It was the warmth of the sun that awoke Elena's senses, she immediately sat upright as the memories of the night before came flooding back, especially the metallic taste of Stean's blood on her lips and the car crashing into the dark waters of Mystic River.

But why wasn't she dead?

Maybe she was and this was the part where she was transitioning into the immortal life, in her panic, Elena tried desperately to find and pulse and couldn't find one.

It was here that she also realized that she wasn't exactly alone, Klaus was standing over by the window, she swore that she could see the wheels turn in Klaus's mind.

At the sound at the change of her heartbeat, Klaus turned to face her. "Ah, you're awake."

"You," She whispered, slightly prompting herself against the surprisingly comfortable headboard. "You saved me."

Obviously, Elena wasn't foolish enough to believe that Klaus saved her because 'it was the right thing to do,'

No, she had what he needed, her human doppelganger blood.

Rising to her feet, the smell of coffee and something deliciously mouth-watering hit her senses, God she was hungry.

"Am I dead?" She asked, tears threatening to fall. "I can't... I can't be a vampire."

"Elena," Klaus spoke softly, as if she was a cornered, frightened animal. "You are not dead, and you are most certainly not a vampire. You're still human."

Elena then began to laugh and cry, which was an odd reaction to Klaus, given everything she went through the previous night, was this a delayed shock reaction?

"He left me there," Elena whispers, trying to stop the tears from falling. "Stefan left me to die, why would he do that?"

Guilt swept over him, and soon he pulled Elena into an embrace, comforting her like she was a dear friend.

It was weird, but Klaus felt like she needed a friend now rather than an enemy.

"Hush love, you've had an eventful night."

Klaus honestly thought that Stefan was bluffing, now that his humanity was off, Damon was right, Stefan was unhinged and should be dealt with, in case he ends up killing Elena or worse, turning her into a vampire.

Something that she didn't want.

That irked him, for Elena's choice to be chosen for her without her input.

"How long was I out for?"

"Around eight hours, give or take."

"And you're positive that I'm not turning?"

Klaus arched an eyebrow, tucking a lock of Elena's hair behind her left ear. "Do you doubt my word that you're not dead, love?"

"Sorry," Elena let out a small breath of relief that she wasn't a vampire, not that there was anything wrong with being a vampire- Caroline made it look easy.

Caroline.

"Oh, my god- Caroline!" Elena gripped the front of his shirt, making Klaus arch an eyebrow. "She's dying! I remember I was on the way to bargain with you."

Granted, that she would have shown up on Klaus's doorstep, drunk.

Klaus took her by the shoulders, again, giving her a little bit a of a shake. "Elena- breathe. Caroline is fine, I've already healed her."

Elena took small, needed breaths, almost laughing at the fact that she almost had a panic attack in front of Klaus Mikaelson, the human doppelganger noticed that she was still in Klaus's hold.

It was here that Elena noticed a emotion that she thought someone like Klaus was incapable of having.

Shame.

Did he feel responsible for her almost death?

"I don't blame you; I hope you know that." Klaus looked up at her, confusion on his face. "Stefan is to blame here, he took this way too far."

"I foolishly believed that he wouldn't allow any harm come to you, because he spoke highly of his love for you during our time in Chicago," Klaus replied, putting some distance between them. "I thought I wouldn't reach you in time."

"But you did."

Klaus glanced down at her hand that held his wrist. "For selfish reasons." He admitted, sighing. "I just wished you hadn't been used like that."

Their moment was cut short by Elena's stomach growling, a faint flush of colour danced across her face as Klaus chuckled. "You should rest still; I shall go and get you something to eat."

Elena watched as the Original Hybrid walked out of the room that she currently occupied, closing the door, this was not the same Niklaus Mikaelson that she knew; he seemed different.

Lonely.

She mentally scoffed, of course he would be lonely- the only people that knew him truly were in coffins and being used as chess pieces in a game that Stefan seemed to be playing.

And her friends were in on it.

Bonnie, Caroline, Damon and Alaric.

The only person that was not in the loop besides her was probably Matt.

No wonder Klaus retaliated the way he did, true he could've avoided ordering Tyler to bite Caroline, but Klaus was desperate in getting his family back.

