The next day was the Founder's court. Eliza was in her room getting her makeup and hair ready so that all she had to do was put her dress on when she got to the building.

Nik had made it home last night and they had spent the night cuddling as she got a good nights rest.

He stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed making Eliza turn when she saw him in the mirror.

"Oh Nik you look so handsome,"

"Thank you love, so do I get a sneak peak at this dress?,"

"Nope, you will see it when everyone else does at the event," she giggled as she stood pulling him down into a kiss.

"Tease," he laughed as he held her close wrapping his arms around her.

"Come on kids we should get going!,"Henry yelled up the stairs as he and Jackie waited downstairs for them.

"Shall we my lady,"

"We shall my Lord," she smiled as Nik took the garment bag off the closet door and together they headed downstairs.

They chose to take Nik's Porsche cause it had more room then the Impala and together the five of them, Harper included, made their way to the event.

When they arrived Jackie and Eliza headed upstairs to finish getting ready as Harper, Henry, and Nik made their way out back to join the crowd.

"Gentlemen," Damon greeted approaching them.

"Damon," Henry and Harper greeted friendly as Nik eyed him.

"Have you been keeping our girl safe Mr Salvatore,"

"Best I could though I'm sure she would throttle her uncle John Gilbert if I gave her the chance,"

"This the man causing issues for our kind lately,"

"Yep,"

"I'll handle it," Nik said so professionally he wouldn't let anything ruin the lives of those living in peace now.

"Today should be interesting she is facing off against her sister Elena in this competition, I think her mom entered her just so she could represent the Mackenzie's discretely,"

"Most likely I do hope she wins she would deserve it,"

"Me too," Damon saluted that comment by raising his glass of bourbon.

Upstairs Jackie was helping Eliza while Jenna was helping Elena. It was a bit awkward seeing them compete against each other but they understood why,

"Thanks for helping me,"

"Don't thank me until you're sure your hair isn't going to burn off," Jenna joked having them all laugh.

"You know I remember mom and I were first applying for this, she was so excited,"

"So were both of you if I recall," Jenna made sure to include Eliza unlike Elena when thinking of Miranda.

"I was," they both said at the same time.

"She just made it sound like so much fun. A lot's changed since then,"

"In more ways then one," Eliza agreed.

"I hate to break it to you both but it's too late for cold feet,"

"I don't have cold feet I just think I would be enjoying it a lot more if she was here,"

"I'll tell you one thing your hair would have a better chance if she was," that caused everyone to laugh again.

"Okay I should go put my dress on," Elena said standing and heading into the next room.

Eliza and Jenna shared a look and a nod of understanding.

"Is Nik here?,"

"Yes he got home last night he is dying to see the dress, no one has seen it,"

"Not even you?," Jenna asked Jackie.

"Nope she has even me stumped," Jackie laughed at the situation.

An hour later the girls all stood at the top of the stairs when Richard Lockwood announced Tina fell. Eliza was last after Caroline so she stayed out of sight to keep the secrecy of her dress a while longer.

"Has anyone seen Amber?,"

"Do you see Stefan down there?," Elena questioned worried he had taken off after their disagreement earlier.

"Nope just my boring fill in escort," Caroline muttered as she looked over the railing with Elena.

"What happened to Matt?,"

"They wouldn't let him out of work,"

"What happened to Stefan?,"

"I don't know,he just disappeared somewhere. I don't know," Nik overheard the remarks by Elena and knowing he was drinking human blood again thanks to Damon he texted his guards to hunt him down.

"What am I doing? I never should have gone through with this,"

"What do you mean?,"

"I need to find Stefan. This isn't me. I'm not this person anymore,"

"No, no, no. No way. No," Caroline said stopping her from backing out.

"You had the chance to drop out, and believe me I was all for it. Because there is no way that I can beat you. Elena you're doing this because it was important to your mom,"

"Miss Caroline Forbes and her escort Jeffrey Lockwood Hamilton," turning she began her way downstairs.

