"why are you here, damon?"
—

"CHICAGO was magical," Niklaus smiled in memory, cuddling Eden against his chest.

She wasn't sure exactly what changed since the night of the full moon a week prior, but something had completely shifted in their dynamic. In her, entirely.

She felt...good.

Memories were coming back, slowly and inconsequentially, but enough for Eden to have hope in them being restored entirely. The only inclination Eden had to the change was her accepting her bond with Nik, similar to when she first accepted the one with Elijah.

Having worked through most of the issues between her and Elijah, the pair were speaking more often and flirtatiously teasing one another.

Baby steps.

But she liked it.

Nik, on the other hand, was incredibly affectionate. Where Elijah was patient and cautious in touching her — a hand on her back, pressing a kiss to her head in passing — Nik was abundant in his attachment to her.

He was almost always touching her, and not as subtly as his brother. He gripped around her waist and planted kisses on her shoulder and held her hand. Both of them would tease her, toss comments back and forth about her blush, but none of them acted upon it seriously.

It was light and loving and exactly what Eden needed.

"Yeah, well," Stefan shrugged. "I'll take your word for it. Like I said, I don't remember most of it."

"Down to business, then?" Nik asked, tugging Eden along with him, his hand sliding into hers. She walked between he and Elijah, who met her gaze when her eyes looked up to him.

"Why am I still with you?" Stefan asked. "We had our fun. Your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?"

"You want to leave?" Eden asked softly, face falling.

His eyes met hers and she noticed a flicker of guilt. "I just...I didn't ask to be here, Eden."

"But you chose to stay," Nik pointed out. "What are you so eager to get back to?"

"It doesn't matter," Stefan shook his head. "You're healing, Eden, you don't need me. You need these two."

"I don't exactly have any other friends," Eden pointed out. "My best mates are thousands of miles away and it feels weird talking to them because I'm stuck in the past and they're not. You're the only one who's been in this process with me."

Surprise filled his face and his expression softened. "I didn't think of it like that."

"You're welcome to go," Elijah added, glancing to Niklaus. "We can make do on our own."

Stefan looked between the two brothers, then to Eden, and sighed. "No, I...I'm sorry. I...don't hate this. Let's just go."

"Do you think we can make time for an off-Broadway show?" Eden asked. "Or to see the Art Insititute? Or—"

"—Everything you'd like, Elskan," Elijah cut her off gently with an amused look, opening the passenger door. "But we have someone to see first."

"My second favorite witch," Nik continued, letting go of Eden to get into the driver's seat. "If anyone can help us with the hybrid problem, it's her."

—

"I am so tired of bar food," Eden remarked to Elijah as they followed behind Nik and Stefan into a bar called Gloria's. "If I eat one more burger, I'm going to kill someone."

Elijah chuckled. "Dinner date tonight, if you'd like?" He looked down at her. "There's a lovely Italian place that I think you'll enjoy."

Eden met his gaze and blushed, unable to stop the smile spreading on her face. "Just us?"

"If you'll have me."

"I'd like that," Eden nodded with a grin.

A smile tugged at his lips, and he placed a hand on her back, guiding her to a table. "Just order a water for now, darling, we'll drink wine tonight."

"I feel spoiled," Eden smiled up at him. He pressed a kiss to her head, looking to Nik and Stefan, who remarked about the age of the bar.

"You gotta be kidding me," a woman's voice spoke from the landing.

"So," Nik grins. "A hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bar—"

"Stop," the woman cut him off, making Eden laugh. "You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny."

"I like her," Eden grinned to Elijah, who shook his head in amusement.

"I remember you," the woman looked over Stefan.

"Yeah," Stefan nodded. "You're Gloria."

"Mm-hmm," Gloria agreed.

"Shouldn't you be—"

"—Old and dead?" She grinned. "Now, if I die, who's gonna run this place, huh?"

"Gloria's a very powerful witch," Nik explained to them. "Gloria, this is my brother, Elijah, and my Valinn, Eden."

Gloria looked the pair over, eyes narrowing. "She's a bit close to him."

"Elijah's my soulmate," Eden elaborated. Elijah observed the older witch, offering a polite nod.

