rebekah had completely forgotten the fact that she was in a coatroom at the event she was organising. Right now if it escalated to full blown sex she wouldn't care.
"Oh my eyes." Klaus cried happening upon the two madly making out. They broke apart quickly like startled animals. "The coatroom, really? I mean could you two get more clichéd right now?"
Rebekah licked her lips sneaking a side glance at Stefan whose expression was just as guilty as hers.
"I thought it was quite unique Niklaus." Stefan smirked making Rebekah chuckle.
"I feel like I've walked into the twilight zone." Klaus moaned. "And thanks to you two I'll have that disturbing scene replaying over in my head all night."
"What are you doing here?" Rebekah asked turning the situation around on him.
"Caroline was cold so I came to get her coat but there was no attendant out front; although I'm really wishing I didn't come in now."
"Great she didn't have extra hangers and now she's missing in action." Rebekah groaned. "I suppose I should get back out there and…"
"Do your job?"
"Funny Niklaus." She said her voice dripping with sarcasm, grabbing the ticket in his outstretched hand and finding Caroline's coat before handing it over.
"Well now that you've put me off my entrée I'll be going." He sighed sending them a knowing smile before leaving.
"Well at least now we'll have one spare hanger." She grinned holding it up suddenly not sure what to say now their impromptu moment of passion was over. Stefan sent her a mischievous smirk before parting the coats to reveal a pile of coat hangers in the corner.
"You hid them?" She breathed in sharply.
"Well how else was I going to get you in here?"
"You went to all that trouble just to see me?"
"Well given our history I knew it would be difficult to tie you down." Stefan said shrugging his shoulders. "You know I should really get a reward for my originality."
"What do you call that kiss?"
"I was thinking more like a date." He suggested. "I might even buy you a hot dog this time."
"Another gastronomic culinary experience then?"
"Oh yeah that's just the way I roll."
"Fine one date." She agreed almost like she was making a business deal not a date. "But no more sabotaging my events got it?"
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Klaus shook his head still trying to process what he'd just seen. He thought there might have been a little crush but didn't expect to witness a full on make-out session between Stefan and his sister.
Was there something going on the whole time? Klaus had no idea but he actually thought Stefan would be a great influence on his sister although he didn't need to see it first-hand. He walked towards their table hoping that he could finally have some time with his girlfriend.
"Where is that gorgeous girlfriend of yours?" Jen asked approaching him.
"Exactly what I was just thinking." It was actually nice to have an honest conversation with her for once. "You've outdone yourself tonight."
"It came together brilliantly thanks to your sister." She smiled. "Have you seen Rebekah recently?"
"Ah no, I have no idea where she is right now." He stuttered as the memory washed over him again.
"I just wanted to thank her for making this night such a success, although I probably should hold off I don't want to jinx anything yet."
"Probably for the best Jen." He said thinking there were a few powder kegs ready to blow and they were all at his table.
"I'm actually planning a St Patrick's Day event that you and Caroline will have to come along to if you're free?" Klaus smiled thinking how much he liked that his birthday was on such a popular occasion because it meant he didn't have to celebrate and people usually forgot.
"Sounds great, you can count us both in for that." He agreed thinking how nice it would be to spend time with them and not have to pretend anymore. "I'll ask Lexi to block it out now while I remember."
He looked over to their table at his blonde assistant who seemed to be deeply immersed in a conversation with Matt. She was laughing at something he said and Klaus noticed her hand graze his arm. Klaus had always been very protective of Lexi because she was pretty much a little sister to him. He'd have to have a little chat with Matthew and Stefan later and their intentions towards his sisters.
"Looks like something is budding there." Jen observed looking at the couple then back to Klaus. "I suppose it is Valentine's Day and there's bound to be romance in the air." Klaus smiled thinking the girls seemed to be doing quite well unlike his brothers.
His eyes flitted over towards Elijah who was making his way gingerly towards Katherine.
"Let's hope so."
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"Good evening Miss Pierce." Elijah nodded formally. He was trying hard not to lose his composure she looked that beautiful and she smelled even better standing this close to him.
