Le Grand Guignol

Flashback - New Orleans, 1919:

We can never know the moment our lives are about to change forever. When we least expect it, the moment comes. There are moments that change our lives forever. But not always in the way we might expect.

Klaus Mikaelson can be known as the infamous Original vampire who is cruel, sadistic and utterly unhinged. Despite his most repugnant qualities, Lola Salvatore was able to see through it all; instead she was able to see the good within him. She could see it through each stolen glance, each smile and laugh. Lola was completely consumed by him and he by her.

Klaus grips hold of Lola's waist as he rushes the pair into their bedroom. Pinning her against the wall as he leaves an array of kisses against Lola's neck as she laughs breathlessly, "If I knew asking you the time was going to result in this I'd have asked long before I did."

Klaus doesn't respond vocally, instead the sound of beads bouncing against the floorboards fills the room as he rips Lola's dress clean off her body leaving her in just a slip dress. She laughs slightly as she pulls away from him looking down at her now ruined dress, "Must you ruin every piece of clothing I own?"

The corner of Klaus' mouth twitches up into the smallest hint of a smirk, his grip tightens against Lola's waist before rushing them both onto their bed, towering over her with a dominate spark in his eyes, "Must your clothing constantly get in my way? It would be far more efficient if you just didn't wear anything at all in future."

Lola's head sinks into the plump pillows as Klaus' lips leave a trail from her jawline down towards her chest, her smile beams as she laughs, "For you maybe. However, I doubt your siblings would appreciate that. Which reminds me, I've been wanting to speak to you about Rebekah."

Klaus lifts his head slightly from Lola's skin, immediately frowning before glancing down at her as he continues to tower over her, "You're thinking about my sister while we're in bed together?"

Her eyes sparkle with tease as Lola leans upwards, their lips practically touching as she smirks, "Jealous?"

Klaus softly pushing Lola back onto the bed fully, his eyes darken even more with dominance as he lowers himself, "Always."

They can both feel each other's broad smiles as their lips crash against each other. Each feeling the electricity charge through their veins they always do. Lola's hands trail up Klaus' arms towards his shoulders before she spins around making his head hit against the pillows without their lips breaking apart. Klaus' hands grip against Lola's thighs once more, slowly moving upwards, just against the hem of the slip dress before Lola pulls away from him, looking down at him with a concerned expression, "You're happy. Aren't you?"

"I'd be even happier if you let me continue what I started and that way," Klaus sits up in the bed, his hands run through Lola's long honey locks as he grins leaning closer to her, "You'd be happy too."

"I'm serious, Nik." Lola's hands find a place against Klaus' chest, pushing him away from her while continuing to straddle him, "Do I make you happy? Can you tell me there are absolutely zero regrets about us."

Klaus' brows pull inwards as he frowns, a puzzled grin graces his face, "You make me happier than I have ever been in my entire life. The only regret I have is taking so long to make this between us happen and I wish that I had done everything on this earth with you." He cups Lola's cheeks, smile is broad, his eyes are warm and full of nothing but love towards her, "I love you more than anything, Lola."

Lola says nothing, she matches the same lovestruck grin as Klaus looking at his lips as Klaus leans closer to her. His lips slightly brush against hers before Lola pulls away slightly, "So, say hypothetically," She drawls out, making Klaus sigh and dropping his hands from her, "Two people feel the same way for each other as you do for me and I do for you. But someone is stopping them from happening. It's unfair, is it not?"

Klaus sighs deeply, closing his eyes and turning his head away from her, "Lola..."

Lola sighs, sitting back on her knees as she shrugs, "It doesn't seem right that we get to walk around happy that we're together when the likes of Marcel and Rebekah can't because you're afraid that you'll lose them. I know you want to protect your sister and I love that."

Lola clears her throat as her eyes are drawn to Klaus' shirt, partly unbuttoned showing his bare chest. She laughs breathlessly, her hand gripping his shirt and begins to pull him closer to her, "I love the protective side of you a little bit more than I should if I'm being completely honest," She locks eyes with Klaus who is grinning towards her, she closes her eyes as she focuses once more, moving her hand from his chest, "My point is, has Marcel ever gave you any indication that he's going to hurt Rebekah? Any reason for you to not trust him?" Lola tries to catch his gaze once more as Klaus now looks away from her, remaining silent, "Has he?"

"It's more than that, love."

"Tell me."

His lips moved up into an amused grin as he pushes some of Lola's loose curls from her face, "Can we discuss this later?" Klaus' hands travel down Lola's body to her lower waist where he pulls her closer to him, pressing her into his lap. With a hint of tease in his eyes, he moves the thin strap of Lola's slip dress down before placing a soft kiss against her skin, "And get back," He then cups her cheeks once again, bringing her closer to him, "To what we started."

With a strong pull, Klaus presses his lips against Lola's into a fierce kiss that leaves her powerless. The kiss came with so much admiration, so much want, it felt almost impossible to pull away. He knew that. Over the years Klaus has soon came to realise that Lola has many distractions she can use against him and he thought it was about time he figured out his own. This was the distraction. And yet, Lola was one step ahead. Despite it being almost impossible to pull away from this blazing, heated moment; she knew what her next step was.

Lola pulls herself away from Klaus with as much might as can muster. Both mouths are agape, staring at each other breathless. Lola's eyes darken with the same dominance that Klaus was portraying, she smirks as she rips Klaus' shirt clean off his body, throwing it onto the floor. Klaus matches the same smirk as Lola forces Klaus to lay down as she continues to straddle him. She stares down at him, her hand having a slight tightness against his neck before it's her turn to give him an electrifying kiss.

His hands find place against Lola's hips, fingers digging into her bare skin as he trails them up, about to pull the slip dress completely off. Until, Lola takes hold of his hands, pressing them against the pillows on either side of Klaus' face. She glances up at the headboard of the bed to see two silk scarves still tied up against it.

She pulls one of Klaus' arms further up towards the scarf, tying it tightly around his wrist. He watches in awe with a raised brow, "Really?"

"Well, you started this the other night." Klaus watches as she wraps the second scarf around his other wrist even tighter before she lowers herself down to him once again, her lips hover over his, "Seems only fair that it's your turn now."

Klaus leans into Lola's touch but instead of connecting their lips together, Lola brushes hers against him and latches her lips against his stubble covered jawline. Klaus' head buries deeper into the pillows, his eyes tightly shut and hands form into tight fists as Lola's lips explore his entire upper half body. His breath halts at the back of his throat as she starts to nip at his skin as she moves further and further down his body. Until he suddenly feels nothing.

Klaus frowns as he looks up from where he lays to see Lola standing in the corner of their room slipping on a long silk robe, "What are you doing?"

She turns to face him, wearing a condescending smile, "Let's call it a protest. This is my secret weapon."

"Secret weapon?" Klaus echoes with amusement, "Withholding sex? You always cave before I do."

Lola scoffs as she shakes her head, "That's not true."

"Oh, really?" Klaus' brows shoot up in amusement, he leans up slightly but not much due to still being tied up, "Remember that time you got so worked up as you described in detail of all the things you weren't going to do to me, you actually ended up doing them?"