"Figures," Gloria rolled her eyes, giving Eden another look, before her eyes settled on Niklaus. "She behaves herself or she's out. I don't like her kind."

"Careful," Nik warned, flashing a dangerous smile. "I'd hate for us to break a century-old friendship, Gloria."

"I'm just saying," Gloria looked to Eden again. "Her magic shouldn't exist."

Eden clenched her fist, eyes trailing to the glamoured words on her arms. Property of AD. Traitor. The prejudice against her kind of magic was so similar to her kind's prejudice against Muggleborns, which made her the property of Dolohov. And in Gloria's hatred of her, she'd always be viewed as a traitor, a stain on magic.

Eden was hated by both sides, and it didn't matter how many people she'd saved or what she'd been through to save them — she'd always be a freak to someone.

"I'd listen to my brother, Gloria," Elijah spoke up, eyes on Eden. "He's offered the only warning you'll receive, and we lack a friendship to be your saving grace."

Gloria nodded, looking back to Niklaus. She, Stefan, and Nik continued speaking, but Eden felt herself fall from the sky she'd been touching. A lowness sank into her stomach, and she leaned on her hand, suddenly feeling much smaller than when she entered the bar.

"Let's go to a museum," Elijah offered quietly, grabbing her hand. "Let's get out of here, okay?"

Eden nodded, pulling herself from the seat and hurrying from the room, ignoring Nik's worried gaze, Elijah joining her outside a moment later.

"We'll walk," he offered, grabbing her hand. "I did bring this," he pulled out a small camera, handing it to her. "You purchased it—"

"—Early in the trip," Eden finished, looking it over. "I remember. We forced Nik to go to the zoo with us and I made Stefan pose with a giraffe hat."

The smile that lit Elijah's face warmed her heart. He dropped her hand and cupped her face with his hand, pulling her into a soft kiss.

Eden sank against him, stood in the middle of the busy sidewalk, ignorant to the annoyed looks and views from passerbys. She reached her hands to his face and pulled him closer, tasting him on her and relishing in peppermint and scotch.

"Is this okay?" He breathed out, resting his head along hers. "I didn't mean to overstep; I know you're still unsure and—"

Eden cut him off with another kiss, pulling him closer. He breathed her in with a smile, meeting her lips eagerly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. The kiss wasn't desperate, it was tender and gentle and full of quieted feelings.

Relief surged through the bond, and she tangled a hand into his hair, pouring her own gratefulness into it. She was so thankful for him. So infatuated by him. He pulled back first, pressing a kiss to her nose and then fully away, gazing down at her, a slightly dazed look in his eyes.

"I'm okay," Eden assured him softly. "We can take it slow, but I...I'm okay. Are you — is this okay with you?"

Elijah nodded, cradling her head to his chest.

"This is perfect, Elskan."

—

Eden and Elijah re-entered Gloria's, hand-in-hand, Eden gripping a milkshake in the other.

"Hiiiii Nik," she grinned, taking the seat left of Niklaus. He smiled softly at her, looking between her and Elijah.

"You two seem happy," he remarked. Elijah opened his mouth, but Nik shook his head. "If Eden's happy, I am," he winked at the young witch, placing a hand on her thigh.

A blush found Eden's cheeks at his words and touch, but she ignored it, nibbling on her straw.

"Eden, don't bite it," Elijah chastised. "You'll complain about not having a straw in thirty seconds if you keep that up."

"Better than whiskey," Eden pointed out. "Unless you guys want me to get drunk again."

"Please, for the love of God, no," Stefan answered, shaking his head. "Last thing any of us wants."

"I don't know," Nik squeezed her thigh as Elijah ordered himself a drink. "You're very cute when you're drunk, isn't she, brother?"

"Remarkably so," Elijah agreed.

"Anyyyyways," Eden drew the attention back to something else, tracing the bar top and nibbling her straw, despite Elijah's eye roll. "Stef, how's your trip down memory lane going? Better luck than me?"

Stefan scoffed, glancing at her. "Not great," he stared down at his beer. "Klaus showed me old apartment. Relieved the greatest hits of Ripper Stefan."