He'd been watching her all night. She was an absolute vision in white and he had noticed his fellow attendees had the same thoughts. Elijah had seen her rebuff the advances of multiple males and he wondered why. For some reason it gave him a bit of confidence to approach her himself.
"Mr Mikaelson." She said eyeing him wearily.
"Are you having a good evening?"
"Well I've certainly had better nights." She groaned. "It doesn't help that I was forced to come in the first place."
"I know how you feel." He smiled slightly easing into the conversation now they had something in common. "Who made you come?"
"Caroline." She replied rolling her eyes. "You?"
"Rebekah, she has this impressive knack of making Kol, Klaus and I do what she wants."
"Blackmail?"
"Sometimes blackmail, other times it's just easier to say yes so she'll stop whining about it." He laughed. "What is Caroline's preferred method?"
"Well if all else fails she goes straight to guilt."
"Let me guess she said you had to come for the kids?"
"How did you know?" Katherine asked cocking her left eyebrow. Elijah couldn't help but think how cute she looked doing that.
"Rebekah employed the exact same tactic." Katherine laughed and Elijah couldn't help but think how melodic it sounded. They smiled at each other for a while and he felt his mouth go dry. Katherine Pierce had a strange effect in him.
After about ten long seconds of silence Elijah nervously realised he had no idea what to say next. Katherine cleared her throat obviously thinking the same thing. Eventually she spoke.
"So the case ended quicker than I imagined." Elijah felt his heart sink that she'd brought up work.
"Yes it was."
"I was surprised your client was willing to settle after everything that transpired." She pushed obviously not ready to let it go.
"Well sometimes these things have a way of fixing themselves I suppose."
"It just seemed so out of the blue." She said thoughtfully. "Although I'm not complaining of course."
"No of course you're not." He shot back and his terse tone couldn't be missed.
When Lucinda Chase had told him she was sick of fighting and just wanted to settle he'd advised her against it. She had a strong case and Elijah knew if she persevered she would be rewarded but unfortunately Lucinda was unmoved.
Having to concede in court like that and in front of the woman he'd kissed only a few days earlier was difficult for Elijah. He wasn't upset because he'd lost either; it was because he was upset he didn't have an excuse to see her anymore.
"I just thought maybe there was more to it." She stuttered looking down shyly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean one minute we kiss and the next…"
"You think I let you win because we, uh, because of that?" He stammered not believing what he was hearing. Katherine Pierce obviously had a high opinion of herself.
"No, I didn't mean…" She trailed off surprised by his reaction. "It just seemed like a coincidence that's all."
"Miss Pierce I could beat you in the courtroom any day." He boasted, who did she think she was?
"Although in this case you didn't."
"Only because my client wanted to settle." He seethed. "I know you haven't been in this profession very long but generally we do what our clients want."
"Excuse me?" She cried. "I've been around a while and I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Although you make silly assumptions about a throwaway moment that didn't have any impact on me whatsoever." He growled his anger on an unstoppable downhill slope, even though he knew it wasn't true. Katherine held her hand to her face like she'd been slapped, and it was only then that Elijah realised he'd gone too far.
"Thank you so much for making that crystal clear." She spat. "I'm so glad I came here tonight." Katherine stormed away leaving him to watch her fast retreating back.
Elijah combed his hands through his hair in frustration. "Happy Valentine's Day." He murmured agreeing with her sentiments.
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"Smile." Bonnie said trying to sound interested in what she was doing. She was actually happy that her job meant she didn't have to sit at their table watching Kol and his model girlfriend feed each other.
Yes that's right they fed each other and it was painful to say the least, mainly because she thought only really annoying people did that. She escaped to take more photos and finally felt like she could breathe again. When she was at the table Bonnie had felt this foreign feeling like her chest was constricting. She decided to blame it on indigestion from trying to eat while witnessing that disturbing sight.
It didn't help that Katherine was nowhere to be found so they could at least bitch together. She had noticed her and Elijah talking earlier so figured that had something to do with their vanishing act before entrée was served.
She walked away thinking she'd take some more photos on the other side of the ballroom when she felt someone run into her making her almost drop her camera. She looked up about to give them a piece of her mind but realised it was the youngest Mikaelson that was causing her mystery indigestion.