"Damn it." Lola mumbles under her breath, frowning to herself as she looks away. Lola clears her throat before looking over to a tied up Klaus, "Still, it's not going to happen this time."

"Untie me."

"No."

Klaus chuckles as he glances at the two scarves keeping him to their bed before smirking over to his love, "You do realise I can just break away from these with ease?"

"And risk breaking another bed?" Lola teases, with it not even being a month since they had to replace their bed once again. Lola's eyes widen slightly as Klaus breaks away with ease from the scarves yet a small piece of the headboard breaks away with it, "Crap. Bye." Lola vamp speeds out of their bedroom but it's not long before Klaus chases after her.

—✤—

It doesn't matter where we're going. It doesn't matter how quickly we try to get there. It doesn't matter that we never look back. We may think we've left the past behind, but it has a way of catching up to us. Though we want to run away we are forced to confront our past and the secrets that are buried must come into the light. And then if we are strong, we are able to move on. We all need to leave the past behind, move on towards the future and if we're lucky we will have help getting there.

A flustered Lola is rushing around her bedroom with a practically unconscious Klaus thriving in pain in their bed from the blade that Elijah imbedded into his chest. She keeps mumbling curse words towards Elijah under her breath as she grabs the pillows from her side of the bed, gently placing them under Klaus' head.

Elijah sighs as he begins to roll up the sleeves of his shirt, "I had no other option, Charlotte."

"Of course you did!" Lola snaps, whipping around to face Elijah, showing him the anger darkening her eyes, "Maybe not leaving me out of things like this and I'd have done some kind of sleeping spell for a short while. Or even snap his neck; sure it's painful but it's not nearly as painful as that stupid blade you plunged into his chest!"

"He was going to use it against Rebekah!" Elijah begins to raise his voice, stepping closer to the girl he classes as a sister. Dark circles under his eyes, showing the distress he's feeling that once again his siblings are at each other's throats, "Do you realise that?"

"Of course I realise that, Elijah!" Lola argues back, "I'd never want him to use it against her! Just as much as I didn't want you to use it against him!"

Elijah steps closer to the bed, his arm reaching out gesturing for Lola to stand to the side, "Stay behind me."

Lola watches on in horror as Elijah takes hold of a bowl, cloth and knife, placing them on the bed beside Klaus, "What do you expect I do with an angry, stubborn hybrid who wants his sister's blood?"

Klaus begins to slowly open his eyes, groaning in pain as Elijah sticks the blade through his skin, opening up his chest. Elijah plunges his hand into Klaus' chest, Lola frowns looking away as he rips out Papa Tunde's blade making Klaus gasp out with relief. As Elijah moves away from Klaus holding onto the blade, Lola rushes to Klaus' side and sitting on the edge, running her hand through his hair.

"Perhaps you could use the time constructively? Persuade him not to murder his baby sister." Elijah suggests, he takes hold of his suit jacket before leaning towards Klaus, "Niklaus, it was not my desire to bring you pain, but I will not see you hurt Rebekah. Now, I fear Sabine will be making a final move against us. I intend to find her and to end this."

He moves to leave but stops at the sound of Klaus' hoarse voice, "Elijah." Elijah steps closer, lowers his head to the side of Klaus, "You will pay for this."

Elijah stands up straight, jaw clenched and expressionless. His stare meets Lola's conflicted one before he vamp speeds out of the room. Lola breathes out heavily, looking around the room when she sees the cloth Elijah held only a moment before. She goes to stand to grab it but Klaus takes hold of her hand, not saying a word verbally but through his eyes, fearing that Lola would leave him on his own.

Lola shows her warm smile down at him, sitting by him once again and squeezing his hand, "Hey, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

—✤—

Flashback - New Orleans, 1919:

The sound of jazz filled up a local club in the heart of the French Quarter. You'll find people either with a drink in their hand, people dancing the night away to the young jazz singer performing, or even both. A celebration was in order during this time in New Orleans and they were the best people to continue the celebrations until they'd drop.

Klaus wraps his arm around Lola, the pair watch in amazement at the bustling crowds surrounding them. Klaus' beaming smile hasn't left his face in weeks, "Well this is a first. Werewolves, vampires, witches and dirty cops." The pair stand beside Elijah and the alpha wolf Lana, all looking towards a group of men toasting their glasses together, "All happy as clams and drunk as stoats."

Lana leans against the bar, smiling as she watches Elijah pour all four of them a shot, "You gotta love this city."

"To a new era!" A beaming Elijah passes each of them a shot, "Collaboration in the face of Prohibition."

"To your docks, their booze, and our theatres to hide it under." Lana smiles towards Lola, both of them toasting their shots together before raising them, "You're welcome, boys." They all happily toast their shots together and drink. Lana puts her glass onto the bar and takes hold of Lola's hand, "Come on, darling. I think it's time I have some one on one time with my old aunt Lola."

Lola scoffs as Lana leads her away from the Mikaelson brothers, "Enough with the old!"

His face shows nothing but happiness as Klaus watches Lana lead Lola to a table within the corner of the club. Elijah brings him out of his thoughts, "Who would have thought it possible? The unification of New Orleans?"

Klaus playfully grips Elijah's shoulders as his smile beams, "We did it, brother."

Elijah matches the same grin as he wraps his arm around his younger brother, gesturing out to the bustling crowds before them, "Oh, certainly, we worked together, Niklaus. But this vision? This was all you."

"Another round." Klaus shouts up, hitting his hand against the bar and indicating a round of two more shots, "There's one more toast to have, brother."

Elijah clears his throat, he can't help but chuckle to himself trying to think what else his brother may be up to now as he fixes his suit jacket, "And what might that be?"

Klaus glances over his shoulder to see Lola deep in conversation with Lana. He grins taking a small velvet box out from his suit. Elijah looks at him somewhat speechless when Klaus opens it to reveal a diamond ring, "I need you to distract Lola tomorrow, brother." Klaus glances over his shoulder towards Lola before placing the box back into his jacket, "By the time she gets home I'll have everything set out to propose."

Elijah still wears a speechless grin towards his brother before he laughs breathlessly, "I never thought I'd see the day. You've certainly took your time with this, Niklaus."

He hasn't bothered to wipe away his beaming grin as Klaus shrugs, taking hold of the two shot glasses beside them, "As you know from our time building this city, you can't rush perfection." He passes a shot glass to Elijah, holding up his own, "A toast, to the future."

On the other side of the bar, the two women smile gracefully to the waiter placing two glasses of champagne at their table. Lola takes hold of Lana's hand, "How's your father doing?"

Lana Lebonair was the daughter of Anthony Lebonair, Lola's half brother. He was the main reason Lola came to New Orleans in the first place, having hope that she'd be able to create allies with part of her family she knew nothing about. It took time, the wolves had their reservations on trusting Lola at first due to her being a vampire. But it didn't take long until they realised her desires were pure and all she wanted was to know her family.

Lana smiles slightly, she nods taking hold of her glass of champagne, "As good as expected. He keeps asking for you."

"I should have visited more." Lola admits wearing a sad smile, she sighs before glancing over to the bar to see Klaus and Elijah having a conversation with some of New Orleans police department, "Time flies when you're trying to create allies with the supernatural and human crowds in this city."

