Farewell to Storyville

"Excuse me." Adrianna scolds as she pulls opens the double doors leading into Lola's bedroom where she sees an exhausted looking Lola poorly attempting at putting her own shoes on, "Bed. Now."

Lola laughs in a smug manner, "There is only one person who can sometimes demand something like that from me and you are not that person."

"Well, now there's two of us and you'll listen to me." Adrianna folds her arms against her chest, "You didn't even make it ten minutes into a movie last night before you had to do a lap around the compound because the discomfort you were feeling was too much for you to stay sitting. Then you've barely slept all night. So you either stay in bed and I'll bring a doctor to you or I'm taking you to the hospital."

Lola sits on the edge of her bed, now out of breath after managing to put her own shoes on. Never did she imagine one of the cons of this pregnancy is making her incapable of something so simple as putting on shoes. Lola takes a deep breath before standing up, "I'm not staying in here while they're all somewhere with the white oak."

Adrianna remains standing in the doorway, blocking Lola from leaving, "Yes, you are." Her eyes soften as she takes in Lola's posture and appearance, her shoulders are slump, skin pale and almost grey with dark circles under her eyes, "You look like shit, Lo."

"Well," Lola breathes out an agitated breath, her annoyance shows all over her face towards Adrianna, "I love you too. Ade, come on. I'm fine."

Lola attempts to step past Adrianna but she blocks the remaining of the doorway with her hand, "Tell your face that. I'm taking you to the hospital."

"The hospital?" Lola repeats before she laughs, "I don't need to go to the-" Another sharp pain from her stomach makes Lola wince, she closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath waiting for the pain to stop.

Adrianna becomes even more worried, she takes hold of Lola's jacket, ushering her out of the room, "Come on."

"No," Lola pushes away from Adrianna, "I'm not going to any hospital. The baby is probably doing her daily summersaults." Lola sighs as she steps back into the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed as she scoffs, "With a miniature version of a dagger. She really is her father's daughter."

"Not even half an hour ago you said the pain didn't feel like kicking." Adrianna crosses her arms against her chest, looking down at her best friend concerned when the colour begins to drain from Lola's face as she frowns, "What is it?"

"I think I'm gonna-"

Adrianna's eyes widen, she rushes over to Lola within less than a second holding onto a bucket in front of Lola as she throws up. Adrianna soothly rubs against Lola's back until Lola pushes the bucket away from herself. Adrianna sighs as she stands up straight, taking hold of her phone, "Okay, now I'm definitely taking you to the hospital."

"No." Lola's voice is hoarse and weak, she frowns in discomfort as she pushes herself further onto the bed, leaning against the headboard, "I'll do the first option, I'll stay in bed." Resting her head against the headboard, Lola takes a deep breath, closing her eyes only momentarily until her phone begins to ring. She cringes as she glances to the phone screen to see it's Damon calling her before picking it up and having the phone slightly away from her face waiting for the screaming competition to begin, "Hey, D."

"Charlotte Amelia Salvatore!" Damon's bellowing voice breaks through the phone, "Did you not think that I'd find out about your phone calls with Caroline?"

Lola rolls her eyes as she scoffs, "I had hoped you wouldn't but who am I kidding with Caroline's big gossip mouth."

"Why is it so complicated for you to just keep me and Stefan in the loop on how you're doing, Lo? We don't wanna hear from Caroline about how our own sister is doing!" Damon stays silent, his harsh tone disappearing as he sighs, tone more calm, "Are you okay? Because I'll know if you're lying just by your voice and let me tell you, I will be in New Orleans quicker than you can say the word gumbo!"

"Damon, I'm fine. There were just a few dramatic things that happened here but everything is-" Lola gets cut off when she feels another sharp pain in her stomach, she breathes in a sharp breath and tightly shutting her eyes. Adrianna, who is standing on the other side of the room, walks towards the side of the bed wearing the same concerned expression that hasn't left her face all morning.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Put your camera on."

Lola laughs breathlessly, shaking her head. She glances over to Adrianna with an awkward smile but pure panic in her eyes, "You can't ask me to do that, what if I am indecent?"

"Lola," Lola cringes at her older brother's stern voice, "Put the camera on now."

Turning her camera on, she can see Damon already with his camera on, wearing his older brother concerned look. Lola laughs awkwardly, "Oh, look at you. You've had your hair cut-"

Damon frowns when Lola sucks in a sharp breath once again, her face scrunching together in discomfort, "Why are you pulling that face?"

"What face?"

Lola swiftly moves the camera view to the side of her making Damon roll his eyes, "The face you were pulling before you decided to show me the wall behind you."

Adrianna scoffs snatching the phone out of Lola's grip, "She keeps getting shooting pains but is being stubborn."

"Well get her to the damn hospital, Adrianna!"

Adrianna glared at Damon through the camera with gritted teeth, "Don't you think that's what I am trying to do, asshole!?"

"Carry her there if you have to! Where's Klaus?"

Adrianna turns the camera back to facing Lola who grimaces as she takes hold of the phone, "Sorta indisposed right now. They all are."

"Stefan!" Damon shouts out, turning his face away from the camera, "Pack your hair care kit, we're going to New Orleans!"

"Is that Lola?" Damon rolls his eyes towards Caroline who walks over to him, before he can say anything Caroline snatches the phone out of his grip and wears a beaming smile to Lola through the camera.

Lola wears the same smile as the fellow blonde vampire, "Hey, Care."

"Did the care package arrive yet?" Caroline's smile drops as she picks up on Lola's discomfort, "Oh, are you okay?" Her eyebrows shoot up, eyes widening as she gasps dramatically, "Are you in labour!?"

Throwing her head back against the pillows, Lola closes her eyes mentally kicking herself for answering this call in the first place, "Kill me now."

A set of footsteps can be heard before Stefan comes into view on the video call, "What's going on?"

Caroline turns to face Stefan, "I think Lola is in labour."

Lola sighs, dropping the phone to her side, "Oh, for the love of god."

Adrianna scoffs as she takes hold of the phone once again, "Lola keeps getting these shooting pains, cramps, she keeps throwing up and says she had migraines but won't let me take her to the hospital."

"Can you all just shut up!" Lola snaps when she can hear everyone through the video call muttering over each other. She frowns in discomfort as she shifts in the bed, sitting on the edge of it and holds her hand out, "Give me the god damn phone."

It was now Stefan's turn to take hold of the phone, "Lo, what's going on?"

"Stef-"

"Are you okay?" He cuts Lola off, the concern in his voice seeps through into his words, "We can get a flight to get there quicker."

"Stefan," Lola's voice becomes more stern, "I love you but I don't want to be looking into your ear right now."

A confused Stefan removes the phone from his ear, frowning as he then notices Lola staring back at him through the video call, "Oh. Uh, you don't look great. Are you okay?"

"Geez, thanks." Lola breathes out as she rolls her eyes, "I'm fine, I am not in labour. It is way too soon. I'm sure this is perfectly fine and just a false alarm."

"All the more reason for you to go to the hospital and find out." Damon lectures, standing beside Stefan on the call, "If I have to come there and drag you myself I will."

"I'm not going to any damn hospital." Lola snaps, her eyes sending daggers straight towards her older brother before her expression softens, looking over to Adrianna, "Ade, can you just compel someone to come here instead?"

Adrianna nods before she rushes out of the bedroom, closing the door behind herself, "Nate! Scott!"

Lola breathes out as she rests against the headboard once again, her attention going back to the video call, "Can someone talk to me about literally anything else."

Caroline gasps, snatching the phone out of Stefan's grip, "Elena is mad at us all because we didn't realise Katherine jumped into her body."

Damon rolls his eyes, glaring over to the blonde vampire, "Caroline!"

"What?" Caroline scoffs, "She wanted a distraction. I doubt you want me to tell her about what Wes did to you."

"Give me that." Damon snatches the phone off Caroline, he presses it against his chest as he scoulds Caroline, "Don't you have some college shit to be getting on with instead?"

