Johnathan Gilbert groaned as he heard his mother´s voice calling him. "Johnathan Gilbert! I have been calling for you the last 15 minutes now. Are you up yet?" She shouted.
"Yeah." He mumbled, his voice laced with sleep." I´m getting up right...now." Liliana sighed, exasperated, as she heard the all-to-familiar sound of snoring coming from her son´s bedroom.
Liliana pushed opned the bedroom door and stepped inside, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. She frowned when she saw Johnathan, still tangled up in his sheets, oblivous to the world. Shaking her head, she walked into his bathroom, rummaging through the cabinet until she found a glass. Filling it with water from the tap, she walked back into his bedroom and approached his side of the bed. With a mischievous grin on her face, she tipped the glass, pouring the water onto him.
"Oh, my god!" Johnathan yelped, jolting upright as the water hit his face. So tangled up in his sheets, he ended up falling to the floor with a thud.
"Staring to regret going out on a school night?" Liliana teased, her laughter filling the room.
"You do realize that I´m 69 years old." Johnathan mumbled, looking up at his mom, water dripping from his hair.
"It was you." Liliana pointed an accusatory finger at him." Who wanted another degree, so.."
"Yeah, yeah." Johnathan waved his hand dismissively as he stood up and made his way into his bathroom, closing the door behind him. He turned the water on, listening to the soothing sound as he stripped off his pajama pants and his boxers , tossing them aside. Stepping into the shower, he felt the hot water cascade over his body, erasing the remnants of sleep that clung to him. He didn´t want to get out, but he was already running late.
Quickly washing his hair and body, Johnathan turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, he briskly dried himself off before wrapping the towel around his waist, walking back into his bedroom to get ready for the day.
"Morning." Johnathan muttered as he entered the kitchen, heading straight for the refrigerator to grab some juice.
"Good morning to you too." Liliana replied, looking up from the newspaper she had been reading as he walked in.
Johnathan rolled his eyes at her." Sorry, i wasn´t expectting to be so tired as i was." He said, taking a seat on the other side of the table. Folding his arms, He leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow at his mom. "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?" Liliana questioned innocently, placing the newspaper down on the table.
"Pancakes and fresh fruit." Johnathan said, pointing his finger towards the refrigerator." And the blood bags in the refrigerator...I´m going to stop you right there." He interrupted, anticipating her respond. " You want something, and it must be something big because you hate it when i leave blood bags in the refrigerator. So, i ask you, what do you want?"
Liliana hesitated for a moment before she finally spoke." What do you think about moving back to America?" She took a sip of her cup of coffee, carefully observing her son´s reation.
"You want to move back to America?" Johnathan´s brows furrowed, confusion evident on his face as he cut into his pancakes, stabbing a piece with his fork.
"I want to go home." Liliana confessed, her voice tinged with nostalgia." It´s been 67 years since I´ve been back there, and..."
"Mom, what´s going on?" Johnathan´s concern deepened as he saw a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Grayson and Miranda were killed in a car accident last week." Liliana revealed, her voice cracking with emotion." They left behind a son and daugher."
"I´m sorry, mom." Johnathan whispered, his eyes filling with sympathy.
"I know i can´t..." Liliana paused, wipping away a tear." I just feel like i need to be there, make sure that their kids ate okay."
Johnathan looked up at the clock on the wall, realizing how little time he had left." Shit!" He exclaimed, quickly swallowing the last bite of his pancakes. He stood up, walking over to the sink to place his plat. Turning back to his mom, he dropped down on his knees, taking her hand in his.
"As soon as I´m done with finals, i will join you." Johnathan promised, his voice filled with sincerity.
"You sure?" Liliana questioned, her eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt.
"I´m sure." Johnathan replied firmly, standing up and planting a kiss on her cheek." But right now, i really need to leave, or i will be late for class. I will see you later."
"Have a good day!" Liliana called out as he walked out of the kitchen, her hear swelling with gratitude for her son´s support.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Liliana began to make the necessary arrangements to return to Mystic falls. She knew that going back would bring both joy and heartache, but the desire to reconnect with her roots and insure the well-being of her extended family outweighed any trepidation.
Elijah Mikaelson was sitting at one of the tables outside his favorite cafe in Paris, enjoying a cup of coffee as he read the newspaper. The gentle breeze carried the scent of freshly baked pastries from a near by bakery, making the whole experience even more delightful. The bustling sound of the city harmonized with the occasional laughter of passersby, creating a symphony of life.
