(YALL BETTER SPAM THESE COMMENTS. Active commenters are 99% more attractive than quiet ones....scientific fact ALSO VOTE)

Temptation can creep in through a space in your heart, the way a breeze wafts through a door that has been forgettably left open. The thing that determines whether the urges are good or bad, is who the space was originally opened for. Perhaps for that one person you feel complete with, that one person you don't have to conceal your true self from.

On the other hand, it can also sneak in through the cracks of a wall you've built to keep yourself away from someone you despise. Someone who entices you as much as they disturb you, a cruel soul who shows no mercy yet seems to care only for you. Your mind is filled with curiosity, a sudden interest to attempt to understand this person even if they've done nothing to gain your sympathy.

Mia Pierce was faced with temptation every day of her life, the desire to drink, the urge to tell the younger Salvatore the feelings she harboured for him, the need to throw herself in danger to protect her loved ones. Her heart was already overflowing with all these compulsions then suddenly another impulse had found its way to her, unravelling the mystery that was Klaus Mikaelson.

It wasn't a whim she was comfortably dealing with, he didn't deserve to be heard out or have excuses made for him, not when all he seemed to do was make things more difficult for her friends. But the fact he hadn't immediately slaughtered her after all she'd done was riveting to her, Mia believed the love he had for his ex-lover must've been so strong that he couldn't bring himself to harm her. Part of her wanted to keep pushing to see what would cause the scale to tip but that would require being around him which was something she wanted to avoid.

So she ignored those temptations and instead gave in to more pleasant ones. For example an open door of the room that belonged to a hybrid, Serena. The Petrova was walking past it in the morning when she spotted the sight of the hybrid's bare body through the mirror, with flushed cheeks and shame she took off down the hallway until a sweet voice called out her name, beckoning her back.

She approached the door once again with caution, her eyes widening when a hand stretched out and grabbed Stefan's shirt that was hanging loosely on her body, yanking her forward into the room. The two enjoyed their morning in each other's company as they ironically used to shower to get dirty, however, some things are better left unsaid.

~~~~

The first night after homecoming managed to pass without any further issues, Mia woke up in her bed, draped with a blanket and blazer but also lacking any memory of what had happened when she'd been drinking, all she could recall was Tyler coming to her as a wolf and her getting emotional about something. What exactly she got upset about was something she couldn't remember.

"Another plate coming up, someone pass me the whipped cream." Brodie requested as he flipped the pancakes onto the plate. Most of the hybrids had been killed the previous night, the ones that survived despised Klaus as much as Mia and her friends did, except Tony and three others, they were still devoted to him and obeyed his every demand.

After a few moments Brodie turned around in frustration, "I said pass me the whip-" His words were halted when his eyes landed on Mia, who was busy licking the whipped cream from her finger, she wasn't intentionally trying to fluster him or even be sensual but to all the hybrids she was the most tempting thing in the house.

"Sorry, did you ask for this?" Mia asked, her brow raising slightly at the hybrid who was frozen in his spot. "Brodie?" She waved her hand in front of his face and realised what had gotten him so distracted. She'd be lying if she said the thought of a house full of hybrids being attracted to her didn't boost her ego.

The brunette glanced over at Serena with a smirk then stepped closer to Brodie, "What's wrong?" She whispered, before standing before him, chest to chest. The sound of his heart racing could be heard by all the other hybrids in the room as they all tried to hide their amusement. "Do you still need the cream?"

"Uh n-no....I mean yes, I need it but I- I don't want it." Brodie stuttered, finding it harder to use his words the longer he gazed into her eyes. "You can keep it a-and carry on doing.....whatever you were doing."

Unlike how she was in the past Mia had advanced her flirting skills and was now able to use them on people she felt attracted to...not just as a manipulation tactic like she did to Damon when she first came into town. Despite this, it was still fun to use them to tease others. "Brodie..." She said softly and leaned in closer, the hybrid stayed glued to his place, not wanting to do anything until he was absolutely certain she did. The brunette then uttered a few words, "....the pancakes are burning."

"Yeah....I'm sure they are." Brodie spoke in a daze with a dreamy smile painted on his lips, after a few moments the words had finally sunk in and his eyes widened. "Fuck!" He practically flew back to the stove to remove the pan whilst everyone in the kitchen broke into a fit of hysterics. At first they were all slightly wary of Mia, the way Klaus would talk about her during their travels gave them the impression that the two were in a fully committed relationship but from what they'd seen at the dance the Mikaelson man was letting his delusions carry him away.

"You're pathetic Bro." Serena giggled before winking at Mia, whose response was clear by the sudden pink tint that rosied her cheeks. From across the room, Demetria's eyes were fixed on the Petrova, she despised Klaus most of all, he invaded their campground as she and her husband JP were on their honeymoon and turned them both against their will. He'd snatched their happiness and peace away from them, in Demetria's eyes it was only fair to take something....or someone that he liked and even the scale. She sat back on her chair listening to the conversation between Mia and her witch friend.

"And there were how many coffins in that dream?" Mia asked, trying to ignore the gazes of all the hybrids burning through the side of her face.

"Four." Bonnie replied, "Four coffins, and Klaus is in one of them. I must've had that same nightmare six times last night." She buried her face in her hands, wanting to shut off the constant sirens of danger blaring in her mind.

"Maybe going to the witches' house will help." Mia suggested, rubbing Bonnie's back soothingly. "The dreams could be a sign .....wouldn't be the first time."

"It's just stress, I'll figure it out" The Bennett witch dismissed as she rested her chin on her palm. After hesitating for a few seconds she decided to bring up a touchy topic, "Has there been any sign of Stefan, you know since...."

"Since he ruined our one chance at getting rid of Klaus." Mia cut in with a scowl, although she was knocked out at the time Serena had filled her in on how Damon was just about to kill Klaus but Stefan had intercepted at the last second for an unknown reason. "I saw him after the whole thing....he didn't really stay to chat, got in a car with Katherine and left."

"We all could've been free if it wasn't for him." Zander snarked whilst eating his breakfast.

"Girl, I know he's your boo..." Serena started, noticing how Mia's brow twitched at the implication of her and Stefan being together. "but...I'm sorry. If I see that dreamy bastard I'm biting the undead fuck out of him."

Bonnie couldn't help but giggle at that comment, "It's not just us...even Elena's given up on him. She said the Stefan we know is gone." The witch watched as Mia's lips curved slowly into a frown. "What's wrong?"

"There's gotta be more to it." Mia sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I'm not trying to make excuses for him but....Stefan wanted Klaus gone just as much as the rest of us did, he wouldn't have just switched up at the last second unless he had a valid reason, humanity or not he wanted Klaus dead." She turned to the rest of the hybrids with a sweet smile, "So until I find out that reason, could you please not do anything if you see him."

Before Demetria had a chance to object JP wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed her hip warningly, as a reminder that they had to stay on Mia's good side if they wanted a chance to enjoy her the way Serena had. The shoulders of his wife sinking was an indication that she was now tamed, he turned to Mia and grinned, "Sure thing Princess, we won't touch him," he added with a wink.

"But...." Brodie stepped next to Mia and put his arm over her shoulder, "If Klaus tells us to hurt him then we don't have a choice, even though we all hate the guy we gotta do what he says."

"Well not all of us hate him." Serena chuckled mischievously, "Mindy was constantly gagging for his dick it was really embarrassing to watch, that girl had like zero self respect. I mean, imagine trying to fuck the guy that ruined your li-"

"Okay Serena, I think we get it." Demetria cut her off with a sharp tone, something about those words had clearly hit a sore spot. "Mia doesn't care about all that, right?" The Petrova instantly responded with a nod which caused the hybrid to smirk, "See, and anyways Mindy wasn't the only one obsessed with Klaus...Tony is his little lackey, be careful around him."

"And around us." Zander spoke up from across the room, he put down his fork and approached the group, taking a seat next to Bonnie. "Like Brodie said, we have no choice but to obey Klaus, if he asks us if we know something....it's game over. So whatever you guys are planning, keep it on the down low."

"After the Mikael plan fell through and Stefan disappeared I don't think there's another chance." The Bennett witch sighed.

"Don't worry about it." Zander gently nudged Bonnie, "You're smart, you'll figure it out." The two spent the next few moments gazing into each other's eyes, only to be broken up by the effect of Klaus Mikaelson entering the room. His mere presence had resulted in a switch in all the hybrids' composures, they'd all stopped talking and straightened up.

Despite this sudden change Mia had yet to notice the Original was even in the room, he leaned against the worktop that was behind her and took the time to take in her morning beauty. The Mikaelson was already in a foul mood due to the aggravating wake-up call he had received earlier. The sound of light giggles followed by a shower being turned on and water droplets hitting the floor.

Although the water helped muffle the noise, not even an earthquake could silence the sound of Mia's moans in Klaus' ears, it was alarming how quickly he recognised them. His blood boiled, hating that someone else was inciting these sounds from her, it took everything in him not to barge into that bathroom and kill whoever was pleasing her the way he should've been.

"Morning all." Tyler strolled into the kitchen, picking up an apple from the bowl as he walked past the counter, "Would love to stay for breakfast club but I gotta meet Jeremy." He quickly pressed a kiss to both Mia and Bonnie's foreheads, to which Klaus' nostrils flared, and made his way back to the door.

"Ty, wait." Mia grabbed his arm, spinning him back around, she held out the blazer from the previous night, "Thanks for this, my dress wasn't designed for the woods."

Tyler's brow rose as he looked at her in confusion, "Why are you giving this to me?" His eyes darted to a grinning Klaus who had stood up straight at the mention of the blazer.

"You gave it to me yesterday..." Mia looked just as stumped as he did, "In the woods last night....when you were a wolf. Why are you so confused?"

"Em, I didn't leave my room last night and the best thing about being a hybrid is that I don't need to turn anymore...that wasn't me." He shook his head slightly, letting out a small chuckle of uncertainty. "That's not mine." The werewolf received yet another text from Jeremy who was waiting for him, "I gotta go but call me later." Tyler pecked her cheek then left.

What the fuck?! Mia's eyes widened as a pit of dread made its appearance in her stomach, "If it wasn't Ty's then...whose is it?"

"That would be mine." Klaus announced, making his presence finally known to Mia. The look of shock on her face did nothing but cause his smirk to grow. The Mikaelson glared at the hybrids that were stood by her, and just as expected they all backed away just as he approached Mia. "I must say you're much more agreeable when you're intoxicated."

The pit in the brunette's stomach suddenly became heavier, the wording of his sentence implied that they'd done something other than talking the previous night. "Look, I can't remember much from last night but if you're suggesting..."

"I'm not." Klaus replied instantly, trying to ignore the disappointment of that accusation. "I'm simply noting how refreshing it was to have you confide in me sincerely, to have a decent conversation without the disdain and attempts at insults.

"Don't get used to it." The Petrova looked at him judgingly, eager to ruin his high, "I don't know exactly what I said to you, but I was wasted, don't take anything I said seriously."

The smile on Klaus' face began to fade, he'd be lying if he said he hadn't gone over everything she confessed to him in the woods in his head multiple times, hearing her sympathise for him and the struggles he's been through was enough to confirm that the part of her that used to care for him in the 20s was still there. But here she was determined to deny all of that, despite not even recalling the conversation. In Klaus' mind this was just her trying to push herself away from him, to stay loyal to her friends, regardless of how much she desired him.

However, he couldn't say any of that to her, so instead he decided to ask about something else that was weighing on his mind, "You wouldn't happen to know where Stefan is, would you?"

Mia rolled her eyes then took out her phone, "Yeah one sec, let me check Find My Ripper." She said sarcastically then glanced back up at Klaus who wore an unimpressed expression, "You're the one who compelled him, I thought he has to check in like every hour."

"I undid his compulsion." Klaus spoke flatly, "He's free." The hybrid then gazed upon his sirelings with a cruel smirk, "Shame the same can't be said about the rest of you." Mia's eyes filled with hatred, wondering how someone could find such pleasure from the suffering and oppression of others. The rest of the hybrids just avoided eye contact with their sire, as much as they wanted to kill him, they didn't stand a chance without the white oak stake.

The sounds of keys jingling caught Klaus' attention as his most loyal hybrid Tony had just come through the doorway, reminding him that they had plans. The Mikaelson took the blazer from Mia's hands then decided to try his luck, "We were going to go for a drink, check out the local sights...You could join us if you'd like, show us around town."

Mia couldn't help but scoff at the audacity he had to even ask that question, "If I wanted to hang out with a prick, I'd stop ignoring Damon's calls."

His scowl and displeasure was just as satisfying to her as her confusion was to him before. His discontent was quickly turned into anger when one of the hybrids, whose name Mia was yet to even learn, had accidentally let out a snort and chuckle at her remark. Once the Petrova had walked away from him, Klaus' eyes flashed gold, he stormed out of the room, but not before gripping onto the back of that hybrid's neck and dragging him out too.

"Damn girl." Serena laughed once they were sure the coast was clear, "You got him in a bad mood already, that's gotta be some kinda record."

"God, I'd love to have that immunity when it comes to that bastard." Brodie chimed in, it was astounding to see someone get away with saying and doing the things to Klaus that they'd witnessed Mia doing. "The first thing I'd do is douse his hair with a decent conditioner...I don't know what's more upsetting, him oppressing us or his natural curls."

Mia chuckled, despite only knowing this group for less than a day she was already certain that these friendships would last a long time. "Don't jinx it. I have a feeling my luck is gonna run out..." As soon as Klaus realises I'm not gonna love him like his ex did. Upon recalling that secret information it had just hit Mia that the teller of those private affairs was still nowhere to be seen. "Are you guys busy?"

"Nope, Our Sireness gave us the day off today." Brodie said, however that wasn't completely true, they'd both been given the job of keeping an eye on Mia. After finding out about her near brush with death Klaus had become more active in the safeguarding of his girl, warning his sirelings not to let her out of their sight. "What do you have in mind?"

Mia's mouth curled into a mischievous grin, "A hostage rescue."

