A/N .. Hi I am back with an update on this one. I hope you enjoy this.

El Sagrario would be celebrating their new Patron tonight and Esther Mikaelson was taking the first step to extend the Mikaelson family, joining hers with one of the most prestigious families of London. Of course it didn't hurt that Ayana was more than a family friend and hence it certainly wouldn't hurt either that they would soon be joined by marriage of their children.

Bonnie saw the decorations in the main hall of the Mikaelson mansion, Rebekah had outdone herself but Bonnie couldn't prevent the wave of melancholy that took over because this so-called welcome party would mark the first day of the rest of her life.

Esther and her Grammy had announced that unless either her or Klaus gave them a sound reason for their refusal they would not back away from this engagement. Because according to Esther it was high time that one of her sons carried on the family line. And as for her Grammy she wanted to see her great grand-children before she died. She sighed at the way they emotionally manipulated their children. Bonnie loved her grandma who had raised her like her own daughter after her parents had passed away in an accident but the woman wasn't without her faults.

No matter the century they lived in. It was about family prestige and background. Bonnie's father had been one of the well reputed members of England's House of Lords and so had Esther and her father. Hence a suitable match was imperative for the preservation of the family line. Thus background and assets mattered.

She sighed at Klaus's inability to refuse his mother and her own lack of courage. If she took the advice of the girlfriend of the man she loved then she should seduce Kol and be done with it. But was it right when she loved him with all her heart and she wasn't aware what he felt for her. That one passionate kiss the last time they had met maybe had just been that, a kiss and nothing more. And her acting upon her baser instincts where the younger Mikaelson was concerned may ruin what was left of their friendship. No matter how much he teased her he always listened to her and he was always there for her even when they were oceans apart.

She still remembered the day her college boyfriend had threatened to leak her photoshopped photographs when she had broken up with him. She had panicked being frightful of a scandal and not knowing what to do she had confessed it all to Kol. Kol in his signature Kol way had asked one of his friends to hack and delete everything that "vermin" had owned and then had in turn gotten his some less endowed photoshopped pictures of his junk viral.

He had always been her hero and he shall always be in her fantansies if not in real life.

As if on cue Kol exited his room. She saw him from across the glass balustrade on the upper floor. He felt her before she could turn away. Something lonely flashed across his face as he glanced at her. It was as if he wanted to say something. A moment later Caroline sauntered out of her room.

A pang rose and squeezed Bonnie's heart. Love hurt more than it should and happened where it shouldn't. Without a backward glance Bonnie turned away mentally preparing herself for a marriage without love.

TTTTTTTTTT

A soft knock sounded and she called out to come in. The person who entered stirred resentment and anger but Bonnie was raised with better manners.

"Caroline." She greeted the blonde. Bonnie could see why a man would fall for her. Her long blonde hair and aqua marine eyes only accentuated the softness of her features. Something pure and untouchable.

"I know I speak out of my place. But you have to tell him."

"Tell who?" Bonnie acted none the wiser but she knew what Caroline was saying.

"Kol. He does not want to hurt you or his brother. I can sense he loves you. He hinted at it some days ago." She was wringing her hands and Bonnie could feel her anxiety.

"Maybe. But not enough to fight for me." Self respect and pride, Bonnie had both in abundance hence she hadn't confronted Kol when he acted nothing had happened after they had kissed each other.

"Love is not a war to be won. It may be a cause for one though. Maybe he is waiting for you to tell him that he did not….jump a boundary … what do you say…"

"Cross a boundary." Bonnie smiled, trying to reassure her that she understood Caroline. Then she waited a beat and walked over to the balcony and Caroline followed her.

"That what he feels for you is reciprocated."

Agitation and misery had her grasp the stone bannister. Then she glanced at Caroline. "What if he rejects me? I'll end up making a fool of myself. I'm …" she let out a breath, "I'm afraid."

"And maybe he'll kiss you and tell you he loves you. He is naughty…yes… but he is good at heart. He helped me when he didn't even know me. I owe him." Caroline placed a hand over hers.

They way Caroline said it had Bonnie recheck whatever hostility she had harboured for the blonde. She smiled at the blonde and Caroline left.

TTTTTTTTT

Caroline exited Bonnie's room and almost collided with the man who was responsible for sleepless nights and mopey days. His scent, masculine and woodsy wafted and spoiled her good mood. Why was she so affected by this ladies man as Kol had called him?

He saw her frown and a lump formed in her throat. Her eyes bore displeasure and the pout on her pink lips told him she was still miffed at him. He could not for the life of him let her go. She had penetrated his defences, and had happened to him like something inevitable.