"Nik, say Ripper."

He glanced down at her, mildly confused before complying and she snorted then broke into giggles.

"Ripaaaaah," she quoted. "That's what you sound like."

Stefan and Elijah both chuckled at the joke, but Nik narrowed his eyes. "It's the accent, love."

"I have an accent too," Eden defended. "But I lack the dramatics you have with every word out of your mouth."

"Ouch," he placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "You wound me."

"My point's been proven."

"Did you have fun at the museum?" Nik asked Eden and Elijah. "Sorry about Gloria," he added, meeting Eden's shy gaze. "I chewed her out when you left, Stefan was a shocked witness. Need her or not, if she says something again, I'll tear her heart out."

Eden smiled at his words. "Thank you," she said softly.

He shrugged it off. "No need for that, love, just protecting my girl."

Stefan raised his shot glass. "To memories," he looked to his left at the three of them.

"To friendship," Nik added, meeting his gaze, and squeezing Eden's thigh.

"To these idiots totally fucking in the twenties," Eden raised her milkshake.

Elijah snorted, laughing softly. "I'll drink to that, sæta," he clinked his whiskey glass to her shake.

Niklaus rolled his eyes. "You've no proof, and either way, I only belong to you, drottningin mín," he tapped his glass to hers.

"Yeah, I need more drinks to have this conversation," Stefan muttered, taking his shot and glancing behind him. "I'm gonna take a beat, be back in a few."

"Don't walk into any wooden stakes," Eden tossed after him and he shook his head in response, leaving the trio alone.

"You compelled him," Elijah pointed out after Stefan left the bar.

Nik looked down, smile falling from his face. He traced Eden's thigh softly, seeking comfort from her. "It was time for Rebekah and I to move on."

"Speaking of," Eden looked at him cautiously. "When are you planning on letting her see daylight again?"

Nik met her gaze first, and then Elijah's. "Sooner than you think. She's going to love you, Eden."

Eden perked up. "You think so?"

"She's a handful," Elijah warned. "But she's very loyal and protective. She'll be kind to you once she understands what you are to Niklaus and I."

Eden smiled into her milkshake. "Oh!" She smiled between them. "I think I reached the bits with the oreo in them. Score."

—

Eden came back from the restroom to see a dark-haired man on Nik's other side. She took her spot between the brothers, noticing how tense they looked.

"Who's this?" Eden asked, taking Nik's shot glass and downing the whiskey. "Oh, yeah, bad idea, doesn't go well with mikshake."

"No drinking for you," Nik gave her a pointed look. "Order food, when did you last eat?"

"We grabbed dinner," Elijah stated. "She's fine."

"You don't know me?" The dark-haired man asked, looking between the three, eyes settling on Eden. There was so much anguish in his gaze, like it broke his heart to know she couldn't recognize him.

"Did you guys compel her?" The man asked, jaw tightening.

"We can't compel her," Elijah replied, meeting his gaze evenly, a darkness on his face Eden had only seen a handful of times. "Not with our connection to her. Why are you here, Damon?"

"Oh!" Eden exclaimed. "Stef's brother? I'm Eden," she waved, guilt flooding her at the knowledge that she'd forgotten someone who supposedly helped her heal. "I've forgotten the past year of my life, don't take it personally."

"You have thirty seconds to explain yourself," Nik cut in, glowering at Damon. "Because she doesn't remember what you did to her but we both do and we'll rip your heart out and paint these walls red if we have to."

"Woah," Eden placed a hand over his on the bar. "Nik, it's alright."

"Give me my brother back," Damon asked, then glanced to Eden. "And Eden. And you'll never have to see me again."

"Mate, I'm perfectly good where I am," Eden spoke hastily before either of her boys could respond. "And Stefan's happy, too."

"Well, I am torn," Nik spoke up, gripping Eden's hand in his, rings brushing against her skin. She felt Elijah's hand on her thigh this time, both subtle touches. It appeared as though they were reassuring her, but she knew them well enough to understand they were reassuring themselves. "You see, I promised Stefan I wouldn't let you die, but how many freebies did I really sign up for? And clearly, you want to die," Nik raised his and Eden's hands up in his point, "otherwise you wouldn't be here, so..."