~~~~

Mia stuck her head around the corner of the Salvatore Boarding House patio, surveying the area to make sure the older Salvatore brother was nowhere to be seen. Matt had informed her Damon was just in the Grille but she didn't want to rely on that fully, after all vampires had super speed.

"Umm, hey Spy Barbie. You wanna tell us what we're doing here?" Serena asked as the two hybrids followed Mia, who was dressed in all black, paired with a cap and sunglasses.

"Please do." Brodie tried hard not to leer as the Petrova in that outfit, "Not that I'm not loving the Catwoman look but I'm really confused why we're sneaking around your own house."

"It's not my house, it's Damon's." Mia spoke with a hint of bitterness, "And I've lived with him long enough to know that there's still things about last night he's hiding...." She glanced back and saw their puzzlement. 

"The last time I saw Rebekah was before Homecoming, she didn't show up to the dance, she's not answering my calls...even Klaus didn't know where she was...unless he was just tryna trick me but...he would've said something to one of you if he'd daggered her, I can't really see him having the effort to carry a coffin on his own....I just have a funny feeling that she's here."

"Oh a funny feeling....that's a relief, I was afraid we were here with no solid evidence." Brodie muttered, earning him a sharp elbow jab from Serena. The front door of the Salvatore Boarding House was opened slowly to avoid a creak and three pairs of footsteps sounded through the entrance, they made their way upstairs and quietly searched all the rooms. 

Unfortunately, there was no sign of a blonde Original and their plan to stay discreet had been forgotten about once they reached Mia's room. "Holy shit girl, what happened here?" Serena exclaimed with huge eyes as she took in the complete destruction, "It looks like a fucking tornado hit."

"Nope just Papa Original....the dusty fossil bastard." Mia mumbled with disdain. She took off her sunglasses and cap and placed them on her door pegs, also looking upon her room. A place that had once felt so safe but was a physical reminder that there was no guarantee of safety when you live in Mystic Falls. "He was looking for the white oak and did all this...then almost killed me." Her heart twinged when she recalled how terrifying that moment was for her, what would've happened if Stefan hadn't intervened.

"You mean it was actually true, Mikael saying he tried to kill you" Brodie raised his brows in slight shock, "We all thought he was just tryna piss Klaus off." The hybrid then put his hand on Mia's shoulder as comfort whilst they walked down the stairs to the basement, "We can hate Klaus all he wants but we have to admit....he didn't waste any time turning the tables after hearing that."

"That wasn't for me." Mia rolled her eyes, getting irritated with the constant remarks of Klaus being genuinely interested in her, "He wanted Mikael dead anywa-" Her words were cut off as she caught sight of inside one of the cells. 

The desiccated body of Rebekah Mikaelson lying on the ground, with a dagger protruding from her back, confirming all her suspicions. "I wanted to be wrong...." Mia whispered with disappointment, "I wanted to be wrong so badly."

Serena laced her fingers with Mia's, "I don't mean to make you feel even worse but.....you have some really shitty friends." Although she was telling the truth it was evident the Petrova had no intention of listening, instead she let go off her hand and began to search for a key. Until a sudden bang echoed through the basement as Serena kicked the metal door off its hinges, making it fly across the cell, thankfully missing Rebekah.

Fuck me. Mia couldn't control the admiration and arousal that was visible in her eyes as she gazed at the hybrid with her lips parted. Unluckily for them, that loud noise had caught the attention of whoever had just entered the house. 

"You guys can eye fuck later." Brodie interrupted, waving a hand in front of their faces, "I'll bring the car closer to the house, you two grab blondie and come." He walked upstairs, about to leave until all he felt was a sharp pain in his neck and his body landed on the floor with a thud.

Mia blinked herself out of the trance then nodded, making her way to Rebekah but just as she was a foot away she was intercepted by someone who'd just zoomed into the cell, snapping Serena's neck too and stood in front of Petrova. 

"What do you think you're doing Pierce." Damon looked down at her with a scowl, he was riding the high of being able to take down two hybrids, which was only because he'd caught them both by surprise, if they knew he was coming they'd tear him to shreds..

