Jealousy is like a quiet storm that brews in the heart, often without warning. It starts with a glance, just a simple look, and suddenly, there's an overwhelmingness, a wave of emotion that can't quite be explained. It's irrational, sometimes even unfounded, but it's there, gnawing at the edges of every thought, making you question everything.

It is a powerful, often misunderstood emotion. It's like a fire that starts small, barely noticeable, just a flicker of discomfort, but if left unchecked, it can grow into an all-consuming blaze, burning through your thoughts, your relationships, and your sense of self. It's also an emotion that can branch out, it manifests itself differently in the hearts of others.

The feeling of seeing someone you love receiving the affection and appreciation that should only be given by you. The burn that spreads in your heart upon witnessing someone you adore with a soul you detest is a unique kind of torment. It's as if the universe is mocking your deepest desires by placing them in the hands of the one person, or people, who least deserves them.

The jealousy that arises is sharper, more bitter, because it's not just about the loss of affection, it's about the injustice of those who have won it. You're forced to watch as they share smiles, conversations, and moments that could have been yours, each one a small betrayal, a reminder of what you lack and they possess. The person you hate becomes a vessel for everything you want and cannot have, amplifying your insecurities and fuelling a resentment that burns hotter than ordinary jealousy.

It's a toxic mix of longing and loathing, where every touch, every glance between them feels like a personal slight, a twisted affirmation that love has chosen the wrong side.

And there was no one who understood this feeling more than Klaus Mikaelson.....and Damon Salvatore.....and Elijah Mikaelson.....and Stefan Salvatore. All these men carried this heavy emotion in their heart, each affected by it differently, some in ways that even they couldn't explain, others when they knew it was the last thing they should be feeling. All of this which was present at a certain dinner and a ball later on.

Mia Pierce was a lot more desired than she believed herself to be.

~~~~

Mia walked down the quiet street, her footsteps echoing in the stillness of the afternoon. The cool air did little to soothe the fire simmering inside her, the anger she couldn't seem to shake off. She needed this walk, needed to clear her mind before she did something she couldn't take back. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she replayed the scene in her head, the image of Abby Bennett, the woman who had abandoned Bonnie,looming large in her thoughts.

How could a parent just walk away like that? Especially if they didn't have as valid of a reason as Mia's father had.The very idea infuriated her. Bonnie was one of the strongest people she knew, but even she had limits. To think of the pain and loneliness Bonnie must have felt, growing up without her mother, made Mia's blood boil. Abby had left her daughter when she needed her the most, and for that, the Petrova could never forgive her.

There was so much that had gone wrong in the past few days, she found her patience wearing out. Klaus had discovered where the coffins of his family were being hidden, but luckily, with the help of Brodie, Mia was able to get Elijah's and hide it in the Salvatore dungeons before Klaus had even reached the Old Witches' House.

The vampire stood on the sidewalk and sighed deeply, wishing her troubles could blow away with the wind just as the air she exhaled did. It wasn't until a car pulled up beside her that she broke free from her thoughts. The window of the car was rolled down, revealing Tyler, who wore a grin, "Look, if you need money that badly I can give you some."

Mia glanced back at the street corner where she was standing and rolled her eyes at his remark, "Shut up." She spoke with a soft laugh, stepping towards the car. Her eyes darted inside the vehicle, brows furrowing upon seeing Brodie and Zander sat there, bags and luggage surrounding them. "Where are you going?"

"We're getting the hell out of Dodge." Brodie voiced from the backseat, he'd been avoiding the vampire since his friends had been killed, when she called him for assistance moving Elijah's coffin he made sure to exchange little words as possible, ensuring there was less to tell Klaus if asked, fortunate for him the hybrid hadn't.

Tyler's face scrunched slightly at Brodie's delivery as he wanted to break the news to his friend in a more gentle way. He looked at Mia, who's expression was full of panic and despair. The Lockwood boy sighed before getting out of the car to approach her, "We're leaving."

"What.....No Ty, this is your home...you can't...." Mia shook her head, her gaze stuck on the ground as her eyes became foggy. "You shouldn't have to leave, this isn't....none of this is your fault. Don't go."

She refused to look up until Tyler had cupped the side of her face lifting it, "We can't stay here with Klaus. We can't desire ourselves if he's still around, we gotta get away." He swiped his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the stray tear. "We have to break our bones hundreds of times an-"

"It's nothing I haven't seen before." Mia interrupted, trying her best to persuade him, "We can do it, I know it went wrong with Care's dad but we can do better. With more research, check for different ways, you can use the Salvatore cells, we can do it Ty."

"And what happens when Klaus uses the sirebond against us again?" Tyler retorted, before taking a breath to cool his temper upon recalling what The Original almost caused. "....I could've killed you, next time he might not be feeling so generous.....I could hurt someone...you...Caroline. I can't risk it."

Mia bit down on her bottom lip, as much as she hated it she understood why the Lockwood had to leave, "This isn't far...that bastard should be the one to go...I can't..." She halted as her voice broke, "What am I supposed to do without you?" She leans down and looks in the car at Zander, "And Bonnie....you guys were getting on so well, does she even know?"

Zander glanced down in shame, "I couldn't tell her, she's got enough going on with her mom...but tell her that I wish things could be different...and when im unsired I'll be back."

The Petrova sniffed and nodded, coming to terms and accepting the situation, she then looked up at them, "You guys going to meet Demetria and the others?"

The trio of hybrids exchanged glances, their silence stretching longer than it should have. Brodie was first to speak with an uncomfortable chuckle, "We're leaving so we don't get reunited with them."

"Oh....because they can tell Klaus where you are..." Mia noted, taking out her phone to see if Bonnie had given an update. "They're still sired right?"

Zander's eyes narrowed, darting to Tyler, silently asking if the vampire had difficulty understanding things. "What are you talking about?"

Just as she put her phone away, Mia caught sight of all their confused expressions, wondering if their lack of sleep and being sired to a tyrant was starting to affect them mentally. "What's confusing....they're in the mountains.....They all left me notes."

Brodie let out another hesitant laugh, "I don't get it, are the mountains a metaphor for heaven?"

The Petrova tilted her head, opening her mouth to speak before letting it hang there, failing to find the words. Tyler stepped forward, his eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and frustration, worried about how she would take this news. "Mia....Klaus..." He started, seeing how quick the panic entered her eyes at the mere mention of the Original's name. "Klaus killed them."

"W...." If it was possible for vampires to have heart attacks Mia was certain she would've had one in that moment. "Why...I don't....they're his hybrids...how...why would he..."

Brodie exhaled slowly, preparing to say what everyone else was dancing around, what they were dreading to share."What do they all have in common?"

Her mind raced, desperately trying to piece everything together. Slowly, it clicked, and the realisation made her blood run cold. Her heart sank, and for anyone who could attempt to understand how she felt, the closest comparison would be the jarring shock of walking up stairs in the dark, only to reach for the next step and feel your foot fall into nothingness. "Me?" Her voice trembled. "Why would Klaus... why would he k-.....why would he do that....because of me?"

"Because he's a psycho." Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose, silently wishing that if a supernatural god existed, she would grant him the power to destroy the hybrid once and for all.

His face softened upon seeing the tears returning once again to the Petrova's eyes. "Hey, look at me." He spoke firmly, placing his hands on both her shoulders. "This is not your fault, okay? None of this is. Klaus did this and until we stop him, he's gonna keep doing whatever the hell he wants. That's why we have to go, that's why we have to unsire ourselves."

Mia sniffled, quickly wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to steady herself. "Stefan thinks there's a weapon inside the sealed coffin... the sooner we get rid of him, the sooner you'll come back, right?"

"I'll come back the second we're all unsired." Tyler gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'd ask you to come with us, but... I know you're too busy trying to take care of everyone here."

Mia sighed, her shoulders slumping under the weight of it all. "Just with Bill back in town... and Bonnie dealing with Abby, it's just..." She bit her lip, embarrassed at how predictable she was becoming.

"I know." Tyler's voice was soft and understanding as he pulled her into an embrace. "That's why I didn't ask. But no putting yourself in stupid situations, okay? Prometes?"

She nodded, the weight of his words settling heavily in her chest. "Te prometo," she whispered, her voice tight with emotion.

Much to Tyler's surprise he found himself getting choked up, a lump formed in his throat as emotion surged within him. Mia had been more than just his best friend, she'd been his anchor, the one person who truly understood him when he felt lost in the chaos. It hit him then, how much her presence had grounded him, how lost he would feel without it. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

Mia reluctantly pulled away from the hug first, making sure Zander and Brodie received some affection too, before finally returning to the Lockwood. "You too, call me if you need anything." With every step they took towards the car, the deeper the urge to scream and beg him to stay got, but she couldn't, so she didn't.

She watched them drive away, her fists clenched at her sides. The anger bubbled under her skin, boiling until it was almost too much to contain. The thought of using her new car to pummel Klaus Mikaelson was the only thing providing her comfort. As exciting as the prospect of that was, it was incredibly unrealistic, so instead she sought to commit another act that would get under his skin.

After she got herself some food.

