A Year Later...

"Lena I need help with these orders" I sighed and pushed myself to work a little harder. Cami had me working like a mad woman today. There were a bunch of people here today, don't know why nothing special going on just seems like a busy day I guess. I rushed my last order heading to the bar where Marcel sat laughing at me. I rolled my eyes punching him in the arm "What?! Can't blame me. I love watching you work. It looks exhausting" I shook my head "It's torture" I said "Hey" Cami shouted from the back making me laugh. I poured this guy a drink and walked back over to Marcel who was sipping scotch while he watched me work "Sorry Cami" I said before turning back to practically my best friend.

Marcel and I are closer than I would've ever thought, a lot about us matches. Orphans, lost without a place to call home. Now that we have each other it's like we call each other home. Cami thinks we should date but I'm not sure. Marcel is really cute, and sweet, and smart and literally everything a girl could want but I can't. The stupid bond is still in the way, though not as overpowering as it used to be the bond has reduced to a small buzz in my brain. It doesn't burn as much when I touch someone like it used to. I'm learning that more I feed into the worse it gets. Marcel snapped in my face and I blinked coming out of my daze "There you go thinking about him again" I sighed rolling my eyes and sticking my tongue out at him.

"I wasn't actually I was thinking about what me and my awesome best friend are doing today" he smiled and shrugged "I don't know you got lucky and you're best friend is basically a King so we can do whatever you like little miss Elena" I smiled and went back to work seeing Cami come out of inventory. I rushed around for most of the day but Shelby came early so around 2:30 I was done. Marcel watched me work most of my shift he disappeared to handle small disputes here and there but essentially he was with me. We were walking down Bourbon Street now listening to music and talking about nothing. I closed my eyes and leaned on him "So tell me why is it that you've been here a year and haven't talked to any of the fine gentlemen this city has to offer" I looked at him laughing a little "I don't need another fine gentlemen around I got you" he smiled but didn't say anything, I could tell he wanted to ask something I wasn't sure what though.

"I know but... I mean like a boyfriend" he was hesitating "What do you wanna ask M I won't murder you for asking" he chuckled and breathed out "Go out with me tonight. I just want to show you at least once what being with someone can be like if you just try. There's an angels and demons party tonight we should go" I bit my lip thinking about it and as I thought I realized why I'd been so hesitant about it in the first place. It was like my final step away from Klaus, the end of that chapter. I wasn't sure I was ready to really close it, which is stupid. I should be ready. No reason why I shouldn't be ready but here I am.

"Ok let's do it" he seemed so taken aback he tripped a little before he spoke "Really" I nodded "Yea I mean I need to start living my life like I said I would when I left" I smiled at him and he smiled back just as wide "Alright then I'll be back later tonight to pick you up be ready and wear something cute" he said quickly before disappearing into the crowd. I wonder if this is a date, it's a date right? Oh no it's a date. What do I do? I rushed back to the bar finding Cami deep in counselor conversation with some girl who was practically trashed. She saw me excusing herself before walking over "What's up did you forget something" she asked "Pretty sure Marcel just asked me out.... And I said yes" her jaw dropped for a minute before she squealed.

"Finally! Ok come on we have to make you look super cute" we spent the rest of the day trying on outfits and fixing my hair. Before we knew it Marcel texted me he was on his way, which practically meant he was already here. I looked in the mirror turning a little "You look amazing" I heard from behind me my heartbeat rushing in my chest "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself" he looked good in his suit with red accents "I guess you're a devil" he shrugged "You too I expected you to be a little angel like we both know you are" I shrugged making us both smile "Maybe but I wanted to do something different" he held up his arm and I laced mine with his walking out with him. The party was at his place surprisingly I watched the people dance around and laughed. It reminded me of the parties I used to go with Caroline and Bonnie.

I did catch people feeding on the humans here but Marcel has a strict no killing rule so I knew they'd be ok. Marcel never lied to me I knew about how they all still fed on humans but otherwise he was fair. Everyone was treated equally that's what I liked about him "May I have this dance" I rolled my eyes and gave him my hand. He spun me around before pulling me into him and carrying me around the room. I laughed a little dancing around carefree, I wasn't afraid here. Marcel would protect me and Marcel's people protected him. Unlike Klaus all his followers were people who respected him instead of fearing him. He picked me up spinning me slowly putting me down and holding me close. The rest of the song we just held onto each other and swayed.