"Wait, is Katherine not dead?" Lola questions, frowning at the black screen until Damon pulls it away from his chest, his eyes widening slightly as he tries to figure out what to say, "Who's Wes?"

"She is now." Damon shrugs nonchalant, he gets a knowing glance from his sister making him sigh, "Katherine got her psycho daughter to put her in Elena's body and then tried to seduce Stefan and kill me. You don't need to know who Wes is. Problem came, problem got killed, end of problem."

"Well, that's definitely making me not regret moving here." Lola purses her lips, brows shooting up as though she's in thought when both brothers come into view on the call, resting the phone against the table opposite them, listening intently at her, "Although, it would be nice to get away from psychotic witches who come back from the dead every five minutes."

Stefan's soft expression turns to concern, he edges forward on the sofa he sits at, "What's going on?"

Lola grimaces, shrugging her shoulders as she looks anywhere but the phone in her hand, "I really don't wanna talk about it right now."

Damon rolls his eyes, sitting back on the sofa, "I bet you told Caroline during your secret phone calls."

"Okay, enough!" Lola snaps as she scoffs, "They were hardly secret if you idiots know about them!"

Damon pushes Stefan away from him as his younger brother nudges him with a displeasing look on his face, "What? Is it a crime that I want to make sure that our sister and unborn niece are okay?" Damon sighs, both brother's expressions softening as they look towards their sister, "Are you gonna tell us why you were answering Caroline's calls but not ours?"

"Does it really matter? I'm talking to you both now, aren't I?"

Truth is there was a reason for Lola being in touch with Caroline, but that was not including the constant check ups that Caroline insists on doing and showing how painful it is for her to keep the contents of the care package she's created a secret. However, Lola wanted to keep one certain conversation a secret from her brothers. Mainly, not wanting to get their hopes up about certain things as she knows how quickly plans can be changed within their world.

Stefan smiles genuinely at his sister, his eyes are warm but there's a slightly darkness of sorrow beneath them, "We miss you, Lo."

Lola's eyes match the same look without even realising, smiling sadly at both her brothers, "I miss you guys too."

"The doctor's here." Adrianna announces as she opens up the double doors leading to the bedroom, Scott and Nate following shortly after her with a small grey haired doctor.

Lola glances over to them all before back at her phone, "Guys, I gotta go."

"No way, we're staying on the phone." Damon protests, wearing his classic older brother stern look, "Do not even try to argue back."

Lola sighs not even bothering to argue back with him, resting her phone against the nightstand as Nate introduces her to the doctor, "This is Doctor Dickson, he's gonna see if you're okay."

"Uh, hello..Doctor Dickie." Damon sings out, Doctor Dickson looks around confused until his confused stare spots Damon and Stefan on the video call where Damon smiles smugly, "Yeah, over here. You will do every test that is needed to make sure that my sister and niece are okay. Comprende? You will do them all more than once if you have to and if you don't do everything by the book, well...I know your face now and I will find you then do a few little tests of my own on you."

Lola glares over to him, "Damon, stop."

Doctor Dickson clears his throat as he steps closer to the bed, "What are the symptoms?"

"She keeps getting sharp pains," Adrianna begins to explain, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Lola, immediately taking hold of her hand, "She keeps throwing up, uh and she is having headaches on and off."

He nods, taking a note of everything, "Blurred vision?"

Lola frowns towards the doctor, "No."

"Swollen joints?" He looks up from his notes, looking over to Lola, "Swollen feet or hands?"

"I had to get my rings resized but isn't that common?"

"May I?" The doctor gestures towards Lola's stomach then she nods. He places his notebook down before feeling around her stomach until he reaches a certain part making Lola wince, flinching away from him, "Did that hurt?"

"You're prodding me with your sausage fingers!" Lola scoffs, pushing his hand away from her, "What do you think? Is she okay?"

"It's hard to tell when I don't have the equipment I need."

Adrianna hand tightens against Lola's before giving Nate a knowing look, "Nate."

Nate grabs hold of the doctor's face, forcing him to face Nate as he compels him, "What could be wrong?"

"A number of things."

"A number of things?" Lola's voice breaks slightly as she starts to panic, sitting up further in the bed when Nate lets go of the doctor, "Like what?"

"You are showing signs of preeclampsia. You really need to come with me to the hospital where we can perform tests to see if preeclampsia is the case and how we can treat it."

The ins of Lola's brows pull together as she begins to panic even more, "But, preeclampsia can be really dangerous..."

"Lola, it's gonna be okay." Stefan attempts to calm his sister through the phone, his tone is soft, "But you need to get yourself to the hospital. Look, Damon and me are gonna get there as quick as we can to be by your side."

"No." Lola quickly blurts out, "You don't need to come here. It will just be a wasted trip if you get here and I'm fine, which I am."

Stefan sighs heavily, rubbing his hand against his jaw as he shakes his head, "It wouldn't be wasted because we'd be seeing you."

"I promise I will keep in touch and let you know what happens at the hospital." Lola stays silent for a moment, watching as both her brothers don't look convinced making her sigh, "If it's bad, I'll tell you both and you can come here."

Damon's jaw tightens, looking away from the camera as though he's trying to fight back an argument before giving his sister a stern look, "Lola, I swear, if-"

"I got it." Lola nods as she rolls her eyes, "If I don't keep in touch you'd get here quicker than I can say gumbo. I'll call you both soon."

"Come on," Adrianna stands up from the bed, guiding Lola up, "We need to get you to the hospital. No more arguing."

—✤—

"Is the wheelchair really necessary?"

Scott walks through the hospital pushing an irritated Lola in a wheelchair, following Doctor Dickson, Adrianna and Nate towards a private room. He laughs slightly as he leans down at Lola, "You don't wanna do doughnuts in this thing?"

Lola slaps Scott against his chest making him laugh even more as he straightens up and walks fully into the room. Adrianna places down the bags before holding her hand out for Lola to take. Lola shakes her head, gently pushing Adrianna's hand away from her as she stands up on her own and takes a seat on the edge of the hospital bed.

"We need to keep you in for a few more hours to monitor you." The doctor explains, "This will determine how severe the preeclampsia may be."

Scott frowns with concern, standing beside everyone else, "Then what?"

"Then, we will discuss options on what to do." There is something about this doctor that isn't making anyone in the room fully convinced about what he's saying as he continues, "If it's mild, then it will just be a case of medication to help lower your blood pressure."

Lola sits back further onto the bed, "And if it isn't mild?"

The doctor remains quiet, looking sheepish which makes Lola look over to Scott as she begins to panic once more. Scott's jaw tightens before stepping closer to the doctor as he begins to compel him, "You will tell her everything she wants to know. What happens if it's not a mild case?"

"The only way to treat a severe case of preeclampsia is delivery." The doctor blinks a few times, even looking convinced of his own words before he clears his throat and walks out of the room, "I'll have the nurse come and perform an ultrasound then have her set up an IV drip."

"I don't understand how this is happening." Lola throws her head back against the pillows, "The baby's blood has healed me in the past."

"Well, you know vampire blood can't be a cure for everything." Adrianna sits on the edge of the bed, running her hand through Lola's hair and trying her best not to show how panicked she feels within, "This must be one of those instances."

"This can't be happening." Lola's pleading stare meets Nate's as he paces around the corner of the room with his phone to his ear, "Is he answering yet?" Nate shakes his head, moving the phone away from him until he redials Klaus' number once again.

"Lola," Adrianna's tone is calm yet assertive, "It's gonna be okay. You're both gonna be okay."

A middle aged nurse politely knocks at the door before Nate opens it up. She smiles towards Lola laying on the bed as she wheels the ultrasound machine in, "Are you ready?"

Adrianna clears her throat making Nate and Scott both look towards her, she gestures towards the door, "Both of you, go and look for Klaus."

Adrianna goes to stand up from the bed but Lola grabs hold of her hand, unintentionally squeezing her hand, "Don't leave me, Ade. Please."

"I'm not leaving you." Adrianna breathes out, smiling in shock down at her best friend as though she would even think for a second to leave Lola alone. She readjusts herself on the edge of the bed, "I'm staying right by your side."