Without even taking a second to think of a response Mia shoved the Salvatore back harshly, almost making him stand on Rebekah, but she was too infuriated to realise. "You son of a bitch! Another thing you lied to me about...you just can't help yourself. What did Rebekah even do?!"

Damon recovered instantly from the push and stepped closer to her, "We couldn't risk her telling Klaus about the plan, it would've ruined everything before it'd even begun. So Elena daggered her...quite literally stabbed her in the back, it was impressive." He added with a smirk, "And now she's insurance so make sure Klaus doesn't mess with us."

Mia knew he mentioned Elena's involvement in the betrayal to rile her up even more, it wasn't as hurtful to know that Damon had done something so deceitful than it was to know that Elena was begging for her forgiveness the previous night all the while concealing this secret from her.

So she decided to know the same and rub salt in Damon's wounds, "Isn't it ironic that you were so worried about Klaus' sibling being the one to screw everything up but in the end, it was your brother that betrayed us....that's gotta sting."

As expected the Salvatore's nostrils flared at her remark, she saw that as an opening and bolted beside him to pull out the dagger but before she had a chance Damon had gripped her arm harshly and yanked her back, "I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu." He taunted, hinting to the time they were in this same position, but with Elijah on the floor instead of Rebekah. "What is it with you and these Originals?"

"I care about people who care about me." Mia fumed through gritted teeth and Damon tightened his hold. "People who don't lie or keep things from me."

"Really?" Damon mused, "How well did that go with Elijah?" Just as he began to laugh mockingly he was thrashed backwards by an awakened Brodie, causing him to release Mia, trip over the Original's body, and whack his back on the ground.

 Once again he bounced back, it's surprising how much spite manages to fuel someone even if they're hurt, not that a simple push could hurt him but Mia wished he would just stay down for longer than a second to be able to enjoy the victory for longer.

Damon dusted off his behind then eyed Brodie and Serena, who had also just regained consciousness, he stood with in a wide stance with his fists clenched beside him, ready in case they tried anything else. "You do realise these two would kill you without question if Klaus told them to."

Mia crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed, clearly the Salvatore was unaware about the story of Klaus and Malia, which was a relief because she knew for a fact if this was known knowledge her friends would use it to their advantage. She loved them all dearly, but that didn't mean she always agreed with their methods. "If Klaus was going to kill me he would've done it already." 

The frustrated look on Damon's face was all she needed to know that he believed that statement, but something the trio wasn't aware of was someone was outside the house, taking a phone call, someone that had joined Damon for a drink, someone that these three had no desire to see.

Serena brushed past Mia and kneeled by Rebekah's body, her hand hovering over the dagger, a second from pulling out until Damon spoke in a low and threatening tone, "Touch her and I'll tell your master you're scheming against him....after Mia's little drama show last night, I bet his trust issues are already on a high."

The two hybrids glanced at each other with worried expressions, of course, they could kill Damon with ease if they wanted to but Klaus had warned them not to, the older Salvatore was his best chance at finding Stefan. Although their sire didn't trust Damon in the slightest they didn't want to risk the odd chance that he believed claims of their betrayal.

 "Watch your back, cunt." Serena seethed as she backed away from the Original. She looked at Mia, silently asking if she wanted them to at least severely hurt the other vampire but the brunette shook her head, now that they knew where Rebekah was it was far easier to get her back but now was not the time, not if she wanted to keep her new friends alive.

The Petrova was too busy tryna assure the hybrids that she didn't even notice Damon step closer to her, his eyes were set on Brodie who seemed ready to attack at any second. He bowed his head, making eye contact with a slightly startled Mia, "When you coming home?" He asked with what seemed to be a concern.

"You're kidding right?" Mia let out a chuckle of disbelief, "How do you expect me to forgive you and move when you clearly don't regret a thing you've done?" Also, how am I meant to move back in when my room looks like Tyler turned into a werewolf in there?

"What do you want me to say, sorry?" Damon raised his brows, his nostrils widening once more. It was Mia's least favourite look of his, filled her with the urge to whack his face with a shovel, "I won't mean it so I'm not gonna waste my breath. But this whole brat thing you've got going on is getting old. Admit it....you miss us."

She did, how could she not?.... Well, that would be very simple for most but with someone who has a heart as big as the Petrova's it was almost impossible. But it was far too soon to give in, it was obvious if they had the choice to redo the Homecoming day they'd do everything the same, even if that meant deceiving her. "I'm so over this." She made sure to sound bored with those words, "Let's go."

The trio made their way out of the cell and up the stairs, however, once they'd reached the hallway they were interrupted by a voice that caused their bodies to freeze, "You took your time mate, Elena must've had a lot to say." 

They all simultaneously turned their heads and saw Klaus sitting on a chair with his back to them, sipping back a bourbon. When he received no response from the Salvatore he looked back, his brows furrowing with confusion and surprise upon seeing Mia and his two hybrids, "What are you lot doing here?"

Technically he hadn't instructed them to tell him the truth so they didn't answer instantly. Serena opened her mouth then closed it once again when Damon had entered the room, his face contoured with a warning expression, inaudibly advising her not to test his bluff. 

Klaus' eyes darted between the four of them with suspicion, he grew tired of being ignored so decided to deal with his hybrids later. Most especially Serena, after realising it was her who Mia had her morning shower with. "You two, go oversee the construction in the new house, and don't leave there until ordered."

The pair kept their heads down and rushed out of the house, not allowing a chance for him to even think about changing his mind. Mia took a deep breath to slow her heartbeat then covered it up with a long sigh, "I was just getting the rest of my things....I brought them to help me carry it all."

Klaus looked beside her, gesturing to the lack of bags, "Then where are they, your belongings?"

Fuck! Mia's mind raced, reviewing different reasons and lies until she came up with an excuse that was actually true and one that would make Klaus want to change the conversation, his father. "Turns out they're all ruined...I underestimated your dad's power of destruction, he trashed the whole room before trying to kill me so....everything's gone."

Klaus' eyes softened for a second, at the thought of Mikael succeeding, it was too much to even imagine. He fought to urge to take out his wallet and give Mia his card, telling her to replace everything that was lost and buy even more. The Mikaelson didn't want Damon to see him as submissive or overly compliant to give her everything she desired, even though he would do so in a second if she asked.

However, the sound of a text alert indicated that Damon was too busy to notice as his notifications were being overflowed by messages from Elena, telling him that Klaus had gotten one of his hybrids to run over Jeremy but ended up hitting Alaric instead. The Salvatore looked up with a fake smile, to avoid any confrontation, then went to pour himself a drink.

Mia decided to take his distraction as an opportunity to ensure her friend would be released, "Okay....I'm gonna go." She walked towards the door, just as she was passing Klaus she placed a hand on his arm and leaned in. The Mikaelson instantly moved closer with attentiveness and listened to her whisper, "Rebekah's downstairs in a cell."