~~~~

At the Salvatore house, Mia descended into the dimly lit basement, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls. She made her way to the small storage area where the blood bags were kept, but upon opening the fridge, she found it empty. Not a single drop left.

"Fuck my life," she muttered, realising that Stefan and Damon must have had another rough night. Her frustration simmered as she slammed the fridge door shut.

Determined, Mia headed further into the basement towards the cell where a lone coffin rested in the shadows. She approached it, her heart racing slightly, and without hesitation, opened the lid. Inside lay Elijah, still and pale, a dagger lodged in his chest. For a moment, she just stared at him, reeling at what she was about to do.

With a deep breath, Mia grabbed the dagger, pulling it out with a swift motion. With a completely blank expression, she quickly sliced her palm with the sharp blade, her blood dripping into a soda cup she had brought with her. The dark liquid swirled around the cup, thick and potent. She leaned down and dragged the dagger across Elijah's lips, coating them crimson, and watched as a few drops entered his mouth, hoping it would be enough to wake him.

She left the cup of blood next to him on the floor, just in case, before straightening up. Without another glance, the vampire walked back upstairs, her mind already racing with the consequences of what she'd just set in motion.

~~~~

Mia stepped out of the back entrance of the pharmacy, a small, discreet paper bag clutched in her hand. Tracy's Pharmacy wasn't just your average drugstore. Aside from selling pills and medicine, Tracy herself did tattoos and piercings, and even sold a selection of adult products. It was one of those odd, secret spots in town, hidden in plain sight.

As the Petrova turned the corner of the building, she heard the faint jingle of the doorbell coming from the front entrance. Elena walked out, her eyes immediately landing on her ancestor. Even after Mia's near death experience the two were yet to make up, she briefly thanked Elena for comforting her during that time but they still hadn't discussed their issues.

Especially with the recent state of affairs, Elena had confessed to Stefan about kissing Damon, the news sent the younger Salvatore spiralling into one of his darker moods. The girls' trip to Abby's hadn't helped to thaw the ice between them either, their conversations strained and full of silences the full weekend.

"Hey..." Elena's voice was soft, testing the waters.

Mia's lips formed a straight line, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Hi... you okay?"

"Yeah, um..." The Gilbert girl swayed awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her purse. "Was just getting Alaric some aspirin. We ran out..." As her gaze wandered, it inevitably fell on the small paper bag in Mia's hand. She nodded towards it, curiosity getting the better of her. "What's in there?"

Mia exhaled deeply, "I'm taking a vow of celibacy. Turns out anytime I sleep with anyone, chaos ensues, so... you know, just cutting out the middleman." She shrugged, her tone light but with an edge of exasperation.

"Yeah, Tyler told me what happened." Elena gave a small smile, "He told me to watch out for you while he's away....." She paused to gauge Mia's reaction to that before remembering the unanswered question, "But what's in the..."

She stopped mid-sentence, embarrassed at her brief naivety. The vampire may have decided to become celibate but it didn't mean she was giving up on her fun entirely. The doppelganger's lips twitched into a faint, amused smirk. "From Tracey's right? I remember catching Jenna coming out of there once."

Mia chuckled quietly, shaking her head as the tension between them eased for a moment. But when she looked up again, Elena was still staring at her, her expression more serious than before.... "Do you need anything?"

Elena took a deep breath, her gaze faltering. "My sister back..." Mia sighed, her heart aching at the words. She glanced away, her fingers tightening around the small paper bag in her hand, the weight of Elena's gaze and the unsaid things between them hanging heavy in the air.

"I mean it, Mia," Elena continued, her voice cracking slightly. "It's been unbearable for me with Jeremy gone and us fighting... I miss you. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Katherine, I'm sorry I lied to you about Rebekah, I'm sorry for all of it. I'll spend forever trying to make it up to you... I just hate when we're not talking an—"

"Okay, slow down before you give yourself an asthma attack," Mia interrupted, a small smirk playing on her lips as she reached out and pulled Elena into a hug, it seemed cruel at this point to deny her any further. "God, you're dramatic."

Elena laughed, a bit shakily, and instantly hugged her back, squeezing tight as if she would change her mind. "I really am sorry," she whispered, her voice muffled against Mia's shoulder.

"I know," Mia said softly, pulling back slightly to look her descendant in the eyes. "I forgive you. But next time, just tell me. It's unfair for you guys to expect me to go along with your plans and then hide stuff from me. Makes me feel like you don't really see me as one of you."

Elena's face fell, guilt flashing across her features. "Don't think that. Of course we do... It's just... everyone needed to believe it was me. No one knew but Matt, not even Caroline or Bonnie. And with the Rebekah situation... we just couldn't risk it. She may claim to hate Klaus, but... you'd do anything for your sibling." She took hold of the Petrova's hand to let her know that last part didn't just apply to the Mikaelsons.

Mia nodded, "I know..... I get it. Klaus can be...... good with his words... But next time, just come to me. Do you seriously think if you told me you had valid reasons to worry I'd just dismiss your feelings?"

"No...I just..." Elena shook her head. "I didn't want you to be upset. I know you and Rebekah are close."

"You and I are closer, Elena." Mia expressed, slightly shocked that the younger girl didn't already believe that. "Yes, I love Rebekah, and she's been an amazing friend, but I would never have chosen her over you. I would never do anything that I knew would put you in danger. You're my sister, okay?"

Elena's eyes welled up with tears, her smile breaking through despite the emotion. "Okay. I'm sorry... I should've trusted you."

"It's okay." Mia wiped a tear from her descendant's cheek with her thumb, "We're good."

The Gilbert girl sniffled, pulling herself together before her phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced down at it, her brows furrowing slightly. "Caroline's going to visit her dad in the hospital. You wanna come?"

Mia's expression hardened at the mention of Bill Forbes, her first hit and run victim, "I don't trust myself enough not to bring that prick closer to death, so...I'll pass."

Elena's eyes widened a bit at her bluntness before chuckling, "Fair enough...Come over tonight. I miss our sleepovers."

"Def." The vampire quickly planted a small kiss on the human's cheek before she had a chance to leave. She took a deep breath, watching Elena leave with a mixture of relief and lingering frustration.

She felt lost in the chaos of the day. Stefan was preoccupied with Bonnie and Abby, attempting to open the coffin that held Klaus' secrets, while Tyler was gone, leaving her to fend for herself. The thought of spending the day with Damon felt like the last thing she wanted to do. As her options dwindled, her last resort was to visit Matt at the Grille relying on him to provide some much-needed distraction.

With a deep sigh she stuffed the bag inside her purse to avoid another awkward encounter, knowing not everyone would find it funny as Elena had.

Mia walked past the café, the chatter and laughter of patrons fading as she entered the narrow alleyway. Just as she began to lose herself in thought, she heard a sudden whoosh behind her. Instinctively, she spun around, only to lay her sights on the empty alleyway. Shaking her head, she continued down the path, glancing back nervously until she collided with something firm.

"We ought to stop meeting this way," a smooth voice remarked, laced with amusement.

Mia's heart raced as she turned to face Elijah. Relief washed over her at the sight of his familiar face, her heart fluttered at the glow in his skin, a vast improvement to the dulling grey body she'd been recently looking at.

Their eyes met, exchanging tentative smiles, the kind that felt like the warm rays of sunlight breaking through dark nimbi. For Mia it'd been a few months since they'd spoken but for Elijah it had only felt like mere moments ago, his daggered slumber thankfully not allowing him to feel the time missed.

"It's good to see y-" Elijah began, only for his words to be cut off as a swift strike was smacked across his face.

His head jerked to the side, shock painting his features, as the Petrova's chest heaved with frustration. The Mikaelson cleared his throat before speaking. "Apologies, I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with these modern methods of greeting," he said, raising an eyebrow, the casual tone doing little to mask the surprise.

"Shut up." Mia snapped, irritation boiling within her. The truth was, she had missed him and it annoyed her that the realisation struck so deeply, especially when she was supposed to be angry.

"Don't even start with that old-timey charm," she continued, crossing her arms defiantly. "I'm doing this new thing where I hold people accountable for the shit they do and that...." she gestured emphatically, "...that was for almost getting me killed by your creepy fossil dad."

The small smirk that had appeared at the Petrova's ranting had disappeared as quickly as it came, the Original's eyes widened, looking genuinely perplexed. "My...father...Mikael?.....I..."

Mia sighed, disappointed that her plan to shout at him some more would have to be interrupted with a What's New In Mystic Falls catch up session. "You've missed a lot during your nap." The brunette took a deep breath, steeling herself for the story she was about to unravel. "Klaus is...well he's a hybrid now, which you know because you screwed us over to save his life..."

She knew that was an unnecessary dig but couldn't resist the chance, "He figured out that with Elena's blood he could create hybrids like him but...make them slaves. So we got mad and called Mikael and then Klaus got mad and killed Mikael then daggered Rebekah and then there was this whole mess with the coffins being held hostage and almost running people across bridges and werewolf bites and executing hybrids for the crimes of fucking and well....well Klaus is being Klaus. Ruining all our lives and putting us in constant danger."

After her summary she looked back at Elijah only to see him staring straight at the ground, deep in thought and processing all he had just heard. Each revelation seemed to weigh heavier on him, his shoulders slumping slightly as if he were carrying a brick to represent each word spoken.

It wasn't until a few moments later that she heard his voice, "Rebekah?...the two of you have met?" It was a comfort to him to know that his sister had been undaggered and got to enjoy the experiences the modern world had to offer, including the vampire standing in front of him.

"Yeah..." Mia couldn't help but smile, "You were right...we did get along well."

"I thought you would." Elijah responded, taking an extra moment to gaze into her eyes. They'd changed since the last time they'd met, the light of hope had lessened, being replaced by a spark of defiance and an unmistakable shadow of fatigue, something brought on by the near death experiences she'd faced in the recent weeks.

"Amelia..." He started, not catching the way her lips twitched upward at the name, the Original was the only one who'd address her that way. "I must apologise for my actions, for my carelessness and the trouble you faced because of it. I assure you it was not my intention to place you in harm's way, after our conversation about Niklaus I feared you were right. With the daggers in his possession I could not afford to allow him any further advantages, the white oak needed to be kept where I thought no one would find it."

"It was wrong of me I admit, and I was dubious of it but I had no choice, my brother had his lackeys watching me.." Mia looked down, thinking back to when Klaus had compelled Dana, she wondered for a moment how the girl was getting on.

"The Salvatore House was one of the few places I had access too and the events during that time dissuaded me from hiding it with either of the brothers...due to their...destructive impulses. You were the one I felt as ease leaving something as precious as the only means of our demise with."

"Yes, I should have considered that there are things of greater value...certain individuals. But know this..." He gently took her hand, causing her heart to halt for a split second. "Had I been there I would have driven the stake through Mikael myself. I will do whatever you desire to redeem myself but please......do not hate me, I fear even a heart as old as mine is not accustomed to facing a torment of this kind."

All Mia found herself able to do was look at him, his words were genuine but unfamiliar. The Petrova was unsure of what to do with them, how to process the feeling, the determined vow to do whatever simply to gain something as trivial as her forgiveness. She felt as though she was playing a part written for someone else, that Elena or Caroline should have been standing there instead of her. Why would someone want her in their life so desperately?

"I could never hate you, Elijah." She spoke softly, he smiled at his name coming from her lips. "And I forgive you......and to be honest I....sorta spent this summer secretly wishing I'd taken up your offer to leave. Obviously I wouldn't now but, it was fun to daydream."

Elijah's expression softened as he watched her pull her hand away, her warmth still lingering in the air between them. He nodded slightly, his gaze thoughtful, as if choosing his words carefully, the Mikaelson was mindful about getting carried away, especially knowing her feelings for the younger Salvatore but a part of him couldn't help but ponder the possibility of it having been waned over the past few months he missed.

"I understand," he said, his voice gentle. "Had you chosen to come with me, you would have been far from the chaos, far from the constant danger that seems to surround this town." He paused, his eyes locking with hers. "But... knowing your heart, I believe you would have found your way back here, no matter how far we travelled."

He shifted, the corners of his mouth tugging into a faint smile. "You have a strength that I admire, more than you know. And as much as I wanted to honour my vow to protect you by offering you that escape, I see now that your place is here."

The Original's face turned more serious, a sincerity in his tone. "But still that offer remains. You deserve peace, Amelia. And if you ever find yourself wanting to seek it elsewhere, I will be there to take you. No questions asked."

Mia nodded, "I don't think I've ever had a friend like you." And there it was, the wakeup call, the red flag waving frantically in the air warning Elijah to swim back to shore before he was lost for eternity. As sensible as it would have been for him to heed it, he'd lived for an extremely long time, alarms were now just as easy to drown out as any other noise.

His smile didn't leave his face even for a second, "I am honoured to be that for you...and I give you my word, I will not fail you as I have before."

"Good." Mia smirked, "Because we still have a crazy hybrid that needs to be dealt with and right now I think you're the only one that can help us with that."

"Ah Niklaus, the bane of my existence." Elijah spoke dramatically, earning him a giggle from the Petrova, "Well let us see what it is we can do about this pest problem you have Miss Petrova...but first I need a change of clothing, I still feel a tad....dead."

"Well then Mr Mikaelson, you simply must come with me." The brunette laughed, putting on her fake British accent that she'd used at the gala with Elijah. "I have a few ideas on how we can freshen you up."

"Please lead the way." He held his arm out for her, before asking something that had been playing on his mind since he was awoken. "If you don't mind my asking, where did you acquire that blood, it was....exquisite."

"Oh, it was mine, we didn't have any blood bags around." Mia replied casually, if she turned her head she would've seen how a slight rosy hue had tinted the Mikaelson's cheeks. It was common fact that blood sharing between vampires was personal but having not participated in that activity with another vampire the Petrova was slightly naive to the nuances of it, assuming that unless there was skin to skin contact it didn't count.

What she was also oblivious to was that the magical traits of her blood made it that much more exhilarating to consume, leaving behind a distracting sensation in its place.

Elijah Mikaelson was quite literally high on Mia Pierce.