—✤—

Lola has a sorrow look in her eyes as she continues to lay in the hospital bed, her eyes haven't left the ultrasound photograph in her hand. Staring at her daughter and feeling completely helpless about the entire situation and not being able to do anything about it. A lump in her throat formed the second she heard the heartbeat and was hit with a mixture of emotion. She felt relief that the heartbeat sounded healthy, she was happy that once again she was able to see her daughter on the ultrasound screen and yet her heart hurt because once again Klaus was not there to witness it himself.

"Not to brag and say that I'm the bestest friend out there, but I found one of your cravings in the cafeteria." A beaming Adrianna walks back into the room looking smug, "Pineapple."

She places the bowl of pineapple to the side but then frowns when Lola doesn't even react, instead she continues to stare down at the scan in her hand. Adrianna sighs, sitting beside Lola on the bed, wrapping her arm around her before smiling at the scan herself, "She has your nose, Lo." Adrianna looks concerned at Lola when Lola's breath catches in the back of her throat, it's then Adrianna notices the pools of tears forming in the corner of Lola's eyes, "What is it?"

"This is the fourth scan I've had and the fourth one he's not been here for." Lola practically whispers, "There has always been something going on; trying to take the city from Marcel, scheming against the witches and now it's because all he can think about is trying to kill his own sister." Lola wipes away a few fallen tears, putting the scan photograph on her lap, "Is this what it's always going to be like? The constant fighting is never going to stop. I don't want to bring our daughter up in this kind of environment."

Adrianna frowns as she sits up a little, "What are you saying?"

"I don't know." Lola exhales a heavy breath, the circles under her eyes have darkened even more as the exhaustion gets more potent, "It's just-"

"You're not happy." Adrianna coming up with a conclusion, "Are you?"

"That's not true," Lola quickly dismisses that, however, her tone alone makes her sound like a liar, "I am."

"Come on, Lo." Adrianna sighs moving from the top of the bed down to the bottom, she sits facing Lola wearing a hint of a smile, "You can't lie to me. I know you haven't been truly happy ever since I first got here and you've been like this even more since you came back from Mystic Falls."

"I'm just so tired." Lola breathes out, the exhaustion she feels can be heard within her tone alone, "I'm tired of the fighting, the arguing, feeling like I'm being two completely different people."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You have one side of me that is by Klaus' side no matter what, being this chaotic couple that thinks everything they do will have no consequences." The smallest hint of a smile appears, only for a fraction of a second before Lola blinks the small amount of joy away. Her throat becomes immediately dry, staring down at her lap as she frowns, "Then it's like I can see myself being that person in hindsight, I'm screaming at her to stop turning a blind eye towards some of the things he does. I never realised how much he and Damon are alike until yesterday, if anything Klaus is worse. I hated the part in mine and Damon's life where he was controlling me, thinking he had a say in who I could and couldn't be with, turning his back on me when I didn't choose him for once." Lola exhales a weighted breath, closing her eyes for a moment as though she's trying to push away the thoughts that have been clouding her mind for the past hour, "And now I just sit and watch as Klaus completely destroys Rebekah's life. I know her bringing Mikael to town all those years ago was horrific but it wasn't out of spite. She was desperate, she wanted to make her own decisions and live her own life the way she's always wanted but Klaus was stopping her."

She shakes her head, biting her lip as she looks across to the other side of the room, "I hate myself for even thinking this but what if he's like this with our daughter?"

Adrianna watches as the girl she has classed as her family from the moment they met completely fall apart in front of her. Lola has always been strong minded, sure of what she thinks and wants all the time and yet it's as though the frail looking girl in front of Adrianna is a complete stranger. It's been almost two years since Lola ended up back in Mystic Falls, two years since Adrianna has laughed with a stress-free Lola who never gave a shit about anything and it breaks her heart to see such a strong person break right before her very eyes.

Adrianna sits forward, taking hold of Lola's hand, "Don't get yourself even more stressed thinking about a future that won't ever happen." Their eyes meet each other, Lola's dull and exhausted ones meet Adrianna's that are lit up with hope, "Your daughter is half of you. Meaning she will be stubborn, funny, she will care about everyone around her and always want what's best for them. And more importantly, she will never let others tell her what to do."

Lola's eyes are warm, a warm smile graces her lips as she tightens her grip on Adrianna's hand, "Is it wrong for me to say one of the happiest times of my life was when I was compelled to forget everything about the originals? When it was just me and you."

Adrianna matches the same smile as she nods, "The feeling is mutual."

Their attentions both got to the door when Scott and Nate walk back in, "Hey, Lo, we found you some-" Scott cuts himself off, he frowns looking towards both Lola and Adrianna as though he's interrupted something, "Everything good?"

"Everything's fine." Adrianna looks back over to Lola as she smiles, "We were just having a heart to heart, talking about the past."

"Speaking of the past." Scott places some chocolate pudding on the bedside table next to Lola, "You know what you guys have never provided?"

Lola watched as a familiar look appears on Scott's face, a mischievous grin while his finger draws a circle around the table, giving Lola the side eye. Knowing this is exactly what he does every time he brings a certain subject up, Lola scoffs, "Scott, for the love of god!"

The expression leaves his face as Scott glances between Lola and an equally irritated Adrianna, "What?"

Adrianna throws her hands up as she rolls her eyes, "Every chance he gets he does this!"

"Just because you still have the mind of a horny teenager doesn't mean you can keep harping on about this! Okay?" Lola snaps, "Nothing has ever happened between me and Ade. Sorry to dry up any creepy wet dreams you keep having."

"I wasn't even going to say that!" Scott blurts out in between stuttering, "Nor was I thinking about it..." His shoulders slump, the shocked expression leaves his face as he stares out in front of him, pursed lips, "I mean, I am now."

"Dude!" Nate scolds, harshly slapping Scott against the back of his head.

Scott grunts, pushing Nate away from him before he shrugs, "What? It's natural. But what I was gonna say is that you've never told us how you guys met. You guys act like you have known each other since birth."

Adrianna frowns glancing up at Nate who stands behind her, "We never told you?"

Nate shakes his head, his hands go against Adrianna's shoulders, "Nothing specific, just that you guys met in Chicago before you moved to Los Angeles."

"Oh, Chicago." Adrianna sings out with an amused grin towards Lola, "Something else was happening in Chicago back then, wasn't there?"

"Don't bring that up." Lola warns, trying to look annoyed but is unable to fight back a smile, "That is not part of how we met."

Scott leans forward, hands resting against the edge of the bed, bouncing up and down when his smile widens, eyes shine with excitement as he glances between the two women, "Bring what up?"

"It is part of the story, Lo." Adrianna teases in a high pitched tone, "Because you wouldn't have came into the diner that night if it wasn't for Mark."

"Mark, huh?" Nate's interest piques, smirking over to Lola who's eyes are wide, "One of your many lovers?"

Lola narrows an unimpressed glare towards him, "Don't talk like I had countless people in my life. I had the average amount for someone my age."

"Come on then." Scott takes hold of the pudding he only just placed beside Lola, he sits in the leather chair in the corner, putting his feet up against the corner of the bed, "We've got plenty of time waiting for your test results. So spill."

Lola begins to wear puppy dog eyes, frowning as she points towards Scott, "I thought you got that for me?"

Scott shrugs, glancing between Lola and the pudding, "You don't have time to eat pudding while you tell us this story."

Adrianna rolls her eyes standing up from the bed, "I'll tell it." She kicks Scott's feet off the bed and snatches the pudding cup from him, passing it to a smug looking Lola who gives him the middle finger.

Flashback - Chicago, 1953:

It was the middle of one of the hottest summers to date in Chicago. The men would walk through the streets with their shirts half unbuttoned, fanning themselves with the daily newspaper; while the women thrived wearing either flowy skirts or short shorts.

The police in Chicago PD took turns standing in front of the one fan that is in their office, hair slicked back with sweat it was as though they were mimicking Elvis.