Once she pulled away Klaus gave a short nod to assure her he would deal with it, she smiled with excitement at seeing the Mikaelson girl again, the beautiful expression making Klaus's heart flutter. That smile was all he needed to power through the day, and it was the last thing he saw of her as she exited the Salvatore Boarding House.

~~~~

"How dare they fucking treat you like that, that's such bullshit!" Mia fumed to Tyler, who had gone over to the Gilberts' house for lunch but was just interrogated by Elena and Alaric then made to feel so uncomfortable that he left. "Who are they to warn Jeremy about bad influences when they're friends with Damon fucking Salvatore?!"

"Don't let it rile you up, Em" Tyler advised, "I didn't tell you so you could get pissed o- WATCH THE ROAD!" He yelled as Mia had drifted onto the sidewalk and knocked over a mailbox. The Lockwood was attempting to give her a driving lesson, which was proven to be very difficult due to the fact they'd both been drinking heavily before getting into the car. "We're lucky Matt's truck is indestructible." He chuckled, relieved that it was an object they hit and not a person....yet.

Mia completely ignored what'd just happened and was still ranting, "And another thing, why are all these pricks acting like you chose to be sired to Klaus, why are they villainsing you for something you have no control over?" Her words were interrupted by a hiccup, "You'd think after the whole compelling Jeremy situation Elena would have more empathy for people's lack of authority over themselves."

"Tell me about it." Tyler laughed, taking another sip from the bourbon bottle. "Caroline still hasn't called me since last night, how am I the bad guy for saving her life?" He gently nudged the steering wheel to stop Mia from accidentally scraping someone's car. "Speaking of....girls..."The hybrid smirked, "How's it going with you and Serena?" It was all the other hybrids were talking about that morning.

The brunette rolled her eyes, "First of all, that was the lamest segue ever...and second of all there is no me and Serena, it's nothing serious." She attempted to make a right-hand turn but ended up driving on the sidewalk again and hitting a trashcan, Matt's truck was too tall for her to see obstacles properly, that was the excuse she kept telling herself, "I don't think I'll ever be in a serious relationship again."

"Impossible." The Lockwood shook his head, his words becoming more and more slurred, "Your heart's too big for you to keep it to yourself, take a left here" The truck was being driven in jolts as the Petrova tried to slow down, and was just repeatedly hitting the brakes. "You'll find someone someday, and you won't even remember what your life was like without them."

"Is that how it feels for you and Care?" Mia asked with a soft smile, once she'd turned the corner she picked up speed and looked at Tyler whose face filled with longing, "Just give her some time Ty, she just needs to adjust to everything and then things will be back to norm- Oh I love this song!" The brunette raised the volume and swayed in her seat, completely ignoring that the car was moving with her.

All of a sudden there was a sudden impact and thud, whacking and going over the top of the truck, Mia and Tyler looked at each other with wide eyes as the vehicle screeched to a halt, "Holy shit." Mia whispered in shock, "Check what it is..."

"You check what it is.." Tyler retorted, hoping with all his heart it was another mailbox but the fact they were driving on the road made that very unlikely, "We look behind together..."

The two turned their heads in unison, their hearts also dropping at the same time when they saw none other than Klaus Mikaelson, standing up from the ground and dusting off his clothes. He looked directly at them with gold eyes and a heaving chest, causing them to panic more. "Go, go, go!" Tyler yelled as Mia screamed in terror, and sped away, driving as fast as she could.

Klaus watched as the truck zoomed down the road, as much as he wanted to chase after them, he was due to meet with Elena and get Rebekah back. He'd be seeing the hit and runners later on anyway, after all, they were all currently staying in the same house.

Meanwhile, Mia and Tyler were still in a state of chaos, driving excessively over the speed limit. "Is he still there?!" The Petrova shrieked, jerking the car to the side as she tried to look behind.

"Keep your eyes on the road!" Tyler shouted, luckily for them there was no one else around. Otherwise, they'd end up hitting someone else and this time that person may not be able to recover as quickly as Klaus did. "Okay, he's gone." The Lockwood sighed in relief, leaning his head back on the chair as he tried to control his breathing.

"Thank fuck." Mia couldn't help but laugh, it was loud and seemed to be endless as her friend stared at her in disbelief. "We just hit Klaus with a truck...we just..." She was unable to get her sentences out through her cackling, "We literally just made him roadkill!" Tears seeped out her eyes and she clutched her stomach, making Tyler grab the steering wheel in a panic, "He spun over the car like a ballerina."

"You're fucking insane." Tyler scolded but her laughter was contagious, setting him off too, he steered the car to the sidewalk and pulled the handbrake to avoid their exhilaration getting them in more trouble, "I think that's the end of our lesson, now swap places before something worse happens."

"I don't think it can get worse than that." Mia giggled, wiping away her tears. The sound of sirens approaching them proved that statement to be false.

~~~~

"Let us out!" Mia yelled, gripping the bars of the cell. "This is unlawful imprisonment, we can sue."

"This is bullshit!" Tyler exclaimed, as he lay on the floor with a bottle in his hand, "My mom's the mayor, you can call her for character references. We didn't do anything!"

It was then a fed-up Liz Forbes approached the cell, "You knocked over several mailboxes and 3 trash cans, ran 15 stop signs and I'm guessing the dent in the front of the truck wasn't made from hitting a pigeon...You're lucky it was me who pulled you guys over and not a deputy. And also..." She walked closer to the bars and snatched the bourbon from Mia's hand, "You both asked to be put in here instead of waiting in my office."

The Petrova paused for a moment then giggled, "Oh yeah." She slid down the bars and joined Tyler on the ground, taking a sip from his drink and resting her head on his leg, "You're very good at your job Mama Liz."

Sheriff Forbes sighed then kneeled to face them, speaking directly to Tyler, "I know something happened between you and Caroline, but trust me...this isn't the way to deal with it."

"Oh, I'm not trying to deal with it." Tyler sat up, propping himself up with his elbows, "Maybe I'm done always being the one to fix it, maybe it's Caroline's turn. I'm not gonna apologise for something I never asked to happen to me..."

"Preach." Mia clicked her fingers in approval, then put her hand on Tyler's shoulder to comfort him, "Anyways, can you let us go now?"

"No." Liz replied, standing back up, "I don't trust either of you to get home safely and I've got too much paperwork to do so I can't drop you off. I've called someone responsible to come get you."

Mia lifted her head from Tyler's leg with a raised brow, "Who do we know that's responsible?" The Lockwood responded with a shrug and they both began having a staring contest as they tried to think of who it could be. It wasn't until they heard the cell door unlocking, that they turned around and saw their saviour.

"What did you two do?" Stefan deadpanned. When he received the call from Liz part of him debated just ignoring it but then the thought of Mia in a jail cell made him uncomfortable, unaware of the fact she was too wasted to care.

"Stef!" Mia rose from the ground, running up to the Salvatore and throwing her arms around him, "You bailed us out, our hero." Stefan instinctively reciprocated the hug as if it was a reflex, it was exactly what he needed during this time.

What caught him by surprise was Tyler joining in on the embrace, "Appreciate it, bro." He mumbled with a pat on the ripper's back, Stefan simply gave a short nod as the two pulled away.

"How much have you been drinking?" The Salvatore asked, glancing down at all the empty bottles on the floor of the cell and wondering how Liz failed to confiscate them.

"Just a teensie weesnie bit." Mia pinched her fingers together, standing on her tiptoes to make her face level with Stefan's.

Tyler gave a goofy chuckle, "Weesnie."

Stefan let out a deep sigh then offered his arm to the Petrova, "Come on, let's get you home." Mia linked her arm with the Salvatore's and Tyler did the same, on their way out the hybrid grabbed the bag that contained the rest of their alcohol and Mia waved goodbye to Liz.

