A.N.- If you liked this chapter and/or have any questions or comments then please review, thanks :)
Also, I'm trying to add in a few elements from the show, as you'll find in this chapter. However, I'm still not following the show's plot - I prefer going in my own direction.
Song: Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams
Belle rummaged through the closet in search of something white, a color she despised and rarely wore - many of her childhood dresses had been white and she had always hated them.
It was the day of New Orleans' annual Casket Girls Festival and she only had seven hours until the celebration would begin. New Orleans was know for its parties and parades, one of the things she had always loved. Each festival was packed with history and culture, not to mention the drunk tourists that made perfect party favors.
She huffed once she decided to give up. "I guess I have to go dress shopping," she muttered as she pulled the closet doors shut.
As she walked down the hallway, she heard Elijah's voice coming from Hayley's room. She couldn't resist snooping, or rather "attending to her curiosity" as she preferred to put it.
Elijah stood behind Hayley after he zipped up the back of her dress. "I think you look lovely." He smiled before he began unzipping the dress for her. Hayley clutched it to her chest.
Belle, still lingering in the doorway, cleared her throat obnoxiously. Hayley and Elijah whipped their heads around to look at her. Elijah's hands slipped in the process, causing him to rip the back of the dress a little.
Hayley sighed. "Damn." Belle wasn't sure whether Hayley was upset about the dress tearing or about her moment with Elijah being ruined.
"What are you doing, Belinda?" Elijah glared at her like they were two children on a beach and she had just demolished his sandcastle.
She chuckled, shaking her head at them. "I was going to ask Hayley if she needed a dress since I'm about to go get one myself. Clearly you do now." She gestured to Hayley.
"Yeah, just give me a minute to change." Hayley grabbed a pair of leggings and a sweater from a pile on her bed. She went into her bathroom and shut the door.
Belle smirked at Elijah before she turned and left. She passed by Rebekah just a few steps down the hall.
"If you're going to get a dress I'm go with you," Rebekah said, standing in Belle's path with a slightly self-righteous posture.
Belle rolled her eyes. "Please, feel free to just invite yourself."
Rebekah shrugged. "I am the reason behind this whole Casket Girls commemoration after all."
"Yes, we've all heard the story a million times. Once upon a time you selflessly rescued a group of helpless, innocent girls. Blah blah blah." She didn't try to hide the irritation in her voice. Hopefully Rebekah would get annoyed and decide to go shopping on her own time. To her dismay, Rebekah stubbornly refused to budge. Belle exhaled loudly. "We're leaving as soon as Hayley's ready. I'm driving."
Hayley rounded the corner, adjusting her shirt a little. "I'm ready." She eyed the two vampires expectantly.
Belle nodded and they headed out. However, before they reached the exit Klaus walked by, eyebrows raised in suspicion. "Where are you lot off to?" He glanced at Hayley apprehensively.
"Relax, we're just going down the street to find dresses for tonight. I'll babysit Hayley if that's what you're worried about," Belle said, glancing back at the pregnant werewolf.
Hayley seemed annoyed. "Yeah, I'm not a child and I'm not a prisoner."
"I never said you were, love. By all means, carry on." There was a twinge of uncertainty in his voice. It wasn't that he was concerned about Hayley so much as he was concerned about the baby she was carrying.
Belle gave him a reassuring look that said, "don't worry, I'll keep her safe". He nodded. They continued their path to the front gate and walked down to the end of the block where Belle's car was parked.
They got in drove for a few minutes until they pulled up in front of a small dress shop at the edge of the French Quarter. It was packed with other women doing their last-minute shopping for the celebration. There were racks full of nothing but white dresses throughout the entire store.
"Let's not take forever. That means you, Beks" The three girls headed off in their own directions. It was a small store; they could easily find one another if needed. Belle kept an eye on Hayley as she reviewed the selection of dresses in the maternity section.
It didn't take Belle long to find her dress - she knew she'd probably hate it anyway. She brought it up to the counter to pay.
Standing near the counter was a little girl, no older than 6 or 7 with long black hair and brown eyes. She was holding up a little white dress, admiring the lace detail. Belle swallowed hard, painfully being reminded of her daughter. The girl's mother walked up behind her and grabbed her by the arm gently. "Come on Jenna, we have to go." The girl turned around and nodded. Her mother took the dress from her small hands and hung it back up on the rack. The woman met Belle's eyes for a second, politely smiling. Belle smiled back, trying to hide the envy that welled up inside her.