It was as though the heat within the office added a hundred degrees when everyone's attention went to the main door opening. A young blonde woman walked in who didn't look fazed in the slightest at the summer heat. The mens eyes danced around the woman, wearing a black and white checkered skirt, tight black top. There is a hint of a smile that graces her, as though she is totally aware of the gawking and she finds it amusing. She takes off the black sunglasses she's wearing when she approaches the main desk,

"I'm here to see Detective Daniels."

The men stay silent, as though they're in shock to see a woman willingly walk into the station until a man opens a nearby door. His smile is broad towards the woman, he too doesn't look fazed at all by the heat. He's tall, light hair, wearing a tightly fitted suit that didn't leave much to the imagination, the perfect amount of stubble against his chiseled jaw. He wears a hint of tease in his eyes towards the young woman,

"Miss Salvatore."

Lola wears the same teased sparkle in her eyes, moving away from the main desk and heads towards the man who holds the door open for her. She brushes past him as she walks into the interview room, her hand grazes across his lower abdomen sending shivers up his spine, "Detective."

Detective Mark Daniels gives a quick nod to the group of sweaty officers before he closes the door to the interview room behind him, turning the lock on the door. He turns to see Lola smirking towards him which he mimics as he rushes over to her, his hands finding a place against her cheeks as he slams his lips onto hers. Lola's back hits against the wall, Mark presses himself against Lola, his hands grip hold of her waist as they explore each other's mouths. His hands move down Lola's body, pushing her skirt up. His lips latch onto the side of Lola's neck, she has to bite her lip to conceal her pleasing moans when Mark's hands move up her bare legs towards her inner thighs.

End of flashback.

"Hold on." Lola holds her hand up to stop Adrianna's story time, she raises a brow over to her, "I never told you about this. That part was definitely not relevant to the story."

"You did tell me." Adrianna sighs dramatically, hitting her hand against her chest and flutters her lashes as though she's mimicking Lola, "You wouldn't stop telling me at one point about all the little rendezvous you had with Mark. Anyway..."

Flashback cont:

Detective Mark Daniels was often as known as a shark when it came to solving cases. He would always be one of the first to volunteer to help solve a case, determined to get it solved in record time which intensified his competitiveness. Especially when he created an ally with vampire Lola Salvatore; it was as though the term mixing business with pleasure was created just for the two of them.

The pair are breathless as they both fix their clothing in the heated up interview room. Mark's eyes light up with happiness as he looks over to Lola who readjusts her skirt, "What are you doing later?"

"I'm going to see Gloria."

Mark looks over to Lola through the mirrored window as he puts on his tie, "What about after that?"

"Why?" Lola wears a teasing smirk, resting one hand against the table as she puts her heels back on, "Are you asking me on a date?"

Mark shrugs, buttoning up his suit jacket, closing the gap between he and Lola, "Is it so wrong if I do?"

Lola's brows raise in surprise, "I thought we were keeping things casual."

Mark shrugs, he wraps his arms around Lola's waist pulling her closer, "Think of it as just a harmless dinner between the two of us. Then you can tell me why you left this morning without saying goodbye."

Lola laughs, her hands rest against Mark's chest, she smiles as she straightens his tie, "Because I shouldn't have stayed. Staying over at someone's house means it's a serious thing and we both agreed this was never going to turn serious."

"Tonight." Mark pulls away, his hands graze down Lola's arms, his hands intertwine with hers as he steps backwards, pulling her along with him, "I'll see you outside of Gloria's and we can go to the diner a few blocks from there." Lola stays silent, Mark rests against the wall, one foot leans against it as his hands trace down Lola's skirt, pulling her closer to him with a teasing grin, "Come on. Just one dinner and I promise I won't think we're becoming serious if you agree. You gotta eat, right?"

Lola chuckles, the veins show for less than a second under her eyes as she leans closer to him, "Not always the type of food that you eat."

"Then I will make sure the chef makes you a bloody Mary...or a bloody Indie." Lola pulls away,
raising a brow which makes Mark laugh as he shrugs, "The chef is called Indie."

"You're not giving up on this, are you?"

Mark smirks, leaning closer to Lola, their lips are practically touching, "Is that a yes?" His voice is hoarse, it's like an invisible rope making Lola edge the smallest amount which is all she needs until there's a knock at the door. Mark's jaw clenches, his eyes are closed for a moment internally groaning about whoever has interrupted them. He leans his head against the wall behind him as Lola moves away from him, "Yeah?"

A sheepish looking officer pops their head around the door as they clear their throat, "They're ready for you."

Both of them watch as the officer leaves the room, Mark straightens up his suit before he opens the door for Lola, smirking over to her, "It's time to work your magic." Mark walks into the other interview room first to see a scrawny dark haired man, he has dark circles underneath his eyes, and greyed skin, "We need to stop meeting like this, Dean. This is what? The third day this week you've been brought in?" Mark gestures to his side to Lola standing beside him as he takes a seat opposite Dean, "This is Miss Salvatore, she's going to ask you a few questions."

Dean grunts, glaring over to Lola who remains silent, "What's a woman gonna do? Flutter her lashes and expect me to spill a confession that isn't even true?"

"And you're so certain it isn't true?" Lola quips, her lips twitch up into an amused grin before she places a large photograph of a young woman, pushing it across the table towards him, "So, you didn't attack this girl two nights ago in Grant Park then leaving her for dead?"

Dean leans forward, he wears a malicious grin, "I've already said it to the big men outside, sweetheart. I wasn't anywhere near the park two nights ago."

Lola sits on the edge of the table opposite the man, "So, what were you doing Wednesday night between the hours of 1am and 3am?"

"How about you tell me what you were doing, darling?" The tone of his voice is enough to make the hairs go up on someone's arms, he bites the corner of his lip looking Lola up and down, "It's quite a hot summer in this city this year. I bet you were in that big bed of yours, with only a sheet covering you."

"Dean, is it? Have you ever heard of micro expressions, Dean?" Lola stands up straight, she paces around the room for a moment waiting for a response but is greeted with silence. She stands next to where Mark sits, gesturing to her face, "They flash across a person's face for a fraction of a second. Revealing the true emotion, instead of the one they're covering with. For example, when a person is distressed their eyebrows go up causing lines to appear across the forehead." She rests her hands against the table, leaning towards him, "Do you know what the funny thing is? I don't need micro expressions to tell when you're lying to me."

Dean scoffs as he sits back in his seat, looking down at his lap, "Did your daddy teach about about those big words?"

"No, actually." Lola shrugs with pursed lips, "The only thing my father taught me was what kind of scotch to drink after being a vindictive bastard but we're not here to talk about my daddy issues. We're here to talk about you and what you did to Francesca Addams." Dean slowly raises his head, his jaw is tight as he glares towards the blonde making her laugh, "Silent treatment now? No more sexist jokes? Okay."

"You're not leaving this station and you can't get out of this, Dean." Mark watches as Dean's facial expression changed for a split second, he can see the panic that Dean tries to hide which makes Mark want to bite even further, "Whether we get your confession or not, we got enough evidence to make sure you never get to see daylight again. Because, it wasn't just Francesca Addams that you attacked, was it? Lola, if you will."

Lola lays out another three photographs of young women, beside the other, "Bethany Richards, Callie Crowe, Gabrielle Sanchez. What do all of these women have in common? They're all amazing, kind hearted women who seen a man who seemed as though he was in need. They wanted to help, do a good deed but that poor poor man wasn't who he said he was."

"I'll tell you what these chicks have in common. They're all blonde, green eyes, a bit like you." Dean wears a sadistic expression, his eyes darken with pure evil as he leans forward and wears an evil grin, "I bet you're an even bigger whore than these bitches." Lola stays still for a moment, she raises an amused brow towards him during an eery silence before her eyes darken. She vamp speeds over to him, pulling him off the chair and pins him against the wall behind him. Dean's eyes widen as he begins to tremble, "How the hell did you just do that?"