Once they'd left the station Mia giggled and began to skip, "It's like we're walking down the yellow brick road." Stefan couldn't help but smile at how endearing she was when intoxicated, he would've been even prouder if he knew about them knocking the Original over. He also hoped that their inebriation would cool their heads for what they were about to see.

~~~~

"Hey, this isn't home." Mia frowned, opening the car door and looking at the Old Witches' House in front of them, "What are we doing here?"

"I've already risked being seen by Klaus getting you guys." Stefan approached her side of the car and helped her out, ignoring the fact that Tyler also needed help. "You can stay here until you sober up."

"Not very hero-like of you Stefan." Tyler criticised, he unclicked his seatbelt which caused him to roll out of his seat and land on the ground with a thud and groan. "Ouch."

"Oh no, Humpty Dumpty." Mia laughed, holding her hand out for the hybrid to take, once she'd helped him up she began to hum and sway, "Dance with me, Ty." Stefan watched with a blank expression as the two clumsily waltzed their way towards the house. 

It wasn't until they saw a certain witch inside the house that they stopped, "Bon Bon!" Mia squealed, yanking her into a tight embrace.

The sudden impact caused Bonnie to stumble back slightly, only recovering when Tyler placed a hand on her back to steady her, but he was also wobbling. "What have you guys been doing....besides drinking?"

"Mia got us arrested." Tyler said nonchalantly, causing Bonnie's eyes to widen but before she could ask further questions the Lockwood spoke again, "The real question is...what are you two doing here...in an abandoned house....alone?" He then glanced at Stefan with a sharp point, "She is vulnerable and recovering from a breakup, you keep your ripper claws away from her."

Bonnie couldn't help but laugh at her drunk friend defending her, "Tyler it's okay, he didn't do anything....except for stealing Klaus' family and asking me to spell them hidden." She gestured to the open door of the next room

"What?!" Mia exclaimed, pushing open the door and laying her sights on four coffins. She blinked in pure disbelief, firstly wondering how Stefan even managed to steal them, secondly realising this is why Klaus had asked her where the Salvatore was.

Bonnie began to speak as Mia was still in a state of shock, "You were right, my dreams weren't just dreams." She watched as the Petrova made her way to one coffin, her hand hovering by it, "Mia, what's wrong?"

The vampire didn't respond, the mental chatter of an epiphany drowned out everyone else in the room. So close to finding answers to questions she'd asked herself all summer, how was her friend? She slowly lifted the lid of the coffin, her breath hitching when she saw who was inside. Elijah Mikaelson.

She'd spent the past few months being secretly and shamefully envious of the Original, daydreaming about what her life would be like had she accepted his invitation to leave Mystic Falls and travel the world and this entire time he was in captivity. She'd had a few suspicions that Klaus may have done something to his brother but she'd never sought to confirm it. The Petrova couldn't help but feel guilty for her last conversation with Elijah, when she'd rejected his apologies and implied there was nothing left for them.

However, something else she'd also said that day was that Klaus was likely to betray Elijah and her words have been proven true. Any minuscule thought of a vulnerable and caring hybrid had instantly been removed from her mind, he was despicable, the comatose bodies of his family members in this room were evidence of it.

Mia lovingly caressed Elijah's cheek with the back of her fingers, it was as though the shock had caused her to sober up within seconds. She then darted her hands to the dagger ready to yank it out but was stopped when Stefan placed his own hand in front, blocking the way. The brunette's head whipped in his direction "What the hell are you doing?!" she yelled.

"I didn't do all of this just for you to undagger them." Stefan spoke with a cold tone, he'd be lying if he said the hurt and anger in her eyes didn't cause his heart to twinge but he stole the coffins for a reason and was determined not to let anyone influence him, not even the person whose opinion he valued the most, "Klaus took everything from me, I'm returning the favour. His family is his one weakness. As long as I have them, I can ruin him."

"Are you fucking insane?" Mia pressed her hands together and brought them to her lips, "First you save Klaus then you do this, you're so caught up on some revenge plan that you're forgetting our problem would've been dealt with if you didn't ruin it!." It was infuriating to her that the Salvatore showed such little regard for consequences or the fact Klaus could end his life.

"Do you wanna die, is that what this is about?" She asked with a sharp tone, each word laced with anger, "Because you realise that's what Klaus is gonna do if he finds you...he's gonna kill you. So if you're so eager to die....then someone give me a fucking stake and I'll do it myself! You stupid inconsiderate bastard!"

She shouted each of the last four words with a shove, her voice breaking as it almost became a shriek. Tyler and Bonnie both wore concerned expressions as they witnessed her outburst, they knew it was all out of love for Stefan, and the fear that something could happen to him.

But Stefan didn't know that, in his mind he'd just lost her. He fought hard against the emotions that were threatening to show but on the inside, he was a wreck, a wave of self-hatred crashed. All he could do was stare into Mia's gaze that burned with rage, it was almost painful to hold eye contact, to see her looking at him this way.

He couldn't help but wonder if the reason she was so angry was because Stefan was currently the one thing standing in between her and Elijah, quite literally. It was a known fact Mia and the Original were close but whether the bond was platonic or something more was a question Stefan couldn't figure out, the worst parts of his mind told him it was the latter. He didn't like the thought of that, what he disliked even more was being confused on why he didn't like the thought of Mia being with someone else.

"Mia..."He spoke quietly, looking down at the Petrova who was now stood on the other side of the room by Tyler. She kept her back turned to him, showing zero interest in anything he had to say, this was a position they'd never been in before and he wished they'd never experience it again. As much as he wanted to grovel, he couldn't. 

The one thing he had to do was keep up this detached facade. "Last night....just before Mikael had arrived....Katherine told me that Klaus had his suspicions, that if anything happened to him then every hybrid at that party was ordered to kill Damon."

After hearing those words Mia had slowly faced him, her brows gently furrowing as Stefan continued to speak, "Not that I even care...I just knew that saving Klaus would grant me my freedom and make things less messy." He began to make his way towards the Petrova, whose expression had transformed into one of concern and understanding, "I don't care about anything anymore....just revenge."

"That's a lie." Mia whispered, her eyes darting all over his face and finally confirming her speculations from the previous evening. "....When'd you turn your humanity back on?"

Stefan blinked repeatedly, in a state of pure bewilderment. Even with his cold and cruel composure Mia was able to see right through him. Yes, picking her up from jail was a dead giveaway but even then he wasn't his normal self. The small gestures of care were just natural instinct for him, he couldn't resist showing some affection towards the Petrova, even if it was subtle.

And now she had just proved something...Mia Pierce was the one who truly knew Stefan Salvatore the most.

"You saved Damon yesterday because he's your brother and you love him...." Mia went on, trying to get through to him, "You're doing all this right now because you're angry and hurt. Klaus tried to ruin your life and now you think he took everything from you...but he didn't...we're all still here Stef." Being called that nickname again sounded as beautiful as an orchestra playing a symphony, it managed to settle the vehemence of frenzy rushing through him.

However, he'd now made an enemy out of Klaus Mikaelson and was worried that the hybrid would soon retaliate to him stealing the coffins. Stefan had taken something precious from Klaus, and the same could easily be done back to him, friends were a luxury he couldn't afford and love was a weakness. 

So instead he had to distance himself, being cruel to be kind. "You think you have me all figured out....you know nothing." He tried to ignore the stab of guilt in his heart at the sight of disappointment and dismay flicker in her eyes, "I don't need you... any of you."

Mia's bottom lip twitched as Tyler held her hand to comfort her, but not for the reasons he thought. The Petrova wasn't upset because of what Stefan had just said, it was why he said it that hurt. He wanted to protect them, even after everything he'd gone through, he wanted to keep them safe, even if that meant him being alone, even if that meant potentially making them hate him. She didn't want to press the issue further but also didn't want to undermine his efforts.

It may seem strange but if he was so determined to make Klaus and everyone think he was alone and cared for no one, then she would help. "Fine." She crossed her arms over her chest, "Then keep Bonnie out of your bullshit plans next time. You can't treat us like crap then expect help."

Stefan was surprised, he hadn't expected her to believe his harsh words so quickly, was he really so irredeemable to her? But he had no time to think on it, the sound of Elena's voice echoing through the house interrupting him. Upon hearing that Mia rolled her eyes and held both Tyler and Bonnie's hands. "I'm not in the mood to deal with her, let's go."

The three used the back exit and managed to get out undetected, after her earlier altercation with Damon Mia had no interest in seeing him, and after hearing how Tyler was treated at the Gilbert house, she wasn't really longing to meet Elena either. One day wasn't enough to forget their betrayal. 

"So...." Tyler started as they got into Bonnie's car, "What do we do now?"

~~~~

"You're not doing it properly, you have to move your hips more." Mia was laying on the bed as Tyler was teaching Bonnie how to do the bachata, however, the amount of alcohol they'd all just drunk was making it very difficult, "Move closer, you look like middle schoolers." She looked down at her phone and groaned at the 60th text she'd gotten from Caroline, who was complaining that Tyler hadn't called her, to say the blonde was irritating her would be an understatement.

"It's not as easy as it looks." Bonnie huffed, turning up the music on the radio. "We can't all be instantly good at everything like you are."

"Except driving." Tyler chuckled, twirling the Bennet witch around, "I don't think an eternity is long enough to teach her how to drive." Before he could say anything else Mia launched the pillow at him, hitting him square in the face. The impact of the blow causing him to fall on his back, landing on the carpet. Mia and Bonnie both broke out into hysterical laughter as the Lockwood held his nose, checking if it was broken. "Bitch."

"The mighty hybrid has fallen." Bonnie spoke with a slur, jumping onto the bed beside Mia, "Some master race....all it took was a pillow. Hey, maybe we should invite Klaus to a sleepover then kill him with pillows."

"We can't invite Caroline then, death by pillow is a sensitive subject." Mia spoke without thinking. She immediately slapped her hand on her mouth and the other two whipped their heads to her with their jaws dropped in shock. The Petrova simply looked down with wide eyes, horrified by those words even though she was the one who spoke them. "I don't even know why I said that."

Tyler bit his lip to stifle the laugh that was fighting to escape, his body shook as he restrained it. Bonnie on the other hand had less strength and couldn't help but let out a giggle, "You're either a mean drunk or a crazy one, there's no in-between."

"Forgive me Care." Mia whispered, placing her hand on her heart. Her mind instantly went back to the thoughts she had had the night before, that she was slowly becoming like her sire, how could she say something so cruel about her friend? Treating herself harshly was a talent Mia excelled at, she ignored that she was highly intoxicated and would never say something like that under normal circumstances.

"It's fine I've done worse things drunk.." Tyler sat up, resting his arms on the mattress as he was still sitting on the floor, "Remember when I made out with Matt's mom..."

"You mean when you were 17 and not in control of your own body." Bonnie raised a brow and looked at the Lockwood, Mia tilted her head upon recalling that.

 When she'd first heard the news of that the previous year she was still very much in her own shell, well Caroline's shadow, and only saw it the way the Forbes girl had told her too. But in the past few months she'd become less passive and agreeable, much to Caroline's disappointment, she made a mental note to drag Kelly Donovan if she ever saw her again.

Tyler ignored the last remark, he took a swig from the bottle then groaned, "I wanna talk to Care...I miss her."

"You weren't the one in the wrong, remember." The Bennett witch pointed out, before snatching his phone from him, "It's only been a day, give it time."

"Stay strong Ty." Mia lifted her fist in the air, "If you make up with her she's gonna keep doing the same thing, holding your sirebond against you when it's not even your fault. You already got enough of that from Elena and Alaric today....stay strong."

"I can't be strong." Tyler expressed, falling face flat onto the mattress, "It's Caroline, she's my weakness." Mia and Bonnie glanced at each other with an endearing pout at how cute that sentence was, what they didn't know was it was a distraction. The hybrid quickly grabbed the phone back off Bonnie and laughed triumphantly.

"Tyler no!" Bonnie leapt off the bed and jumped onto his back, trying to take the device back as he held it out of her reach, spinning and darting around to make her fall off him. "Drunk calls never end well."

Instead of helping the witch Mia simply laid back and recorded the two in a tussle, something to watch for when they sobered up. "Grab it, Bon!"

 Unfortunately, she wasn't successful, Tyler had managed to knock her off him and he sprinted out of the room, the Petrova chuckled then looked at Bonnie with a sympathetic smile, "You fought bravely my love."

"Thanks." Bonnie giggled, she fixed the strap of her dress then took her place back on the bed. The witch loved the way she was when she was around Mia and Tyler, it was a wholesome, wild side she hadn't shown since her Grams had passed.