~~~~

In the uncommon quiet of the Salvatore house, Mia found herself rummaging through the cluttered cabinet in Damon's bathroom. The air was thick with the scent of aftershave and a lingering trace of bourbon. Her fingers dug through an assortment of mismatched items,razors, old cologne, hair gel, until she found what she was looking for, a pair of scissors.

She turned and looked at Elijah, who sat patiently on the chair by the sink, his posture calm, as always, "Are you entirely sure about this?" He asked, his rich voice holding that note of polite hesitation. He raised a sceptical brow at the sight of the scissors in her hand.

"Totally, I used to cut Jesse's hair all the time. This is the perfect way to move on after being daggered for months." Mia responded, trying to exude confidence as she leaned down, fiddling with the handle to pull the back of his chair down, misjudging her force. The chair jerked too down, and she found herself leaning over him, her chest an alarming distance to his face. "Sorry," she smiled sheepishly, trying once again to get him at the perfect angle.

"It's quite alright." Elijah chuckled softly, eyes glinting with amusement, "I'm looking forward to seeing you demonstrate your skills.

"You will not be disappointed." She grinned, using a spray bottle to damp his hair, "Damon grew his hair out a bit this summer and the urge to take a pair of scissors to his head was very strong, but he wouldn't let me."

"I trust the two of you have mended your bond?" Elijah asked, he knew it could be overstepping a boundary but when he was last there the way Damon spoke to Mia disgusted him, what was even more disappointing was how the Petrova made excuses for it.

"Umm...we did for a while." Mia murmured as she began to snip away. "But there was this whole drama with Katherine and then Rebekah and him keeping stuff from me so...we are currently not on speaking terms."

"It's a shame." Elijah tutted, "We find too often that the ones we are most loyal to deserve our dedication the least."

"Tell me about it." The vampire chuckled, "I love them all but sometimes I feel like I'm outside constantly trying to push my way in....and there's just no room.....they all have their crazy lives and it's like I'm just...there, either that or I'm in the middle of all the chaos. Can't help but feel like I just give them an extra thing to worry about."

"Those who make you feel that way are not deserving of your company." The Mikaelson looked up at her, their eyes holding contact for a second as he tried to convince her of that, but as expected it was brushed off. The distance between them was clouding his mind, unable to think of anything other than if the Petrova truly understood how exquisite she was.

