TRIGGER WARNINGS: fluff overload, you're welcome

"i just want to make your pain go away."

—

EDEN entered the diner last, stifling a yawn as the sleep deprivation truly hit her. There was less than forty-eight hours before her first full moon and she could feel the effects.

She'd also thought of Remus a lot.

Eden and Nik hadn't spoken much since he finger-fucked her in the hotel room, but she didn't mind.

She felt better either way.

Stefan could tell and commented with a lazy "you look chipper" and then proceeded to make her morning coffee before the brothers came down for breakfast.

Eden thought Elijah would act strange about it. She'd spent the hours after Niklaus left — she didn't end up going to a bar, she cried herself to sleep in his arms and he was gone in the morning — feeling guilty about the entire ordeal.

But Eden could feel no harbored resentment, no jealousy. And he still looked at her the same as before.

It confused the fuck out of her.

"We've got a lead," Nik announced as he took the seat next to Stefan, Elijah sitting next to Eden. "Ray's in Tennessee. We missed him last month with," his eyes flickered to Eden, who raised an eyebrow into her coffee, and he continued, "everything going on. Today, we get him, test the hybrids, and create more."

"Yippee," Eden remarked dryly.

"Stefan and I will go in first, compel everyone. Eden, you're going to eat a proper meal, and Eliah, keep an eye on her."

"I'm not a dog," Eden snapped. "No one needs to keep an eye on me."

"Well, you are a wolf now," Stefan pointed out. "Technically, you're a canine."

"At least I'm not a blood addict," Eden retorted.

Silence fell over them and Eden looked around with furrowed brows. "What?" She asked. "It's true."

"No, it's just," Stefan sighed. "You've said. Before. A lot. You said it a lot before you were kidnapped."

Eden froze and looked between the three, surprise filling her, but she kept her face blank. "That doesn't mean anything," she replied, her voice softer than she meant for it to be.

"'Course not," Nik rolled his eyes. "Nothing ever does with you, anymore."

He stood and left the diner quickly, heading back to the car. Eden rolled her eyes at his behavior and Stefan looked between her and Elijah, then to where Nik walked off to.

"I'm gonna..." he trailed off, going after him.

"That was weird," Eden commented to Elijah.

Elijah smiled softly at her. "They'll come around. If this is who you are now, they'll embrace you once they understand that."

"Is that why you're ignoring me now?" Eden asked, looking over his face.

Surprise danced across his eyes for a moment. "Is that what you believe?"

"It's true," Eden shrugged. "You've been ignoring me unless I'm having a nightmare."

"That wasn't my intention," Elijah replied softly. "I was attempting to give you space. It seems as though you're not someone who prefers to vent to and rely on someone, so I distanced myself so you could work through your desired process. I didn't intend to hurt you."

Oh.

Eden blinked, guilt flooding her and she looked down.

"Don't feel guilty," Elijah added calmly. "This is your process, your pain. No one is pushing you to go at anything but your own pace."

"Nik is," Eden frowned. "He's always telling me off."

A small smile pulled at his lips. "He cares for you," he remarked. "Niklaus isn't someone to take a hit lying down. And in neglecting to care for yourself, he's been forced to step in. I would have shouted less about it, but considering that's the first time I've felt relief in the bond, I'd say you need his anger to quarrel yours."

Eden was quiet for a moment, reflecting on his words and their connection. She didn't meet his eyes with her next words. "I don't...I'm sorry I let him...that I needed him to..."

Elijah grabbed her hand from where it tightly clung to her mug and held it in his own. "You don't remember this, but we've discussed your relations with my brother. If he brings you happiness, I'll not stand in the way. I'll love you from your side or the other room. What's important now is your healing, not my feelings."

"Your feelings are important," Eden said firmly, meeting his gaze. "I don't—I'm not going to let you just push them aside for me. That's not healthy."