"Caroline." He began. Unable to continue when he saw sadness permeate those enchanting aqua eyes. Her proximity was torture and tranquil at the same time. He wanted to hold her and forget everything else.

She saw the passion storm his eyes, eyes that glanced at her as if they knew her deepest secrets. He was too close for her comfort, but it was an ache she welcomed. "Nik… Klaus… please." She didn't know what she was pleading for. Agony had never felt so potent and yet sweet.

He gently brushed one tendril away from her face.

"I do not want to marry Bonnie. I never did. And Aurora was always just a friend. And you…" his whispered words casting a spell. She knew she was slowly and quietly falling for him. It felt like her whole world was crashing.

"What?" She murmured, unable to look or move away. His eyes held her captive.

Klaus felt that magnetic pull. Like a besotted wolf howling at the moon he was tugged towards her. Lust he knew but this over encompassing want and need was new, something dangerous and uncontrollable ."And you are the only one." He leaned and touched his lips to hers. A small electric contact and he would have taken more, given much much more but she pulled away, a tortorous stab pierced his heart.

"I have to go." Before he could stop her she was running away.

TTTTTTTTT

Bonnie let her curly brown tresses loose styled on one side. Dressed in a black silk skin hugging body con style dress with a plunging back and deep neckline she would say she was dressed to kill rather than seduce. She paired her dress with a blood red lipstick and pencil heels.

Amped up on her new found vigour and confidence she surveyed herself one last time before heading for her target.

TTTTTTTTTT

Cami called out for Caroline and then entered her room. A large box in her hand and she sat on one side of bed beside Caroline before handing her the box.

"What is this?" Caroline asked. The large white bow had her hands itching to open the present, it was so artistically wrapped.

"Something to wear for tonight." Cami replied and saw shadows of dejection cloud her eyes.

"I can not go." Antsy Caroline stood up.

"You are invited. Do you not remember Mrs Mikaelson invited you herself." Cami mirrored Caroline and got up.

"It is Bonnie and Niklaus's engagement. I am not a part of the family. It does not seem right for me to be there. And taking any more gifts would look like I am…. greedy." If Bonnie did not confess her feelings to Kol then this engagement was bound to happen, as Esther had announced a few days ago.

Cami smiled. The girl had a pure heart. Living in luxury yet wondering about every little thing they did for her, if it were any other girl perhaps she would have demanded more.

"It may seem odd if Kol's girlfriend does not attend the party. And you should never return a gift especially if it is a dress." Cami lifted the box and held it in front of Caroline.

Caroline untied the bow and removed the lid. In the box was the most beautiful royal blue dress she had ever seen. It was ball gown, small silver and blue beads and sequins embedded in the bodice area and the rest of the gown was all shaffon and silk.

Tonight maybe just for a few hours she shall forget who she was and how she had gotten here.

TTTTTTTTTT

Bonnie turned away twice before knocking on Kol's door. He muttered to come in least expecting it to be Bonnie.

She entered and he was still buttoning his white shirt. His hair wet and feet bare with half buttoned shirt, telling her that he had just been out of the shower and was changing for the party. The way his black hair curled around his forehead and that bare broad chest had her breath hitch. Feeling tingly all over she walked towards him.

Kol was sure his mouth was open and he was drooling. She was a fantasy right out of one of his wet dreams. That black number she was wearing was hugging her in all the wrong places, wrong because dammit he wasn't supposed to be thinking of ripping it right off of that gorgeous body of hers.

He swallowed his tongue and felt himself getting the eff turned on and what was worse she walking towards him. It was comical the way he took a few steps back, in self preservation because she would surely devastate him. Where Bonnie was concerned he had little self control and a whole lot of messy feelings he didn't want to unearth because she was freaking supposed to be his sister-in-law.

She faltered a little when he took a few steps back but she buried the niggling doubt deep. Even if he ordered her out she would swallow her pride and do what she had set out to do, seduce and lock. So no matter what she will see this through today whether she left here with a filled or a broken heart.

Bonnie closed the distance between them. Ironic how last time it was him who had cornered her against a wall and kissed her like his life depended on it. And now she was about to return the favor, she thought to herself with a smile. It must've have looked to him that she was enjoying herself because of the next thing he said.

"Bennett, are you enjoying yourself at my expense seeing as I am in a less than perfect state."

"Oh I plan to. Enjoy this." She recognized the lust in his eyes, the way his pupils dilated and his mouth half open. Fueled by his apparent attraction towards her she ran a finger nail down his sculpted abs. His skin rippled under her touch, heat trailing in its wake. Kol grasped her hand, their eyes clashed, familiar unfamiliar sentiments rose but he stopped her before he could make a mistake and put that similar wounded look in her magnificent eyes like last time. He would give his life before he hurt her.