"There's worse ways to be treated." Mia remarked, running a comb through his hair before cutting off some more, "I'd rather be here than alone."

"And what of Niklaus..." He inquired, "Before I was daggered the two of us had a peculiarly heated conversation....about you."

The news caught her off guard. Her hand jerked slightly, cutting far too much from one side. She froze. Panic swept through her as she stared at the chunk of hair that now lay on the bathroom floor. The sound of her heart palpitating was picked up by the Original, "Are you alright?"

"Y-.....Yeah..." The Petrova examined his head, trying to see what ways it could now be cut to hide this mistake, she took the scissors to the opposite side and cut the same amount, attempting to distract him simultaneously. "About me, you said...why?"

"I was still endeavouring to understand it before I was unceremoniously put to sleep, however it seemed my brother took issue with the time you and I spent in one another's company." His eyes searched hers with quiet curiosity. "Why exactly, I'm not certain. With Niklaus, the motivation often lies deeper than mere possessiveness."

"...You have no idea..." Mia mumbled to herself, becoming angry anytime she thought of what he'd done to her hybrid friends, "He's been very...invasive recently." Before he had a chance to add to the conversation, Mia spun the chair around to face the mirror, revealing his much changed hair. "All done."

Elijah tilted his head slightly, examining himself in the mirror, his expression thoughtful. "It's....shorter." He observed, the understatement hanging in the air, feeling the absence of his curtain bangs.

Mia rolled her eyes and leaned down, her head next to his and their eyes locked through the mirror, "You look great, I should open a salon." She quipped, hoping that he didn't despise his new look, her mind at ease when a small smile appeared on his face, coaxed by her compliment.

She held out the hanger that held the new suit he had purchased, thankfully one of the stores still had their homecoming stock out, the Original just had to buy one reserved for taller students. "You can shower here, Damon shouldn't be back for a while." She cleared her throat, stepping away from him, "I'll just be in my room if you need me....not n-...when you're done...You remember where it is?"

The Mikaelson stood up slowly, still somewhat dazed, "I do..."He spoke softly, taking the hanger from her. "I must thank you, Amelia. Ordinarily when one regains consciousness from such a...prolonged and forced rest, the mind becomes ensnared in fantasies of vengeance, dark musings that consume one's waking thoughts, particularly where my brother is concerned."

He paused, his gaze steady on her, "But since I have awoken you have provided a...reprieve, a distraction of some sort, a reminder of something beyond conflict and blood. You gave me something far more meaningful to dwell upon, and for that, I am grateful." A brief smile crossed his face, "It was a kindness I did not know I needed."

What kind of man is this?! Mia was left speechless, having spent so long with small town folk she'd forgotten how refreshing it was to hear expansive vocabulary, she let out a quiet laugh, finding her appreciation silly before murmuring a small, "You're welcome." Without another word, she slipped out, leaving Elijah alone to contemplate whatever had just transpired between them.

~~~~

Mia lay on her bed, flipping through one of the magazines Stefan had stocked her room with upon the reconstruction, although she treasured her space before, the importance of it had increased tenfold, knowing the first hand effort the Salvatore had put in to ensure one of her safe places was returned to her.

A knock on the door pulled her out her thoughts, her eyes glancing up to see Damon leaning against the threshold, "Pierce." He spoke in a singsongy voice, amusement increasing when he saw her roll her eyes, "Oh come on, you can't still be mad at me...."

After receiving no response he chuckled with a quick raise of his eyebrows. "Fine..." He strolled into the room, perching on her dressing table, "You wouldn't have had anything to do with the Original in my shower would you?"

Mia's ignoring act was cut short with those words, her eyes meeting his with a small panic, the Salvatore continued, "Just saw Elijah, walking around...Looking very much alive and undaggered....You Missy, have had a very busy day."

The Petrova swallowed, she didn't regret what she'd done but she was also aware of how unpredictable Damon could be and she lacked the energy and interest to deal with a possible outburst. "I can explain," She began, her voice steady but cautious, "With everything that's been going on I....I just thought we needed the best chance at getting rid of Klaus."

To her surprise Damon's expression remained relaxed, taking notice of her tense shoulders. "At ease Pierce, I'm not mad. In fact I was planning on undaggering him myself. You just beat me to it."

"Really?" Mia blinked, momentarily taken aback at his sudden change in opinion, especially considering he was the one that insisted they stayed daggered.

The older Salvatore nodded, a rare seriousness in his eyes. "Yeah. He was on our side once...after what Klaus did to him he's in vengeance mode. It's perfect." A small smile, tugged at his lips, "You did good Pierce."

"Just don't make a habit out of doing things behind our backs, okay?" Mia bit her tongue to suppress a remark about how ironic what he'd just said was, but that was for another time.

Damon pushed off the table and headed towards the door, before coming to a halt, "Why was he in the shower?" He turned his head to look at her, "...you didn't.."

Mia's eyes widened at what he suggested, "Relax, I just gave him a h-" Damon's brows raised at the first letter, making Mia laugh. "Haircut...."

"If you say so." Damon held her gaze, clearly unconvinced. "Also, get dressed, we're going out."

Mia placed her magazine down, suspicious on why Damon wasn't angry at the implication of her being intimate with an Original especially when he had objections to her even speaking to them in the past. "I am dressed, and where exactly."

"Elijah and I have arranged a very old fashioned sit down with our brothers. You know, get the girls to kiss and make up...." He noticed her look of disbelief, "Fine...we're going to negotiate a fake truce."

Mia rolled her eyes, "And what's that got to do with me?"

"We need a buffer." He replied, shrugging. "Someone to keep Klaus from reaching over the table and ripping Stefan's heart out. Figured you might be....motivating enough to keep him under control."

Mia shook her head, now seeing why the Salvatore was so calm, as always it was for his benefit. She crossed her arms, "Right....and you seriously think I'm the right one for that....I'm tryna avoid Klaus...you know after the whole killing everyone I sleep with thing."

Damon tilted his head, challenging her. "Not like you have anything better to do. Unless you're actually interested in handling the parental problems going on." "He quipped, knowing fully well she didn't want to be around either Abby or Bill Forbes.

The silence was all the confirmation Damon needed, "Exactly." He tossed her a bag, watching her reaction. "Elijah told me to give this to you. Said it was....necessary."

Mia opened the bag and pulled out a deep red dress, far more elegant than she'd expected. Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked back at Damon, her voice incredulous, "This is a bit...much for a simple fake truce dinner."

Damon curved his lips down with a shrug, "Elijah knows how to make an impression....make sure you do too." With the warning hanging in the air, he gave her one last look before leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Fuck my life.

~~~~

Mia stood outside the Mikaelson mansion, craning her neck to take in the massive structure towering over her. The sheer size of it made her frown in disbelief. She glanced down at her phone, seeing a message from Bonnie saying that she was waiting at the end of the gardens by a large storage shed.

With a sigh of frustration, knowing her hair was about to get ruined she sped off in that direction, "Why does one guy need so much space?" she muttered to herself once she came to a stop.

Bonnie stood waiting near the shed, her arms crossed, "Took you long enough." She teased, looking down at the Petrova's attire.

"Sorry, some of us don't have witchy shortcuts for navigating acres of land." Mia mused, running her fingers carefully through her hair to fix the mess that had just been made. "You sure this is the place?"

"Positive." Bonnie nodded, twirling her own finger through one of the vampire's curls to make it tighter. "I left my bracelet under one of the coffins and did a locator spell. This is it."

Mia squinted at the lock on the shed's side door, taking hold of it before yanking it off completely, she looked back at Bonnie with suspicion. "You'd think he'd have a better security system for this."

"I did the spell earlier today too, they were closer to the house then, inside probably...maybe he thought with you, Stefan and Damon in his sight, no one else would try to take the coffins."

"Stupid dog." Mia rolled her eyes and held the door open for Bonnie, "Sorry to drag you into this, by the way. I figured you could use some time away from Abby."

Bonnie let out a deep sigh, "You have no idea, we've been trying to get that other coffin open for ages, I haven't had any time to just....process what's been happening...." As they stepped inside, they glanced around the dimly lit space, eyes landing on the coffins lined up in the centre. "Are you sure no one will be able to hear anything?"

Mia examined the opulence of the Mikaelson grounds visible through the window, "Well lucky for us Klaus seems to be compensating for something with all this land. Hopefully the dinner keeps them distracted enough not to bother listening in. All you gotta do is babysit these ones," She gestured to the coffins, her tone half joking, though her eyes were serious. "And you know, be careful when they wake up...leave the blood bags in front of them and just....text me if anything feels off."