It wasn't long before Klaus walked in with an assortment of fruit, pastries and coffee, the smell of strawberries and caffeine almost made Elena drool with hunger.

He didn't stay long, just gave her one of his usual smirks and left her to her devices, sort of.

He was in the house; somewhere.

After having some of the assorted fruits and finished her cup of coffee, Elena decided to go and see just where the hell she was, opening the door and peaked.

The coast was clear.

She walked passed a door that was slightly ajar, glancing inside, Elena froze as her eyes landed on a shirtless and very soaked Klaus Mikaelson.

Thankfully, he wore a towel, and Elena's thoughts turned dirty, her cheeks felt hot as she realized, she had been staring way too long and would be caught.

Little did she know that Klaus noticed her, a small smirk danced across his face as he observed the flush of colour upon her cheeks, plus her heart raced and skipped a few beats; he knew that her mind was racing with unusual, dirty thoughts about him.

And he liked it.

Quickly dressing to see where his wayward doppelganger had walked off to, it was quite easy to find her as her scent was alluring, like a moth to a flame, he paused as he noticed that she found his private room, one that shouldn't be opened so easily.

The wards around the room were created with blood magic, only Klaus would have been able to unlock the room and walk in without any consequences, he froze, blood magic – Elena's blood ran through his veins, so it was possible that was a loophole, he may need to consult with a witch.

"You should be resting,"

Elena tensed, feeling his chest against her back, she turned her head slightly to look at him.

Thank God he was dressed, Elena was unsure if she could handle seeing a shirtless Klaus Mikaelson without the temptation to reach and see if he was real or a Greek God.

"I'm not tired."

"So, I see."

Turning her attention back onto the canvases, eyes scanning them, stopping at ones that peaked her interests. "Did you paint these?"

"Yes."

Elena's eyes widened, glancing back at him. "I never knew you painted."

"I feel insulted," Klaus teased, placing a hand over his heart in a mocking way. "What do you think I do in my spare time, love? Torture children?"

"Torture, yes. But children? No." Elena teased back, making Klaus chuckle. "Perhaps plotting world domination is another one of your hobbies."

He laughed then; it didn't seem forced nor was there anything sinister behind it, it was a genuine laugh.

"Do you like them?"

Elena picked up the canvas nearest her.

"I don't know much about art; Jeremy got the artistic side of the Gilbert family. But I think they're beautiful."

"Thank you."

Elena nibbled on her bottom lip, she pointed at the canvas that seemed to be the centre of the room but was covered by a sheet. "What's that?"

"Just something from memory," Klaus didn't go into more detail which made Elena pout, and he chuckled. "I promise you'll be the first to see it once it's completed. You know I always keep my promises, love."

They were close, again, but Elena cleared her throat and put an arm's length between them.

"I probably should go," She spoke, tucking a piece of hair out of her face. "Jeremy might start-."

Her words fell silent as she remembered that Damon compelled Jeremy to leave Mystic Falls, he would've reached Richmond and settled into his life at the Art school by now, so she would be alone in an empty house; granted that Alaric still came by but he had his own apart above the Grill.

"What is it?" Klaus spoke, breaking Elena from her thoughts. "Elena?"

"I just realized that I'm all alone." She whispered, though with his supernatural hearing, Klaus would've heard a pin drop.

"You could stay here, if you want?" Klaus wasn't exactly sure why he offered Elena choice, he usually takes what he wants and never has a second thought, until now.

Elena burst into a fit of laughter, Klaus arched an eyebrow to her reaction and Elena's giggles died down. "Wait, you're serious?"

"Have you ever known me not to be?"

Elena pointed at him, narrowing her eyes. "Don't push it, I was starting to like you."

"Come on love, it's just dinner," Klaus leaned forwards, Elena swore she could see the wheels turning in his head. "Take a chance, Elena."

The human doppelganger couldn't quite understand why she liked hearing Klaus purr her name like that, it made goosebumps appear on her skin and she was slightly wet.

Oh my God! This is Klaus fricken Mikaelson. He killed you.

He killed Jenna!

"Fine." Elena agreed, rolling her eyes at the iconic smirk that appeared on his face that she at that current moment believed was very punchable. "Dinner and then I'm leaving."

Little did they both know, she was going to stay longer than 'just dinner'