As Elijah took another sip of his coffee, a group of kids, full of enery and joy, ran by in a flash. One of the kids accidentally dropped his ball right at Elijah´s feet. The ball bounced off the pavement and rolled to a stop next to his table. They boy, with his eyes filled with anticipation, turned back to retrieve his precious toy.
Elijah, ever the gentleman, bowed down and picked up the ball, a warm smile spreading across his face. He held the ball out for the boy to take, and the boy´s eyes lit up with gratitude. Without a word, he took the ball and ran off, his laughter trailing behind him as the rest of the boys followed suit.
Just as Elijah was about to return to his newspaper, his attention was diverted to the activity on the other side of the street. His eyes widened in disbelief as he caught a glimpse of someone familiar, walking with purpose and confidence. It was a figure who bore a striking resemblance to his younger brother, Kol. Elijah couldn´t believe what he was seeing. How could it be Kol? Last he knew, Kol was still daggered. alongside is other three siblings.
Johnathan had just finished the second of his four finals. All he need was two more, he would finally receive his degree in fine arts. It had been a long and challenging journey. Eager to celebrate this milestone, he picked up a special gift for his mom and was now making his way towards his favorite cafe for a cup of coffee.
With his extraordinary vampire hearing, Johnathan could hear every little detail around him. He shook his head at some of the conversations he overheard on the bustling street. People were constantly on their phones, completely absorbed in their own world. Despite the noise, Johnathan hurried across the sidewalk, holding up his hand in thanks for the car that had stopped to let him pass.
Finally, he reached the cafe and swiftly grabbed a cup of coffee to go. As he exited the cafe, he sat down on a bench by the nearby Louvre museum. Sipping on his coffee, he watched the diverse crowd of people walking by, taking in their various styles and personalities.
He didn´t have to wait long until he saw his mom walking towards him with a big smile on her face. As she got closer she, her eyes caught sight of the familiar blue bag in his hand.
"My birthday is not for a few months." Liliana told him with a puzzled smile.
Johnathan chuckled and replied. "Who says it´s for you, mom?"
With that, he linked his arms with hers, and the began to walk away from the Louvre museum. The streets of Paris was filled with an air of execitement and anticipation. As the strolled along, their laughter filled the air.
unbeknownst to them, a man dressed in a fancy suit stood at a distance, observing their every move with keen interest.
As Elijah stood there watching the woman and young man walking away, his mind raced with questions and memories. There was something very familiar about the woman´s face, a hunting sense of recognition that echoed through his thoughts. He strained the elusive memory, deteminded to unravel the mystery that lingered in his mind.
And then, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. The woman was non other then the one Kol had fallen in love with back in the 20s, during their time in New Orleans. How could he have forgotten? Elijah distincly remembered that day when Kol had asked her to marry him, a moment of genuine happiness in his brother´s eyes. But circumstances had forced Elijah´s hand, and he had been the one to dagger Kol, tearing him away from his beloved.
Yet, there was something undeniable strange about their encounter. The woman, despite the passage of time, still bore an uncanny resemblance to her younger self. She had not become a vampire, for Elijah could hear the steady beat of her heart. How was that possible? How could she have remained untouch while the world moved around her?"
Elijah´s curiosity burned within him, demanding answers. He knew he had to uncover the truth behind the woman´s ageless visage and the identity of the young man by her side. If it wasn´t Kol, then who was he? Thoughts raced through his mind, each scenario more implausible than the other the last. After all, vampires were not known for procreating.
Elijah trailed after the woman and young man from a safe distance, careful not to alert them of his presence. As he had listen to the woman´s hear beat, he had done the same with the young man´s, and to his surprise, he couldn´t find it. The revelation made him suspect that the young man might be a vampire.
They walked briskly through the bustling street of the city, blending in with the crowed effortlessly. Elijah tried to mintain a distance, occasionally glancing at his reflection in shops windows to ensure he appeared inconspicous.
After a few blocks, they turned into a park. Elijah wondered if the young man was aware of being followed. He turned his head a few times, but Elijah couldn´t be certain if it was mere conincidence or if he had noticed something unusual.
The atmosphere in the park was serene, with the sound of laughter and chirping birds filling the air. The woman and young man strolled leisurely along the winding pathways, seemingly oblivious to Elijah´s presence.
Finally, the departed from the park and made their way down a street lined with old buildings. The architectural beauty of the structure intrigued Elijah, momentarily diverting his attention from his mission. But soon, he regained focus as they turned and ascended the steps of an ancient building, disappearing behind it´s grand doors.
Elijah approached the building cautiously, his eyes fixed on the nameplate beside the door. "Richard." He whispered to himself, relief flooding through his body. At least he had a name now.