"You really do look beautiful tonight" I looked up at him about to speak when I suddenly couldn't breath. My skin was burning everywhere and I felt a wave of emotions crash into me. It didn't take me long to realize that Marcel wasn't the reason. I pushed him away rushing out of the room desperate for air. A cold chill hit my spine and I sighed finally being able to breath. Where did that come from? Marcel was in front of me in less than a second touching my arm "Are you ok" I pulled away the burn harsher than ever "It's the mark. It's burning again" he frowned "It hasn't done that in a while" I nodded rubbing my leg a little hoping that would fix it. What's going on "Maybe it's because she doesn't belong to you mate" my blood ran cold and I froze "What do you think brother" Kol asked "I would say so. I happen to know just who she belongs to and I would tread lightly if I were you mate" Klaus said making me turn around angrily.

I was so ready to tear into him but my words slipped from my lips as I was hit with everything. The mixture of his emotions and mine were making it impossible for me to pull out a coherent thought. All I could think of was how much I missed him, how much I still loved him. I groaned at my own thoughts knowing that the only reason it was like this was because he was here "What are you doing here" I gritted out "I've come to collect what's mine love. A few trinkets, few favors, my mate, you know everything that belongs to me" I clenched my fists glaring at him "I don't belong to anyone" his eyes flashed amber and I grabbed onto Marcel pulling him behind me slightly.

"Elena stop touching him or he will kill him" Kol said my eyes flickering between them both and then I slowly let him go. The anger on Klaus' face lifted a little and the regular blue of his eyes came back to the fore front. Everyone visibly relaxed at that moment, Kol watched warily as Klaus walked a little closer and I backed up subconsciously "I just want to talk sweetheart that's it" I looked back at Marcel who had his eyes on me the whole time. He knew I'd want to talk to him but he was also prepared to take me away as soon as I asked. I looked back and forth between the two of them before he pulled me over to him sparing a glance at the brothers "You should hear what he has to say. He wouldn't have done all this if it wasn't important. Just listen to him. We can talk later ok" I nodded and Marcel hugged me before leaving me with Kol and Klaus.

"Let's talk then" Kol rushed off as soon as Marcel left winking and smiling at me. I sat at a nearby bench crossing my arms, I surely wasn't starting this conversation. It was silent for a while and I looked over to see that he was as always assessing me. My hair had changed for the party I put red steaks in it again, cut it and put it in soft curls. It made me smirk when I remembered how Klaus didn't like it. As he looked me over I felt stronger than I did at first. I wasn't as effected by him like I usually am "I don't have the time for this Klaus what do you want" he smirked and sped up to me, being so close instantly the bond buzzed, pulled and tugged at me to be even closer. I pursed my lips and swallowed my feelings as he spoke to me.

"Isn't obvious? I miss you" I looked up at him my breathing wavering before I pushed by him walking away "You don't get to miss me" he walked beside me sighing quickening his pace to keep up with me "You used and lied to me. I don't get how you seem to feel like you get the right" he grabbed my arm and I turned to face him "I understand. I shouldn't have used your blood without you knowing but can you allow me to explain" I scoffed and shook my head "What about this needs more explaining somehow you managed to get my blood without me knowing using the bond against me like I should've but didn't do to you. You know how funny that is? The very thing you spent so much time worrying I was gonna do to you, you turned around and did to me" I shook my head at him pulling away and walking back towards the party.

"Elena let me show you. Let me show you why I am the way I am, let me explain why it meant so much to me to have hybrids to have power" I wouldn't meet his eyes unwilling to show him that I actually did want to know why he was this way. Why he would do anything, hurt anyone to have power, to feel powerful over others. He pulled me off deep into the woods before turning to me and grabbing my hands. Suddenly the woods around me shifted, the sounds of the woods replaced by people, metal clanging, and children fighting.

I opened my eyes to see a smiling boy he was playing with colors making odd shapes on the paper he had. I smiled a little when the boy showed the other boy he was sitting with "Lijah look" his older brother snatched his paper and they ran off playing a game of tag. It took me a minute to shake off my thoughts to realize who that was "That's you" I whispered feeling his presence, he didn't speak only watched as the two played a look I didn't recognize on his face. A man came out of his tent his eyes landing on the two boys the emotion, anger, clear on his face.