"I made no such promises," Elijah spoke up. "My only deal was with Eden and she can't remember you. Go, Damon, there's nothing for you here."

"What can I say?" Damon smirked. "I'm a thrill seeker."

"Me too," Eden spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "I love a good coaster. Ooh, 'Lij, we should go to Disneyland." She squeezed Nik's hand. "Nik, think Stef'll look good in Mickey ears?"

"Same old Eden," Damon shook his head. "New crowd. How the mighty have fallen."

Nik moved quickly, his hand still intertwined with Eden's, but broke the glass in his hand and jammed it into Damon's hand. "Say another word, Salvatore, and I'll make you eat this glass."

Damon winced, grimacing in pain as he slowly pulled the glass out from his hand. "Listen, Eden—"

Nik moved quickly again, lifting Damon up by his throat, gripping it tightly. A snapping sound was heard, and he held a palm out, where Elijah handed him the small umbrella topper for a drink. "Oh, dear, what was that?" Nik asked rhetorically. Elijah held Eden from interfering, his hand around her waist. "I'm a little boozy. So, you'll forgive me if I miss your heart the first few tries."

"Nik," Eden voiced but he sent her a look.

"Eden, I adore you, but this man has crossed my family one too many times."

"Maybe," Eden spoke up, meeting Damon's eyes. "But I can't remember it so to me, you're just killing Stefan's brother."

Nik hesitated and Damon chuckled, then winched when Nik shoved the toothpick into his chest. "No," Nik voiced. "That's not it. Brother, take her outside."

"You take me outside, I am not speaking to either of you for a year," Eden snapped. "I'm not a dog."

Nik's face contorted in frustration. "Sweetheart, I don't want you to see this, but I am going to kill him."

"Eden," Elijah spoke gently in her ear. "He's not worth it. You don't remember it, but I do. Damon ruined you, and I can't let you save him again."

"The only people that ruined me are dead," Eden pulled herself away from Elijah and he let her go, never one to go against her will, even now. "Nik," Eden placed a hand on his arm. "Just stop. Please."

Nik met her gaze, a dark look on his face. "This is the only time I will let you interfere with my business, Eden, do I make myself clear?" He asked and Eden crossed her arms, staring him down.

"This is the only time I'm letting you make a choice about it. Next time, you won't get one."

Nik shoved the toothpick into Damon again, who cried out in pain, and then tossed the younger vampire across the bar. He broke a stake from a chair and held it over Damon's chest, but it burst into flames before he could use it.

"Really?" He asked in annoyance, spotting Gloria behind the bar. He tossed the stake and looked back down to Damon.

"Not in my bar," Gloria said firmly. "You take it outside."

"You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom," Nik told Damon. "When I'm done with him, he won't wanna go back."

Nik stood up and turned to Eden with glowering eyes. "I'm furious with you," he told her. "We'll talk about it later."

"Or better yet," Eden shrugged, smiling coldly. "Not at all."

"Fine by me."

Eden sent him another glare before storming from the bar, leaving the angry vampires in her wake.

—

Eden didn't want to follow Nik anywhere but considering last she'd wandered off she'd been kidnapped and tortured, she figured it was best to stay near the brothers.

With a reluctant pout on her face, good mood entirely ruined, she trailed behind the two with Stefan, speaking quietly about Damon. She didn't care that Elijah and Nik could hear their discussion, she just wanted to talk to her friend about his brother that she supposedly knew beforehand.

"You both cared about each other," Stefan explained. "I think you're the only person he's ever really loved, but it was entirely platonic. You would finish each other's sentences and make up weird games and it was just...I've never seen him like that."

Eden thought, fiddling with the sleeve of her sweater. "They say he ruined me, too?"

Stefan nodded. "Yeah, he, uh...locked you in a basement to protect Elana when you first started seeing Elijah. Katherine saved you. Remember her?"

Eden shook her head. "No, but it's not hard to picture Elena's doppelganger since I know what she looks like."

"Yeah, well," Stefan scoffed. "Only good thing she's ever done."