"And it wouldn't have happened with us wolves without you, doll. I hope that man of yours realises that." Lana teases just as Klaus catches Lola's gaze making her look away, blushing. Lana passes Lola her glass and raises them up, "To family."

Hours have passed in the bustling jazz club and the crowds have no plans to slow down. The music continues to roar, people able to hear it from blocks away. Lola perks up slightly, sitting at a table with Klaus and Elijah, when she spots Rebekah walking into the bar with Marcel entering behind her, "Rebekah has finally decided to arrive along with Marcel."

Klaus gestures his drink towards the pair having a hushed conversation at the bar, "Look at these two pretending to be apart while so clearly a pair."

Elijah places his hand against Klaus' forearm as he begins to stand up, glaring towards the pair. Elijah sighs, "Niklaus, not now. Why must you cause trouble?"

Klaus pushes away from Elijah, who tries to hold him back once more but Lola gives him a knowing look, "Leave him, Elijah."

"Charlotte-"

Klaus takes hold of two glasses off the table, he clinks them together which gains everyone's attention around the bar. Rebekah looks over to the table sheepishly, already dreading what her brother may be up to now. Klaus raises his hand towards the band to stop playing which they do,

"I'd like to take this opportunity to draw attention to two people who have been sneaking around behind my back together." Klaus begins, the colour drains from both Rebekah and Marcel's faces, both too frozen to be able to look towards the other, instead towards Klaus, "As we move into a new era, we require more progressive attitudes to match. So, to my loving sister and my right-hand man and best friend Marcel, may they find joy in each other." Marcel and Rebekah glance to each other then back to Klaus, both looking as equally speechless. Klaus smiles towards the pair, raising his glass, "Enough talk...Music!"

Lola smiles as she watches Klaus walk towards Rebekah at the bar when the band begins to play once more. Elijah sits forward in his seat beside her, "Do we have you to thank for Niklaus' sudden change towards our sister and Marcel?"

Shaking her head, Lola jumps out of her thoughts before flashing a smile towards Elijah, "I didn't do anything."

"You've done everything, Charlotte." Elijah places his hand on top of Lola's against the table, wearing a warm smile towards her, "I found myself wondering if I was ever going to see the caring side of Niklaus again, for centuries now. Until, you arrived. I can see you challenge him to see himself and others in a new light. I believe you have been the missing piece to our family to make it whole."

Everything Elijah has just described was true, it was as though that often Lola would be the glue to piece the Mikaelson family back together. But it was also the other way round. When Lola arrived in New Orleans over thirty years ago, she felt as though she had nothing. The family she had left no longer felt like family, leaving her older brother after a heated argument and not speaking to her younger brother since the night they all became who they were. All Lola wanted was to feel like she felt belonged and that was with the Mikaelson family.

Before Lola can have the chance to reply to Elijah, she feels a hand softly place against her shoulder, looking up to see Klaus looking down at her with nothing but love in his eyes. He holds out his other hand as a slow song begins to play, Lola intertwines hers with his as he guides her onto the dance floor.

Lola smiles as she glances over to the corner of the room she has just been sat in to see Elijah now sat with a beaming smiled Rebekah and Marcel, "Are you doing this because you're on the brink of caving before I do?"

Klaus chuckles softly, his grip tightens around Lola's lower back, "I could say that was the reason, but no. You were right." Lola frowns as she locks eyes with him, "It's not fair that I get to live the happiest life I could have ever imagined with you and not allow others to feels this type of happiness." Klaus pulls away from Lola, his hands still against hers as he spins her around, to then press himself against her back, his lips brush against her ear, "You better hurry up and get home before I rip off another one of your dresses."

—✤—

Klaus watches up in awe at Lola as the tends to him, cleaning away the dried blood on his chest with a damp cloth. Dark circles have formed under her eyes due to the lack of sleep she's had over the last couple of days and yet he thinks she looks even more beautiful than she already did.

Each breath he takes feels like razor blades cutting deeper into his throat, his breathing is raspy, "You don't need to stay here with me."

The sound of his weak voice makes Lola break away from her thoughts, she frowns as she looks down at him before smiling softly, "Yes, I do. I love you and I am going to be by your side no matter what. What are those vows that people say?" She stands from the edge of the bed, placing the bowl and damp cloth to the side before sitting beside him once against, her hand runs through his hair, "In sickness and in health. Just because we aren't married yet doesn't mean I won't be doing that."

"I don't deserve you." Klaus smiles genuinely up at Lola, his hand rests against her wrist until his expression completely changes as Lola begins to roll up her sleeve, he shakes his head looking the other way, "No."

Lola's shoulders slump, sighing, "You need to feed."

"There are plenty of blood bags downstairs," Klaus grunts, his winces slightly as he attempts to sit up in the bed, "I'll get one of them."

Lola laughs slightly, gently pressing her hand against Klaus' chest and pushing him back down on the bed, "No, you're going to stay in bed and feed from my wrist."

Klaus raises a teasing brow at her, the corner of his mouth twitching up into a smirk, "The dominate side of you always shows up in the bedroom, love."

Holding her wrist out further, Lola doesn't bite to Klaus' tease, "Drink."

The smirk is wiped away from his face, eyes turn cold as he glances between Lola and her wrist. The last thing he's ever wanted to do since Lola became a human was doing anything like the scenario they're in now, blood sharing as vampires is intimate but when it's only one of them now as a vampire, it felt wrong to him. But, he's weak and needs to build his strength up so Klaus scoffs before taking hold of Lola's wrist, biting into it but only for a few short moments before he pushes her wrist away from him, "I'm not drinking from you anymore."

"Yes, you are." Lola argues as she wraps a dry cloth around her bloodied wrist, "Because I'm not getting you a blood bag and you're not fit enough to go and get one either. So, it's my blood or nothing. Besides, it's not like it's a new thing for you to drink my blood. It's just this time neither of us are naked."

Klaus rolls his eyes, "So is being by my side as you have just said meaning you'll deprive me of what I need?"

Lola stays silent, glancing down at her wrist that has already healed. She sighs placing the bloodied cloth to the side before she shrugs, "That depends what you mean, blood or going after Rebekah?"

Klaus' head sinks deeper into the pillows as he looks away from her, "I'm too weak for one of your talks right now."

"She's your sister, Nik." Lola sits further onto the edge of the bed, "How can you be so angry towards her that you'd actually kill her?"

"Because she has done what no one else has managed to do to me for 1,000 years..." Klaus faces Lola once more, his eyes are dull and full of hurt and betrayal, "Rip my heart out. You were there, remember? That night happened because of Rebekah's betrayal."

Lola sighs, running her hand through her hair, "Look, I get that you're angry about this new revelation on what truly was behind what happened in 1919, but..." Klaus scoffs, his face turning to stone, glaring at Lola, "Bringing harm to Rebekah and Marcel is not going to make anything better!"

Klaus laughs spitefully, shaking his head, "Don't you get tired of playing devil's advocate?"

A sharp pain in the side of Lola's stomach makes her breathe in sharply, coming to a stand, "I wouldn't have to if you weren't trying to kill your siblings every five minutes!"

Klaus watches as Lola walks towards the dresser when her phone begins to ring. She screens the call straight away before taking a deep breath with her back to him, one hand against her stomach and the other against the dresser.