"I had hoped my patience would have gone on for longer but it's proving difficult." Lola's grip around his neck tightens making Dean gasp out for breath as she begins to compel him, "Tell me what you did to these girls."

Lola releases her grip, only slightly, when Dean begins to confess everything, "I watched these women for days, tracking their every move. When I knew they lived alone, didn't have family; I planned what I was going to do." Dean begins to confess through compulsion, "I lured them into Grant Park, there's a corner of the park where no one goes and then I attacked them and killed them."

"There's a special pit in hell for people like you." Lola seethes, she fully releases Dean from her grip making him fall to the floor. She breathes out as she turns back to see an impressed looking Mark, "Get everything you need?"

End of flashback.

Lola raises a brow over to Adrianna, "That still wasn't relevant to the story."

Nate looks at Lola stunned, taken aback from the stories, "So, you used to compel suspects into admitting their crimes?"

"Chicago PD had an almost clean record in their cases." Lola shrugs, she tries to fight back a smile as she thinks back to those times, "I even got some criminals to admit to further crimes. Mine."

Scott laughs breathlessly, "Seriously?"

"They were going down for being serial killers, rapists, gang leaders, you name it; so why not?"

Scott shifts to the edge of the seat, leaning forward, "Who was Gloria?"

Lola's eyes find Adrianna's, both wearing the same conflicted stare as they remember the witch, "A very powerful witch. I met her in the twenties when I was with Klaus. But then he compelled me to forget about him, Damon found me and took me to his place but I'd still go and see Gloria. She was helping me remove the compulsion but it took a while. It worked more or less, I could remember pretty much everything I was forced to forget but I couldn't remember any faces or even names."

Flashback cont:

Lola starts walking out of Gloria's bar, feeling quite defeated. She finds it cruel that Gloria won't just inform her of all the missing pieces of her memory, Gloria says that perhaps the past was too traumatic for Lola which is why her mind is blocking her from remembering any names or faces. Lola could agree in some sense and yet she feels as though the only way she can move on from that life is to find everything out.

She rummages through her purse as she heads out onto the busy streets of Chicago, not even bothering to look where she's going which causes her to collide into something; someone. Lola jumps slightly, her hands fall against a broad chest, "Oh, I'm sorry."

There's an odd feeling in the pit of Lola's stomach as she looks at the gentleman she bumped into, not recognising the man and yet feels an invisible pull to him; the heat of his hands against Lola's arms feel like they're burning holes through the fabric. Her brows knit together, the seconds of silence feels like forever as she looks into the shocked blue eyes before her. His eyes are wide, turning glossy as though he's a statue, in complete shock at the collision with Lola. She clears her throat awkwardly, lowering her head and walks in the opposite direction, "Excuse me."

Lola only walks a few feet until she stops, she remains standing in the same spot as her brows knit together once more. She's seen his face before, but where? His touch, his eyes; everything felt familiar. Lola's shoulders slump when she turns around to see the stranger nowhere to be found; disappeared into thin air within seconds. She remains standing in her spot, crowds move around her to get to their own destination and it felt as though everything she had in her mind was gone and all she could think about was the stranger she bumped into.

Lola gasps as she feels an arm snake around her waist, turning her around which is when she sees a grinning Mark pulling her closer to him. Lola looks over to him breathless, "What are you doing?"

"I got off work early." Mark shrugs, he looks up towards the sky as though he's in thought before back at her, "Some amazing person helped me solve a case so there wasn't much left for me to do. Shall we?"

Their hands intertwine with each other as the pair walk through the streets towards the diner Mark spoke of earlier that day. Lola glances around the bustling diner, music blaring through the speakers, "You've been here before."

Mark nods, "Once or twice." He straightens up slightly as he notices a brunette waitress from afar, his raises his hand to get her attention which works as she walks over to the pair straight away, "It's still quite new."

"So, you've finally decided to come out of hiding, huh?" The waitress teases towards Mark, making Lola look between the pair confused, "Do you want your regular table?"

"You give me that regular table because it's on the verge of breaking apart." Mark quips back, "Seriously, it's only been open a few months and already it's going to shit."

The waitresses attention goes towards Lola, her mouth twitches up in a smirk, "You must be the distraction." She receives a stern glare from Mark which makes the brunette laugh, raising her hands up in surrender before she grabs a couple menus and gestures for the couple to follow her, "All right, I'll keep my mouth shut. And don't just think because you're my brother you'll be getting any discounts. I expect extra tips."

Lola's mouth is gaped open as she slides into the booth and watches the waitress walk away, "Your sister?" She looks over to Mark sitting opposite her, stunned, "Why didn't you tell me that the place we were going to is where your sister works?"

"I didn't think it mattered that Julia works here." Mark's brows knit together slightly, his hand reaches out over to Lola on the table, "This is okay, right?"

"All right, wanna know the specials?" Julia walks back over to the couple, looking down at the notepad in her hand as she starts to read out the specials, "So, we've got-"

A conversation on a nearby table piques Lola's interest as she begins to listen in, "They've got Dean and he ain't coming out of that hellhole." The guy looks young, early twenties with a dark brown shaggy hairstyle, "They wouldn't have figured it out all on their own, they're cops not geniuses."

Another guys voice comes into a play, someone of similar age with a buzzcut, "You saying there's a rat?"

"Don't you find it strange that from the second we came in here the cops have been hot on our ass?" The dark brown haired guy looks over to a young waitress who is standing behind the bar. She unties her apron, leaving it on the side before she steps out back, "I think I know who it is too."

"Adrianna?" Buzzcut's tone is shocked at his friend's conspiracy before he laughs, "No way, she doesn't have anything to gain from this."

"You're on first name basis with her?" The other one scoffs, "You do realise she's damaged goods, right? No point in bringing a whore like her home to mommy to approve. I didn't realise you were both so close."

The latter guy rolls his eyes before he stands up from his seat, glaring down at the brunette, "Maybe it's because I didn't force myself on her unlike you asshole."

"Lola." Mark's voice breaks Lola out of her eavesdropping, she shakes her head a little before her attention goes back to a concerned looking Mark, "Are you okay?"

"Sorry," Lola smiles politely, clearing her throat, "I'm fine. Where are the restrooms?"

Julia points towards some nearby doors with the pen in her hand, "Just through those double doors."

Walking straight past the door to the restroom, Lola finds the back door exit which she escapes out of. The cooled summer's night air hits her chest as though she's now finally able to breathe. She steps down the few stairs into the alleyway, resting one hand against the brick wall, taking short deep breaths.

"Julia got you good, huh?"

Lola whips around to see the young waitress that the two guys were talking about, Lola's brows knit together, narrowing her stare towards the waitress, "What?"

The young girl laughs, she's sat on the hood of a car with her legs crossed, a large book in her lap which she slams shut before gesturing over back to the diner, "She can be really suffocating sometimes. Figured that's why you ran out here all in a panic."

"Right." Lola smiles to herself, laughing breathlessly, "I, uh, have you met her brother before?"

"Mark?" The girl nods as she slides off the car hood, "A couple times, he seems really nice." A teasing grin appears on her lips, stepping closer towards Lola, "You're the girl he is always talking about, aren't you?"

"He even talks about me to all of you?" Lola scoffs, rolling her eyes before she begins to pace, "Fantastic."

"Oh, I get it." She places the book back onto the car hood, before pointing towards where Lola stands, "You were just in it for a bit of fun? Commitment issues, huh?"

Lola's brows shoot up in surprise at the girl's presumption before laughing when she notices the book the girl was reading, "Psychology, huh? Must have a pretty big brain if you're studying that."

The girl rolls her eyes, crossing her arms against her chest, "Technically, I'm not. I got this from the local library. If I could be in college studying this I definitely wouldn't working here every hour they'll give me." She shrugs, looking down at the ground, kicking dried dirt, "Maybe one day I'll have enough money to go to some fancy college and learn this sorta stuff properly."

"Adrianna," The brunette guy sings out as he appears out of the shadows, wearing a calculated grin, "If I knew you were gonna be sitting out here I'd have came before now."