If you'd asked Bonnie a year ago what she thought her future would be like, she'd say she had a feeling she would die young, mainly because she couldn't see a future that was happy for her but now her answer would be entirely different.

"Anyways..." Mia lay beside Bonnie, turning her head to face her, "How's it going with you and Zander, he couldn't take his eyes off you this morning...that thirsty hybrid stare." It was a stare she knew all too well, being that she'd gotten it from Klaus over a hundred times.

The Bennett witch smiled widely then took a sip of bourbon, "It's good...I think I might really like him. It's different than it was with Jeremy, it's more...mature." The last word caused Mia to smirk, "Not in a dirty way." She laughed, "He's just so much more deep and nice.....and his abs." Bonnie picked up a pillow and covered her face with a squeal, "His abs..."

"Ooh, Bon Bon's in love." Mia sang, poking her in the ribs, "But I'd be lying if I said I didn't think something was gonna happen between you and Rebekah, I was kinda rooting for it." The mention of the Original made Bonnie take the pillow off her face, revealing a pensive look, "What's wrong?"

The witch debated on asking for the answers she desired out of fear of being judged, the doubt only lasted a second then she mentally slapped herself for even thinking Mia would ever judge her, "How did you know....that y-you...liked girls?"

Mia smiled softly at the question, almost being brought to tears that Bonnie felt comfortable enough to ask her this, "It was never like a revelation, I always knew." She sat up on the bed, using her shoulders to prop her up, "When I was little, the Fells had a scullery maid and she had a daughter called Holly. She was the same age as me and I swear she was my first love, she would sneak me treats when I was busy with my tutor, leave the backdoor unlocked so I could meet Jesse whenever I wanted to."

"Then there was this dance in Town Square, they had it every year. I was rarely allowed to go, Veronica would never let me, said I didn't deserve anything nice because I was a deviant and wicked girl....I was 8." She paused and realised the alcohol was causing her to let things slip, information she didn't like to talk about. "Anyways...I'm getting off point...I was finally allowed to go to the dance because it was the same day as my 10th birthday."

"I picked a flower for Holly and I was gonna give it to her then as soon as I got there...she was dancing with Jesse." The Petrova shook her head and chuckled, "I was so devastated that I didn't speak to him for a whole week, he was at my window throwing pebbles every night but I was determined to let him know it hurt me. Her family ended up moving south, I cried for a month..."

She looked at Bonnie who was listening intently whilst clearly thinking about her own circumstances, "But yeah I didn't really see a difference, I liked boys and girls the same way, tried both and it confirmed it."

"But how am I....." Bonnie started, then sighed and sat up, opposite to the Petrova, "How am I supposed to know, if I haven't tried?"

"Try it with someone you trust." Mia replied without a thought, "Doesn't even need to be someone you have a crush on, just whoever you feel safe wi-" Her words were cut off when Bonnie quickly leaned in and pressed their lips together, catching the Petrova by surprise, despite this she did nothing to object.

Once Bonnie realised what she was doing she rapidly pulled away with a terrified look, "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have- I didn't mean to...I'm sorry." However, Mia simply cupped the side of the witch's face and moved in once more, connecting their lips in a gentle caress, one that seemed to last a lifetime.

The vampire slowly lay back onto the pillows, bringing Bonnie down with her, if this was to be her best friend's gay awakening then she was determined to make it the best kiss she was ever going to have. After a few moments, Bonnie broke away with a giggle then rolled off the brunette, a smile playing on her lips. "Okay, now I'm sure."

Mia, her confidence shining through, threw her hair over her shoulder with a proud grin. "Well, what can I say? I'm just that good."

They both burst into laughter, the tension fully replaced by a newfound ease. Bonnie's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "I never expected this," she admitted, her gaze meeting Mia's. "I've spent months hooked on Jeremy, completely devoted to him but in the end....it wasn't enough.

 The room fell into a momentary quiet, the weight of Bonnie's emotions palpable. Mia could see the turmoil in her friend's eyes, and she gently placed a hand on Bonnie's shoulder, offering silent support.

"I can't believe he did that to me, Mia," Bonnie said, her voice a mixture of frustration and hurt. "I trusted him, and he goes and cheats on me....with a ghost of all things."

"We should've seen it coming." Mia crossed her arms with a light shake of her head. "Izzie Stevens was always his favourite character." The Petrova glanced up at the witch, her heart twinging at the sight of her downtrodden expression, she hated how much she was hurting because of Jeremy. Yes, she had begun to move on, but that didn't take away the pain completely.

The brunette then seized the opportunity to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least you found out before things got even more complicated. Ghosts and relationships...never a good mix. Why'd you think I haven't tracked down a witch that could find a way for me to see Mason Lockwood all the time."

"Because you dating Tyler's ghost uncle would scar him." Bonnie chuckled, appreciating the attempt at humour however she couldn't get over her rage. " I'm so angry, Mia, I feel it all the time just constantly building up." Then all the alcohol in her system had pulled out words that she never thought she'd say, "I want to hurt him the way he hurt me."

As if on cue, the first notes of a certain Carrie Underwood began playing from the radio. The catchy tune filled the room, and Mia's eyes lit up with an idea. "You know what, Bon Bon? Maybe we should take a page from Carrie's book."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow, wondering if the vampire was being serious. "You don't mean we....?"

"Why not?" Mia shrugged, the mischievous glint in her eyes opposing the shocked one in Bonnie's. "It's time for a little payback, don't you think?"

As they listened to the song, the lyrics became their guide, and with each word, their determination to follow through with the plan grew stronger. The room filled with laughter and excitement, and together, they embraced the liberating feeling of reclaiming control over their own narrative. They left a note to Tyler that they were going out as they prepared to teach Jeremy a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.

~~~~

The dim glow of streetlights illuminated the scene as the two friends stood in the shadows, just down the street from the Gilbert house. The air was charged with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. "Are you sure about this?" Bonnie asked, her eyes searching Mia's face for any sign of hesitation.

The Petrova strutted down the crosswalk, swaying the baseball bat around "Look, he completely screwed you over and you responded with maturity. Classy but not as satisfying. Sometimes, you won't feel better unless you do something crazy."

After a while, the pair approached the car, which was conveniently parked away from the house," So what's it gonna be?" Mia smirked, "We could just go get some food from the Grille instead....if you don't wanna do it."

Much to her delight, Bonnie's eyes darkened and she said her next words with a low hum, "We've come all this way. " The two exchanged a determined glance, ready to unleash their frustration on Jeremy's car.

Bonnie clenched her jaw then finally unleashed her rage, the first swing echoed through the quiet street as the bat connected with the car's windshield. Shards of glass scattered in all directions. Mia followed suit, attacking the side mirrors with the tire iron, the rhythmic beat of destruction filled the air as they took turns venting their anger on the vehicle.

The witch's voice cut through the night as she swung the bat with ferocity. "I trusted him, Mia. I gave him everything, I risked losing one of my best friends by dating her brother and he threw it all away like it meant nothing!"

The two friends continued their relentless assault on the car. Each strike a cathartic release of the pent-up emotions that had been building inside the Bennett as she poured out with frustration with every hit. "I loved him so much and for what? He didn't even think twice before kissing Anna, he kept on seeing her even after I told him how it bothered me."

She took the pair of keys from Mia's hand and began to scrape it along the vehicle, her actions a physical manifestation of the pain and betrayal she felt. As the car's exterior crumpled under the onslaught, her voice rose again. "Matt let go of his sister, his sister....and Jeremy couldn't cut even cut off his ghosty ex." The Petrova took several steps back and watched proudly as her friend worked to regain control over a situation that had spiralled out of her grasp.

With every whack and grate she found a semblance of closure. And by the end of it, the wreckage of Jeremy's car became a symbol of her resilience, a tangible expression of the strength that could emerge from the ruins of a broken heart.

~~~~

"We should've set it on fire." Mia chuckled as they drew nearer to the Gilbert house to check if anyone was home. Her statement caused Bonnie to look at her with alarm, "I'm joking....kind of."

Bonnie stopped in her tracks as if she'd just realised what they'd done, she brought her hands to her face and sighed deeply, "We're gonna get in so much trouble and we left the evidence there."

"Hey." Mia spoke softly, holding onto the witch's arms and pulling them away, "If Jeremy knows what's good for him he won't report it and anyways we're friends with the sheriff's daughter and the mayor's son, we have diplomatic immunity."

"I don't think that's how it works." Bonnie murmured, as she wondered if the authorities would call her father and make him come into town to bail her out of prison.

"Then I have my compulsion...or even better...blackmail." The Petrova grinned, "This was meant to be fun and empowering besides I doubt Jeremy will even suspect it was you....he'd know it was me but I'm in no way afraid of a 16-year-old child." She handed the witch the bottle of bourbon they'd brought with them, "Relax, everything will be fine....you can't deny it felt good."

The Bennett thought about objecting but it wouldn't have been true, "Yeah..." She laced her fingers with Mia's and beamed, "It did."