Klaus sits up slightly in the bed, "Speaking of guilty parties, you weren't innocent back then either."

Lola lifts her head up, she continues to have her back to him as she scoffs. Turning around to face him, she narrows her darkened stare towards him, "Why do you always do this?"

"Do what exactly?"

Lola laughs at the bitterness tone he possesses, "Give off this annoying ass attitude when you're not exactly right in situations then bring up things that are way passed resolve." She scoffs, throwing her hands up in the air, "You did it back in Mystic Falls by bringing up 1892-"

"Well, I might have thought you'd bring him up again!" Klaus snaps in a raised voice, catching Lola off guard slightly, "You've been dying to bring up that worthless virus once more."

The blood runs cold through Lola's veins, her brows knit together as the stares at the man before her who shows nothing but hatred in his eyes, "Why are you being like this?"

"Is anyone home?"

A new voice coming into play further into the compound turns the pair silent. Neither of them saying a word until Lola shakes her head and walks towards the door until she stops and turns to face Klaus again, her face full of anger, "I get that you're angry at Rebekah, I do. I'm not too thrilled about it either. But, taking your anger out on me isn't going to help anything!"

Klaus leans back onto the bed, closing his eyes as he inhales sharply when Lola slams the door behind her. Exhaling, Klaus opens his eyes and turns to the side when his eye catches a certain framed sketch on top of the dresser, a sketch that Lola created the day of the opera fire.

—✤—

Flashback, New Orleans - 1919:

There were many things that Klaus wanted in life; to continue being the King of New Orleans, world domination, to break the hybrid curse that his mother placed on him.

However, the main desire that Klaus longed for was to make Lola Salvatore his wife, his queen. It has been months in the making, planning it down to the last detail on how he was going to make a promise to the love of his life that the love they have is forever and always will be. No amount of fire could challenge the fairytale he had stored in his heart.

He can't help but smile as he pulls open the drawer beside the bed, grabbing the small black velvet box he revealed to Elijah the night previous. Leaning against the headboard, his smile widens staring down at the diamond ring sparkling, almost unable to contain the excitement of the plans he has installed for today.

Klaus gets brought out of his thoughts when he can hear Lola moving things around in the attached living room. He chuckles as he places the box back into the drawer, sharply closing it, "What's taking so long?"

Lola dramatically pulls open the double doors into their bedroom, her eyes sparkle with mischief. She fully walks into the room, wearing nothing but one of Klaus' shirts and clutching hold of one of his sketchpads, "I think it's only fair that I take a turn in sketching you." Lola stands on the bed, Klaus looks up at her amused as she sketches, narrowing her eyes down at him, "Mustn't forget the gleam of the devil in one's eye, the devilish grin that has a constant home on your face." Klaus' hands snake up Lola's bare legs when she tries to move away from him, she lowers the book down slightly, gesturing the pencil in her hand towards Klaus, "Oh, almost forgot, those red devil horns at the top of your head-"

"Oh, you little-" Klaus hands grip hold of Lola's hips, pulling her down onto the bed. She squeals out as he towers over her, smirking. Lola tries to hold in her laughter as she hides her smile underneath the sketch pad until Klaus takes it off her with ease. Klaus can't help but laugh when he sees the monstrosity that Lola attempted to draw, he raises a brow down at her as Lola brings her hand over her mouth to cover up her laughter, "That's what I look like?"

Lola snatches the sketchpad out of Klaus' grip, shuffling out from underneath him and rushing to the opposite side of the room. Klaus wraps a bed sheet around his lower body, climbing off the bed as his eyes darken slightly with tease. Lola feeds onto it more, she glances between her so called artwork and Klaus who slowly steps closer to her before she shows a fake pet lip,

"Perhaps you're right. You don't look like this sketch at all, my love." Lola tilts her head, closing one eye as she holds the sketchpad in front of her not being able to cover up her laughter anymore, "This piece of art is much more handsome and should be framed for everyone to see."

Klaus pauses in his step, his mouth is agape but yet shows a hint of a smile, "Apologise. Right now."

Lola's lips form a thin line to hold back more laughter, she steps backwards and places the sketchpad behind her back as she shakes her head, "Never."

Klaus vamp speeds towards Lola, taking the book out of her grip and throwing it onto the floor. Before he picks her up with ease over his shoulder making her squeal out once again. Klaus throws Lola onto their bed before quickly towering over her with a dominate spark in his eyes, "Do you enjoy mocking me?"

Lola laughs breathlessly as she pushes her hair from her face before propping herself up on her elbows, allowing her lips to brush against Klaus', "You make it too easy, so of course I do."

Both of them can feel each other's smiles as their lips collide instantly. Lola's heart begins to race as she can feel Klaus' hand drift down her clavicle, pressing her further into the pillows. The kiss was frantic, as though he couldn't get enough of her until the pair break away when Elijah steps into the room. He looks towards the pair, for less than a second before glancing down at the floor,

"This was the important meeting you spoke of earlier, I see."

Klaus rolls his eyes, pulling away from Lola, "Knocking seems to have left your knowledge, I see."

"Well, indeed." Elijah clears his throat as he turns his back on the pair, holding out an ivory envelope, "This was left in the courtyard this morning."

Klaus reaches over to take the tickets before Lola takes them off him. She kneels behind Klaus, wrapping her arms around him, "It's from Lana. Tickets to tonight's opera, Le Huguenots. They have a soprano to die for. I'm sure Lana will introduce you if you promise not to eat her."

Elijah chuckles slightly as he begins to step towards the door, "Oh, Charlotte, a good soprano is never dinner."

"Tell Rebekah to bring Marcel." Klaus suggests in a perky tone. He tries to hold back laughter as Lola starts to leave a trail of kisses against his neck, nipping against his skin, "Feel free to tell her now, big brother. We have some business we need to continue."

—✤—

Lola walks out onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard to see a flustered Cami looking around, "Cami?"

Cami breathes a sigh of relief as she looks up towards a confused Lola, "Thank god, I need to speak to you about something."

Just as Cami reaches the top of the stairs to stand beside Lola, they can both hear movement coming from the room Lola has just left and a frustrated huff. Lola sighs, "Hold that thought." Lola walks back into her bedroom, Cami soon following to see a frustrated looking Klaus attempting to button up a shirt as he sits on the edge of the bed, "Bed. Now."

A hint of an amused smirk graces Klaus' frustrated complexion, "Your dominate side is showing once again, love." He looks over Lola's shoulders to see a perplexed looking Cami and he rolls his eyes, "Let me guess, you bring the shrink round to try and reason with me."   

Cami stands beside Lola, glancing between her and Klaus, "Is there something you need my help with?"

"I don't know." Lola sighs, crossing her arms against the chest as she glares over to Klaus who continues to glare back at her, "Any ideas on how to get him to stop wanting to murder his sister?"

Cami's eyes widen towards Klaus who looks unfazed at what Lola is saying, "Why do you want to kill Rebekah?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Klaus retorts with hatred fuelling his words, "She betrayed me by bringing to town the one thing I'd been running from for centuries...my father."

Cami looks between Klaus and Lola, each of them looking as infuriated as the other and Cami feeling perplexed, "Oh."