Next was Elena and then it would be her time.

"Miss Elena Gilbert escorted by Mr Stefan Salvatore," as she was announced Damon saw his brother was no where around and so did the gentleman thing and stepped up for her.

"And our final Miss Mystic Miss Eliza Gilbert Mackenzie escorted by Mr Niklaus Mikaelson," as she was announced she knew this was it her debut as a Mackenzie.

Stepping out and over to the stairs she slowly made her way down hearing the gasps ring out at how she looked. She had chosen a beautiful blood red strapless ball gown that had a sash of black with what looks like blood drops on it.

Klaus's eyes widened in stunned silence. She looked so beautiful he always knew she was a queen and today she looked the part.

As she reached the bottom she took his hand and together they made their way out to the dance floor outside. She was enjoying the looks of shock and awe around her it made her feel seen. And now the world knew the Mackenzie family was back better then ever.

'All I Need' by Within Temptation began to play and so did the dance.

You could feel the desire and sexual tension between Eliza and Klaus, and Elena and Damon but in that moment all they could focus was on each other.

As the dance came to a end Klaus smirked knowing this would be a moment forever spoke about for her.

After the dance the ladies made their way onto the stage inside for the crowning.

"Before I announce the winner, I'd like to offer a personal thank you to all of these young ladies for their efforts to better our community. So without further ado it is my honor to announce our very own Miss Mystic Falls, Miss Caroline Forbes,"

"Congratulations," Eliza and Elena both said to make her focus as they saw she was stunned at winning.

"I actually won," she said before hugging the girls.

After Caroline was crowned they all stepped off the stage.

"You look beautiful my love,"

"Thank you Nik, for everything," she said kissing his lips as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Where did everyone go?,"

"To find Stefan, they found a broken mirror and blood upstairs. The amber girl is missing too,"

"Oh no, I had hope Stefan could get better but I guess not. This is all Elena's fault if she hadn't had fed him none of this would have happened,"

"I know love," Nik said rubbing her back to try to make her feel better.

"I knew him back in Chicago though he was worse back then he is not meant to drink human blood,"

"I see that now, let's go Nik let's find out what's happening,"

"Of course love," Nik agreed as Jackie appeared giving him her shawl and would handle getting the rest of her stuff home all Nik had to do was focus on her.

As they arrived outside they saw the hoopla happening in the forest line. Shaking her head she and Nik walked over as she stopped Bonnie from over doing her magic. Letting her Earth magic take over it practically attached Stefan to the ground so he couldn't move.

Damon looked over at the girls sadly and going over he grabbed his brother and after Eliza released him rushed him out of the area to lock him up at home.

Nik walked over and bent down towards Amber. Biting into his wrist he fed her a bit of his blood to heal her and as the young girl opened her eyes he compelled her.

He made her forget all she saw that she was just confused and scared and lost in the woods and that a animal attacked her.

Ten minutes later Sheriff Forbes arrived with help.

"She doesn't remember what happened to her,"

"It's a good thing the girls got here when they did, she lost a lot of blood," Nik pointed out.

"You didn't see anything,'

"No Liz we just found her and then called for help,"

"Is she gonna be okay?,"

"It looks like it, yeah. You all should get back to the party. We can handle it from here,"

"Okay," they all agreed as Nik began to lead them back.

"Bonnie can we talk about this?,"

"There's nothing to talk about,"

"Bonnie, please,"

"I told you I wasn't going to make you choose. But I need to make the choice for myself please just leave me alone," Bonnie said walking away getting in her car and away from her friendship with Elena.

"Give her time Elena," Eliza said laying her hand on her sister's shoulder.

Elena nodded and walked away as Nik wrapped his arm around Eliza's waist guiding her to the car to go home.

As they arrived home she knew Damon would be locking Stefan up and was glad Greta had un linked them all cause he would use vervain.

Nik helped her out of her dress and as she changed into her pajamas he changed out of his tux.

Climbing into bed together Nik just held her as they let the day end as stress free as they could.