Matter of Love and Death:

Beth didn't remember when or how she got into her bed, but she knew that she hadn't stopped crying since. Kol hadn't been back in two days and she barely slept in all that time. It was morning now and the only break she got from crying, is when she cried herself to sleep. Klaus had been trying to call her, making sure she got home safe, but she didn't have the energy to talk to him. It was her fault, she couldn't blame him. It hurt that she hurt Kol so much.

There was a knocking on her door that became louder, but she knew it wasn't Kol. He already had a key. She was still upset and didn't want to talk to anyone, but it didn't matter, whoever it was just walked in. "Beth, seriously? I've been knocking for...ten...minutes." She trailed off as she saw the state her friend was in. "Hey, what happened?"

"N-nothing. What's um...what's going on?" She sniffled, trying to wipe away the tears. Caroline immediately went over and sat besides her.

"This isn't nothing. Talk to me, Beth." She nudged her.

Beth hesitated. She didn't want to tell anyone that Kol was there, but she knew that she could trust her friend. "I brought Kol back with me, and I didn't tell anyone else because I wanted to keep him safe. We...we got into a fight about me being friends with Klaus. And he said he didn't trust me and I went off with Klaus and...and we kissed."

Caroline started choking on air. "You w-what? With Klaus!"

Beth teared up again. "I know, but I came right back home and he left. He said he needed some time to feed or he'd say something he'd regret, but I haven't seen him since two night ago." She couldn't help but start crying again. Caroline hugged her. She knew that her friend made a mistake, because anyone could see how much she loved Kol.

"Hey, it's okay. It's going to be fine. I promise." She said soothingly. "Hey, you made a mistake, but we all do. And Kol he'll be back. He couldnt' stay away from you, you know that."

"He was upset, Care." She wiped her eyes. "I mean he was really angry. What...what if he doesn't come back at all? I know that you don't really like any of them but...I love him. I really love him and I can't lose Kol too." She said looking down.

Caroline understood. She felt the way about Kol, like she did about Tyler. He meant a lot to her. "Hey, that idiot, he's crazy about you. The way he looks at you, you just know that he loves you. He'll come back to you. I know that he will. You'll fight, and get into an argument, but by the end of the night, I guarantee you'll both be in bed. Okay? Don't worry about it." She rubbed her arm comfortingly.

She nodded. She hoped that Caroline was right. "So um what did you come over for?' She wiped her eyes standing up.

"Well, we needed your help with Elena. Klaus took her because she started having hallucinations after killing the hunter. He tried to hurt Jeremy. Klaus said he's keeping her safe, but Stefan still wants her back. We were going to ask you for some help with keeping him busy, but I know you probably want to avoid him."

Beth hesitated. She really didn't want to see Klaus right now, but she knew that it would be horrible of her not to help them, even if it was once again for Elena, she promised to help Damon. "N-no, it's um...it's fine. I need a drink anyways. A really, very strong drink."

Caroline looked concerned but nodded standing up as well. "I'll meet you outside then." Beth sighed as she left the room. She couldn't stay cooped up inside, she'd go crazy, crying about it wouldn't help her at all. There was nothing she could do until Kol came back. She had to at least leave the apartment for a little while, even if she knew that seeing Klaus wouldn't help her situation with Kol.

xxxxx

Beth sat at the grill drinking. She really didn't want to be there, and wanted to just stay at home and soak in her own self-loathing, but that wouldn't help anyone. Not to mention Caroline would kill her for letting her outfit that she picked out go to waste. She was surprised that Klaus wasn't there yet, but she knew that it was only a matter of time. And just like she thought she saw the familiar hybrid come and take a seat next to her. He had a small grin on his face. "I'm surprised that you're not with my brother now. I'm sure he would have wanted to reconnect with you."

"Yeah well he kind of ran after I told him about Italy." She told him looking into her cup. She swore she saw a bit of sadness from Klaus. "I doubt that he'll want to come and see me any time soon. I'm sure that you're ecstatic about that."

"I'm never happy about your misery, love. I'm sorry for my part." He honestly told her as he handed her a drink. She gave him a sad smile and started to sip it. They sat drinking in silence for a while until he decided to change the subject. "I'm sure you already know that the hunter is dead, but the sword should help when we find another one."

"Yes, I did and I also know that you took Elena."

"All for her own good, sweetheart.' He told her knowingly. She rolled her eyes taking another sip of her drink. "I am sorry about Kol. I know my brother, he just needs time to come around. It's not the first time that you two have fought."

She didn't want to talk about Kol with him, possibly helping get Elena out of there would make her job that more easier. "I could accept your apology if you would release Elena. Damon and Stefan can look after her."

"I'm afraid I can't. She needs my help." She rolled her eyes at him again but that just made him grin. At least she was still talking to him. "Look I'm not going to burden you with the gory details, I know you have enough on your plate already."