"I'm not upset, Eden," he gently ran his fingers across her palm, tracing her wrist, eyes connected to hers. They were so full of adoration and love it made her want to cry. "I have lived a thousand years without you, and I will have you now as much or as little as you'd like. I am a patient man, and I will be at your side whenever you need me, and when you're ready to look into a future with me, I'll be there. If my brother is what you need now, I'll not stand in your way."

Eden's eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them back. His thumb brushed back one that slipped down her cheek. "I wish I could remember you," she whispered. "It's part of why I keep pushing you. I...you deserve someone who loves you as wholly as you do me."

"And you do," he assured quietly, stroking her cheek gently. "Whether or not you remember, those feelings don't simply go away. When you're ready to open yourself to our bond again, you'll feel the love again. Until then, don't mistake my distance for anger. I'm here whenever you need me in whatever capacity that may be."

Eden smiled gently at him, and as his eyes settled on hers, something fluttered in her chest.

Gods, he was beautiful.

—

Eden entered Southern Comfort with Elijah, sparing a glance to Nik and Stefan as they cornered Ray in the bar.

"Let him have his fun," Elijah held his hand on her lower back, guiding her to the bar.

She liked it.

"I'm craving a shake," Eden took a seat, looking over a small menu placed in front of her. "But I will settle for a nice whiskey." She ordered from the bartender.

"Add a burger and fries to her order, please," Elijah smiled politely to the bartender.

Eden rolled her eyes and glanced back over to Nik, who met her gaze with a small smirk. His fingers tapped along the bar top as Roy and Stefan spoke back and forth. His smirk widened when warmth flooded Eden's face and she looked away, down to her drink which was placed in front of her.

"I missed that," Elijah remarked quietly, glancing down at her, handing her the vial of wolfsbane for the evening. "You're so cute when you blush."

Eden bit her lip, glancing at him, a strange giddiness in her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this way. She pushed it aside and uncapped the vial, taking it in one gulp and grimacing at the taste, immediately washing it down with the whiskey.

"Don't look," Elijah told her, glancing to Nik and Stefan. "They're going to torture Ray, would you like your earbuds?"

Eden met his gaze and nodded, taking them from him with a grateful smile. She didn't look at Nik. She couldn't watch him do that to someone.

Not like what had been done to her.

Eden turned the music up to full volume and ate quietly, occasionally glancing to Elijah's phone, where he was looking at houses.

"What're you doing?" She asked over the music.

He smiled in amusement, looking down at her. He pointed to his ears and a smile curled at her lips as she realized she was shouting — and she wouldn't be able to hear him anyway.

"I'm gonna eat outside," she took her plate at Elijah's nod, and tap to his ear — he'd be listening to ensure her safety — and quickly walked past Ray — who was strung up to a dart board being darted with vervain — out into the cool air.

Eden took a seat outside, leaning against the wall and munching on her fries. She took the earbuds out and glanced around anxiously, ensuring no one could sneak up on her.

"Hello, love," Nik's voice brought her gaze to the door. "Is that an entire meal nearly finished?" He kneeled down next to her. "Look at you, falleg stúlka," he smiled. "Proud of you."

Eden softened at his words, offering him a fry. "Hungry?"

His smile widened and he took it from her, taking a bite. "You seem good this evening. Heard you speaking to Elijah. Sorry about the mess," he nodded to the bar. "I only brought you so you'd eat. I didn't want you to see all of this."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I know." She shifted, handing him the empty plate. He rested it on his knee. "Elijah said he's okay with...whatever happens."

"Are you okay with it?" He counted, eyeing her carefully.

Eden shrugged. "I can't focus on anything romantic right now," she said honestly. "With you or Elijah, but...I don't know." She hesitated. "Last night helped...a lot. I can't thank you enough."

"Don't," he shook his head. "Nothing to thank me for. Whatever you need, I'll give it to you. As frequently or infrequently as you desire."

Eden nodded at his words, looking down at the ground. The air was still between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was quiet and careful, but there was no tension, no resentment.

Eden liked it.

"I'm scared," she confessed quietly.

