Chapter 12

He was packing. There was no one who could stop him and besides there wouldn't be anyone trying to stop him.

He had to leave-he just had to.

Meanwhile, as Elijah was getting things ready for him to leave that afternoon, Bonnie looked to Kol, "you know what would be absolutely fabulous right now? An ice cream sundae, a real, old fashioned ice cream sundae." As she spoke she watched Davina and Caroline's eyes light up.

"How about Kol, you and Jeremy take us girls for ice cream sundaes. If that would be alright with everyone?"

"I'm game." Jeremy said, wanting to get out of the house. Marcel nodded and flashed out of there before any other Original siblings caught them leaving.

Elena smiled at them sadly before covering it up. She wasn't going to be weak around everyone.

Last time she did, she was betrayed.

It wouldn't happen again.

Bonnie appeared on Kol's back a second later. "Psst Elena are you coming? Hurry up!"

Elena gave a slight nod of her head.

"Of course."

Marcel directed them to a restaurant that specializes in a giant ice cream sundae. Jeremy and Davina took a table for two away from the others who took a larger table. As they waited for their orders Bonnie hugged Elena and Caroline tightly.

"I have missed you both so much!"

"We've missed you too!" Elena told her with a serene smile.

It was a total 180 from her cold and calculating persona to her sweet and cute one.

"Wow Elena that gives a whole new meaning to flip the switch!" Bonnie sighed with a relieved smile.

"Yes BonBon was all worked up about you two last night," Kol outed her fears and got a slap to the arm for his troubles.

"Kol!"

"What? Were you not the one that said 'I'm really worried about Elena and Caroline. This cold hostility just isn't like them'?" Kol said in a sing-song version of Bonnie.

"Kol Mi-" before she could get the rest out his lips were on hers.

"I wouldn't announce that out loud darling. It's not safe around here."

"Yeah-you don't want to mention any of the Originals' last names nor mine either." Elena cautioned when she stood up to make a phone call to someone.

"Is there a reason why we can't?" Bonnie asked.

"My family helped build this place up before Mikael found us and chased us away from here." Kol said sadly to her.

"But Mikael is dead."

"That doesn't mean they don't still have enemies Bon," Care said.

"My last name probably isn't a good idea either then," Bonnie said and both Caroline and Kol nodded.

"So Marcel what is your part in all this? I want you to know that currently I'm like Switzerland in all this."

"I'm Klaus' adopted son and he sired me when my own daddy tried to kill me." He had a distant look in his eyes. "Each of the Originals raised me."

Bonnie was surprised. "Klaus doesn't seem like the fatherly type." He chuckled.

"He was good with me but Elijah took over for a bit." Bonnie could see that. "Then Kol had these men teach me Shakespeare but killed them."

Kol had his hands up in defense. "They killed his works."

Marcel nodded. "So Elijah found us, took me back and daggered Kol for being a horrible influence."

Bonnie reached and put her hand atop Kol's. He flipped his hand over and threaded her fingers through his as though it was the most natural thing in the world. A moment later their ice creams arrived.

"I can't believe Rebekah is pregnant," Elena marveled.

"It's a very powerful Nature magic spell but it's possible for any two vampires to procreate provided there is some original blood in there somewhere," Bonnie said. "I just hope she can handle it."

"Don't we all wish that?" Caroline murmured with a dark voice. Kol raised an eyebrow at her. "Marcel and I were there when Rebekah said what she said on the phone to Elena."

Bonnie was looking at all four of them. "What phone call?"

Kol gave her the short version and Bonnie felt her anger rise. Elena sensed this like Kol did and grabbed her hand.

"It's his loss." Elena murmured to her. "He lost my friendship, trust and loyalty. As well as calling himself my ally."

"They're so cute together," Bonnie said under her breath as she looked at Jeremy and Davina knowing that they wouldn't hear her but the table full of vampires would.

"Kol it's good to have you back in the city," Marcel said. "Not that you were ever one for reining your brother Klaus in though if there was ever a time this is it."

"I can try Marcel but I doubt that it will work. You're better off asking Elijah or Rebekah to do it." Marcel groaned.

"Do you think that they will agree to rein in Klaus?" Now it was Kol's turn to groan.

"It's a possibility."

"What in God's name does he want this time?" Bonnie sighed. "Elijah is typically so level-headed if only he couldn't be bullied around by Klaus..."

"What I'm not the level-headed one?" Kol teased.