"What's Damon doing here?" Mia scrunched her brows at the sight of the Salvatore's car on the crosswalk. She looked to the side and spotted him walking down the driveway before turning back and facing Elena, who was standing on the porch. 

Without any warning, Bonnie dragged Mia downwards to make sure they were both concealed by the bush. She poked her hands through, creating a gap for them to watch.

Damon made his way back down the driveway and up the stairs of the porch, "If I'm gonna feel guilty about something, I'm gonna feel guilty about this." The atmosphere was charged with tension, Damon gently cupped Elena's face with his hand, his touch both tender and passionate Before the Gilbert girl could respond he closed the remaining space between them, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that spoke of desire, longing, and a complex web of emotions. Time seemed to stand still as they shared this scandalous connection, the world fading away around them.

The kiss was a collision of conflicting feelings, a testament to the magnetic pull they couldn't deny. Elena's hands found their way to the Salvatore's chest, and for that stolen moment, everything else ceased to exist.

As they finally pulled away, Damon's gaze lingered on Elena's, the unspoken understanding between them deepening. The weight of the kiss hung in the air, a pivotal moment that would ripple through their lives, leaving an indelible mark on the complicated tapestry of love, loss, and supernatural entanglements that defined their world.

Bonnie and Mia exchanged wide-eyed glances, grappling with the weight of what they'd just witnessed. "Motherfuckers." The Petrova whispered, shaking her head with disappointment and disgust. They knelt down lower once Damon had approached his car, getting into it and driving away with a triumphant smile.

The Bennett peaked her head over the bush and sighed with relief upon seeing that Elena had gone inside and they'd managed to remain hidden, "Coast is clear." She took a sip from her bottle and contemplated how much harder that would've been to witness had they been sober. "I can't believe it."

Mia's mind raced as she rose from the ground, the next words she spoke were from pure instinct, "We've gotta tell Stefan." She didn't want to snitch on her descendant but also didn't want to betray her friend's trust either, especially while he was in such a fragile state.

Bonnie hesitated for a moment before a stern expression crossed her face. "No, we're not talking to Stefan, remember?" The witch knew this made her seem hypocritical, when Jeremy had kissed someone else she was glad to have been told but they weren't on good terms with the Salvatore and technically Elena hadn't cheated on Stefan the way Jeremy had on Bonnie, considering they broke up when his humanity was off. The logic was flimsy but it was the best she could come up with while under the influence.

Mia blinked, the reality of the situation settling in and reminding her that she was supposed to be pretending to be angry with the Salvatore "Oh, right...I'm gonna need a drink...or seven."

~~~~

The kitchen was bathed in a soft, dim light, the only illumination coming from the refrigerator's glow. Mia stood alone in the silence, a half-empty bottle of wine on the counter beside her. Bonnie had returned from their mission with a newfound confidence, the first thing she'd done was find Zander and lead him to her bedroom, leaving Mia by herself. The air was thick with the sweet scent of strawberries, and a gentle buzz lingered in the room.

Mia, with a slight sway to her movements, picked up a strawberry from the container on the table. The fruit felt cool and inviting in her hands as she twirled it absentmindedly between her fingers. She mumbled to herself, her thoughts consumed by the unexpected scene she had witnessed between Damon and Elena. "Should I tell Stefan?" she wondered aloud, the words hanging in the quiet room.

The image of Damon and Elena's kiss played over and over in her mind, stirring a mix of conflicting emotions. Mia's loyalty to her descendant warred with the knowledge that the truth had the potential to unravel relationships and complicate an already intricate web of vampire drama.

With a rigid shrug, she took a generous sip from her wine glass, the rich taste coating her tongue. The combination of alcohol and the sweet aroma of strawberries created a sensory symphony, wrapping her in a cocoon of temporary escape. She popped the strawberry into her mouth, savouring the burst of flavour, the juiciness mixing with the wine on her palate. Mia closed her eyes briefly, lost in the simple pleasure of the moment.

In the end, the Petrova found herself torn between the desire to protect her friend and the fear of setting off a chain reaction that could alter the fragile equilibrium of Mystic Falls. The weight of the secret pressed on her shoulders, and with a heavy heart, she continued to grapple with the decision that lay before her, uncertain of the path that lay ahead.

Her solitude was short-lived once the door swung open, revealing Klaus. He entered with a brooding expression, still annoyed about the events that'd happened hours before, his gaze locked onto the Petrova and he spoke with his voice low and intense, "I suppose you think the stunt you pulled earlier was amusing."

Mia looked up, her eyes meeting Klaus's, as she grinned mischievously, "You know...you should really look both ways before you cross." She took a bite of another strawberry, unable to contain a giggle from escaping. "You could get into an accident...again."

The Mikaelson narrowed his eyes, his irritation evident. "You're drunk." It wasn't a question, he was simply saying it aloud as if she was unaware. In the 20s alcohol would make the Petrova giddy and affectionate, it was clear the first adjective was still true and he couldn't help but wish the second one was too. "How much have you had?"

Mia pinched her fingers together, repeating how she'd done responded to Stefan, "A bit." Her reply had enticed an eye roll from the hybrid so she leaned back against the counter with a teasing smile as she took another sip of wine, "Hey, I helped you by telling you where Rebekah was. Don't be salty." She then glanced around noticing the absence of her blonde friend once again, "Where is she, you undaggered her right?"

Klaus' jaw clenched as he fought to maintain his stern composure, the mention of his sister did well to help him. "That's none of your concern."

"Actually she's my friend so it is my concern...also.." Mia retorted, then upon recalling another thing she pushed Klaus, however, he didn't move an inch. "You daggered Elijah, you prick...Why?!"

The Mikaelson remained unfazed by her anger, he simply responded coldly, "Matters betwixt my family and I have nothing to do with you...so I advise you mind your own."

"Family huh?" The Petrova laughed tauntingly, "You dagger them whenever it suits you and you dare call them family?" Her chuckle was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room as she threw Klaus' own words back in his face. "You wouldn't know what family was even if it bit you."

The Original's patience had finally worn thin. He moved swiftly, seizing Mia's sides with an assertive force, lifted her from the ground, and seated her on the counter. The sudden change in their dynamic left a trace of surprise in her eyes, clouded by the effects of the wine as his arms stayed on either side of her, caging her in.

He could hear the sound of her heartbeat quickening, the scent of strawberries on her lips filled his senses but he needed to get this message to sink in. "You are in no position to question my actions, to undermine my authority at every turn." 

His eyes flickered with authority when Mia rolled her eyes and looked away, the Original gripped her chin, turning her face back towards him, "And you are to stay away from my hybrids, I suggest you sleep in your own room tonight."

However Mia was undeterred and still determined to be defiant, she met Klaus' steely gaze with a challenging stare, "I sleep where I want...with who I want." She declared, tilting her head to the side, the rebellious glint in her eyes arousing and irritating the hybrid simultaneously. "You don't control that."

"We'll see." Klaus spoke with a low hum, with intent to reassert dominance he leaned in closer. "I have lived for over a millennium." He whispered, his eyes darkening as he dragged his thumb alongside the side of her neck. "And not once have I allowed another soul to get away with the things you have."

The Petrova took hold of his necklace, admiring the beautiful stone. She traced her finger over it, with a distant and contemplative look, as his words sunk in. "Kill me then." She murmured, "You'd be doing me a favour." The words had been said before she'd even realised, her inebriation enticing truths she'd prefer to stay hidden.

"What?" Klaus was taken aback, registering a mix of shock and concern on his face as he grasped the weight of her confession. He was initially attempting to intimidate her, which was a response to the rumours circulating about him being weakened by his love for this girl and now it was that same affection that urged him to hold her, to keep her safe from this cruel world until any feelings of despair had vanished.

"Nothing, just let me go." She brushed it off and mentally slapped herself. The Mikaelson didn't want to upset her any further so he stepped back slightly and released her. Mia slid off the counter, her body pressing against his as she done so. His warmth enveloped her and in a moment of vulnerability, the brunette placed her hand on his chest, running it along the soft fabric of his henley.

The hybrid wasn't stunned by her change in demeanor. After all, he believed no one was more familiar with the nuances of Mia's intoxicated behaviour than he was, how she'd become softer, more vulnerable. "Sweetheart..." He spoke gently, observing her with a combination of understanding and endearment.

The Petrova's actions came to a halt when she noticed Klaus' subtle smile and the sudden realisation came to her drunken mind. She pulled away abruptly, a hint of embarrassment crossing her features. The air became charged with unspoken tension as she gathered herself, "I'm really tired....I should go." She muttered and without waiting for a response quickly paced out of the kitchen.

Klaus watched her departure and the room settled into a contemplative silence as he pondered the unresolved emotions that lingered in the air, the echoes of their entangled past haunting the memories they'd once shared.

~~~~

Mia was sprawled across the bed, the soft melodies of music filling the room as she tried to find solace after a tumultuous day. Once again she was unable to enjoy it for long when the door creaked open and Serena entered, her eyes glistening with tears. Concern and worry etched across Mia's face, she propped herself up on her elbows, "What's wrong?"