"Bon. Don't." A gentle whisper. He couldn't look away from her eyes. The adoration and temptation in them was intoxicating.

She had always had him in a vise, the only thing was she was unaware of the extent of the effect she had on him.

Emotions clogged her throat, her heart broke a little but she pushed through. It was now or never. Kol Mikaelson may hold heart and the future of it, in his hands but he shall not be the one to decide what will happen next where she was concerned.

"Tell me you don't want me and I won't." His hold on her hand loosened and she cupped his face. "And please don't lie." The husky whisper was supposed to sound seductive but rather it came out as a request. When had he ever denied her before, Kol thought.

She touched her lips to his, gentle at first and then kissed him like she had always wanted to, hot and ravenous, tasting, giving as much as taking. He couldn't help but respond, he was entranced by her. For a brief moment he pulled away, rested his forehead against hers. "I want you, Bon. Leave because if you don't I won't let you go." It should have scared her but the way he was looking at her, made her heart sore.

"I am not going anywhere." She murmured.

"Good." Then he hoisted her up and kissed her.

TTTTTTTTTT

"So I guess the engagement is toast." He kissed her palm. She was deliciously dishevelled and he took a certain caveman kind of pleasure in it to know he had done that. Sitting across from him, barefeet, she snatched her arm away and fixed her dress.

"What did you say?" She asked, rushing over to the mirror to take in her appearance. "Oh my god. What happened to my lipstick? And my hair?"

"I ate your lipstick I think." He chuckled then added, "And your hair is gorgeous and I said I think the engagement is effectively down the drain now that we are second base." He hugged her from behind. She couldn't help but smile but all of sudden she was feeling a little self conscious. Kissing him when she had essentially been provoked by Caroline was one thing and confessing her feelings was entirely another.

"Second base? What are you fourteen?" She rolled her eyes when he turned her in his arms, then kissed her jaw. He was nuts about her.

"Bonnie Bennett, my dearest I was actually twelve for my very first second base."

"Accidentally touching a girl's boobs during soccer isn't second base, Kol." She laughed at the horrified face he made when he understood she knew.

"Who…"

"Rebekah told me about your supposed second base when you bragged about it in summer camp in Maine." She wound her arms around his neck.

"Rebekah doesn't know anything…" he sheepishly added, "And I think I need to re-blackmail her into staying quiet. But why would she tell you?"

Rejection, it was fearsome and shattering. But she had promised herself that this time it was all or nothing. The way he was looking at her, with mirth and passion perhaps was too good to lose but she deserved more than passion, she deserved love.

She kissed him, like always it was electrifying.

"Because I cried about it when you bragged about it to Marcel and Lucien." At his surprised expression she continued, "Because I was supposed to be your one and only true love forever. I don't know if it's fair or not but I have always loved you." Too agitated she moved away. "At first it was like this pesky annoying feeling that wouldn't go away and then it became this stupid intensifying ache every time I looked at you or you came close. And trust me I tried to get over you…"

"By sleeping with Harry, Lord Nestons son. He was your first wasn't he." Kol added.

"How…." Too stunned to continue she could only stare at him walk to her

"Because that pesky annoying feeling was eating at me each time I looked at you too. And I was not supposed to creep on someone who was practically like a sister or soon to be a sister-in-law, so I just shoved it deep down. It became a low hum in my system. And then last summer you goaded me into kissing you because Bekah challenged you…"

"Kol I can explain… that was…." She held his arms, afraid he would pull away but he pulled her closer.

"That was too good to be true. I backed away even when I didn't want to because to you it was just a game and mother had just explicitly mentioned something about you wedding Klaus. And after the kiss you cried."

"It was because it wasn't about the damn challenge. It was my life, and you're it. I was just looking for an excuse to do something about the way I felt about you. I cried because you turned away from me and I thought I had ruined it… forever…" She tugged the lapels of his shirt desperate to hold onto him too engrossed in her own emotions to realise he didn't mean to let go.

"Like I said if I hadn't turned away I would have done something incredibly reckless like tonight and I would not have regretted it." He kissed her deep, when she moaned his name he pulled away to see the tears in her eyes. "I love you Kol Mikaelson."

"I love you my Bennett witch." Calling her with the stupid childhood moniker. "I'm beginning to think I am a bad kisser."

Missing the joke Bonnie vehemently denied. "No. No. Why would you think that?"