"None of your business." Beth snapped turning to look away from him.

"I never meant to hurt you in any ways." He told her sincerely. He didn't regret the kiss. He's been wanting that for a long time, but that didn't mean that her being in pain brought any joy to him. He wasn't going to ruin what they had. He wanted her, more than anything, but he was going to get her by making her sad. "Let me buy you a drink to make up for it? As friends?" She looked at him half surprised and nodded. He smiled at her.

Almost an hour later they were still there. It felt good to talk to him again. She knew that at least they were steering clear of conversations about the kiss or Kol. She had messages coming in and she quickly saw most of them were from Damon and Caroline. She groaned knowing she would have to tell Klaus. She gave him a weak smile that he returned. "Hey, um so something kinda happened. I didn't just come here to get a drink by myself."

"You don't say?" He grinned at her.

She bit her lip before continuing. "Well, I came here to get out of the house, and then I needed to distract you so Stefan could get Elena out of your mansion, but, please don't yell...he lost her." She smiled sheepishly and his face went to surprise to anger within a split second. Without another word, he jumped up out of his seat. "Klaus!"

"Elizabeth, you're beautiful, but if you don't stop talking I'll..."

Beth took the opportunity of him not being able to finish his sentence to interrupt him. "They found a way to cure her of her hallucinations." She quickly got out. He hesitated before nodding.

"Tell me everything."

xxxxx

Beth was in a worst mood than before. Not only did she have no idea where Kol was, or if he was even still in town, she probably just screwed them up more by agreeing to go on a date with Klaus just so they could have one of his hybrids that Jeremy had to kill to become a hunter. She felt horrible about that too and now she had to walk back home This was not her night. Damon owed her big time.

It was freezing cold and she wanted nothing more than to just be with Kol. She started tearing up at the thought of not ever being with him, but Caroline was right, wasn't she? I mean they loved each other they would work it out. They always did. She was snapped out of her thoughts by a familiar doppelganger walking her way. "Elena?" She looked confused and scared. She knew that she must still have hallucinations. "Elena, it's me. It's Beth. You're okay. Just calm down."

"N-no, you're not real. You're dead." She said her voice shaking. Beth took a step forward, but before she knew what was happening, a fire poker was driven through her stomach. Elena still shaking from stabbing her zipped off. Beth grabbed her stomach in pain. She wanted to take it out but knew that she wouldn't be able to do it without more blood loss.

She stumbled over and gripped onto a tree. She felt so sick. She didn't know how she was going to get home. Beth slipped down to the ground and managed to dig her phone out of her pocket. Calling Damon, she hoped he would pick up, but he did just the opposite. She cried out in pain and closed her eyes as the pain worsened.

She tried to open her eyes to call Kol, but she knew that he wouldn't answer. He hadn't the last few times she tried, but she could barely keep her eyes open. The pain was getting to her and she felt herself starting to fade in and out. The cell phone slipped out of her grip and fell to the floor. "Elizabeth!" She somehow managed to hear a voice, but couldn't get her eyes open. She felt someone gently brushing her hair back.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth, please just open your eyes. Elizabeth! You owe me this, wake up...please. I need you." She finally managed the strength to open her eyes to see her savior, Kol. He was there and he looked afraid, more scared than she had seen him and he had blood on him. It took her a minute before she realize it was her blood. "Oh thank God. I need you to stay awake, love, please."

"I-it...it hurts, Kol." She mumbled out.

"I know. It's okay, just...just give me a moment. I promise you'll be better in a minute. I promise." He told her soothingly. He slowly pulled the poker out of her stomach and immediately bit into his wrist putting it to her mouth. "Drink, Elizabeth, I'm not asking." She felt the blood fall onto her lips and she slowly started to drink until she felt better and the pain was starting to fade. Once he was positive she had enough, Kol scooped her into his arms and ran them home.

They were back within a matter of minute, by that time, the blood had completely done it's work and she felt better than before. Kol was still concerned, but torn because he was still angry, but her health came first. He had enough time to cool down to not completely yell at her. He set her down on the counter in the bathroom. He gently cleaned up whatever blood had dried on her and him. "You don't have to do that."

"I know. Who did this to you?" He demanded. No matter how angry he was, no one hurt Elizabeth.

"It was an accident, Elena did it, but she was hallucinating." She explained. He grit his teeth and nodded. She automatically touched his hand. "Please. Don't leave tonight?"

She sighed as he remained quiet and he went to get her a shirt and sweatpants. "Thank you." She smiled weakly. He nodded and left the room, letting her dress in peace. She happy to see that he had at least given her one of his shirts. She quickly got changed to see Kol waiting for her. "Thank you for coming and helping me."