"Very true, Stefan," Nik called back, only for Elijah to turn him back around, chastising him for intruding on the conversation.

Stefan nudged Eden, and when she met his eyes he mouthed 'forgive them' with a pointed look. Eden pouted, wanting the brothers to suffer a bit.

She'd forgive them in the morning.

"I'll go in first," Nik suggested as they approached the warehouse. "She'll be furious."

"You undaggered her?" Elijah asked, shock written across his face. Despite her frustration with him, Eden grabbed his hand and he clung to it tightly. She knew how much he missed his siblings.

She remembered their conversation in the car on their first date when he spoke of Rebekah, a soft, sad expression on his face. Blinking, Eden made a note to ask him about that memory too.

"I told you I would," Nik responded, meeting Elijah's gaze seriously. "I'm not just doing it for the hybrids. You can have her dagger," he glanced to Eden, then to Elijah again. "I won't take anyone else from her and I know she'll get attached."

Elijah's jaw clenched and he squeezed Eden's hand tightly. "Swear to me," he asked of Niklaus. "Swear you'll do it with them all, even Finn."

"I will," Nik responded earnestly. "But not yet. Bekah first. My hybrids," he glanced to Eden again. "She's the priority, brother."

"I agree," Elijah nodded. "Go get our sister, Niklaus."

Niklaus smiled and walked into the warehouse.

"You okay?" Eden asked Elijah, looking up at him.

Elijah glanced down at her. "I missed her," he confessed softly. "It's been a century."

"I know she missed you too," Eden replied gently. "And now you'll see her so much, you'll get sick of her."

Elijah smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing her in for a moment, before he tugged her to follow Stefan inside.

A blonde woman in a flapper dress stood before the trio, with a long-beaded necklace. She was incredibly pretty, and Eden could see the similarities between her and her brothers, namely Niklaus.

"Stefan?" She asked softly, her eyes catching his.

Niklaus closed the distance between himself and Stefan, compelling him to remember.

Eden watched as the memories hit Stefan, but her gaze was brought back to Elijah as he stepped forward. She smiled when Rebekah's eyes filled with tears and she rushed forward, pulling Elijah into a hug.

Elijah held her tightly, cradling her against him.

"I missed you, Rebekah," he whispered.

"Elijah," she responded softly, pulling back and then catching Eden's eyes. "Who's this?" She asked, eyes narrowing a fraction.

"I'm Eden," the witch introduced, offering a hand. "I'm Elijah's soulmate and Nik's Valinn."

Shock filled Rebekah's gaze and she looked between her brothers and then to Eden. "Really?" She asked softly.

Eden nodded. "It was weird at first, but now I just have two drivers when I drink too much."

Elijah shook his head with an amused smile, their bond full of so much happiness Eden thought she might explode.

Rebekah surprised her next, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "You've no idea how much they need you."

"I need them too," Eden responded softly, hugging Rebekah back.

Rebekah pulled away and looked Eden over. "On a better note," she grinned and Eden found herself smiling back at the contagious blonde. "You're in love with both of my brothers? Finally," she winked. "Take them off my hands, I need to get laid."

"Rebekah!"

"Sister, truly—"

"—Rebekah," Stefan spoke softly, staring at the girl. "I remember you."

Rebekah stilled, straightening and looking to Stefan nervously. "You do?"

Stefan nodded, then sped to her, Eden moving back just in time to watch Stefan pull her into a deep kiss.

"Stebekah for the win," Eden grinned, then looked to Niklaus. "That's a good name, right?"

—

TRANSLATIONS:
sæta - sweetie
drottningin mín - my queen

hehehehe hopefully you guys liked this episodddoeeeee. my bf was quoting these lines as we watched the show LMAO i think he's a teenage girl at heart. anyways stebekahhhhhh because i love them <3 and the reaosn for the kiss and their relationship will be explained, but you'll see.
and also yes 100% klefan happened and it was subtly hinted at and i may or may not bring it up again but probably never because it's not the premise ANYWAYS i hope you guys didn't mind all the scene changes. got some fluff and some angst and i just love lovveee bekah so yayyyyy!!