"Because everytime we kiss you cry." He muttered and she smacked him jokingly. "You know what it's just your bad breath." She teasingly shoved him away but let him pull her closer and kiss her soundly on the mouth.

TTTTTTTTTTT

The clock ticked 9. If Caroline truly were Cinderella she would only have till midnight. But maybe it was better she wasn't. Fairy Tales and romances belonged in books, reality was never so beautiful and fate had never been merciful.

A life in a small cottage in the town where she lived with her family in an impoverished circumstance didn't lead to fairytales. Being forced to relinquish her dream to pursue college due to her family's financial situation was shadowed by the heart ache she bore at Tyler's hand. She had once believed he was her knight in shining armour but something's really were too good to be true. She sighed when she remembered the hardships life had dealt her. But surrendering wasn't in her nature, she had fought when those men had captured her and she shall continue to fight as long as necessary.

Her legs buckled and she sat down. Sometimes she wished it would all just end. When she wanted to crumble she instead applied lipstick and steeled herself and stood up.

Her hair styled in long golden curls with small blue stones in her ears, she felt all polished and sophisticated. She twirled once in front of the mirror and couldn't believe that she was wearing such a ravishing dress. Whoever had chosen this dress must have wonderful taste she thought to herself.

An unknown fear of the future and the things in her past wanted to surface but Caroline squished it and headed for the main hall.

TTTTTTTTTTT

"We want to talk to you both." Bonnie exclaimed , with Kol by his side standing in front of her grandma who stood beside Esther welcoming the guests.

A knowing look crossed between her Grammy and Esther and they smiled. "Okay. Sure."

"I think we can talk more freely in my study." Esther suggested.

TTTTTTTTTTT

"I think I'll like to hear what my son has to say before you Bonnie." Esther leaned against the mahogany desk in her office and crossed her arms as Ayana took a seat by her side.

"Mother." He began and Bonnie held his hand for support. It didn't go unnoticed by the two shrewd women.

"I love Bonnie." He rushed out, a little afraid of his mother. As much as he loved her mother and she loved all her children, Esther Mikaelson was one formidable woman who commanded respect and authority.

And as for Ayana she had always been loving and nurturing but that woman had the power to single handedly destroy Kol's future with Bonnie before he could even begin to think about it. So one couldn't exactly blame him for feeling like a schoolboy, who was tardy on his first day of school and had just been caught by the principal. Because he felt like one standing in front of them.

She raised one eyebrow. "I mean I have always loved her. I am crazy about her. And considering she feels the same, so this engagement shouldn't happen." Esther tilted her head slightly and Kol felt his palms getting sweaty. Damn, her mother could stare and scare a man down if she wanted to.

"All I hear is what you want and what we should do, boy. And I think my granddaughter can speak for herself." Ayana's stern reply made him even more nervous.

"I know. But I can tell you this as well. No one will love her more than I do because even when what I feel for her sometimes feels inconvenient it is no hardship. The feelings I have for her are like breathing or existing. And I know they will never go away. I'll love her and protect her and daily try my hardest to keep her happy because I know she could have done so so so much better than me but I can't be more grateful that she didn't." He hurriedly tried to put in words what he felt for her, trying to convey his emotions just the way it was.

Tenderness and affection saturated Bonnie, what he had confessed had left her moved and impassioned.

Esther felt tears threaten but she held them at bay. Knowing that she had raised such a sweet boy who genuinely loved and respected a woman was no award but it made her heart swell with pride.

And she could see her naive little boy was so anxious. Warmth spread through her.

Ayana knew Kol's intentions towards her granddaughter were honourable. She could clearly see the lad was head over heels for Bonnie.

"And what about you, Mija?" Esther asked.

"I love him, with all my heart. With all I am and have ever been. He makes me happy even when I am sad. And sometimes he gets on my last nerve but he is also generous and compassionate and I want to be with him." She was holding her breath waiting for the verdict.

"Well. Ayana what do you think?"

"I think it's about time these two told each other what was painfully obvious to everyone around." And then they laughed at the stunned faces of their children.

Ayana hugged Bonnie and patted Kol. And Esther kissed her son's forehead, then wiped the lipstick.

"Okay, thank you Mother but the engagement is off right?" Kol retorted when his mother chuckled at his sour expression at being kissed.

TTTTTTTTTTTTT

Klaus sipped on the champagne and wondered how all of it had come to pass. Feeling strangled by his position and the responsibility it entailed he tugged at the bow at his collar.

First Finn and now his secretary was also missing. Finn the brother whom he had entrusted his father's legacy and his family name with had flogged it all in to the ground and somehow Klaus felt he was to blame. Because he had walked away from it thinking he was free but it had all been laid to waste.