"Screw you, Justin." Adrianna seethes, her eyes darken with anger towards the guy, "You got your burger yet? Hopefully not because it will give me a chance to poison it before I shove it down your throat."

Justin grunts amused but stays silent until he looks over Adrianna's shoulder to see Lola cautiously stepping closer to the waitress, "Who's your friend? Are you just as easy as this little slut?"

Lola's face is blank, staring over to Justin before she laughs dryly, "Justin, right?" Lola's grip wraps around Justin's neck, harshly pushing him against the concrete wall behind him, "Maybe if you gave yourself a haircut then more oxygen would flow into your brain which would create more brain cells. Why don't you just run to whatever hole you came out of and stay there until you realise you aren't shit." Lola steps closer to him, her grip tightens making Justin gasp out for breath, "Women don't stay silent forever." Lola punches him across the face, causing Justin to pass out immediately. Lola lets go of him, she watches as his body slumps onto the cold hard concrete floor before straightening her clothes, she scoffs, "What a dick." She looks over to Adrianna who's eyes are wide, staring over to Lola horrified and yet grateful for what she done. Lola smiles awkwardly, walking past Adrianna back towards the steps leading to the diner, "Excuse me."

End of flashback.

Adrianna stands in the hallway, her and Nate watch through the window looking into the room where Lola lays speaking to Scott. Both of them are laughing and joking along with each other, as though they forget where they are. Adrianna has a sad look in her eyes, reliving that night when they first met, "She hates it whenever I bring this up and will disagree every time but Lola saved my life the day she walked into that diner. I wouldn't be here without her."

Nate wraps his arm around Adrianna's waist, pressing a soft kiss against her temple as Adrianna continues, "I don't think anyone will ever understand the bond that we share. I mean, she's been through literal hell with me and never left my side. Lola was with me when I was at my lowest and she's literally saved my life." Adrianna's vision becomes blurry with glossy eyes as she smiles watching as Scott messes on in the room making Lola laugh, "But, she's also been there for me when I've been so happy. It's thanks to Lola that I was able to get away from Chicago then went to L.A. to go to college and study psychology." Adrianna laughs, she wipes away a few fallen tears off her cheeks, "She was there for me throughout all of that then she was sitting right at the front of my graduation, being the only one standing up with her bright smile and cheering so loud for me as I got my diploma."

Nate breaks away from Adrianna, his back rests against the window as he looks at Adrianna with nothing but love in his eyes, "I didn't know about that."

"That is why I call her my best friend because although we have rare bumps in the road, I know we will always have each other's back." Adrianna sighs, her stare hasn't left Lola and Scott, "That's why I need you to call Nikita."

Nate frowns as he stands up straight, glancing between Lola in the room and Adrianna, "But don't they both have history? I doubt Lola-"

"I don't believe anything that the doctor has told us about Lola's condition," Adrianna cuts Nate off, she looks up at him with a pleading look in her eyes, "I know you don't either, none of us do. We need Nikita to either agree with us or agree with the doctor. I'm not letting Lola leave this hospital until we've heard what Nikita thinks."

—✤—

Lola frowns as she begins to wake, not even realising she fell asleep. She can hear shuffling around in the room, she slowly opens her eyes to see Scott standing at the side of the bed, holding the ultrasound wand, "What are you doing?"

Scott jumps, not realising Lola was awake, "I uh," He looks over to the ultrasound wand in his hand before he stops it, he straightens his shirt and flashes an innocent smile towards Lola, "I'm letting the intrusive thoughts take over."

"Where's Ade?"

"Ade has gone to get you something to drink and Nate got a phone call."

"From who?" Lola's confusion builds, and builds even more when she notices a strange look on Scott's face as though he's hiding something, "He only has four friends, two of whom are in this room, one of them is in the hallway with him and the other is in the bayou." Before Scott can respond, Nate walks back into the room as he places his phone into his back pocket, Adrianna soon following him, "Who have you been on the phone to?"

Nate shrugs, "A friend."

"You don't have any other friends apart from us in this very room and Hayley." Lola teases, "Was it Hayley you were on the phone to?"

Nate glances towards Adrianna and then to Scott, his expression is sheepish as he laughs awkwardly, "No, it was an old friend."

"An old friend? Who-" Lola's teasing tone changes instantly, her shoulders slump as she glares over to Nate, "Wait. You didn't."

Nate purses his lips, looking anywhere in the room apart from at Lola, "I didn't what?"

"You called Nikita, didn't you?" Lola assumes correctly, Nate's eyes widening makes her realise she's right. Lola scoffs as she sits up slightly in the bed, "Oh, you are so lucky I'm attached to things or I'd be ringing your neck. Please don't tell me that she's on her way here."

"Well, she's-" Nate begins to laugh nervously, he looks over to Adrianna mentally asking her to help him out which she ignores making Nate sigh, "She's in the lobby...on her way up."

"Nate, what the hell!" Lola scolds, throwing her hands up.

"Look, she is the best neo-natal doctor there is!" Nate pulls a face of disgust, gesturing towards the door leading out into the main part of the hospital, "I don't trust anything that Doctor Dickfuck-"

"Dickson."

Nate scoffs shaking his head, "I don't trust anything he's said about your condition. Neither does Adrianna."

Lola's brows shoot up in surprise as she looks over to Adrianna who grimaces towards her best friend, "It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion, Lo. It's safe to say that Nikita has a lot more experience than Dickson."

Scott glances between the trio, feeling absolutely clueless, "Am I supposed to know who this woman is?"

Lola's brows knit together as she cringes to herself, "I haven't seen her since-"

"'92." Adrianna finishes Lola's sentence, her lips form a thin line, "When you killed her boyfriend."

Lola scoffs rolling her eyes, "It was Damon that killed him, not me!"

"Because you dared him!" Adrianna snaps back, looking unimpressed.

Lola laughs in a cocky manner, "That is such bullshit!"

Her eyes widen as everyone's attention goes towards the door when a young, beautiful brunette woman walks in, wearing a tight pencil skirt, nude satin shirt tucked in with large black heels and a white hospital coat over her clothes. She smirks towards Lola laying in the bed, "This feels like a very chaotic reunion," Nikita raises a brow towards Scott standing in the corner who's jaw has practically hit the floor, "With an addition."

"Nikita, this is Scott." Nate gestures towards the curly haired vampire, "Scott, this is an old friend of ours; Nikita."

"Don't say old." Nikita scoffs, she easily twists her hair round in her hand, pinning it back as she steps closer to the bed Lola resides in, "Lola Salvatore, this is definitely the last thing I'd expect that would happen to you."

"You know me, I'm always full of surprises." Lola grimaces as she awkwardly shrugs, she narrows her stare over to the brunette vampire, "Do I even want to know how you got here so quick?"

Nikita shrugs as she takes Lola's notes from the end of the bed, "Lucky for you I was already in New Orleans at a different hospital."

"This doctor is claiming that Lola may have preeclampsia, but he hasn't done any proper testing." Nate explains, standing beside Nikita as she reads through the notes, "A routine blood test and an ultrasound; we've been here over six hours and we've had nothing back from him."

Nikita's brows pull together, not being able to make any sense from the notes taken by Doctor Dickson. She puts them to the side before sanitising her hands, "What are your symptoms?"

"I keep getting shooting pains now and then." Lola frowns a little, still feeling discomfort, "It's like a tight feeling against my stomach."

"She also keeps getting headaches and has threw up a couple times today." Adrianna adds, "We'll give you some privacy."

Nikita watches as the other three step outside before turning her attention back to Lola, "May I?"

Nikita gestures towards Lola's stomach, making Lola nod. There's an awkward silence in the room as Nikita feels Lola's stomach. Lola clears her throat, "So," She drawls out, "What's new with you?"

"Opened up my own practice." Nikita removes the maroon coloured stethoscope from around her neck, placing it against Lola's chest, "Deep breath. This is why I was in New Orleans because we're expanding and opening up a few different practices across the country." She removes the stethoscope, taking out a small light and points it towards Lola, "Look towards me."