Nik set the plate on the ground and sat back against the wall next to her, grabbing her hand. "I'm doing this, so you won't be scared anymore," he told her softly. "I just want to make your pain go away."

Eden nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry that I've been so mean," she whispered. "And I've been mean to Elijah."

"That's alright," he pressed a kiss to her head. "You're not expected to bounce back with nothing but a smile. You're allowed to be angry. To feel the pain. We just don't want you to sit in it."

Eden breathed him in, her senses stronger than normal. He smelled so good. Like whiskey and paint and...she inhaled again. Something sweet and tangy. Fruity.

"What did you eat for breakfast?" She asked softly.

He snorted at the question. "What?"

"You smell like something...fruity."

A chuckle left his lips and he pressed another kiss to her head. "I had a pomegranate juice this morning. Your senses heightened?"

Eden nodded. "Immensely."

He hummed in response, gently squeezing her hand. The rings on his fingers were cold against her skin but she liked it. Everything about her was on fire. Her mind, her heart, her body. It was all burning up but Niklaus could touch her and cool her down.

She thought it was ironic he smelled like pomegranates. Like the tale of Hades and Persephone. She'd chosen to follow Hades — or he'd kidnapped her, depending on the tale — into darkness but fell in love with the monster and the man.

Eden always liked the tale of Hades and Persphone. She was a romantic at heart — and it was something she and Hermione vehemently debated on being the best Greek myth — so it was only plausible that she were living out the real tale of it.

While Niklaus hadn't kidnapped her, he'd asked her to come with them.

In Alaric's flat back in Mystic Falls. She could recall his shy nature and —

"Oh my god," she breathed out, pulling her head back and looking at him with wide, tearful eyes. "Nik—Nik, I remember when you asked me to come with you."

Nik met her tearful gaze in confusion, shaking his head a fraction. "Elaborate, love."

"In Ric's flat, I remember you asking me to come with you. Me and Elijah. I remember Stefan...was there and then," she thought for a moment, the picture foggy and clouded in her mind. Like staring into a pensieve but not being able to relive the memory. "I don't remember what happened to him, but...I remember you asking me. If we could come. And I said I...wanted something. I don't...I can't remember it."

"Music," Nik supplied, his eyes tearing up. He clenched his jaw to stop them falling. "You wanted to be in control of the music. You've got brilliant taste but my brother thinks it's terrible."

"Elijah listens to classical music, what does he know? Jacks off to Bethoven."

Niklaus burst into laughter, pulling her to him and pressing kisses to her head. "Good girl," he breathed. "One memory down, you'll get them back, sweetheart."

Eden tried to recall other memories but found herself coming up short. She couldn't remember Stefan's brother, or parties with Jeremy and Jenna, or her supposed friendship with Draco. But she could remember choosing to follow Nik.

Eden liked that she had a choice.

And she really liked that Nik gave her the memory, without her even asking. In simply being himself, she felt comfortable enough to sink into her mind and return with something she thought impossible.

Eden loved that.

—

"I don't release to Bethoven," Elijah stated as the pair waited in the car, talking quietly. Nik was finishing up with Ray — Stefan was stopping Damon from coming after them, and Elijah had tortured Ray into confessing the pack's whereabouts when Nik was with Eden — and they'd be on their way.

"No?" Eden grinned over at him; a teasing look in her eyes.

She hadn't felt this good for as long as she could remember.

"I could play him, if you need to get off."

"I met Bethoven," Elijah rolled his eyes, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "There's a reason he's known only for his music. He was misogynistic, crude, and had terrible breath."

"Mozart, then?" Eden laughed lightly. "He's your preference?"

"You little—" Elijah reached over and grabbed her chin softly, a playful smile on his face. "Keep talking, Elskan, and I'll show you what gets me off."

"Is that a promise?" Eden bit her lip, grinning up at him.

Elijah chuckled at her words, pulling his hand back and tapping her nose. "You're insatiable."

"I can't remember it," she shrugged. "Might as well show me again."