"Yes." Klaus grunts with a clenched jaw, he lays back down onto the bed, "Oh."

"This is ridiculous!" Lola scoffs as she begins to pace beside the bed, "You're not hurting Rebekah! No matter what she may have done, hurting your sister is not going to make matters better!"

Klaus laughs spitefully, shaking his head, "If I'm not mistaken, weren't you close to killing that annoying brother of yours once upon a time?"

Cami's eyes fleet between them both, unable to hide the nervous tremble in her voice, "What?"

Lola looks at Cami eyes wide before sighing and sitting on the edge of the bed, "I was...But then when it came down to it, I realised it wasn't going to make me feel better about the dark hole I was in. Damon can be the most infuriating person in my life but I'd be lost without him. Just like you would be without Rebekah."

Klaus watches the plea in Lola's eyes form, she places her hand onto the bed not even an inch away from his. He knows she is trying to be the devil's advocate for the billionth time but he won't bite. Klaus moves his hand away from where it laid, to now propping himself up, "In 1886, Damon killed your first love the night before you were due to marry him." Lola rolls her eyes as she stands up from the bed, turning her back on him as Klaus continues to bite further, "In 1919, Damon tried to kill you because you had moved on and wouldn't help him release Katerina from the tomb. Might I add he was also part of several plans trying to put me to an end."

Cami takes a step back slightly, her brows furrow when she sees Lola's face turn cold before she turns to face Klaus, her eyes darken with anger, "In 1835, you daggered Rebekah for 52 years because of her and Marcel's feelings. In 1922, you daggered Rebekah because she wanted to have a life with Stefan and then didn't wake her for 90 years. You threw one of the men she loved over a balcony!" Lola steps closer to the bed as her anger pulsates even further, "That girl has barely lived a life because every time she gets just a little taste of it, you destroy it for her!"

Klaus sits up further on the bed, jaw clenched, "I was protecting her!"

"Yeah," Lola laughs viciously, throwing her hands up, "And guess who else uses that excuse? Damon!"

"For you to compare me to your mind numbing brother is an insult."

Lola can see the hate that is burning through Klaus' eyes, he sits waiting for Lola to argue back with him. An exasperated grin appears on Lola's lips, she looks away from Klaus as she shakes her head, "No, you know what?" She tenses in front of him, her eyes flashing with rage, "I'm not going to stand here and let you bitch about my brother when you are exactly like him! You hate Damon for everything he's done and yet you're here being just like him. Refusing to allow Rebekah to have happiness and then creating plans where you want to kill her and the man she loves!"

Cami watches as Lola walks out of the room, taking hold of her phone that started to ring and closing the door behind her. She turns back to see Klaus rolling his eyes as he collapses back onto the bed. Cami clears her throat, "So, you're consumed by revenge you'll never achieve. What makes you think that Rebekah and Marcel won't be anywhere in the world by now?"

Klaus expression remains blank as he stares up at the ceiling before the smallest hint of a smirk appears, "Because I know better. They'll need a cloaking spell, and for that, they'll need a witch and I'd like to think that Lola won't help them out in that department. So, there's only one place they can go...home."

"What did you hope to gain by bringing up Lola's brother?" Cami's tone becomes defensive, crossing her arms against her chest as she steps closer to the bed, "Is this your way of trying to excuse the horrible things you want to do towards your own family?"

Klaus scoffs before turning his head to glare at Cami, "Maybe you should mind your business."

Cami rolls her eyes leaving Klaus to whither in self pity in the bedroom. As she opens the doors to the living room, Lola straightens up glancing up at her while she's still on the phone, "Caroline, I gotta go. Will you please tell them both to just relax? I'll call them soon." Lola exhales a heavy breath as she hangs up, her eyes are full of guilt as she looks up at Cami, "I'm sorry, Cami. You didn't come here to listen to me and Klaus arguing over the past and him being a huge asshole."

Cami frowns, laughing awkwardly as she sits beside Lola on the sofa, "Can't he hear you?"

"Yeah." Lola shrugs her shoulders, totally unfazed that Klaus would be able to hear. She narrows her eyes at Cami who starts to look like she is trying her best to not completely break apart, "Is everything okay?"

Cami's brows pull inwards, she wears such a sad smile, blinking away the tears threatening to escape, "It's my uncle." She looks down at her hands in her lap as her voice breaks, "One of the witches has put a hex on him and no one will help me. I know it's a lot to ask-"

"You trust me to help with Kieran?" Lola blurts out without even meaning to, taken aback by this. Cami frowns in confusion but still nods making Lola laugh slightly, "I just didn't think you would after finding out about what me and Adrianna did and then I walk into Scott's place and you're holding a toilet brush towards me."

"I think just the whole realising what was real and what wasn't was a shock to me. All you and Adrianna done was protecting me in a way by making sure I wasn't in that bar when there was a faulty gas leak." Cami explains, Lola's lips part to say something but Cami places her hand on top of Lola's, giving her a teasing look, "Which I also know wasn't the case, I want to know more but maybe not right now. The toilet brush," Cami laughs awkwardly, running her hand through her hair, "I was just on edge not knowing who could have walked through that door. Especially when only a couple hours later I had Genevieve give me some mystical blade and blackmailed me to use it on Klaus for her to cure my uncle."

Lola tenses just at the mention of the red headed witch, "What?" Both blondes look over to the double doors pulling apart to reveal still a weak looking Klaus, he doesn't even bother to look at them but walk straight towards the drinks table, pouring himself a scotch. Lola scoffs as she slumps down into the sofa, "Oh, brilliant. You have murder on the brain, why not add alcohol to the mix. I'm pretty sure that isn't going to help anything."

Klaus has his back to the pair, leaning against the drinks table, "Well, I'm pretty sure it will help."

"You won't feel even one second of satisfaction if you hurt Rebekah. You may think right now that's the only thing you can do to move past this but you're wrong, Nik." Klaus turns to face Lola, she stays silent as she lets her words sink in a little, "Elijah thought I'd be able to talk you out of this stupid revenge fantasy you have going on but what's the point because you'll never listen."

His entire posture changed instantly, tensing at the subject of his older brother. Klaus slams his glass onto the table, "Do not speak to me of Elijah."

Lola scoffs, "He loves you."

"Yes. He does, and he proves it time and again, even when my father enlisted him to kill me." Klaus takes hold of his glass once again, gesturing towards where Lola is sat, "But then let us not forget how heroic he was saving you that night. Always the hero my brother, always the one swooping in to clear up my mess!"

Lola shakes her head, "Oh, I totally get it now!" She shuffles forward in her seat, glaring up at Klaus, "After all these years, there's still a part of you that hates the bond Elijah and I share, don't you?"

Klaus purses his lips as he shrugs his shoulders, the animosity between the pair thickens by the second, "Should there be a reason to have an issue with it?"

Her mouth twitches up in an eery smile as Lola comes to a stand, pointing towards Klaus, "You're angry that Elijah saved me from your psychotic father that night, aren't you?"

Klaus throws his glass onto the floor, smashing the glass to pieces as he steps closer to Lola, his anger building even more, "I'm angry about a lot of things that happened that night!"

