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"I don't know how we could ever let this transpire. I though this love would always burn like a wildfire."

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MOURNING a father is a feeling I'm not used to, but having a father that died is something I am. So when Caroline called me that night I spent no time rushing to her, getting James to drop me off at her house.

Covered in red wine and blood I showed up at her door and let her cry on my shoulder. It was all I could do. I never felt any love for my father, so I couldn't imagine what she was going through. All I did and all I could do was be with her.

She had told me what had happened. After being attacked by Tyler Lockwood while he was trying to break his sire bond to Klaus, Caroline's father had been severely inured and been given vampire blood to heal him by Alaric's girlfriend doctor. But with this mysterious killer on the loose another murder took place, this time the victim being Caroline's father who came back a vampire, but refused to complete the transition. I admire her bravery for allowing her father that choice, as it was something I myself have been stripped from. All of the vampires close to me didn't choose this life. We were too ignorant at the time to know any better.

That night my dreams were masked as nightmares, coming back to haunt me with images and memories of my own father along with flashes from the night prior. Apparently Bonnie and her mom had opened the coffin, but who or whatever was inside had vanished before they had a chance to see what it was.

A sudden gust of wind blows open my window sending my curtains flying about. I gasp awake, looking frantically at the bright light of the morning but no one is there.

I lift my legs over the side of the bed and onto the cool floor, making my way over to the open window to shut it.

As I approach the window, I notice a small envelope laying against the sill. I poke my head outside the window, but see no one. Confused, I open the letter revealing an invitation to a celebration ball hosted by none other than the Mikaelsons. Out of curiosity I turn the paper over, revealing beautifully written words in calligraphy writing reading:

My heart stops when I read who it's from, as I can't understand what the Mikaelsons would want to say. Enough damage has already been done by that family, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to make amends.

Without even getting dressed I march my way downstairs where everyone else is enjoying a mug of disguised coffee, sure to be blood judging by the empty blood bags on the counter.

"Why do you guys even bother putting the blood in mugs? Elena's not here, it's not like you need to be discreet." I laugh.

"I am here, actually," Elena says walking around the corner.

"Oh well in that case- Joel can you toss me a bag please," I ask. Joel smirks as he tosses me a blood bag, and I take no time to rip off the cap and engulf the liquid. Elena winces in disgust as Damon sends me a glare, but James and Joel on the other hand keep their mugs on their lips to conceal their smiles.

"Hey! You got one too! So did I! I actually got invited this time!" Joel exclaims, looking at the envelope in my hands while waving his above his head.

I laugh before turning to James. He smiles and holds up his invitation. "Elijah?" he asks, and I nod.

"What the hell? Why didn't Stefan or I get one?" Damon frowns.

"Ooo, doesn't it suck when you don't get invited to things?" Joel teases, pouting his lower lip mockingly.

Damon glares daggers at Joel which only makes him laugh more. "I don't understand. Why would they throw a ball? I thought whatever was in that coffin was supposed to kill Klaus," Elena questions.

"I guess we'll have to go to find out." I wink.

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After I compel myself a burgundy ball gown from the Mystic Falls Boutique, we make our way to the Mikaelson mansion, taking deep breaths as we make our way inside.

I can feel the anxiety radiating off of James beside me as the original siblings once use to be his childhood friends. Now they stand before us with outstretched hands, waiting to meet us after all these years.

The young brown haired one is the first to reach us, his eyes landing directly on James and me, but Damon intervenes before we can say anything.

"Damon Salvatore," he introduces himself as he shakes the originals hand. "Have we meet before?"

"I've met a lot of people, and you don't particularly stand out," the man says. He turns his gaze to me, his eyes staring straight into mine. "You however darling, are a person I can't seem to take my eyes off of."

I feel my cheeks flush as Damon and James tense beside me, a wave of awkwardness hovering above us. I never thought I would think this, but I'm thankful Klaus steps in at the right moment.

"Now Kol, don't go flirting with everyone you see," Klaus scolds, sending Kol walking away with a cheeky smirk on his face.

"He's your brother alright," I mutter.

"As Damon is yours," Klaus points out. "I'm glad you could make it Blair, James. You two on the other hand," Klaus says looking at Damon and Stefan." I don't remember inviting."

"Yes well, Elena's here so they're here," I say rolling my eyes.

Before Klaus can come back with a sarcastic remark, all the other Original family members gather on the stair case. I recognize vaguely all of them from last night, but there's an older women who I don't know. I turn to James, but the ghostly look on his face tells me he knows who it is, as does Joel.

"Who is she?" Damon asks in a hushed whisper.

"The Original witch, Esther. Also known as their mother," James says, seeming surprised.

"So, is she the weapon?" I ask, but before James can answer Elijah begins speaking.

"I would like to thank all of you gathering here tonight. It is our pleasure to host this celebration of our settlement in this beloved town, and to start the celebration we would like to start with a Walsh dance," Elijah announces, instructing everyone to move to the dance floor.

I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the amount of people moving to one place as everyone begins to pair up. James holds out his hand with a gentle smile, sensing my nerves and I take it gracefully letting him pull me to the dance floor.

With the amount of people, I let go of James's hand, loosing him in the crowd. I bump into someone and go to apologize until I see who it is.

"Blair," Klaus greets. "Would you like to dance?" he asks.

I grin and fix his ruffled bow tie. "No thank you," I say as I spot James across the crowd, making my way to him.

The music begins and James instructs me what to do seeing as I've never really danced before. His right hand sits above my waist while his left outstretches to hold my right. I then place my left hand on his shoulder, as our feet move to the soft music.

"Is this your first ball dance?" James asks.

"Why? Can you tell?" I joke.