Lola follows Nikita's instructions before raising a brow over to her, "We?"

"Me and my wife, Lucinda." Nikita has a warm smile gracing her lips, she places a pillow under Lola's arm as she continues, "Met at a conference in the late nineties and it's been happily ever after ever since." She removes a blood pressure cuff from a nearby draw, placing it around Lola's arm and begins to pump it up, "You're gonna feel some discomfort but it's just checking your blood pressure."

"Your wife." Lola breathes out, surprised, "That was a turn of events that I wasn't expecting. About the last time we seen each other, you know when your boyfriend died."

"Who, Andrew?" Nikita scoffs, ripping the latex gloves off, "Oh, I'm glad you killed him."

"I didn't-" Lola is about to start a tangent about what she only spoke about a few minutes earlier with Adrianna until she frowns, realising what Nikita said, "You what?"

Nikita laughs, ripping up previous notes and begins writing her own, "He was a dick."

"What are you doing here?" Doctor Dickson storms in, glaring over to Nikita with the other three soon following him in, "This is my patient."

"Doctor Dickson?" Nikita questions, receiving just a grunt from the doctor, "My name is Nikita Ramirez and I'm taking over Miss Salvatore, giving her the proper treatment she needs because you're incapable of doing so."

"You can't do that." He laughs spitefully, as he shakes his head, "You're not a doctor of this hospital."

"A doctor of this hospital has misdiagnosed a patient." Nikita snaps back, she holds up the notes in her hand, "You've put on the notes that Miss Salvatore is showing signs of preeclampsia which is incorrect. The true diagnosis is braxton hicks and exhaustion." She purses her lips, stepping closer to the grey haired doctor, "I wonder, Doctor Dickson, what is the number of vodkas that you've ingested today alone?"

Dickson's eyes widen towards Nikita making her smile in a satisfied way, "You don't even know, do you? Might I suggest that you take yourself to the head of this hospital and hand in your resignation effective immediately before I go there myself and expose you for the bone-idol, alcoholic low life that you are." Nikita turns around, stepping back towards an impressed looking Lola. She looks over her shoulder to see Dickson standing there in shock which is when she gestures her hand to shoo him away, "Be quick about it or I'll tell the chief how you failed your boards and bribed yourself into a job."

Lola laughs, shocked when the doctor rushes out of the room slamming the door behind himself before looking up at Nikita, "You're able to tell that's what wrong without any sort of testing?"

"Braxton hicks can be very common, being a doctor for over forty years it's easy to spot something like that." She smiles genuinely down at Lola, "It's nothing to worry about, it will ease in time. But, you need to take it easy. Plenty of fluids and bed rest for at least the next few weeks. I can come do another check on you in a few weeks to see how you're doing but I'm pretty confident that you'll be fine after some rest." She begins to remove the IV drip out of Lola's arm, a playful side eye towards Lola, "Then you'll be back to killing assholes in no time."

"Thank you, Nikita. I really appreciate it. So, I can go home?" Lola questions, in a hopeful tone and smiles when Nikita nods in response. She bandages up Lola's arm from where the drip was before taking her hand and helping her out of the bed before Lola smirks over to her, "And for the record, it was Damon that killed Andrew, not me."

—✤—

"You've only been discharged from the hospital for ten minutes and already you're back to your stubborn self and ignoring everything Nikita has told you!" Adrianna scolds as she follows Lola walking towards St Anne's church, she scoffs, "Lola, you need to take it easy!"

Lola stops in her step, she turns around with a pleading look in her eyes, "I promise you after I've been here, I'll relax. Cami called and said Davina is back from the dead!" She turns on her heel and continues to walk, "I need to make sure she's okay so you can come with me or not but you're not stopping me, Ade."

Adrianna rolls her eyes, deciding to stay quiet and not bothering getting into an argument she knows she'll lose and follows Lola towards the church. Cami steps out just as they approach it, smiling over to the pair, "Marcel has just left, thought it's probably best he isn't here when you are. She's up in the attic."

Lola takes hold of Cami's hand, giving her a squeeze, "Thank you so much for this, Cami." Lola stops when she hears Adrianna's phone ringing behind her, "You coming or answering that?"

Adrianna glances down at the caller ID before smiling innocently over to Lola, "I'll just wait out here and take this."

Lola nods, leaving both Adrianna and Cami standing inside before she steps in and heads straight up to the attic. She stands in the doorway of the attic to see a frail looking Davina sat on the bed with her knees up to her chest. Lola knocks softly against the door making Davina flinch, Lola raises her hands up in surrender, "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Davina shakes her head, pushing herself back on the bed, "No, you want something. You're going to use me just like everyone else does! You need to leave!"

Lola frowns, stepping further into the room, "I don't want anything from you Davina, that's not why I'm here." She sits on the edge of the bed, placing her hand over Davina's, "I wouldn't have been able to relax until I seen you for myself and to make sure you were okay."

Davina's eyes turn glossy, her entire body is trembling, "Really?"

"Cami called." Lola's voice is low, and calm, "Are you okay?"

Davina breathes out, as though she had been holding her breath all this time. She unfolds her legs against her chest, moving closer towards Lola before pulling her in a hug and let's her terrified tears fall, "I'm scared."

Lola holds Davina tighter against herself when she frowns, "What happened over there?"

"The ancestors are so mad at me, Lola." Davina sniffles as she pulls away from the embrace, "They warned me what would happen if I misuse my magic again. They don't want me to speak to you anymore. But you were so nice to me, I don't know if I can trust anyone else."

"You trust me?" Lola questions, her heart sinks to see the frail looking Davina before her, who nods slightly. Lola sighs, taking hold of Davina's hand and smiles sincerely towards her, "I won't let them hurt you again, Davina. I promise you."

Lola stays in the room with Davina for a little longer, she waits until Davina eventually falls asleep before she quietly leaves. Her breath gets stuck in the back of her throat before a deep sigh of relief escapes when she looks over to where Adrianna is standing, "Bekah."

Rebekah looks over to Lola, wearing the same sorrow look as Lola before she smiles, "I wanted to apologise to you before I leave."

Lola rushes over to Rebekah, pulling her in a tight embrace, "You don't have to apologise to me, Bex. I'm not angry about it anymore." Lola frowns as she pulls away from her, "Leave? What happened to us girls sticking together?"

Rebekah smiles sadly, shrugging her shoulders, "Well, Nik and I came to a sort of all-or-nothing arrangement. I leave town for good, and he allows me to." Rebekah takes hold of Lola's hands, "Can't pass that up."

"He's forcing you to leave?" Lola can feel heat rushing to her face as frustration towards Klaus builds up, "Forever?"

"Don't turn against him for this, Lola. You know this is what I've wanted all along, to create a life for myself." Pools of tears form in Rebekah's eyes, "Promise me you'll look after yourself."

Lola laughs sadly, looking over Rebekah's shoulder to Adrianna, "Ade told you about today, huh?" Her hands tighten around Rebekah's as though this is the way to stop Lola from falling apart, "You're okay with this arrangement?"

"I'm free, Lola." Rebekah laughs softly, wiping stray tears from her cheeks, "You know Nik is a tricky one to figure out. But we both know he wants more from life than just to be feared. He's just too broken to find it himself, but I do believe there is hope for him in the baby that you carry and yourself. And speaking of the baby, our family has no shortage of enemies, she will inherit them. Please, be careful."

Lola nods, she sniffles looking down at the ground before her eyes sparkle with a hint of tease, "I've just figured out a spell where I can visit you without him knowing. You know how we've both had a few secrets from Nik in the past."

Rebekah smiles sadly, "Well, if you can't visit with that spell or I can't visit; make sure you tell that little girl all the stories about her crazy Auntie Bex." Rebekah swallows harshly, her hand softly places against Lola's stomach, "And let her know, despite my absence, I do love her very much; just as much as I love you."

Lola doesn't even bother to control her tears as they start to fall, she pulls Rebekah into another embrace, exhaling deeply, "I love you so much, Bex."