Cami rolls her eyes, coming to a stand and stepping between the pair, "Last time I checked I wasn't the referee in the middle of a who can shout the loudest competition. Both of you, sit."

Lola laughs in an exasperated manner, "I'm not-"

"Sit."

Lola's jaw clenches staring at Cami's serious expression, she bites her lip as she shakes her head, "This is ridiculous."

Both Klaus and Lola take a seat, on opposite sides of the room, making Cami scoff, "What's ridiculous is having to treat people who are older than my great grandparents like they're children! Nothing is going to resolve if you just keep screaming at each other! Clearly, there is a lot more to uncover about that night apart from your father."

Klaus wears a smug grin, gesturing towards where Lola is sat, "Why don't you inform Camille on what else happened, sweetheart?"

Lola looks the other way from him, refusing to speak. Cami steps in front of where Lola is sitting, her arms crossed against her chest as she glares down at Klaus, "No, I'm asking you. You're not dictating this, so." Cami sighs as she sits beside Lola, one leg crossing over the other as she lean forward, "Explain what else happened back then."

—✤—

Flashback, New Orleans - 1919:

"Nik?" Lola opens up the doors leading into their bedroom to see it empty, "Nik!? I know you were trying to get Elijah to distract me today..." She steps around her room, trying to listen out to him until a white envelope catches her eye on their bed,

You love your games and I love mine,
Follow these clues for a special surprise you'll find in time.
The next one you'll find hanging off a cart,
That's underneath your preposterous art.

Lola brings the letter to her chest, she can feel her cheeks burning from the blush that it's brought her. With a skip in her step and a beaming smile, Lola makes her way towards Klaus' art room. Laughing to herself as she sees the piece of art she sketched only this morning hung up in a frame above a cart that holds a gramophone where a second envelope lies. As Lola picks the envelope up off the gramophone, it begins to play.

Don't worry, this game won't go on for too long,
Much like this song.
The next clue is still somewhere within the compound,
Attached to something you love is where it will be found.

Lola's shoulders slump, feeling confused over the next clue. She stays in her same spot for a moment as she tries to think what it could be until she realises what song is playing, "Moonlight Bay." On the top floor of the compound, there's a room where you're able to see a view for miles; somewhere Lola would always feel at peace. Lola remembers when Klaus found her standing in there, watching the sunset over the sea and they spoke for hours without even realising. Hours went by and next thing they knew, they were watching the sunrise.

Not wanting to wait a second longer, Lola heads to that very room. It's empty, as it usually is but now with the exception of a bunch of pink peonies that are placed against the very window where you can see the sea,

You are down to the second last clue,
That is attached to some peonies just for you.
The last one you'll find where you stood when we first met,
I must admit, it may be the best one yet.

Once Lola leaves the room, she overlooks the courtyard picturing the night she first walked in here. Never expecting that this is how her life would have played out but never regretting a single moment of it. Her eyes catch one last envelope that is pinned against the wall towards the entrance, exactly where she stood as Elijah introduced himself and she and Klaus found each other in the midst of the crowds,

By your side is where I always want to be,
That's as long as you'll have me.
Now that just leaves one last thing for you to see...

"Which is..." The sound of Klaus' voice behind Lola makes her smile widen even further. All the air leaves her lungs as she turns around to see Klaus kneeling down on one knee, holding up a black velvet box, "Will you marry me?"

In that exact moment, Lola should feel nothing but happiness but if anything, all she feels is heartbreak. Flashes of Dominic kneeling on one knee, with a ring box flood Lola's mind. To then her crying all night in her room after he walked out on her on their wedding day. It has been decades since that part of her life, a part of her life she thought she had moved past but this has proven the exact opposite.

Klaus awkwardly laughs, noting the hesitation from Lola, "Not to apply pressure, love. But, the silence doesn't do well for one's ego."

"Nik, I..." A thousand things are running through Lola's mind in this very moment, but she is unable to fathom a complete sentence. Her vision becomes blurry, frozen in her spot as she looks down at the beautiful diamond ring sitting in the box. She swallows harshly, trying to coat the dryness that has formed in her throat before meeting Klaus' gaze, "I'm sorry..."

Klaus comes to his feet, closing the gap between himself and Lola, "If I knew this was going to make you so speechless, I'd have-"

"I can't marry you." Lola blurts out, her eyes are tightly shut, face down. Klaus steps away from her slightly, frowning in confusion as Lola opens her eyes, slowly lifting her head to lock eyes with him, "I can't."

Klaus' warm expression turns cold, eyes blink rapidly as he looks away from her, jaw tightening, "You can't?"

"Nik, please. Let me explain-"

Tears fall down Lola's face as she attempts to step closer to Klaus but he pushes away from her, refusing to look at her. He turns away from her, throwing the ring box onto the floor before rushing out of the compound all together. Lola remains standing alone in the courtyard, in fear that she may have just lost the love of her life without getting the chance to explain her hesitation.

Lola had spent the last hour attempting to cover up the heartache she was feeling, going through most of her face powder trying to cover up the tear stains against her cheeks but it was no use. Everything was bringing back the broken look in Klaus' eyes when Lola denied his proposal, from the bottle of perfume he got her last Christmas that is on her vanity, to the diamond bracelet he gifted her decades ago.

Lola clears her throat as she can her a slow clap getting closer and closer, she frowns looking through the mirror on the vanity to see a man leaning against the doorframe wearing an evil grin, "I didn't even have to compel you to break the bastard's worthless heart. You did it all on your own so I must applaud that."

She turns in her seat, before slowly coming to a stand as she stares over to the man, "Who the hell are you?"

"Hm," The man scoffs, pushing things off the table near him as he steps closer to Lola, "I see you have a similar repulsive attitude that of Niklaus."

Lola's breath catches at the back of her throat, stepping further away from him as she realises who stands before her, "Mikael-"

A sinister grin appears on Mikael's face before he rushes over to Lola, his hand grips around her throat with strength making Lola gasp out for breath. He harshly presses her against the wall, his other hand going across her mouth, "I see my reputation proceeds me. I know all about you." His grip around her throat tightens even more, "The worthless little diluted vampire, falling for the bastard."

Mikael removes his hand from against Lola's mouth, yet his hand still grips around her neck, crushing her throat more and more. He pulls out the white oak stake from his jacket, pressing it against Lola's chest, "Just one little move and you're dead. I did have plans to do this in front of the boy and enjoy watching his heart break as I pierce yours."

Lola drops to the floor, choking as air tries to fill back into her lungs. Mikael laughs as he watches her, putting the stake back into his jacket. He harshly kicks the floorboard, making it break before ripping it off. Lola is frozen on the floor, unable to move, unable to speak but just watch in fear as Mikael towers over her, he presses his foot harshly against her stomach making Lola cry out.

"He's only with you because you're weak." Mikael pushes the large wooden floorboard through Lola's abdomen, pressing it deeper and deeper, "It makes him think he isn't weak but that's the problem, Charlotte Salvatore. He is just as weak as you."

With force, Elijah pushes Mikael away from Lola. Mikael falls through the double doors into the adjoined room as Elijah steps into in, his rage consumes him, "Don't touch her."

Lola's vision becomes blurry, the last thing she sees is a blurred figure of Elijah stepping into the other room before she slowly loses consciousness.