He was quiet for a moment, before glancing over to her. "I can describe it for you, if you'd like. It may not bring anything forward, but you'll know what happened the night before you were taken."

Eden debated his words, running a list of pros and cons in her head. On one hand, she wanted to decipher memories for herself, but on another, she wanted to know everything she'd missed.

Perhaps with Nik, she could sit in silence, and they'd come. But maybe with Elijah, she needed his — admittedly, very, very sexy voice — to describe it to her.

Either way, him divulging the information would distract her from the silence and the hands that threatened to grab her in the darkness.

Dolohov hadn't pestered her all day and she'd like to keep that going for as long as possible.

"Who made the first move?"

Elijah smiled at her words. "Oh, prinsessa, who do you think?"

—

Eden walked close to Nik as Stefan carried Ray's body up the Smoky Mountain trail to the werewolf camp.

Elijah hadn't come. Eden begged him not to be there, to please show her the decency of her as Eden, not as a werewolf. They'd argued about it, but when she was brought to tears at the idea of him witnessing her in pain, he relented.

But they both knew he would feel every second and it only made her feel worse.

Nik had been with her all morning, ensuring she'd eaten — despite wanting to throw up everything that touched her mouth — and had stuffed a dozen water bottles in her fanny pack, which he wore around his waist as she still refused to wear it.

Eden pretended not to like how sweet it was that he cared, or how cute he looked in the fanny pack.

Elijah and Stefan held no quarrels in mocking him, but he just smirked and brushed it off.

She liked that, too.

"I'm fine," Stefan remarked when Nik sent him a dubious look.

"You sure about that?" He asked the younger vampire, glancing to Eden. "Sweetheart, let me know if you get tired. You'll need your strength tonight."

Eden nodded, a jolt of nerves assaulting her stomach. She couldn't believe that in a handful of hours she'd be a werewolf, entirely and completely. She and Nik had discussed theories about which type she'd be, but they could really only wait it out and see.

Elijah promised to tend to her wounds in the morning either way. Nik promised to stop her from inflicting any damage during the shift.

"We've been walking for quite some time now," Nik continued, mocking Stefan. "If you need some water or a little sit-down."

"Funny, Klaus," Stefan responded with an eye roll, catching Eden's eye. "How're you doing over there?"

"Fine," Eden snapped, then took a breath. "Sorry, that was rude. I'm just...antsy. My body feels all weird and tingly and uncomfortable."

"I never experienced that," Nik confessed to them. "During the ritual, it was only brief pain and then sheer ecstasy. I'm sorry you're going through it, ástin mín."

"It's alright," Eden shrugged. "I've got my puppy and my bunny to keep me comfortable." She stopped walking, eyes narrowing. "I've said that before, haven't I?"

Nik grinned down at her, and Stefan nodded, lips quirking up. "One more down, love."

Eden smiled up at the pair, jumping a bit in excitement, then tripped over a rock, her smile falling as Nik caught her.

"That's it," he shook his head with a fond look in his eyes. "On my back, I'll carry you the rest of the way."

"Really?"

"I won't ask twice."

Eden wrapped her arms around his neck and he hitched her legs up around his waist, carrying her through the smoky mountains. She buried her face in his back and inhaled. The smell of whiskey had long been replaced by something woodsier, pine, she believed. He was the woods and the fruit on trees and the pictures in her mind.

Pine. Pomegranate. Paint.

Eden loved it.

—
TRANSLATIONS:
falleg stúlka - pretty girl
Prinsessa - princess
ástin mín - my love

hehehehee okay next chapter we get her first shift and back into the main vampire diaries storyline!! eden is SLOWLY healing, so we get a great day with her, but she'll still have bad days. hopefully you guys liked this, she definitely needed some fluff hehehe. ikkkk there's not a ton of elijah content but i promise we'll see more. right now it's mostly nik centric because she's verryryyy slowly letting elijah back in, and nik is more helpful with her anger. hehe nik smells like pp. AHHAH jk. okay love y'all bye