Chapter 7

"Well I was able to find the spell in your mother's grimoire," she told the originals once everyone was assembled in the living room that afternoon. Rebekah and Stefan had gotten closer all school day and now she was curled up next to him on the couch.

"It's a very old spell and very powerful. In fact it almost borders on Expression magic," Bonnie said and that obviously registered with the Mikaelsons. "If it had been successful…" She stopped and all the vampires could smell her fear and despair. Caroline and Stefan frowned because Bonnie was almost as anti-vampire as one could get.

"It's okay," Elijah said gently, "you can continue."

"If it had been successful it would have killed all of you and all of the vampires in your lineage. So everyone in this room except me and Elena," Bonnie said. "However, it was interrupted and had a different effect. Instead of removing your existence it temporarily removed your memories. I checked the text twice but it was very specific about the effect being temporary. Now I have no idea how long temporary is…if it's people temporary then maybe a couple of months max. If its original vampire kind of temporary…I may be long gone before you remember the last thing we said to one another before this happened."

The room was silent and everyone was sobered by their thoughts. Bonnie looked around at their faces. Elijah and Klaus seemed okay with the facts. Rebekah was looking deeply into Stefan's eyes and Bonnie wondered what had transpired between them today at school. Kol however looked a little distraught.

"What are you doing?" Klaus asked as he leaned over Caroline.

"It's called homework. It is additional study and learning time for school," Caroline said as she marked her place with her pen and turned her attention to him. He settled in the seat next to her.

"How often do you go to this school?"

"Five days a week"

"That's too much"

"Sometimes I would agree with you," Caroline sighed.

"What are you studying?"

"English literature actually," Caroline said. "We're reading Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing but it's putting me to sleep…"

"Perhaps I could help…" Klaus suggested. They scooted together and began to read from the book.

'I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?' Caroline started with a frown.

'I know none of that name, lady: there was none such in the army of any sort' Klaus said. He smiled as he skimmed ahead and began to get the gist. They read through the dialogue and soon they were both completely immersed as they read along.

"Okay, okay," Caroline laughed. "I only had to do through act two tonight. Wow that's actually really funny. Thank you."

"My pleasure fair Beatrix," Klaus grinned and Caroline giggled again.

"Isn't there something else to do besides go to school?" Rebekah asked. "Does everyone just stay home all the time?"

"No," Elena answered.

"What's this place that everyone in school keeps talking about – a grill? Is that like a communal fire?"

"It's a restaurant," Caroline replied.

"What is a restaurant?" Elijah asked.

"It's a place people go and socialize while eating food," Elena explained.

"I want to go Elijah," Rebekah pleaded to her brother.

"Elena would it be possible for us to go?" Elijah asked. Elena looked to Stefan.

"If it was just the two sets of us it should work," Stefan said.

Elena drove the BMW and they made their way into The Grill. Elena led them to a quiet back booth and settled on one side a little surprised when Elijah joined her leaving Stefan and Rebekah on the other side.

Matt came over to take their order and looked at them strangely.

"What will it be?" he asked.

"I'll have the chef salad with blue cheese dressing," Elena ordered.

"I'll have a cheeseburger," Stefan requested.

"I'd like a cheeseburger too please," Rebekah smiled.

"What would you recommend?" Elijah looked to Elena.

"Steak is always good," Elena suggested.

"I'll have a steak medium rare please," Elijah ordered. Matt spared them another glance and then left.

"This place is great," Rebekah smiled. She looked around at the other people before laying her head against Stefan's shoulder. Elena's eyed widened a moment but then she relaxed. Matt brought their food and Elena savored her salad. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal.

Afterwards on the drive home Rebekah leaned in and kissed Stefan. Elena caught it in the rearview mirror. Stefan hesitated a moment but then cupped her cheek to kiss her back. Elena smiled gently. Maybe this was the chance to start over that they really needed without all the baggage. Elijah's hand suddenly came to rest atop hers on the automatic stick. Elena gasped a moment but then her eyes met his. He smiled at her and she smiled back. His thumb began to caress her hand and Elena had to use all her concentration to get them home.

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