Lola wakes as she chokes on her own blood, turning onto her side as she spits the pool of blood that has formed inside her mouth. She gasps when she looks down at her abdomen with a large wooden plank sticking out of her. Lola closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath before ripping the wood out of her stomach, screaming out as she does yet feeling a wave of relief once the pressure has gone. Her eyes widen looking over to an unconscious Elijah with a smaller piece of wood impaled into his chest. Lola pulls herself along the floorboards towards Elijah, swiftly ripping the wood out from his chest making Elijah breathe out immediately.

Elijah's eyes are wide, staring over to Lola as he looks over her checking for wounds, "Are you okay?" Elijah groans as he slowly comes to his feet, bringing Lola up along with him, "We need to help the others."

—✤—

"I went to the opera that night thinking it was going to be the worst night of my life," Klaus' voice is practically a whisper, now standing he stares out of one of the windows onto the busy streets of the Quarter, "I was correct but not for the reason why. I thought the woman I love more than anything, didn't love me." Klaus turns away from the window, looking towards Lola who remains seated, both of them wearing the same hurt in their eyes, "And while I sat, angry about what happened earlier that day, you almost died at the hands of my father. I should have been there to protect you but instead it was Elijah. Like it always is. I don't protect you from danger, Lola. I'm the reason for it all."

"Cami," Lola's voice breaks, she swallows to cover her dry throat before glancing over to Cami, "Can you give us a moment, please?" Cami nods, smiling weakly at the Salvatore before leaving the room.

The pair remain silent until they hear the door close behind her. Lola comes to a stand as Klaus sits, she walks over to him, running her hand through his hair, making him look up at her, "Don't you ever say that you are the reason for any kind of danger I've been in." Lola laughs slightly, sitting beside him as she takes hold of his hand, "I think it's safe to say that I've done my fair share of putting myself in situations where I shouldn't. Just like you do to yourself." Lola edges closer to him, "Nik, you can't hurt Rebekah. You won't survive the type of pain that comes from losing another sibling."

Klaus' lip quivers at Lola's words, he blinks away tears that have started to pool in his eyes, "I'm ending this with or without your blessing."

Klaus pulls out of Lola's hold, walking towards a stone statue within the room, pushing it to the floor to make it break which reveals the indestructible white oak hidden within. Lola comes to a stand, looking at the stake in his hand, horrified, "Nik, don't do this." Klaus ignores Lola's plea, instead his grip tightens around the white oak before vamp speeding out of the room and out of the compound.

—✤—

Flashback, New Orleans - 1919:

Elijah rushes out of the burning Opera House, Klaus soon following as he carries an unconscious Rebekah. Lola steps out of the darkness where Elijah told her to stay, she rushes over to the trio, "You're okay."

Klaus' eyes widen as he looks over to Lola, he places Rebekah onto the floor as Elijah kneels beside her. Klaus rushes over to Lola, pulling her into his arms feeling as though he's been unable to breath until he could feel her within his hold. Every other feeling that Klaus may have felt instantly vanished.

He frowns, pulling away from her as he notices a large stain of dried blood against her dress, "Did he do this to you?"

"The final act of Le Grand Guignol is upon us!" Mikael screams out from afar. The brothers and Lola's eyes widen at the sound of Mikael's venom fuelled voice, "Where are my players? Enough running, children! Step out of the shadows so we can finish this tale of sorrows."

Elijah steps up onto the sidewalk, ripping a part of a metal fence away, "He's coming."

"Bekah!"

Lola rushes to her knees as Rebekah begins to wake, she slowly opens her eyes frowning as she takes in her sudden change of surroundings. Rebekah's eyes widen as she remembers everything, "Marcel."

Klaus kneels beside Lola, placing his hand against Rebekah's shoulder as he bows his head. Elijah looks down at all three of them with sorrow in his eyes, "He's gone, sister."

Lola and Klaus both help Rebekah to her feet as she stares out behind them towards the Opera House in flames. Rebekah can feel her knees beginning to buckle as she stares in horror, hearing the screams from the audience within the theatre, slowly burning to death.

"No." Rebekah's breathing becomes ragged, profusely shaking her head, "No."

"The three of you must flee the city." Elijah points towards them all, he gives Klaus a knowing look, "I'll hold him off, Niklaus."

Klaus shakes his head, stepping closer to his brother, "No. We fight him together."

"We cannot fight him." Elijah breathes out, "All we can do is do what we've done. We deceive him. We lead him astray. Now, I can do that as well as anyone." Elijah's eyes soften for a moment, looking towards Lola and Rebekah who's faces are stained with tears, "You take them both far away from here. I'll find you."

"No," Lola's voice breaks, she steps between Klaus and Elijah taking hold of both their hands, "Elijah, we're not leaving you."

Elijah squeezes Lola's hand before letting go, wearing a sad smile, "You must."

"No, Elijah. You can't." Rebekah becomes even more hysterical, her entire body is trembling, unable to control her cries, "You can't, Elijah. This is just-- this is my fault."

"No. This is my fault, Rebekah." Klaus' brows knit together, the heartbreak he's feeling within is shown all over his face, tears forming in the corner of his eyes as he takes hold of Rebekah's hand, "I am so sorry. I'm sorry. Marcel--" Their attentions all suddenly go back towards the Opera House as the fire becomes so intense, they can hear the theatre begin to explode. Fire sirens blare and come further towards them, "I thought we'd found a home here."

Elijah wraps his arm around Lola, kissing softly against her temple, "I give you my word that I'll find you all." He pulls away from Lola, giving Klaus a pleading look, "Niklaus, please.  Sister, come." He hugs Rebekah and kisses her cheek softly, "You must leave. Go." They all still remain standing there, staring over to the older Mikaelson, all looking helpless, "Leave!"

—✤—

Lola finds herself standing in front of the building that once was the Opera House, feeling frozen in her spot unable to tear her eyes from it. It's as though she could still hear the cries for help as the fire spread. Feeling the pain that they all felt almost a hundred years ago, thinking everything that was built was gone in an instant; Marcel gone in an instant.

"Lola!" Cami calls out, she's breathless as though she's been rushing around, "I've been looking everywhere. Are you okay?"

"This is what used to be the Opera House." Lola begins, her stare not moving away from the corner of Bourbon Street, "Burning to ash on that very night. They all thought that everything they built had burnt to the ground and Marcel along with it." Lola smiles sadly, before looking over to Cami, "I've been avoiding coming to this part of the Quarter every since I came back to town."

Cami's brows furrow with concern, "Where's Klaus?"

Lola exhales a long, exhausted breath, "Through the years that I've spent with this family, there are some moments where I'm able to talk Klaus through this anger towards his siblings." Her smile is weak as she looks over to Cami, "Sadly, there are moments that no matter what I say to him, his thoughts will never change." It stays silent between them both, only for a second before Lola clears her throat, gesturing down the street, "The church is this way, right?"

Cami remains in her same spot, watching as Lola begins to walk away, "You'll help him?"

Lola stops, turning to face Cami, shrugging her shoulders, "Of course I will. I know everyone in this town has made it look as though you could trust them and then it all comes crashing down but it will never be like that with me. You came to me asking for help and I'm going to."