"Miss," the cashier called, pulling Belle from her daze. She smiled apologetically and handed the man the dress and swiped her credit card once it was scanned. She spotted Hayley on the opposite end of the store and walked over her.
"Need any help?"
Hayley was putting a stack of at least four dresses back on the rack. She turned to Belle, looking a little defeated. "Yes. I've tried on almost every dress in my size and I can't find anything I like."
Belle nodded understandingly. "Well, fear not. I'm sure I can find you something."
Hayley smiled. "Thanks."
They searched for half an hour until they finally found the perfect dress. "This is the one." Hayley grasped either end of the skirt and spinning a little to get a better look.
Belle smiled a little. "Great. You go change and then I'll pay for it. But first, I need to go find Original Barbie."
She found Rebekah at the front of the store. Rebekah, as expected, wasn't done yet. "Come on princess. It's a festival, not a wedding. Hurry up." She tapped her foot impatiently.
Rebekah scoffed. "I've never understood where you get off telling me what to do - I'm an Original, therefore I'm older and stronger than you." She turned to face Belle with her arms crossed over her chest and pouty lips.
"Okay, you've got the Original part right, but we both know I'm still stronger."
Rebekah stepped closer to Belle, trying to intimidate her. "You're a little too confident. Perhaps we should test your theory."
The offer tempted her, but her rationality kicked in just in time. Rebekah usually only acted that way when she had fought with someone earlier. It always put her in an unusually aggressive mood. Belle's money was on Marcel. "You can just stay here and walk home, okay? I'll take Hayley home."
Rebekah just nodded and continued flipping through the racks. Belle found Hayley, paid for the dress, and the two of them left.
They pulled into Belle's parking space little while later. Before they got out, Belle looked at Hayley. "Hey," Hayley turned to face her, curiosity sparked in her eyes. "You seem like the kind of girl who knows what she wants, so I'll give you a piece of advice I wish someone had given me. Don't be afraid to do what scares you. Go for what you want, before it's too late."
Hayley seemed to understand what Belle meant without her having to actually come out and say it. She nodded before opening her door and stepping out. Belle did the same.
"You should take your own advice," Hayley said suddenly.
Belle was a little dumbstruck. She had taught many people life lessons over the years, but no one had ever turned one around on her. She couldn't help but think that maybe Hayley was right.
The sun had set and the festival was in full swing. Belle stood in front of the mirror as she smoothed out her dress. The lace hem came down to an inch or two above her knees. The dress had a deep-v neckline and its sleeves were long and laced and went a little past her wrists. She didn't love it, but she didn't hate it. At least it looks good, she thought. She headed downstairs and went outside where the celebration was.
The city was alive with color and music. She found Klaus standing along the street as the parade marched by. "These festivals are probably my favorite thing about this city," she said, not taking her eyes off the parade.
"Is that why you came back here? For the festivals?" Bitterness dripped from every word.
She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you my true intentions. Really." Her eyes wandered to his stone face.
He continued to avoid her eyes. "You waited eight hundred years before you started lying to me. That's longer than most I suppose." He seemed unsure of how to feel, somewhere between angry and understanding.
"I didn't want to. I just, I couldn't give up on it. I still can't." She chewed her bottom lip nervously. "Can you forgive me?" No one could deny the desperation that filled her voice.
He didn't answer, he simply walked away. She saw uncertainty mixed with yearning flash across his face before he had turned away.
Hayley's words rang in her head, "You should take your own advice." For a moment she was ready to listen to her and chase after him, but fear struck her. She felt stuck. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She was a coward and she cursed herself for it.
Defeated, she turned and walked in the opposite direction. She wouldn't let him ruin her evening.
Apparently Klaus had the same mentality. A few minutes later, she saw him drinking with Marcel and some nightwalkers, seeming to be having the time of his life. Normally in this situation she would go find Max, but she knew that would be a mistake. Besides, she didn't even know where he was.
She did, however, manage to find Josh. He was drinking alone against a brick wall looking broody.
She walked up to him, looking him over. "Why the long face?" She was both curious and concerned.