"Well lately you have been," Bonnie had to concede. "I wouldn't have made it through this without you. You saved me."

"Klaus wants to be King again." Bonnie gaped at him. "I'm not giving up this throne to him." He looked at Caroline and nodded. "Besides-I think that Elena would be the perfect Queen."

Each one looked at the brunette who was eating her ice cream sundae in a ladylike fashion. She was wide eyed at Marcel.

"You want me to be Queen?" she choked.

Bonnie quietly bowed out of the conversation. How could they fight over something when they were only ever there for short periods of time? Did anyone really own a whole city of people? She had always imagined money ruled a city. She supposed in the supernatural world things worked differently. She turned her attention to Davina and Jeremy only to find the table empty. She blushed as she realized Jeremy was likely making out with Davina just outside.

"Umm...Elena?" said girl looked at her. "Jeremy's got a girlfriend who he's making out with outside."

Elena held her hand out and Marcel placed two one hundred dollar bills in it before she slid it into her pocket and left to go talk to them.

"Did you bet on Jeremy and Davina getting together?" Caroline asked and as Marcel nodded, she shook her head.

"Yes well if I remember you owe me a grand," Marcel told Caroline with a raised brow.

"I don't know..." Caroline pretended to mull it over. "I haven't seen any solid evidence..."

He chuckled at her and kissed her lightly. Holding her hand still, he turned to Kol.

"Please Kol...just find a way to rein in your brother. I don't care how you do it-just do it for me." Marcel nearly begged.

"That could earn him a dagger," Bonnie worried with an angry frown. Suddenly small dark veins began to creep up her arms. Kol saw and pulled her onto his lap letting her bury her face in his shoulder. A couple of moments later the lines receded and she returned to her chair.

"Excuse me," she blushed, "I haven't had a relapse in a couple of weeks now."

Caroline turned worried. "Expression?" she asked and at Kol's nod, she began to have a mini panic attack.

"Don't worry love," Kol tried to soothe Caroline, "I've had her on a strenuous detox routine and she hasn't practiced it in months but she's gone through my blood faster than usual the last couple of days and she hasn't replenished like she usually does. I'm guessing because she wasn't sure how everyone would react. She's going to be fine. It hadn't completely taken hold."

"Oh thank god!" Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. Looking, she glowered at the door. Kol turned to see Klaus walk in. His eyes spotted his brother.

"Excuse me," Kol said as he got up to greet his brother. "What are you doing here brother?"

"I was just taking a stroll and saw this place." Klaus offered him a friendly smile.

"You're not doing yourself any favors brother," Kol said firmly. "You and Elijah burned your bridges. What do you want?"

"To have a conversation with a brother who I had thought died." He stared him in the eye. "If I had wanted to talk to Caroline, I will." His voice held a dark promise to it.

Kol scoffed. "She'll have you in the Garden." Klaus shrugged.

"Come now brother, can't you spare some time to talk to me? I have no desire to talk to the girls and I doubt that Elijah wants to speak to them either."

"Excuse me a moment," Kol told his brother. He walked back to Bonnie and knelt down between her and Caroline. "Bonnie, Nik wants to visit with me for a while. If I don't get back by the time I'm done Caroline will you keep her safe and get her where she needs to go?"

Caroline nodded and Kol walked back to Klaus leading him out of the restaurant.

"Okay brother, I'm here let's talk," Kol offered him a smile.

"I was hoping you could tell me why you had to get the cure out of play and use your death like that to do it." Kol glowered at him.

"Since no one would listen to me about it, I decided that when Katerina and Damon tried to kill me which failed epically, I'll use that to my advantage."

Klaus nodded but Elijah, who just walked in after Klaus told him that Kol would be meeting with him, decided to ask him something.

"Why did you allow the rumors of your death to be at Elena and Jeremy's hands?" Kol shook his head.

"As no one could tell Katerina and Elena apart, those that knew hated it but Elena said that it had to happen. If she told one person, another person would say something else."

"How's she doing?"

"She's hurting because of you, Rebekah and Hayley. I have a feeling that she'll never want to be around you anymore." Kol said sadly to him. It was sad as he could see them together but now, it was just a fantasy. A dream.

"Never is a long time," Elijah said gently. "I have to at least try Kol. I thought you were dead. I thought my baby brother was dead, Kol. Before that I...Kol she means something to me." Kol had never seen his brother so unwound. Elijah was always the epitome of put together but one girl, Elena could change all that.