Her heart sunk a little as she thought about the risks of what she was asking her friend to do, Bonnie noticed the change in her expression and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'll be fine. I have my magic to protect me."

Mia bit the inside of her cheek, reluctant but trusting her friend's abilities. "Okay but take my jacket in case, it should mask your scent to them so they don't....smell human." Once she passed it to the witch, they both walked further into the room, surveying the coffins one by one.

There they sat in an eerie silence, emanating an unspoken power that made her stomach churn. "Okay, well...." She took a deep breath, turning her head to face the witch. "Who's up first?"

~~~~

"Stay calm, we need to play this smart." Damon lectured to his younger brother as they stood in front of the mansion. It was hard to ignore the tension between them but the older Salvatore was determined to keep his cool, Stefan however seemed more on edge. "No pissing Klaus off either."

Mia approached them, smoothing down her dress before catching her reflection in the window, fixing a loose strand from her hair. "What were you doing?" Damon asked, eyeing her up with suspicion as Stefan took a moment to gaze at her appearance.

"Just looking around, this place is huge." Mia replied casually, giving Stefan a quick smile before pulling out her phone, eyes skimming over Caroline's texts about something going wrong with her dad. Before she could comprehend the words, Damon snatched the phone from her hand.

"Hey!" Mia tried to grab it back but Damon held it just out of reach, Stefan also attempted but the older Salvatore turned it off and placed it in his inner jacket pocket.

"No distractions tonight." He said firmly, shooting them both pointed looks, clearly not in the mood for any arguments. "Everyone on their best behaviour."

Rich coming from the bastard with the longest track record for bad behaviour. Mia exchanged a knowing glance with Stefan, both of them unamused at Damon's hypocrisy. "This whole responsible mother act doesn't suit you." She remarked, earning her a small nudge from the oldest vampire.

At that moment the door opened, revealing Elijah, standing tall and composed as always. "Evening all." He greeted smoothly, his voice warm but still with an air of professionalism. "Thank you for joining us tonight. Come in, please." He stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.

Stefan and Damon walked in first, their expressions cautious, Klaus could've very well been standing inside awaiting their arrival with stakes in hand. Mia followed suit, catching Elijah's eye. He took a step closer, his gaze softening as it landed on her. "You look radiant." He spoke gently, his voice low.

It was a warm feeling to see her wear what he had chosen, that she had trusted his tastes enough. Mia smiled softly, mouthing a quiet thanks before following the others inside. Elijah's gaze lingered on her, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. As they moved down the foyer and into the room, Elijah called out, "Niklaus, our guests have arrived."

And there stood Klaus, in front of a table where a bounty of food lay and four seats with cutlery placed in front. "Damon, Stefan. Elijah tells me you seek an audience." He smirked, "Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilised me-" His words were cut off, eyes brightening slightly as they landed on the Petrova, taking in her appearance. "Mia...I wasn't informed you'd be in attendance tonight..."

He clicked his fingers at one of the servers, gesturing for them to add another place setting. Before Mia had a chance to give a snarky remark, Stefan spoke up, his voice edged with frustration. "Neither did we an hour ago. In fact, neither of us want to be here at all, but we were told we had to.....because you would hear us out."

Mia nodded at his statement. And because I had nothing else to do.

Elijah stepped forward and gently guided Mia to her seat at the table, from his peripheral vision he saw Klaus' eyes follow them, darkening with a flash of irritation. It seemed the Petrova's unexpected presence had managed to disrupt the hybrid's usual composure, which was of course Elijah's intention when he invited her.

With a scowl and new annoyance simmering under the surface, Klaus' gaze shifted back to Stefan, his patience wearing thin. "Well, we can sit and eat.." He began, walking over to the chair on Mia's right before settling down on it. "Or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides." He added with a smirk, "The choice is yours."

Sit the fuck down. Mia raised her brow at the Salvatores, urging them. And so they did, Stefan on the Petrova's left side, sandwiching her between him and the hybrid, while Damon took his place opposite of Klaus.

The servers came strutting in, women in tight golden tops and short black skirts. Their vacant expressions and obedient movements made it painfully clear they were compelled. Mia's eyes narrowed in silent disdain, a scowl barely hidden as she looked at Klaus. I hate men.

Elijah sat across from her, quietly observant as the servers began filling glasses and placing dishes around the table. The others began to eat, Stefan and Mia however sat there, untouched plates in front of them, making no effort to comply.

Klaus' gaze flickered between the pair, his tone mockingly polite. "Lost your appetite?"

Mia glared at him, swallowing down the poison that threatened to leave her mouth, to shut down the charming act he was putting on, the shawl to cover the manipulative monster who'd driven his hybrids to their deaths. The souls he'd taken control of, rid them of their freedom and then their lives, simply because they showed her attention. Horrors committed purely because she happened to bear resemblance to someone he once loved, it caused her skin to crawl.

Stefan broke the tense silence, his voice laced with bitterness. "Maybe she's just missing her best friend. You know, the one you've been toying with for weeks."

Klaus' mouth curled into a smug half-smile. "Tyler leaving wasn't my decision, I assure you. Quite the opposite actually. I still had use for him. He, however saw fit to turn my remaining hybrids against me and abscond with the bunch....I'd never ask him to abandon his home."

Mia scoffed, her tone sharp. "What'd you want, a medal?"

"Cut it out." Damon addressed her, keeping his voice light before looking at Stefan. "I thought we agreed we were leaving Grumpy Stefan and Bitchy Mia at home."

Yet you were allowed to bring Annoying Prick Bastard Damon...double standards.

Klaus leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face as he observed the growing tension, happy it was directed at someone other than him, even for a moment. "Come on, Sweetheart, let's not spoil the mood." He nodded to her plate, inviting her to enjoy the meal rather than revel in the discomfort he'd caused.

Mia clenched her hand around the fork, resisting the overwhelming urge to plunge it into his neck. Instead she forced herself to pick up a potato wedge and take a small bite, the younger Salvatore begrudgingly doing the same once he'd seen her.

"That's the spirit." Klaus praised, his smile widening in the small victory. "Isn't it nice? Five of us dining together, such a treat." His arm found its way at the back of Mia's chair, his eyes falling on Damon. "Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother?"

The older Salvatore tilted his head, "While I'd love to take the credit for that, it wasn't me." His eyes moved to Mia with a glint of mischief, making it all clear.

Klaus turned his head towards the Petrova, his eyes glancing between her and Elijah. "Ah yes. I'd forgotten about your...fast friendship.

"Yes, friendship." Mia replied coolly, barely able to keep her tone civil. "I understand that may be a foreign concept to you, considering your company for the past weeks were either sired or compelled."

Klaus simply chuckled, as always finding her wittiness amusing. Elijah, however was slightly stunned at her boldness, he hadn't witnessed the two interact before and was surprised that the frustration and disdain Mia showed when talking about the hybrid was the same tone she used when addressing him.

Seeing an opening, Damon seized the opportunity to subtly bother Klaus. "Anyways, the more the merrier. Right, Elijah?" He looked at the Original with a grin, "Nice haircut by the way." The Salvatore added with a wink.

Elijah glanced down, his tongue pressing against the inside of his mouth, he should've expected Damon being unable to resist taking a jab. Instead of deflecting he decided to feed into it, his eyes meeting Mia's. A small appreciative smile tugging at his lips, "I had an excellent stylist," He replied, tilting his head to her in acknowledgement.

Stefan's brows furrowed in confusion before returning back to neutral once he noticed Klaus mirroring his expression, it was important to them to keep up the impression that they always knew something Klaus didn't. He shoved down the strange feeling that appeared in his chest at the thought of Mia and Elijah up close to one another.

The hybrid took one extra look at his brother's hair, realising that he hadn't noticed the style sooner. He then changed the subject, not wanting them to think a nerve had been touched. "It's just a pity your plan didn't work out Sweetheart." He drawled, glancing between all four of them. "You see, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries. But in the end, we always make it through."

Stefan, undeterred, fixed Klaus with a smug look. "Kind of like you and Rebekah, right?" He remarked, "Where is she, by the way? Last I checked, she was still daggered because you were too afraid to face her."

Mia took a sip from her drink, holding back the smirk that was pulling her lips.

~~~~

Bonnie sat cross legged in the farthest corner, wrapped in Mia's jacket, she shivered slightly but it wasn't from the cold. Lay in front of her, an open grimoire, its ancient pages illuminated by her phone light, a half eaten sandwich beside it.

The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional creek of the shed, she glanced at the coffins again, eyeing up the blood bags she had placed beside each one. They were meant to ensure whoever woke up ravenous could be instantly sated.