"Elijah! Niklaus! What have I told you about running around like wild animals!?" the boys flinched under his tone and Klaus backed behind his brother slowly "We're sorry father." Elijah said making my heart bleed a little for them "Are you?" he shouted the boys jumping again at his tone, he pulled the two apart and focused on Klaus now. He snatched his painting from him ripping it into shreds "Men do not paint it is for women" he said tossing the pieces aside "But..." he didn't get to finish his sentence before he gripped his shirt and screamed at him about talking back.

I looked over at Klaus watching his expressionless face, I imagine he was reliving it all over. The scene ended and 3 more scenes at different ages all went by after, 3 was all I could take before I pulled away from Klaus the memories and our pain combining too much for me. I could feel how much seeing that all over again hurt him, now his cruelty made sense, his need for protection like he said it would, it all clicked. He lived in fear most of his human life and as a vampire everything he was before was amplified. So his need to protect himself his constant fear of someone being after him was all multiplied.

"Mikeal was turned just like us but as you know as a vampire all that we are was amplified. His hatred and anger were magnified in a way I dare not venture to understand. He hated what we became and spent all of his existence trying to fix his mistake. He hunted me and my siblings for the better part of a millennia trying to kill us. Not long ago a witch managed to desiccate and chain him up in a unknown location. I have spent years and years running from and fighting that man its hard for me to suddenly adjust to being free to not having someone with an alterior motive around me" I listened, the memories I saw bringing small tears to my eyes, how could someone be so cruel to their son?

"He was like that with you before he knew you weren't his, wasn't he?" he nodded looking off into space "He always knew I guess that there was something off about me, he killed my real father when he found out" I watched him talk and emotions I never thought I would ever see Klaus have melted off him. He was really scared of him "I'm so sorry" he looked at me and pulled me into a hug, I didn't shy away knowing he needed it and that he would likely never let me see him like this again. We stayed like that for a while until he pulled away slightly and moved my hair out of my face.

"Elena I can't tell you what you truly mean to me, I know that I have no claim for forgiveness but I beg you for it regardless. I can't... I'm finding it harder and harder to live without you, the weight of what I've done I carry with me everyday. I haven't come for you because I was unable to face you, unable to look you in the eye and beg you to come back to me knowing I don't deserve it and that it will fall on deaf ears. I haven't realized until now, seeing you with Marcellus to watch him hold in his hands everything I need... I love you Elena" his speech left me more and more speechless with every word I couldn't bring myself to say anything not trusting myself to not say something that would ruin the moment.

"I love you and it's taken me too long to realize it, I should've never let you leave, I should've told you about everything then, thinking about it now only makes me hate myself more than I already do. Being around you just makes me better, I feel so much better even now just looking at you, the heaviness in my chest the build up has..." I cut him off "Disappeared" I whispered understanding exactly what he meant. Being around him always made the pain fall off my shoulders, I had always felt lighter and lighter just being around him.

"Klaus I... don't know what you're looking for me to say. I can't just overlook what's happened, can't just forget what you've done..." he cut me off "I know I'm not asking that of you. I just... if you could find it in you to see that I am different and the mistakes I made then were that of a man who didn't know what he had. I just want a chance to show you how much you mean to me" I looked at him and I could already feel how different he was, the Klaus I left wouldn't have been able to admit that he loved me. Whatever Klaus he was, he wanted me to give him the chance to prove himself and I just wasn't sure I was in the proper headspace to believe him, or if I had any more chances left to give.

"Can I think about it? You've laid out a lot I just need time to think. To figure out what I want and what I need" he nodded without hesitation "I hadn't come here expecting winning you back to be easy Elena and if this hesitation has anything to do with Marcellus it will pass. He can't give you the things I can Elena he will never love you the way I do" I narrowed my eyes at him his insecurities transparently clear at that moment "My hesitation comes from not knowing if I can trust you and given the circumstances I'd say I'm allowed to feel that way and then some" I said pushing past him again to get out of the woods.

"Im sorry you know how I get I didn't mean it" I gave him a look and sighed "I need time Klaus I will give you an answer but I need time and while I take it try to show me that this is real that you honestly came for me" he nodded "Rest assured Elena I won't leave until I have you on my arm again love" he whispered taking me by surprise and kissing me. My heart jumped and my body felt like I jumped into an ice bath after a long hot day, refreshed and whole again. When my eyes fluttered open I was back in the square looking around Klaus nowhere in sight.