A.N. Guys... I know! I know! But ... here's the new chapter? I apologize! Anyway, forgive me, sorry and enjoy the story!

Pairings: Kol/Bella, Rebekah/Stefan, Klaus/Hayley, Elijah/Davina, Matt/Caroline, Bonnie/Jeremy, Damon/Elena

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or Twilight nor its characters.

The next morning, before her alarm could even go off, Kol was in her room, annoying her awake.

"Rise and shine, darling, a beautiful day awaits." He said cheekily, pulling the covers off of her, his face brightly smiling at hers, annoying her even more.

"Kol, no." She moaned, pulling her covers back over her and flicking her wrist to push him away from the bed.

"Ouch darling, I'm shocked." Kol smirked before moving closer toward the bed. "Is that any way to treat your mate?" Kol mock pouted at her but his eyes held his serious intensity.

"Kol," She half-whined, half-whispered, pulling him down onto the bed with her. "Just… five more minutes."

"Tut tut tut, poppet, you said that 20 minutes ago." He arranged himself into her bed, him lying on his back with her tucked into his side.

"20 minutes ago? My alarm hasn't even gone off yet! Now, no more talking. Me sleep now." She grumbled, snuggling right into that sweet spot and-

"Poppet, your alarm went off eons ago." Kol huffed, feigning annoyance. "But fine, 10 more minutes and only 10 more." He admonished and she smiled triumphantly.

"Thank you." She whispered before she went back to snuggling right there into that spot and falling fast asleep. When she woke up, feeling fresh and well rested, Kol was humming a soft tune she had never heard before.

"That's pretty." Her morning, crackly voice spoke.

"Thank you," He smiled. "My mother used to humm it. Are you rested enough now, poppet?"

"Yes." She stretched. "Much."

"That's good." He breathed out quietly, his eyes closed. It was the most relaxed Bella had ever seen the vampire and she reveled in the fact that she could do that to him. Her.

"What do you want to do today?" She asked softly, not wanting to break the peace that seemed to settle in the room.

"Just - stay here with you." He whispered back as he pulled her further onto his body.

"Okay." She whispered, nuzzling herself into his neck and inhaling his scent. A smile crept onto her face as she enjoyed the peace and quiet. After a while Kol spoke again, his voice just as quiet and soft as hers was and she assumed it was due to the peaceful quiet around them that neither wanted to disturb. She doubted they could.

"I've never had this before. I never wanted to have this before." Kol played with a piece of her hair as if what he had just admitted was nothing but it was something.

"Me neither." Bella whispered back and she knew that he knew that she knew what he meant.

"I've never felt like this for anyone in my entire life." Bella confessed.

"Me neither, darling - until now."

"Until now." Bella confirmed.

This was the most profound confession they had voiced all that morning. They cuddled, touched and rubbed each other's skin. It was comforting and it was … safe, something that the duo had never had before now. And she knew she wanted so much with him. She wanted to be the woman Kol needed and deserved, but it just… She knew she wasn't ready. And that bothered her, more than she'd ever care to admit.

"I - I like you," She started, nervous and anxious. "a lot. I might even lo-" She paused before continuing, altering her sentence. "I don't doubt our relationship, and I definitely don't want you to doubt it. And I know we're… special to each other."

I paused, looking everywhere but his face, hating that I was breaking our peace bubble but needing to be honest. "And I know you won't bullshit me and we have something real, nothing like what Edward Cullen was selling." Bella said frowning with Kol as she spoke her ex's name. "But-"

"I know, poppet." Kol interrupted, his hands brushing Bella's face. She frowned. How could he know? She didn't even know before now, being with him like this.

"I know you're not ready for much more than what we've already done. And I know you have a bit of difficulty with the word mate. You frowned and seemed uncomfortable when I mentioned it earlier. It's okay." He assured her, uncharacteristically soft and sweet.

"It has nothing to do with you or our-" She rushed out before he brushed her lips with his fingers.

"Hush, poppet. I understand. I told you we'd go at your pace, remember?" Kol smirked lightly, trying to lighten the mood despite his slight hurt.

"As long as I don't take too long." She finished with a small grin, mischief flashing in her golden brown eyes.

She flipped their positions on the bed, her on top of Kol and bent her head down, lightly biting at his neck.

"Careful, poppet. One might get mixed signals." Kol husked with a cheeky smirk.

"There's nothing wrong with a little fun." She breathed in his ear, grinding lightly against him. But before she could move again, Kol had them flipped over, him on top of her, restraining her wrists.

"Easy there, poppet." He strained, and she giggled, studying his heavy-lidded eyes and tense jaw. He was so beautiful and sexy and he took care of her like no one else in her life ever had. It was surprising how much she felt for him in such a short amount of time.

"It's a quarter to noon, Darling, it's time to go." Kol muttered in her hair and Bella smiled, hesitantly excited for today.

"Okay, let me change." She kissed his neck and untangled herself from his grip, smiling when he tightened before letting her go, throwing himself under the covers.

"Hurry before my control wears off, Darling, and the only place I let you go is back to bed." She smirked as she lifted off her top and bra, shrugging on a sports bra and tank-top.

"Let me, huh." She teased, pulling on some yoga-pants as she heard Kol's responsive growl.

"Don't tempt me, Bella." He growled out and Bella could imagine his dark eyes, visage and fangs showing and she hummed in satisfaction as she pulled on her sneakers.

"Hmm, I like tempting you," Kol growled but before he could speak, she continued. "but you're right." Bella smirked again before skipping out her door.

"Let's go, Kol, time's-a-tickin." She sang, laughing as she skipped down the stairs. Kol smirked, lifting Bella up his arms before setting her back down, loving the laugh and giggles that came out of Bella's mouth. She knew what they were to each other. The real deal and that they could… potentially… maybe… be falling in love, it would just take a little time for her to admit it.

"Alright, Darling, let's go before you tempt me to the point of no return." Kol muttered in her ear, loving the shiver that ran through her body before he pulled away and dragged her out of the house.

"Bloody siblings." He muttered as he twisted her into his arms and headed to the clearing behind Davina and Elijah's cabin that they were supposed to meet up at.