The Bennett witch sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment. Babysitting Original vampires in coffins wasn't exactly what she'd envisioned for her night but it beat dealing with the Runaway Mother's poor attempts at reconciliation.

Suddenly, a faint whoosh reached her ears and she froze. Her heart skipped a beat as the sound of the shed side door being flung open filled the space. She backed herself further into the corner, her breathing shallow, listening intently as another noise echoed through the shed.

Edging slightly forward she could see that two blood bags had been taken, then as her eyes fell onto the remaining one she saw a hand grab onto it, the faint squish of plastic being squeezed was the only thing she could hear until another whoosh, this one closer and then...silence.

It was the kind of silence that felt heavy, like it was pressing in on her from all sides. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, loud enough that she worried whoever was possibly there could hear it too.

Minutes passed, or maybe it was seconds. The oppressive quiet urged her to move. Slowly she crept to her feet, her breath hitched as her eyes darted to the coffins, her stomach sinking.

They were empty. The Mikaelsons were free.

She took a few steps forward coming to the centre of the room, her mind filling with doubts, wondering if this was the right thing to have done. Two Mikaelsons had caused enough trouble and now there were five of them running loose in their town.

Bonnie felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand suddenly, like a faint static crackling against her back. Someone was there. She whipped around and her eyes met a pair of icy blue ones that gleamed with a mix of curiosity and mischief.

"Hello there." Rebekah smirked.

~~~~

The dinner was tense, everyone's attention focused on each other instead of the purpose of the evening. Klaus' eyes remained on Mia while her head seemed to be fixated on the younger Salvatore, her gaze repeatedly darting in his direction. Elijah, sitting across from her, watched as the two took their turns to look at each other when the other wasn't. And Damon, he was too busy leering at the servers to notice the situation.

It wasn't until Elijah spoke up that everyone's mind was brought back to the room, "Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?"

"I don't know. Ask Damon." Stefan responded instantly, it was clear he'd been holding onto that one for the right time. Mia's eyes widened at the awkwardness as Klaus chuckled, it was amusing to see siblings other than his own have issues.

Elijah looked to Klaus in confusion and of course the hybrid was more than happy to instigate. "I'm sorry, you've missed so much..." He gestured to Stefan with a mocking wince, "Trouble in paradise."

"Let's not." Mia interrupted, a look of warning addressed to Klaus. Her hand moved under the table, resting on top of Stefan's. Her heart faltered slightly when he turned his over and laced his fingers with hers.

The two Originals couldn't see what happened but it didn't take a genius to figure out why the halter in the brunette's pulse had occurred. But what Klaus couldn't stand was that even after being daggered Elijah was still focused on Mia, so he sought to knock his older brother down from the pedestal he believed the Pierce had placed him on.

"It's just...the allure of the Petrova doppelgänger." He began, placing his cutlery down and leaning back so he could examine everyone's expressions. "Still so strong, after all this time. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?"

Elijah's composure tightened ever so slightly, the subtle shift only noticeable to those paying attention yet he kept his tone calm and aloof. "Now, why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"

Klaus's smirk deepened. "Well, given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line."

Mia sat forward, always interested in hearing about ancestors. "You knew more Petrovas?"

Although the question was directed to Elijah, Klaus spoke up, "Well none of them could hold a candle to you Sweetheart, but yes...would you like to narrate it brother or should I?"

"Very well." Taking a measured breath, Elijah placed his glass down with deliberate care, his gaze distant as if he were staring into the past. "When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia," he began, his voice smooth and calm. "She was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she had already borne a child by another man. And none loved her more than Niklaus."

Klaus chuckled darkly, interrupting. "I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much."

For fuck's sake. What is up with these brothers?! Mia furrowed her brows. "You were both in love with the same girl....that looked exactly like Elena?" Her eyes moved repeatedly between the Salvatores and Mikaelsons. They all need therapy, from the same therapist.....and then they'd all probably end up fucking her too..

"Like I said..." Klaus looked at her, assuming that she was jealous, it was an unfamiliar yet thrilling sensation. "Allure of the Petrovas."

"Which of course isn't limited to the doppelgangers." Elijah added with a soft smile, Mia smirked at the compliment, not noticing how Stefan's hand had instinctively clenched, or how Damon's jaw had tensed.

"Back to the Tatia tales..." The older Salvatore lifted his wine glass, urging them to continue, although he had brought Mia here to distract the Mikaelsons it still bothered him to see them fawn over her.

After clearing his throat, Elijah straightened slightly, "Our mother, Esther, was a very powerful witch." He explained, "She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so...she took her. Niklaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night when our mother performed the spell which turned us into vampires."

He paused, his voice softening just slightly, tinged with regret. "Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time, Niklaus and I...grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, we even came to blows, didn't we, brother?"

Klaus nodded, his tone almost mockingly nostalgic. "But in the end, we realised the sacred bond of family," he said, raising his glass toward Elijah.

Elijah mirrored the motion, his eyes meeting Klaus's with a rare glimmer of warmth. "Family above all," he affirmed.

"Family above all," Klaus echoed, the sound of their glasses clinking together cutting through the tense silence like a final declaration.

"What happened to the child?" Mia asked suddenly, the heads of all the men turning to face her, the expressions of the Mikaelsons showing confusion. "Tatia's child...you said she had a kid from another man...what happened to it once she was killed?" After seeing their blank faces Mia simply nodded and took a sip from her glass. "Of course...why should you care?"

Klaus despised it, her seeing him as despicable and siding with the Salvatores, who in his eyes, weren't any better. He found himself wanting to prove that the other pair of brothers had more reasons to be hated. "So Stefan.....were your suspicions proven true...Did Damon take pleasure in keeping Elena company while you were away this summer."

Stefan's chair scraped slightly as he leaned forward, his jaw tightening. His tone was cold and firm as he shot a glare at Klaus. "One more word about Elena, and this dinner's over."

Klaus raised his hands in mock surrender, an amused grin tugging at his lips, before placing a single finger to his lips as if swearing a vow of silence. The gesture only made Stefan's irritation more apparent.

Damon broke the tension, clearing his throat. "You know what? Probably best to just keep Elena in the do-not-discuss pile."

Mia snickered, unable to resist adding her own quip. "Along with the fact that all four of you have been with at least one of my relatives."

The room froze for a beat, and then Klaus chuckled, the sound low and rumbling, as he loomed closer to her. "You're probably right," he admitted, his eyes sparkling with amusement. They held each other's gaze for a few moments, Mia was the first to look away, hating the extra second she took to notice how the hybrid's eyes seemed bluer when he smiled.

Damon glanced at the Petrova, giving her an approving smirk. "Yeah," he agreed, raising his glass slightly as if to toast her luring Klaus in, contradicting his own discomfort.

Elijah, sitting across the table, quietly adjusted his cufflink, hiding the faintest curve of a smile as the tension softened, if only for a moment.

~~~~

"So," Rebekah began, her voice cutting through the stillness. "How was the dance?"

Bonnie blinked, caught off guard by the question. Of all the things she expected from an Original vampire fresh out of dagger-induced slumber, small talk wasn't one of them. "Uh, it was... fine, I guess," Bonnie replied hesitantly, shifting under Rebekah's sharp gaze. "Well, except for the ending."

Rebekah tilted her head, her brows lifting in curiosity. "The ending?"

Bonnie's fingers fidgeted with her sleeve as she explained. "There was a standoff. Mikael showed up...challenged Klaus. It turned into this whole thing and ended with Mikael dead."

The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and loaded. Rebekah's expression froze, her mouth parting slightly in shock. "Mikael's... dead?"

Bonnie nodded, noticing how Rebekah's shoulders sagged imperceptibly, and she let out a soft breath, her lips curling into a small, almost disbelieving smile. Relief flickered across her face, replacing the usual sharpness in her features. "He's finally gone," she murmured, almost to herself.

The Bennett witch's lips formed a straight line. "Well Klaus is still here. And all he's been doing is causing chaos for my friends. Constant threats, manipulation, making our lives hell."

Rebekah's focus sharpened, her gaze fixing on Bonnie. "To you as well?" she asked, her voice softening slightly. "How has your life been these past weeks?"

Bonnie hesitated, unsure if Rebekah's question came from genuine interest or mere curiosity. She sighed, glancing away as she gave her answer. "It's been... fine too, I guess." Her tone betrayed her weariness, the weight of everything she had endured.

Rebekah regarded her carefully, her expression unreadable. "You don't sound....fine."