"You can try but I sincerely doubt that she will want to talk to you after that." Elijah nodded with his head bowed low.

"What about Caroline?" Klaus asked and Kol snorted.

"If I had to choose between you two as to which one might actually have a chance at talking to them...none of you have a chance anymore."

"You're partially responsible for this Kol," Klaus glowered.

"No," Elijah countered, "he's not. All I had to do was check. All I had to do was ask but instead I was so eager to lay blame at someone's feet. She loves her family. I should have never assumed that she could hurt mine when she knew how much you mean to me. Maybe I should go...not be a reminder to her. I don't want to hurt her."

"So you're going to leave?" Kol couldn't believe his ears. His brother was actually planning on leaving New Orleans. "Where will you go if you do leave?"

"England." Elijah gave him a weak grin. "It's a safe distance away and don't worry, I won't call her. She won't see me or even hear me. She'll be happier."

"But you'll be miserable." Kol pointed out. He glared at Klaus. "Aren't you going to help me persuade our brother that leaving is foolish?" He demanded.

"It's his life Kol," Klaus told him. "If he wants to leave, let him."

"Elijah...please. Please don't leave me." Kol begged. "I need you more than I need Klaus or Rebekah. I need my big brother. Please don't go."

"You have Bonnie now Kol, don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at each other," Elijah gave him a brief smile.

"That's just it Elijah. What the hell do I know about love-about real love. Elijah I need you. I don't want to mess this up. I was just helping her detox from expression and then..."

"Do you really want relationship advice from me?" Elijah gave him a rue smile. "In case you haven't noticed, I have no love life and I highly doubt that you'll ruin this."

"I know that I'm going to mess up and I need you big brother." Kol pulled out the big guns with widening his eyes and looking like a little kid again. "Please 'Lijah. Stay."

That technique wasn't working so he tried a different approach.

"Trust me Elijah before you accused her of murdering me Elena was in love with you. Only a broken heart can sow as many tears as I dried. Remember I'm the brother whose favorite play was to clean up the ones that fell for you two and got their hearts broken. I was the one-night stand revenge sex champion. I don't want to do that anymore. I was getting her clean Elijah and she needed my blood and I could have given it to her in a glass... But I didn't and she found this spell that gives her fangs and she's so beautiful Elijah. She's so strong one minute and so fragile the next...and I need her Elijah...I need her."

"Then don't ruin it." He patted him on the back. "I have to leave the states...as much as I love you little brother, I want you to thrive and I want her to be happy. The only way is for me to leave tonight."

Kol shook his head. "No." Kol wasn't going to give up without a fight. "You promised me 'always and forever' and I want that. Here with you." He turned to groveling. "Don't let me stay here with Nik and Bekah. I'll go insane or be daggered."

"There is rather a high probability of that," Klaus had to agree. "You call him down when he's out of line. I just put him in time out. I have a feeling than at wouldn't work well for Bonnie."

"Elijah how often have I asked you for something? Really asked you? I'm asking you now Elijah," Kol said sincerely, "please 'Lijah."

Meanwhile inside Bonnie had gone quiet. She had abandoned the last few bites of her sundae and then she had become antsy. Finally she had started towards the door only to have Caroline hot on her heels. Bonnie hurried out the door and around to the nearest alley. Caroline caught her and pinned her against the wall before she reached the brothers.

Elijah looked to Bonnie and Caroline before looking to Kol, "that is what love looks like. If Klaus or I laid a hand on you right now a thousand says we would be on the ground in seconds."

Kol turned to Bonnie and Caroline before looking back at his brothers. "That would be correct big brother."

Elijah smiled. "You got me to stay, I'll try to control Niklaus and stay out of the girls' way."

Kol smiled, "and help me not ruin things with Bonnie?"

"Oh we're going to have a long talk about that later. Don't think I wasn't listening earlier. It sounds like you're in deep. Perhaps you could use some advice after all...if you'll listen."

"Caroline its okay. I was just convincing Elijah that he couldn't cut out on the family reunion," Kol called. "On the other hand around the corner there Elena's baby brother and Marcel's protégé just rounded second base."

"Elena's going to have a field day with that." Caroline groaned. She saw her best friend go over to them and flash them away somewhere.

"I think that she's really angry." Bonnie shivered. "Maybe we should all go back and discuss Hayley's punishment?"

VVVV