"Sorry I wasn't looking where I was going." He admitted sincerely.
"That's fine." She smiled slighty before faltering. "I should probably go and take some more photos."
"Yeah probably." He said quietly. She went to walk away before he touched her arm lightly. "Uh you really do look beautiful tonight." She blushed immediately not expecting him to say that but happy he did.
"Thanks, uh, you too."
"Well I try to look beautiful." He replied sending her the devilish grin she knew all too well that made her insides melt.
"I see you've lost none of that cockiness."
"You secretly loved my cockiness." He said and Bonnie noted his use of tense realising he thought that was all in the past.
"I did." She mumbled thinking if she didn't cut off their conversation she'd be in dangerous territory. "I should uh let you get back to Daphne."
Kol smiled cheekily like he knew exactly what she was thinking. "It's Davina actually."
"Oh really?" She asked wide eyed and feigning innocence. "I'm sorry."
"Are you?"
"Um yeah."
"It's just your voice kind of had that I'm pretending to be interested but I'm not tone about it."
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."
"Oh really?" He asked mimicking her earlier response making her whack him on the arm. "Ouch, I definitely haven't missed the bruises you used to leave."
"They weren't all from me hitting you from memory." She replied suggestively unable to help herself. It was just so easy to slip back into their natural banter.
"No they weren't." He conceded wiggling his eyebrows. "Uh any chance you want to get out of here and…."
"Catch up like old times?" She grinned knowing this was so wrong but at the time felt so right.
"You read my mind." He said. "Uh what about those photos."
"I've got more than enough." She said tapping her camera. "Uh what about…" She trailed off realising she hadn't even thought about his date.
"Daphne?" He joked making her giggle. "We're just friends and I think she'll be more than okay with her hordes of male admirers."
"What are we waiting for?" Kol winked at her slyly before holding out his arm. "Let's go mademoiselle."
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"Finally." Klaus murmured holding her close as they swayed together on the dance floor. "It only took us most of the night to have a dance."
"Well its been an eventful evening."
"I know, it must be a full moon or something."
"Yeah what with Matt and Lexi potentially hooking up."
"Something I'll have to have a stern word to him about." Klaus warned. "And Stefan and my sister making out in the coatroom of all places."
"Maybe they had the right idea." She suggested raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"Well the night's still young love." He said huskily lowering his head and trailing kisses along the length of her neck making her moan.
"Oh and don't forget the fact that half the occupants at our table are missing too."
Katherine and Elijah had been absent since after appetizers and Kol and Bonnie since after entrée. Needless to say Rebekah had not been impressed with their lack of manners. Klaus had brought up coatrooms at that point which silenced her on the spot.
"Where the hell did Kol, Bonnie, Katherine and Elijah go anyway?" He asked finally detaching himself from her warm neck.
"Well I called them both but they're ignoring me." Caroline shared. "It's probably best to let Katherine cool down because I think I'm public enemy number one after making her come here tonight."
"You didn't know my brother was going to be an idiot."
"How do you know it was his fault?"
"I just assumed because it's Elijah." He guessed. "Oh well at least I have you pretty much to myself now."
"I think you got your wish."
"I'm assuming Katherine and Elijah left after their little chat earlier but Kol and Bonnie are a mystery given Davina is still here."
"She doesn't seem too stressed about losing your brother." Caroline observed pointing her out flirting with a handsome guy in the corner.
"Yeah it's baffling that's for sure." He said scratching his head.
"So you spend all night wanting to escape this place and now you suddenly care about everyone?"
"I know what the hell happened." He laughed. "Although now everyone is either making out in coatrooms or missing do you want to have that after party love?"
"Yes please." She grinned capturing his lips with his. "I thought you'd never ask."
"I know you love this dress but just so you know I see nudity in your future." He whispered his voice thick with desire.
"I can live with that." She said shrugging her shoulders. "Where to now?" Klaus didn't say anything just pulled out a brass key with the letter P on it from his pocket swinging it back and forth in front of her eyes and watching them light up excitedly.
"I've always wanted to stay here." She squealed excitedly peppering kisses on his face.
"You ain't seen nothing yet love."