Bonnie gave a humourless laugh. "Yeah, well, that's life when you're caught in the middle of a supernatural soap opera."

A ghost of a smile tugged at Rebekah's lips, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You don't know the half of it.."

The two fell into silence again, Bonnie's unease lifting ever so slightly as she caught the faintest trace of vulnerability in Rebekah's demeanor. After a few moments the Original looked back up, her eyes softening. "Mia told me about Jeremy, what he did to you."

The witch stiffened, her hands gripping the edge of the jacket draped over her lap. "It doesn't have anything to do with you," she muttered, her tone biting.

Rebekah tilted her head, an amused smile playing at her lips. "No need to get cross. I'm only bringing it up because I'm surprised you didn't turn him into a toad or set him on fire or something equally witchy."

"Yeah, well, not everything needs to end with a spell." Bonnie scoffed, trying to shake off the sting of the reminder. "Besides, I'm sure your centuries of relationships haven't been perfect either."

Rebekah let out a laugh, light and airy, though it carried an undercurrent of bitterness. "Oh, you're absolutely right. My history with men could fill an entire book of tragedies. Trust me, darling...I've been burnt by love more times than I care to count."

The Bennett witch glanced at her, momentarily forgetting her own turmoil. Rebekah leaned forward, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Men are fools," she said with a shrug, her lips curling into a smirk. "Always taking what they don't deserve and leaving behind what they should have cherished. It's far simpler to give up on them altogether, don't you think?"

Bonnie just looked at her, unsure how to respond. There was a strange kind of camaraderie in Rebekah's words, like she wasn't just mocking the world but offering an unspoken understanding. The witch didn't quite know what to do with it.

Rebekah sighed, her smile dimming as she studied Bonnie. "Still, I suppose giving up isn't for everyone." Her voice tempered, almost wistful. "You witches... always so much hope."

Bonnie didn't reply, her eyes dropping to the floor, unsure if Rebekah's words were meant to be a compliment or a curse.

~~~~

Elijah leaned back in his chair, his posture elegant yet commanding, and gestured toward Klaus with a composed smile. "So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" His tone was measured, as always, offering an air of calm that contrasted with the tension in the room.

Damon smirked, his arms crossed casually as he rested his elbows on the table. "That's very simple," he said, voice dripping with mock nonchalance. "Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, Mia and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges."

"Some grudges." Mia added, crossing her arms. "But no more taking hits at each other."

Elijah held back a smile then tilted his head slightly, considering the words before turning to Klaus. "The deal sounds fair, brother," he said evenly, though there was a trace of caution in his voice, as if bracing for Klaus's inevitable rebuttal.

Klaus chuckled dryly, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he stood and began to pace the room with restless energy. "I don't think you understand," he said, voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind."

The only people that oppose you are the ones whose lives you ruin, making more hybrids is just making more people that oppose you. Mia bit her tongue, if the dinner ended with Klaus going haywire, she didn't want to be blamed.

Damon rolled his eyes but said nothing, his hand tightening briefly around the edge of the table. Stefan, seated opposite him, watched Klaus with an impassive expression, though his jaw tensed as Klaus continued.

Klaus gestured widely with his hands, the frustration in his movements unmistakable. "Let's say I do leave her here, under your so-called protection. What then? How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse..." he paused, letting his words hang heavily in the air, "...how long before she dies caught between your endless feuding?"

Mia couldn't help but think he had a point, as much as the Salvatores had protected Elena, they'd also put her through a few near death experiences themselves. Which was also part of the reason she knew she could never leave town either.

The hybrid stopped pacing and turned sharply to face them, his voice lowering into something almost venomous as if he'd just read her mind. "You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one who can protect her. And that," he sneered, looking at the Salvatores. "is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is... the two of you."

Damon nodded slowly, looking down as if he was trying to put on a front, the corner of his mouth twitched into a weak smile. "I'm gonna get some air," He muttered, pushing off the table and striding toward the door without waiting for a response.

Elijah rose smoothly, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. "Let me deal with this," he said, his voice calm but resolute as he moved to follow Damon out of the room.

Mia bit her cheek as she was left alone with Stefan and Klaus, something about what'd just happened felt off to her, it wasn't until she heard the front door open that she realised what the other two were really up to. "You know...I think I'm gonna....check on Damon." She blurted out, leaving the room in a rush.

The Petrova hurried after Damon and Elijah as they stood in the foyer by the front door, speaking in hushed tones. "Hold up." She called out before bringing her voice to a whisper too. "I know what you think you're about to do....and there's a slight problem with that."

The expressions on both their faces had confirmed her suspicions, Damon's small breakdown was merely an act and the two were heading to free the other Mikaelsons.

Damon narrowed his eyes, studying her face like he was searching for a confession. "Why do you have your I did something incredibly and annoyingly stupid face on?"

Mia hesitated for a beat before giving them a sheepish grin. "I may have....skipped a few steps tonight and gone right to the end."

There were a few moments of silence as the men processed her words. Elijah's expression remained impassive. Damon, on the other hand, groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please don't tell me-"

"Fine...I won't." The Petrova held her hands up in surrender. "But I kinda have to so....You know who....is already...you know what."

It was too late to throw a tantrum about it, that wouldn't stop him from chastising her another day though. Instead Damon just stared at her, his eyes hard. "Who did you make keep watch?"

The brunette smiled innocently, her gaze fixed on the carpet. "Bonnie."

Damon's expression instantly darkened, his voice dangerously low as lifted her chin up. "If the witch is here then who is dealing with....you know what?" He gestured vaguely but pointedly, he didn't have to say anything for her to know he was talking about the sealed coffin.

"Uh..." Mia shifted awkwardly, fiddling with her necklace. "That's why I came out here.....Yeah, so I'm just gonna go tell her she can leave and go do... that thing we need her to do. You guys stay here."

Before either of them could respond, she spun on her heel and darted out the front door, her heels clicking hurriedly against the tiles outside.

Damon stood there, glaring after her. "I swear, I'm gonna lose it."

Elijah, however, was smiling faintly, his hands clasped behind his back. "She has a certain... flair for improvisation."

"Flair," Damon muttered, shaking his head. "I call it being a pain in the ass, but sure...let's say flair."

~~~~

Rebekah crossed on leg over the other, resting her palms on the floor as she leaned back, over the duration of their conversation she'd made her way from across the room to the floor, sitting next to the witch. "So this Zander fellow." She tilted her head, "Did you really like him, or was it just one of those fleeting dalliances?"

Bonnie glanced up from the grimoire she'd been pretending to skim, slightly regretting the oversharing done in the past hour. "I mean...he's funny and nice. Believed in me....and it was nice having someone to...lean on I guess." She noticed as Rebekah's brows arched, "But I didn't know him that long....he's halfway to the mountains right now."

The blonde Original gave a soft laugh, brushing a stray strand of her own hair over her shoulder. "And if he came back now? What would you do?"

The witch sighed, closing the book and putting it to the side. "I don't know..." she admitted after a beat. "I guess it'd depend on...a lot of things. But honestly, with everything else going on, I'm not even sure where he'd fit into my life now."

"Mhm." Rebekah studied her for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, as though measuring Bonnie's answer. Then she leaned forward, her tone soft but cutting. "But he's gone now..., really gone. Isn't he?"

Bonnie nodded once, a faint shadow crossing her expression. "Yeah. He's gone."

The blonde's gaze travelled down Bonnie's face, her smirk turning into a satisfied smile. "Good," she said simply, her tone breezy but her words deliberate. Without another word, she leaned in slowly, taking in a moment to gauge the witch's reaction.

To her surprise and pleasure Bonnie didn't reel away in disgust, instead her eyes remained fixed on the Original's. Then with a soft caress, Rebekah's lips latched onto Bonnie's in a gentle yet passionate kiss which slowly yet steadily grew more intense.

Rebekah's hand reached up to cup Bonnie's cheek, pulling her in as close as possible as the Bennett could hear feel her own heartbeat in her ears, as thrilling as it was there was also something comforting about the sensation.

That was until the door flung open, causing the two to break apart and lay their eyes on Mia, who stood in the doorway with a look of surprise and delight. Her mouth hung open, the sides twitched upwards.