It certainly wasn't helping that he couldn't access the encrypted file on Finn's laptop. The file that perhaps was the evidence of innocence or lack thereof.

And now their reputation was at risk and he was exactly where his father had wanted him, being burdened by the obligation of being the next Patron. Filling his father's shoes was a responsibility that scared him. He downed the glass in one large gulp hoping to drown the bitter scratchy feeling that choked him each time he thought about it.

"Hiding away in the gardens won't stop mother from crowning you as the next King." Kol quipped hoping to dispel the obvious anxiety he felt radiating from his big brother.

"I am not hiding…merely contemplating how I got here." Klaus twisted around to face Kol. Crickets chirping in the distance and the slow breeze blowing in there vast gardens, was the little interlude he had been enjoying away from the rukus he knew would soon follow.

"I'd tell you how but I don't think you'd appreciate the horrifying details of mother and father's union." Kol smiled and surprisingly Klaus ended up smiling too.

"Not that you, cabron." Klaus put his flute on the bench nearby. "So I trust you told Bonnie or rather she told you?"

At seeing Kol's astonished face he added, "The engagement party was actually a farce to get one of you get your act together."

"What? You don't play someone like that. What if neither of us had done anything? And what about Caroline?" Kol fist bumped his brother's shoulder.

"One. Ouch respect your big brother. Two it was Rebekah's idea. And Three in case of exigent circumstances mother only planned to announce my "coronation" as you so succinctly put, if both of you chickened out. And Caroline, mother thinks I blackmailed you to take the blame for another one of my escapades." Klaus chuckled at the last part.

"God and all that planning and lying convinced no one." Kol joined in. Then on a serious note added. "I am…uhh…Nik don't overthink it. You'll do great as the next Patron. I trust father's judgement. And I will always be your ally." Kol extended a hand.

Klaus shook it. "Gracias." Then they both began walking towards the party.

"Oh another thing. I found Caroline's family's address…" Klaus instantly stopped.

Kol watched in fascination the interplay of emotions on his usually stoic brother's face.

"When did she… I mean she didn't tell me…" Klaus felt a large boulder drop on his heart, slowly squeezing the life out of it.

"She gave me the address a week ago. What do you want me to do?" Kol asked and Klaus knew what he was implying. "You deserve to be happy as much as anyone else, Nik." Klaus saw the sincerity in his brother's eyes and felt oddly touched.

He knew at the moment he had the power to hold her close and never let go. Caroline made his burdens lighter. Somehow her proximity lightened the bleakness he felt in his soul but he could never be selfish especially with her.

"I'll tell her tonight and we'll arrange for her to return tomorrow."

TTTTTTTTT

He walked in the hall and froze the moment his eyes landed on her. She was mesmerising standing with his mother in one corner of the room but she was at the centre of his world. Klaus could take his eyes away.

Slowly he walked towards her and all the while she was oblivious to his thudding heart beat.

"Would you grace me with the honor of the next dance?" His words so plain and somehow sounded so sensual in that accent of his. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. Caroline had felt the heat of his gaze and intensity of his proximity even from a fee feet apart.

"Come on dear. I am well aware of both of my sons naive planning. Go dance with him." Esther urged when Caroline hesitated. Fortunately Caroline had enough control not to gape at the Mikaelson's matrons words about planning.

Before she could inquire he knew what Caroline was contemplating about. He led her to the dance floor and pulling her closer whispered,"Mother thinks you are my girlfriend and I threatened Kol to take the blame."

"Oh. I thought…" she leaned back to gaze in those bespelling eyes.

"She doesn't know about Finn. So please.."

"I know. Of course…. Your family has been kind to me. The least I could…"

Klaus pulled her closer his hand snaking around her back. "My family is responsible for your abduction. Me and Kol were just trying to right those wrongs." Her expressive green blue eyes flickered with an unknown emotion.

Caroline could feel everything. His hands, his body and the sentiments clouding his eyes. His distress and hesitance and wondered why he was dejected. It was entirely too tempting to lean in and share the weight he bore. She wanted to hold him close and forget everything else so she leaned back mentally distancing herself from him.

"Don't." He uttered and restedhis chin against her temple, "Not tonight please."

Understanding what he was requesting she let herself feel everything she wanted to. Her hands clasped in his and her head resting against his shoulder she let him sway to the sweet melody that played behind, for the last night she thought as a wave of the previous ache crashed into her.

TTTTTTTTT

SNEAK PEEK !!

"Kol found your family." Each word cost him. "I shall accompany you to your home."

She should be happy but she felt like bawling her eyes out like a little child.

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