He laughs looking down at the floor shyly before returning his gaze to my eyes. "You look breathtakingly beautiful tonight Blair," he says, his eyes smiling kindly.

"Thank you. You clean up alright yourself." I smirk.

"Why thank you, Ms. Salvatore," he grins.

I thought coming here tonight being around so many people would be hard given my uneasy state, but I realize being with James makes me feel calm and familiar although I know that's the exact opposite of what he must be feeling right now.

"Is it hard? Being surrounded by people you use to be friends with?" I ask.

"Not as hard as you would think. I mean, Elijah's easier than the others but it's Klaus who is the real problem," James admits.

"Yeah, you and me both," I sigh. James chuckles as we dance to the music. Apparently this dance involves switching partners, and too soon does James pass me off to the next gentleman beside us.

To my luck, it's the devil himself. "Christ," I mutter under my breath, looking around for any other available men or even women. I spot Joel pairing up with someone, and he sends me a sarcastic thumbs up before laughing hysterically to himself. If Klaus wasn't holding my hand right now, I would've strangled the little Branson.

"You just can't seem to escape me," Klaus smirks.

"Can we spend these three minutes in silence?" I plead, anxiously looking around to avoid eye contact.

"Oh come on darling, don't you want to bond?" Klaus grins.

"What do you want from me Klaus?" I sigh, giving up on the fact I'm stuck with him until we change partners again.

"I want you to realize that I'm not a threat to you anymore. I never wanted to hurt you, Blair," he says seriously.

"You should've thought of that before you took away my memories," I retort.

"That was a long time ago Blair, and I had two people threatening to kill me. I had to retaliate somehow," he says with a shrug, like it's not a big deal.

"Yeah? Is that the real reason you compelled them away, or is there something you're not telling me?" I snap.

"I have given you back some now haven't I?" he asks, completely changing the topic. I notice his dodge, but don't bother saying anything. I let it go for now.

"You only gave me two," I growl, my hand itching to let go of his. But his grip remains steady as do his footsteps as we dance around.

"Darling, if I gave you all of them at once, your brain would be overwhelmed," he points out.

Knowing he's right, I change the topic instead this time. "Your charms won't work on me Klaus. I know what you're doing; you're trying to get Elijah and James riled up."

"How would me dancing with you get Elijah riled up?" he questions.

"Elijah and James are very close. A threat to you is a threat Elijah takes personally knowing his loyalty," Klaus explains.

"How can you have a brother as loyal and forgiving as Elijah but be so cruel yourself?" I ask.

"I like to have fun," he teases, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Don't you ever get tired of the games? Have you ever thought of actually living?" I ask, staring intently at him as his face softens at my words.

Before Klaus can respond, the dance forced us to switch partners.

To my surprise it's Elijah who takes my hand and places his other hand just above my waist. He sends me a warm smile and I return the gesture but I can't think of what to say.

"I sincerely apologize about my brother. I know him being here is making things.... uncomfortable," Elijah says.

"Yeah," I sigh. "But if I couldn't handle it then I wouldn't have come."

Elijah chuckles and shakes his head, his eyes staying glued on mine. In his eyes I see a reflection of myself. I see a person who has lost themselves between family betrayal, and who has been caught up in things they never asked for. I conjure up the courage to ask the question that is on my mind.

"Elijah," I begin, not sure how to ask.

"Mmm?"

"I know you turned me," I say bluntly.

"Klaus compelled the memory back to you," Elijah whispers.

"I need to know why you turned me," I say calmly.

"Because you were my friend, and most importantly I saw how you made James happy. When we first met it was in a very complicated time and in a very heated moment between the feud the three of us had. Like James, we had lost touch with reality and what living really meant, but that changed when I met you and your brothers and saw what simple life you had, as it did James. You came into my life and showed me what it meant to appreciate the little things, and for that I thank you," he says before continuing.

"I couldn't bare the thought of being the reason James lost you after all you did for him. I couldn't live with myself after, so I kept it from James and compelled you and Katherine to think she turned you," he says with a frown.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth? Why did I have to learn from Klaus?" I ask, estranged.

"I was ashamed of myself. I let you and James down, and for that I am deeply sorry. You deserved a choice, and I stole that from you. I just feared if I didn't do something, you'd die. James deserves you," Elijah admits sadly.

"You saved my life Elijah, I owe you. This is all because of Klaus. He was going to kill me, and you made the hard decision. I know James doesn't hate you, and neither do I," I assure him, looking him sternly in the eyes.

Elijah smiles. "You have been an amazing friend for James and I Blair Salvatore," he states confidently, but deep down I feel bad that he thinks he's at fault. Now I can see how Klaus broke him. Klaus broke all of us.

"My brothers and James told me they were going to get you to be the trigger to turn my humanity back on," I say, attempting to change the topic.

"Perhaps they were hoping missing memories would play a role," Elijah says. "I can only imagine how lost you feel."

I nod, staying quiet as I think.

"If I may ask, why did you turn it back on?" Elijah asks.

"Long story short, the realization that I had just lost the best chance of getting my memories back was too much when I killed Mikael instead of Klaus," I reply, brooding about that night.

"So in the end it was really James that brought you back," Elijah states.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say smiling to myself. "You know, if it makes anything better it was memories of you too," I say, trying to be inclusive.

Elijah lets out a laugh, the smile reaching his eyes. "You should go find James," he encourages. Before we can say any more, the music stops and Elijah takes my hand, placing a friendly kiss on it before walking away.

The crowd of people breaks apart, leaving me standing alone in the middle of it, overwhelmed by the amount of both vampire and human bodies. I glance around frantically trying to find any familiar face, but all I can see is Matt and Caroline.

James, Stefan and Damon are gone, and that's never a good thing when in a house filled with originals.

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[completed & edited: 08/19/2021]