Then with a quick slap, she held her hand over her eyes, "Sorry to interrupt my darlings but...Bon Bon we really need you to get that coffin open, before Damon and Stefan end up doing something stupid....okay...bye" Without giving the two a chance to get a word in, she quickly closed the door, hurrying away and leaving the pair in a fit of giggles.

~~~~

Mia strutted back into the dining room, preparing herself for more of Klaus' jarring company, her steps faltered slightly at the scene before her. Klaus loomed over Stefan, his hand forcing Stefan's arm into the roaring fireplace, the flames singeing the Salvatore's skin as he yelled out in pain.

Without thinking, the Petrova reacted and rushed forward. She placed both hands on Klaus' chest and shoved him back. Much to her dismay he barely moved an inch but the surprise was enough for him to release Stefan. The Salvatore stumbled back, cradling his arm as the skin healed.

Once Mia had seen he was okay she spun on her heel, fury burning in her eyes. "This was supposed to be a peace talk you dick!"

Klaus sneered, "Ah, of course. Assume I'm in the wrong." He fumed, his tone laced with venom. "Did you bother to consider that your precious Stefan might have been the one to provoke me?"

"Shut up!" Mia shot back, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, "This...this is exactly why no one trusts you, not even your own siblings. You can't go five minutes without proving them right!"

"Careful Trouble." Klaus replied, his voice dropping into a menacing purr. "You're breaking my heart."

Before Mia could hurl more cusses at him, the heavy door creaked open. All heads turned as Elijah and Damon re-entered the room, their entrance quiet but commanding. Following them was a blonde server carrying a silver tray, her expression blank as she stopped beside Elijah.

"Elijah..." Klaus spoke, his voice edged with frustration. "Why haven't you left?"

The older Mikaelson's face remained composed, but there was a sharpness in his gaze. "Where are your manners, brother?" he said calmly, gesturing toward the tray. "We forgot dessert."

The woman moved forward, and with a graceful motion, Elijah lifted the cover off the tray. Two gleaming silver daggers lay on the polished surface, their edges catching the flickering light of the chandelier above.

Klaus's smirk faltered. "What have you done?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Elijah tilted his head slightly, his expression the picture of restrained disdain. "What have you done?" he countered. "You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Niklaus. From this point on, we proceed on my terms."

The room grew tense, the weight of Elijah's words pressing down on everyone. Damon exchanged a quick glance with Mia, while Stefan edged closer to her, keeping a wary eye on Klaus. The Original hybrid's eyes flicked between the daggers and his brother, his usual confidence momentarily shaken.

Then suddenly another figure stepped into the room, drawing everyone's attention. Mia didn't recognise him but there was no mistaking the resemblance to Elijah, sharp features, a proud bearing and air of lethal sophistication. Klaus' face dropped into something akin to fear.

"Kol," Klaus breathed, his hands rising in a rare gesture of retreat as the new arrival approached.

Kol's lips curled into a wicked grin, "Long time, brother." He stalked closer, each step towards the hybrid was matched with one taken back.

But just as Klaus had managed to make them think he was heading for the back, he sped forward reaching for one of the daggers. However before he could grab it, another man appeared in a blur of a movement. This one taller, his long hair framing a face that held a quiet intensity.

"Finn don't." Klaus begged but his brother didn't hesitate, his arm snapped forward, plunging the dagger into Klaus' outstretched hand with brutal precision. A guttural growl of pain escaped Klaus as the metal was twisted, as soon as Finn had yanked the dagger back out Klaus darted to the other side of the room.

His retreat was cut short. Standing in his path was Rebekah, a smug smile stretched across her face as she took her turn, stabbing the dagger into the hybrid's low abdomen. "This is for our mother." She dug the weapon in deeper before shoving him, right into Kol's hold, who quickly restrained Klaus' arms back.

Fucking hell. Mia took a deep breath, taking in the scene. Almost as if he sensed her becoming overwhelmed Elijah spoke up, "You're all free to go. This is family business."

Damon jerked his head to the side, signalling for Stefan and Mia to follow him. As Mia exited, she walked past Kol, whose eyes followed her even though his arms were busy holding Klaus. "Well isn't that a glorious sight for desiccated eyes." His grip on the hybrid's arms tightened, "The things you've robbed us of Nik."

Klaus swallowed, his heart sinking at the possibilities of what the vengeful siblings had in mind for him.

~~~~

Once the trio had made their way outside, the tension began to ease, thought the weight of what they had just witnessed lingered like a shadow. Stefan exhaled audibly, "That was....intense." His eyes shifted to Mia, taking in her silence. "Are you okay?"

Mia hesitated. She'd seen and heard about how far Elijah would go when people had crossed him, she knew Rebekah well enough to know the blonde would also be vindictive. In regards to the other two, if violence and slight insanity ran in the Mikaelson bloodline then Klaus was certainly in for some horror. "What do you think they're going to do to him?" She asked softly, her voice edged with uncertainty.

Damon, ever the pragmatist, didn't miss a beat. "Preferably? Stick him in a safe and drop it into the ocean," he said with a smirk, though the lack of humour in his tone made it clear he wouldn't lose sleep over it. "Here," he said, placing her phone in her hand. "Try being more present."

Mia gave him a distracted nod, her fingers instinctively unlocking the screen. The notifications flooded in immediately—dozens of texts from Caroline, one after the other. Her heart sank as she scrolled through them, so preoccupied that she didn't even noticed Stefan hang his jacket over her shoulders.

The first messages were frantic: "Something's wrong with my dad."
Then, later: "He was attacked. He's healing now, but—"
And finally: "He's in transition. He's refusing to feed, Mia. I don't know what to do."

The most recent text filled her with sadness not for the man, but for her friend. "He's refusing to transition. I don't think I can convince him."

The Petrova's stomach churned with guilt. Caroline had been going through one of the worst moments of her life, and she hadn't been there. Her first instinct was to call, but she hesitated. With trembling fingers, she quickly texted Matt instead, needing to know if there was anything she could do. His reply came almost instantly, letting her know that the Forbes girl was with her mother.

Mia sighed, deciding to wait until morning to visit her friend, to give her and Liz space to grieve, she slid her phone into Stefan's jacket pocket and got into Damon's car, however she requested he drop her off elsewhere before the brothers returned home to the boarding house.

~~~~

The door of the Gilbert house creaked slightly as it opened and then closed. There on the couch was Elena, wrapped in a small blanket, a half eaten tub of ice cream resting on her lap.

She looked up at the sound of the door, her expression shifting from surprise to concern as she took in Mia's tired face and slumped shoulders. "You okay?" The vampire simply responded with a nod, "Nice dress." Elena grinned, trying to cheer her up but then asked what was eating away at her, "How was the dinner?"

Mia shook her head. "Too tired." She said, waving off the question as she took her heels off and shuffled over. Elena lifted the corner of the blanket, patting the cushion beside her in invitation. Without hesitation Mia sunk onto the couch, the exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Elena placed the tub of ice cream on Mia's lap and handed her a spoon without a word. "Want to sleep here tonight?" Elena asked after a moment. "You can wear my pajamas."

The Petrova nodded again, not bothering to say more. She dipped her spoon into the ice cream and took a bite, the cold sweetness a brief distraction from the storm of emotions swirling in her chest. Elena shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her ancestor's shoulders and pulling her into a comforting embrace.

The vampire leaned her head against Elena's shoulder, feeling a small sense of relief for the first time all night, she'd missed their camaraderie. The doppelganger's voice broke the silence, gentle but steady. "Did you fix the Klaus thing?"

Mia let out a dry laugh, shaking her head slightly, her voice heavy with resignation. "I have a sinking feeling we just made it worse."

Andrew Garfield as Kol Mikaelson

Because N*te Bozo is an ogre, melted looking 5th draft of Andrew. ALSO I TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS FC I GAVE THE IDEA LIKE 6 YEARS AGO.

MADE BY ME, imagine a universe where we could actually watch it

A/N: HELLO MY DARLINGSSS, i hope you enjoyed that chapter, made it long to make it up to u <333

Sorry my updates have been so spaced out its just....i hate TVDU im sorry, i cannot stand it anymore, almost all the characters are annoying to me, All the actors are annoying except Leah Pipes, and idc about any of the ships anymore except klamille.. Im not gonna discontinue this story but i just dont want anyone expecting quick updates.

Sorry to Niklia and Stefia shippers, this chapter was only serving you guys crumbs. I had to service the Elijia shippers after two years of nothing. But next chapter will serve every Mia ship literally, ITS THE MIKAELSON BALL!!!!

Writing that last scene with all the Mikaelsons was so much fun, klaus getting jumped brings me joy, he needs that humbling. I was writing while screaming like BB from Euphoria

ALSO, im publishing a criminal minds fic soon....if anyone likes that show, its gonna be fun...in a traumatising kinda way.

LOVE YOUUUUU

Published: 23rd November 2024 (unedited)