Serena sniffled as she approached the bed, "Klaus is sending me and a few other hybrids away...to look for more wolves for his sired army."

Mia furrowed her brows as she sought to comfort the hybrid, "It'll only be for a little while though, right? Just until you find them and bring them back here." She reached out and held Serena's hand in a soothing grip, "It'll be okay."

Serena hesitated for a moment, a heavy weight in her chest, she swallowed down the lump in her throat and spoke, "Yeah.....just for a little while." She dried her eyes and plastered on a fake smile, "I guess I was just bummed that I have to go....right when things were starting to look good."

"Well, you better be back in time for Christmas...I was thinking we could all do Secret Santa." Mia told her excitedly which only made what the hybrid was doing even harder. Without giving her a chance to say anything else Serena tucked the stray lock of hair that was hanging in the Petrova's face and gently pecked her lips.

In that tender moment, they said their goodbyes, sealing it with this gentle kiss, a kiss that concealed the current deception. Serena left the room, leaving Mia alone with her false thoughts that this farewell was temporary.

Unbeknownst to Mia, a different narrative was unfolding downstairs. Klaus waited with a cold determination in his eyes as he glared at Serena, who descended the stairs, walking into the trap that Klaus had set. The lie of her mission to find more wolves was a cruel misdirection to soften the blow for his ex-lover, hiding the real reason for his sireling's upcoming fate.

As Serena approached Klaus, the atmosphere became suffocating with danger. The accusations hung unspoken, and the gravity of her actions became evident. Serena, unwittingly caught in a web of manipulation, was about to face the consequences of touching what Klaus considered his own. The hallway froze with the impending doom that awaited her for the perceived transgressions against the Mikaelson patriarch.

There's one thing Klaus Mikaelson was never willing to do....and that was share.

~~~~

"That one, that one is the hottest." Demetria lifted her glass to cheer for the Petrova, who was standing in front of the mirror, holding one of the twelve dresses Rebekah bought her against her body. The hybrid and her husband had decided it was unfair that the others had a chance to play with Mia and they didn't get to, so they paid her a visit. "Red is so your colour."

"I dunno." Mia curved her lips downwards as she searched for any flaws, she preferred she pointed them out herself than for someone else to notice. "You don't think it's a little...slutty for a council dinner." Since the death of Richard Lockwood Tyler was being forced to attend all the town council events which in turn meant that Mia had to as well, considering the hybrid refused to suffer that boredom alone.

"That's the best part." Demetria glanced at JP then rose from the bed, making her way to where Mia was standing. "Everyone's eyes will be on you which'll distract them from the fact the Mayor and Sheriff are covering for the vamps...and hybrids....and witches." She placed her hands on Mia's shoulders and shook them gently. "Think of it as saving the world....with your sexiness."

"Or....this may sound crazy." JP intervened with a grin, "Just wear it because you like it." He couldn't help but let his gaze wander down the Petrova's figure, "But trust me, Princess, you'd look good in anything."

"Thanks...." Mia replied hesitantly, confused on why Demetria showed no reaction to her husband flirting with another woman right in front of her. Little did she know the hybrid couldn't have been more pleased with his smooth words.

It was clear to everyone that Mia and Serena had relished in each other's company that morning, the rest of the hybrids were in awe that Serena had managed to woo Klaus' girl. This meant in terms of hierarchy among them she was at the top, under Tony and of course Klaus. 

Well now she was off the rankings completely, but the rest of them didn't know that. It may seem backwards but this is how they entertained themselves, constantly trying to one-up each other to gain the respect of their fellow hybrids.

The main goal was to become Klaus' right-hand man or woman. Although they all hated him, they were also aware that the safest place to be was in Klaus' good books, that position would also allow them to find any weaknesses in him, in the hope of getting rid of him once and for all. And that place is what Demetria had her sights set on, she was desperate to be taken seriously by Klaus especially after she'd overstepped her boundaries in the mountains.

They were all sat together one night, drinking and sharing stories in front of the roaring campfire. Surprisingly Klaus had sat down and joined them, even gone as far as to joke around with them, it felt strange to see the hybrid more relaxed and trying to get along with them, almost as if he was yearning to be a part of the family they had formed.

After a few hours they'd all gone to sleep, all except Demetria and Klaus who were both heavily intoxicated. For the first time since she'd met him the Mikaelson began to open up, the alcohol had loosened his inhibitions and let his mouth run free. He spoke about a girl he was in love with, a girl who loved him just as much but was currently too busy taking care of her friends to join him on her travels, he'd also said that he was missing her deeply and coveted her presence.

Demetria could've sworn she heard a sniffle come from his direction, a display of vulnerability that took her by surprise. Perhaps it was the urge to grant him comfort or the alcohol that was controlling her actions but before she'd even realised what she was doing she was face to face with the Original, her lips ghosting by his as their breaths entwined. 

Just as their lips were about to touch Klaus shoved her back harshly with a look of disgust. He rose from his chair and looked down on her as if she was dirt, ranting on about how he couldn't trust her to be loyal to him as a hybrid if she couldn't even be loyal to JP as a wife. 

What he didn't know was that the married couple had somewhat of an open relationship, they were able to explore and sample what other people had to offer whilst promising to cherish and prioritise each other the most.

Of course, Klaus was well within his rights to say no but the way he said it was what rubbed Demetria the wrong way and now she was determined to get her own back on him. She leaned against the pillows listening in to the conversation between Mia and JP as he was trying to convince Mia of her advantages.

"I'm just saying, you have an Original hybrid whipped for you...might as well have some fun." He quickly necked down his drink in one go. "I don't know how you haven't bagged a house or even a castle from him yet...he'd give it to you."

"Then we could all come stay with you in the castle...together." Demetria giggled, slowly trailing her finger up Mia's leg, the action causing the vampire's breath to hitch. "Wouldn't that be fun?"

The brunette glanced between the two hybrids in confusion, her heart rate rising. They were both ethereally attractive which made it worse for her, made her nervous which was something she hated. She couldn't help but feel uneasy at their marital status and attempted to steer it away from this, the last thing she wanted was to be blamed for the ruining of a marriage. "Maybe we should just keep this friendly."

"This is friendly." Demetria smirked, tracing her thumb on Mia's cheek, "Just friends being friendly just like you were with Serena.....You are our friend, aren't you?" She asked, receiving a small nod from Mia. The hybrid then moved closer, softly placing kisses on the Petrova's face, leading them up to her lips which she then caught in eager caress.

She pulled away and couldn't help but chuckle at Mia's flushed face. The Pierce girl loved her control and rarely gave it up, especially when it came to intimate activities. But now she was sitting there all blushed and panicky as if it was her first time. As unfamiliar as the feeling was, it was also thrilling, the feeling of having two powerful hybrids practically frothing at the mouth for her.

JP noticed her anxious state, his wife was always doing things to the maximum power, not bothering to check boundaries beforehand, when she wanted something she'd do anything to get it... "Hey." He whispered, twirling a strand of the Petrova's hair between his fingers. "Say the word and we stop....you want us to?" Mia's body made that decision before her mind could, she shook her head slowly, causing him to smirk. "Good girl."

His hand made its way behind her neck as she felt a magnetic pull and met him halfway, closing the distance between them as their lips melded into a passionate kiss. Mia's fingers moved on their own accord, tangling into his hair as he clutched her neck and squeezed lightly.

Demetria watched the two of them, the depth of her gaze spoke volumes, revealing a hunger that stirred something primal within as she tried to decide who to touch first. Mia was in a world of her own, enjoying the feeling of JP's kiss when all of a sudden she felt feather-light pecks travelling up her neck as a hand moved down her front and undid her jean buttons.

After a day of altercations and revelations, Mia was now more than happy to give into some fun, some harmless fun that didn't include destruction or breaking the law. Her mind was still racing with the secrets and burdens that held her captive but she pushed them to the side just as she was pushed down onto the mattress. Those issues did nothing but upset her and now was the time to relax. After all, Klaus did tell her to sleep in her own room that night.

It was just a shame she'd wake up the next day completely alone.

A/N: HELLO MY DARLINGSSSS, I hope you enjoyed that chapter, istg I'm incapable of doing small chapters...which is also kinda helpful bc my schedule is messed.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE

What was your favourite moment(s) from this chapter? I kinda hate it but i say this everytime

Tylonia my babies, I adore them so much. When i first started writing I was just tryna do what I thought a majority of ppl wanted to see, which is why i made Mia and Caroline besties but since then i decided that......im not tryna be like every other fic. I took it upon myself to fix the messes J*lie Pl*c made and I hope youre enjoying it. 

ALSO I GOT MARRIEDDDD!!!!!

This is my husband, look how cute he is <3333. EVERYONE CONGRATULATE ME

Anyways, next chapter is gonna be messy one....with somebody...not gonna say who...at death's door. FUN!!!

UNEDITED BC AS ALWAYS IM LAZY. (GIF AT THE TOP MADE BY ME, STEAL IT AND ILL HUNT YOU DOWN)

LOVE YOUUUUU

Published: 21st December 2023