He took a drink of his beer before answering. "Your brother dumped me." He looked at her pathetically.
She frowned. "I'm sorry. What happened?" She had played the shoulder-to-cry-on more times than she cared to remember when it came to Max's exes.
"Why don't you ask him?"
Belle scoffed, leaning along the wall by him. "We're still not on speaking terms. I haven't seen him for a week." She exhaled deeply. They exchanged familiar upset expressions before Josh reached into the case of beer next to him and offered it to her. She had never liked cheap liquor - it tasted like river water to her, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She decided she would just stick with the one.
About two hours later she found herself back at the compound in the clothes she had worn earlier that day, sitting by her window and looking out at the city, deep in thought. She wasn't sure whether everyone else was still out or had already returned home. Honestly, she wouldn't notice either way.
She turned her head and looked around the room she didn't feel comfortable calling her own. The place she had once called home, the man she had once called friend, now seemed foreign. She felt unwanted, like she had over-stayed her welcome even though she had only been staying at the compound for a week. The way Klaus had looked at her earlier that night had ignited something inside her, pulling her back to reality. For once in what felt like a long time she felt like she could think clearly. She decided that she would be better off leaving. She would find Charlotte, who was still in the city, kill her, and leave. For once, she had to do what was right for her. So, she packed up what she had with her and headed downstairs.
Just before she reached the exit, she ran into Klaus. She was surprised to find him nearly sober. "Where are you going?" He seemed to notice her luggage and determined expression
"Back to my apartment. I've been staying here for a week, so I figured it's about time I head back. Besides, I'm sure Max is long gone," she lied. She wasn't lying to him really, more so to herself.
He didn't buy it. "Don't lie to me, Belle. Why are you leaving?"
She scoffed, moving around him. "Don't act like you care." She walked as fast as she could to her car. It was pouring rain so she doubted Klaus would follow her out. She threw her suitcase into the trunk of her car, but before she could get in she saw Klaus chasing after her. He stopped about fifty feet away from her. "What the hell are you doing?" The rain had completely soaked through her clothes by that point.
"You didn't answer me," he said, raising his voice, though she could have heard him clearly even if he had whispered.
"Yes I did." She was thankful no one else was around to see them arguing in the pouring rain like they were in The Notebook.
"You lied to me. I want the truth."
She laughed, though nothing he said was amusing to her. "The truth, you want the truth? Fine, here's your truth. I don't think I can stand being around you anymore."
He looked puzzled. "Why do you think that?" The wind was picking up, drowning out their words in its furry.
"Because your mood swings are driving me absolutely insane! You're hot one minute and cold the next. Do you forgive me, or don't you? Are we still friends or aren't we? Just tell me because I can't tell for myself." She felt angry tears stinging her eyes. She was glad he couldn't tell.
"What is it you want me to say?" He was clearly becoming more agitated by the second. They both were.
"I don't know! That's why I'm standing out here in the pouring rain like Rachel freaking McAdams! I don't know what I want!" She threw up her hands in frustration.
He took a few steps forward. "I understand now why you don't lie - you're terrible at it. You do know what you want, so just say it." His voice was kinder than before, but his annoyance was still there. "Say it."
Her mouth gaped slightly. She searched her thoughts for the right words, but she couldn't find any. She had waited centuries for this moment and now she had stage-fright. Part of her wanted to laugh. "I, I can't."
He raised an eyebrow. "Can't, or won't?" His patience was wearing thin.
She shook her head. It was her turn to walk away instead of answering. She had forgotten about her car, about where she was going. All she could think about was avoiding the words she was most afraid to say.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you." She trudged on through the rain. Tears were streaming down her face, disguised as raindrops.
"Belle," he called.
She whipped around to face him. "What?" she yelled. Her voice broke like glass.
Before she could register what was happening, he was right in front of her, just an inch away. He didn't speak. She didn't speak; she didn't get the chance to. He crashed his lips against hers with enough force to move Heaven and Earth. He kissed her with a passion she had never felt before, more powerful than anything she could imagine in her dizziest daydreams.
And she kissed him back with everything she had. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, entangling her fingers in his hair as she pulled him down to her. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her even closer.
Eight hundred years of truth came rushing to the surface. He didn't have to say it; he loved her. As deeply and purely as she loved him. That was all that mattered.