Cami flashes a thankful smile as she catches up to Lola and the pair begin to head towards the church, "Thank you."

"If you ever see Genevieve sniffing about anywhere, tell me." Lola spits out Genevieve's name as though it was hot lava spilling from her mouth, "She's hiding right now and for her sake, she better continue hiding."

—✤—

Cami paces around in the church, biting her nail anxiously as she waits for Lola to come back down from seeing Father Kieran. She breathes out when she sees Lola appear, "Can you help him?"

"I can try." Lola nods, her smile is sincere but there is a hint of doubt clouding her eyes, "I can always try to siphon the hex away."

"Siphon?"

"I'm a different witch to others, different to Davina." Lola explains as they both take a seat on one of the pews, "I don't have my own magic, I absorb it from things that possess it and then I'm able to perform magic. A hex is created by a witch, meaning it contains magic." Lola's brows furrow awkwardly, "I can try and take it from your uncle, but Cami, I'm not certain it will fully take it away. Hexes are tricky, depending on the strength of the hex, the more difficult it is to undo it."

"Please, do anything." Cami begs, she takes hold of both of Lola's hands. Her eyes turn glossy, heart rate increasing and just desperate to help her uncle, "I trust you. He won't eat, he won't sleep. I just want him to find a bit of peace."

"I could help with that too." Lola shrugs, she swipes her thumb across Cami's cheek to wipe away a stray tear before the corner of her mouth twitches up into a weak smile, "If people open their minds to me, I'm able to create a doorway for myself and I can change their thoughts. Take my hand and tell me about a memory you cherish with him. Close your eyes and open up your mind to me."

Cami hesitates for a moment before reluctantly nodding and closing her eyes, "Kieran would always take me and my brother, Sean, to this little park." Cami starts to smile, her eyes remain close but opens up her mind to Lola, "He'd joke that it was his own little secret garden and no one knew about it, just the three of us. We'd spend so many summer days there, he'd teach us how to fly a kite, even skip rocks across the pond that was there. We were always at peace when we'd spend time there."

Lola slowly opens her eyes as Cami does, she smiles towards the girl, "It sounds beautiful." Lola comes to a stand, holding her hand out for Cami, "Shall we begin?"

—✤—

"I vote Die Hard."

Adrianna dramatically rolls her eyes as she follows Nate up the stairs towards their apartment, "You want to watch that every single night! It's bad enough being able to hear Scott singing along to Mamma Mia a few doors down or saying the words along to Shrek."

Scott grunts, nudging Adrianna slightly as he steps beside her, "As oppose to you and Lola? Watching every single eighties film you guys can get your hands on."

Adrianna brows knit with concern as they reach her and Nate's apartment door, "I should go over to the compound and check on her."

Scott's posture straightens up, his eyes brighten as he notices Cami walking along the hallway, "Cami. How's your uncle?"

Cami looks slightly startled at the trio in front of her, too busy being occupied with her own thoughts of everything she witnessed today. She smiles politely at them all, "It's just a waiting game. Lola helped me out today with him. We just need to wait and see if what she did worked." Cami clears her throat, the tension between them all soon turning awkward as she steps away from them all. She stops in her step before turning to face them again, "I misjudged you all. I'm sorry. Hearing that a lot of people in my life are all different walks of the supernatural is a lot and I'm sorry I've been avoiding you all." She smiles sincerely at them, "Have a nice night."

Adrianna watches as Cami walks further down the hall towards her own apartment. Adrianna pushes the brown bag she was holding against Nate's chest, "You two enjoy your beers and Abba alone, I'm gonna go and check on Lola."

—✤—

Am exhausted looking Lola walks back into the compound, rolling her eyes as her mood immediately turns even more sour as she sees a group of vampires congregating within the courtyard, "Can I not go just one moment where I'm not surrounded by egotistical vampires? Can't you all just go anywhere but here so I don't have to look at any of you?"

Diego scoffs as he comes to a stand, glaring towards the Salvatore, "What makes you think you can boss us around?"

Lola laughs breathlessly towards the arrogant vampire. She narrows her glare towards him, stepping closer, "Diego, I have shoes that are triple your age and I will happily crush your windpipe as I wear a pair of them. So leave or I'll make that happen." Diego stays standing there, looking smug. Lola matches the same smug grin as she gives every vampire standing in the courtyard an aneurysm as the same time without moving an inch, the amount of power she uses causes the lights to smash around them all, "In case you didn't get the hint that time, that means you need to get the hell out of here."

She feels satisfied as all the vampires begin to vacate out of the courtyard, heading out onto the night time streets of the Quarter. Lola gasps slightly, hand going straight to her stomach as she feels a sharp pain once again, she begins to grow concerned when the feeling doesn't feel like the usually butterflies she gets whenever the baby kicks. But then her attention gets drawn to a crowd walking into the courtyard, mumbling in their own conversations.

Lola smiles over to see it's Adrianna, Nate and Scott all walking in wearing the same warm smile, "What are you guys doing here?"

Scott shrugs as he reveals a bunch of movies he's holding, "Girl's night." He frowns to himself, realising what he just said and looks over to Nate, "Is it weird if I say that?"

"You and I are having a girl's night because we haven't had one in forever." Adrianna pulls Lola into a warm embrace, both of them feeling less tense as the other as Lola tightens the hug. Adrianna wraps her arm around Lola when she pulls out of the hug, raising a brow towards Nate and Scott, "These two just had the fear of missing out on something fun."

Nate scoffs, smirking as he shakes his head, "More like so we can keep an eye on you both and make sure you aren't bitching about us."

"Dude!" Scott scowls, pushing Nate, "Don't give them ideas." Nate pushes Scott back twice as hard, causing the pair to both start fighting with each other in the middle of the compound.

Adrianna and Lola both watch before rolling their eyes, Adrianna steps in front of Lola, blocking her vision of the chaos, "When Cami was going back to her apartment she bumped into us, told us everything that happened today and what you did for Kieran. So, we figured you might have wanted some company tonight and just a little bit of normal for once."

Nate pushes Scott away for a final time, picking up a bag full of all sorts, "We brought everything that we'd need and more. Plus an extra guest..."

Lola's eyes immediately turn glossy as she looks over to the entrance to see a beaming Hayley rush towards her, "Hayley."

Hayley pulls Lola into a gentle hug, "I've missed you, Lo."

"I've missed you too." Lola pulls away from Hayley, taking hold of her hands, "Did you get what you needed from Sabine?"

Hayley smiles, glancing over to Adrianna before back at Lola, "We've all made an agreement that we don't talk anything supernatural tonight. We're gonna have a normal night in and try to have a bit of peace."

—✤—

this chapter got me feeling so many emotions and i'm the one who bloody wrote it, smh

i know you may have been screaming when lola said no to klaus' CUTE AS FUCK proposal...don't worry i was screaming along too...

but our girl did have her reasons back then, ya know...lola and her commitment issues can be a pain in the arse sometimes. you're still getting your klola wedding in the future so don't worry, it's happening!!

this chapter was an absolute ballache to write but i am actually pretty pleased with how it turned out and i hope you are too!

thank you for your continued love and support on my stories

lots of love,
holly x