"I smelled your blood and came. I could never just leave you there." He told her seriously. She nodded, looking down and sat next to him. "I'm surprised that Klaus wasn't there to help you." He said with a hint of bitterness to his comment. She sighed.

"No, he wasn't. Kol...I'm sorry. What happened there never should've happened. I made a mistake because I was angry, and caught up in the moment a-and hurt and wasn't thinking straight."

"You kissed him back, Elizabeth." He said coldly. "You...you kissed him."

"I'm not the only one who screws up, Kol. You slept with someone while we were together." She reminded him.

"And that was literally a century ago! You still kissed Nik, Elizabeth. And that was now." He told her upset.

"I know...I'm sorry, Kol." She apologized sincerely. He sighed and stood up running a hand through her head. "I'm human, Kol, I make mistakes and that was one of my worst ones, because I hurt you. And I'm so sorry. You have to know that. I love you, I meant that. I want you and I'm so sorry. I could say that for years and it'll never be enough, but I am, but as soon as I realized how this could affect you I stopped and came back. So I'm sorry."

Beth stopped rambling when he finally looked up at her. "Why did you come back?" He asked. "What made you pull away from my brother."

"Because I knew that I wanted to be here with you, in this little apartment, than somewhere like Italy, without you." She told him honestly. He took a step towards her and cupped her face.

"Good answer." He said to her surprise. She smiled weakly.

"I'm so sorry, Kol. You should hate me, you really should."

"It's impossible to hate you, darling. I want to be angry at you, but I can't. Knowing that I could've lost you again, I just can't." He sighed and she risked it and leaned in to kiss him slowly. To her surprise he kissed her back, desperate to know that she was truly okay.

"I'm so sorry, I love you. I'm sorry." She said quickly when he pulled away. He nodded and pulled her into his arms, breathing her in. The only thing stopping him from going to find and hit his brother was the fact that she was hurt and even when she was Italy with Nik, she still came back to him. He knew that she loved him.

"I know. I've just been through a lot to get you, more than you know. I love you too." He kissed her head holding her close. Somehow, they found there way into bed. He kept her close as she rested her head on his chest.

"I'm an idiot."

"Yeah you are." She hit his arm and he chuckled as he kissed her head. "I was kidding, darling. You're not an idiot. You've made mistakes, as I have." He smiled down at her and kissed her quickly going. "I'm sorry for saying I didn't trust you."

"Even though you now have a reason not to." She mumbled. "Especially since I was being an idiot and wanted to help Damon and Elena and told Klaus if he helped them, than I would do something for him."

She didn't continue which made Kol think the worst. "Please tell me that he didn't want to be alone with you." He asked worried.

"He wanted a date." She sighed.

"No way!" Kol snapped shooting out of bed to his feet, in anger. He wasn't going to have a repeat of what happened in Italy. He didn't trust his brother with her alone. "He just wants to have you alone and to himself again. I'm not letting that happen."

Beth sat up, sighing. "But it doesn't mean anything. Just part of a deal. It's not even like a real date."

"But it is, Elizabeth. Something that we've barely done. We've only had one date." He reminded her, but it didn't really seem like it to either of them. They had both been through a lot, it didn't seem like they hadn't been on any dates together.

She held onto his hand. "Hey, no date can ever compare to the one we had at the ball. And it doesn't mean anything, Kol. I'm serious." She squeezed his hand and he seemed to have calm down.

He ran a hand through his hair. 'Then I get to go too."

"On a date?" She rolled her eyes at him. This was something that Kol would say. "It'll probably just be at a movie or something where I can put a whole row between us.'

Kol shrugged sitting back down next to her. "I'll sit in the back then, through popcorn at his head." He smiled, as he brushed back her hair gently and she laughed. "I don't like the thought of you being alone with him again.'

"I know, but nothing will happen. I promise. It doesn't mean anything. I just want you. I mean that, Kol." She told him seriously, touching his cheek. "I'm yours, you're mine, remember?" She smiled weakly and he returned the smile and leaned in to kiss her slowly, before pulling back and getting back into the bed with her. "I just didn't want to lie or keep this from you."

Kol sigh ed. "I'm glad you didn't. It's just another thing for me to hit my brother over. Elizabeth, I just want to be there for you. You've been keeping me out of things, at arms length. I know that you're worried about me, but, I'm an Original, darling. Whatever we have to get through, we'll get through together." He told her sincerely kissing her hand.

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Kol. I promise. I'll include you more, you're just one person that I can't bear to lose." She told him. "You're the one I want to be with. I love you, Kol, always and forever."

"You won't." He promised her. "I love you too, always and forever." He soon felt her drift off into sleep. The anxiety and exhaustion from the day going away. He smiled as he pulled her close, knowing that she was his, and there to stay.