—✤—

Klaus stands in the compound as he watches all the vampires leave after Elijah's orders. There's a pit in his stomach that saddens him about Rebekah's departure, already missing his sister dearly. With a deep breath he walks into his and Lola's bedroom where she lays in the bed with an opened up package on the bed. Lola glances up at him for less than a second with no expression on her face before her attention goes back to the book in her hand.

Klaus sighs, closing the door behind himself, "Are we in a fight?"

Lola shrugs, her eyes not leaving the book, "Should we be in a fight?"

"Well, I had assumed it was possible after I've allowed Rebekah to leave this city." Klaus smiles to himself, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I was waiting for your trusted forks or something like that for when I returned home."

"Rebekah seemed happier than she has been in months when she told me she was leaving. I won't lie to say that it's not made me feel a little empty that the girl who has been my sister for over a hundred years is apart from me once again. But, if Rebekah is happy about this then so am I." Lola looks over to him, once again showing no emotion as she shrugs, "Plus, I have a headache and don't feel like arguing right now."

"So, we are in a fight." Klaus rolls his eyes at Lola's monotone voice, he stands up from the bed, "And you're mad at me."

Lola shakes her head, pursing her lips, "I never said I was mad, don't tell me how I'm feeling."

"Might I suggest you tell me how you are feeling then?" Klaus retorts, his tone is impatient before he scoffs, "Because the air is thick with hostility and it has been from the moment I walked in here."

Lola frowns, looking over to Klaus unimpressed, "You created this hostility all on your own because the minute you walked in here, you assumed we were in a fight when I haven't seen you in over twenty four hours then decided to assume how I was feeling."

"This is ridiculous." Klaus mumbles under his breath, turning his back on Lola until he can hear her laughing behind him, "Something amusing?"

"Allowing Rebekah to leave the city." Lola repeats his words in a spiteful way as she shakes her head before slapping the book in her hand shut, glaring up at him, "Something needs to bring you back down to the ground because this ego you have going on right now is suffocating. Do you really wanna know what I'm feeling right now?" She sits forward in the bed, eyes turn glossy when her voice breaks, "Pain. Just for one minute am I allowed to be upset that one of the people closest to me has left? Because you forced her to leave!"

"Are we really going to start this again?" Klaus throws his hands up, irritation building up instantly, "Do I need to remind you that you were almost killed because of what she planned!"

"Rebekah didn't just summon Mikael for the fun of it, Nik!" Lola argues, "All of the pain, the manipulation, the controlling behaviour that you threw on her drove Rebekah to that!" She raises her voice until she pauses for a moment, calming herself down, "You can't just ruin other people's happiness because of your fear. That night happened because of your actions so don't you dare blame it on Rebekah! It was on you."

Klaus pauses, taking in Lola's words. His breathing becomes ragged, staring at her with wide eyes, "Yesterday you said to me that I've never been the reason for any danger that you've been in. That was all just a lie, wasn't it?"

Lola's eyes dart to his pillow beside her, "Lift the pillow up."

"Why?" Klaus frowns glancing between the pillow and Lola, "Do you wish that I hand it over to you so you can use it to suffocate me?"

"Lift it up." Lola says through gritted teeth. She waits until Klaus finally gives in, harshly grabbing the pillow. His annoyed stature turns stiff, the colour drains from his face as he looks at the ultrasound photograph that was underneath it. Lola clears her throat and watches when Klaus picks it up, staring down at it in awe, "I had a lot of time to think today as I laid in a hospital bed, staring at that picture of our child." 

Klaus' brows knit together, looking shocked towards his love when she shrugs, "You have put me in danger. Is that what you want me to say to you? Do you want me to say that there's a part of me that is terrified for our child to come into this world and have the possibility that you'll put her in danger as well? That I'll put her in danger? Because I am." Her breath catches in the back of her throat, making her breathing shaky, "I've never been more terrified about something in my life. Every single action that we do has a consequence. And I don't know how much more of this I can survive."

"What are you saying?"

Lola sighs, staring out in front of her, "I was sat in the hospital today, so scared about the possible danger our daughter could have been in and I couldn't control any of it."

"And was she?" Klaus sits on the edge of the bed, his hand moves across the bed towards where Lola sits, "Were either of you?"

"No." Lola shakes her head, she looks at his head reaching out for her but she doesn't intertwine hers with his, "It's just discomfort that comes and goes but with rest it will ease. Though, I couldn't control that type of danger, I'll refuse to accept I can't at least try to control other danger. I am not going to bring our daughter into this world when there is danger hidden around every corner because of enemies we have created." She turns in the bed, her back is to Klaus as she sits on the edge of the bed, "I spent a lot of time going back and forth with what I wanted but I've made up my mind."

Klaus stands up immediately, walking to Lola's side of the bed, "Lola..."

"This war going on in New Orleans is never going to stop and I can't stay here any longer." She admits, stray tears fall down her cheeks as she stares at the ground, "It's not good for me and it's especially not good for our daughter. I think we need some space because this," Lola looks up at Klaus standing in front of her, she gestures between the both of them, "Is a ticking time bomb right now, Nik. One day it's going to go off and it will end badly."

"No." Klaus shakes his head, he kneels in front of Lola, his hand places against Lola's knee, "Don't say that."

Lola's eyes are dark with sorrow, her brows knit together, "I'm just saying what we've both been afraid to say ever since we came back here. I'm terrified that one of us isn't going to survive this war. I need to be selfish and think about what I think is best and this is it. There are people in this town who want you, me and our baby dead. What kind of parents are we if we bring our daughter up in a town where people have hated her before she was even born!"

"I won't let anything happen to you or our daughter. I promise you." Klaus lowers his head to meet Lola's pained gaze, "Lola, please don't leave me. I'll do anything. I'll step back. If that's what you want me to do then I will."

"What?" Lola scoffs, shaking her head, "So then you can blame me later on down the road that I was the reason for you stepping back? I'm not going to be the one responsible for you not being happy. We both know the only way you'll truly be happy is if you make this town one hundred percent yours and have everyone on your side."

"Not anymore."

"You say that now but tomorrow, the day after or a week from now you'll be right back to taking over this town. I think the only thing that would be best right now is space." Lola pushes Klaus' hand off her, she stands up from the bed stepping away from him, "I've been speaking to Caroline and she's going to organise all the travel for me to go back to Mystic Falls for a while. It will only be for a few weeks but I think-"

"You're not going back there." Klaus orders as he stands up properly, Lola turns to face him, frowning when his jaw tightens, "If you go back there then that means it's done between us both. Because your brothers will make it their mission to make sure I never get to see you or my child again!"

"Your child?" Lola echoes his words, she breathes them out in shock. Klaus closes his eyes instantly regretting how he worded it. His mouth is gape as he steps closer but Lola steps backwards, holding her hands up, "Don't even bother, I heard you loud and clear." She walks over to the dresser, taking her phone before dialling the first number, "Hey, it's me. Are you okay to help me grab a few things and head over to your place? See you soon." She hangs up, throwing the phone onto their bed, "I'm gonna stay with Adrianna for a few days."

"Please, don't go." Klaus pleads, Lola refuses to look at him as she tries to step away from him but Klaus softly holds her arms to stop Lola from moving, "Stay here with me."

Lola' s tear stained cheeks turn up in a sad smile when her hands go against his cheeks, "I love you so much." She closes her eyes, resting her forehead against his, "I really do and I am always going to love you, Nik. If you love me as much as I love you then you'll let me do this." She exhales a deep breath as she breaks away from him, "I just need some time. I need to be in a relaxing environment and it's impossible to feel even a faction of relaxation in this compound."

—✤—

"Here." Adrianna's voice breaks Lola out of her thoughts, she looks up to see Adrianna walk further into the room passing Lola a hot chocolate, "Just like the hot chocolate I would make you in the diner." She sighs as she climbs into the bed beside Lola, getting under the covers with her, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Lola practically whispers as she looks down at the hot chocolate, her fingers moves one of the marshmallows around before she wears a guilty expression towards Adrianna, "I'm sorry I've brought you into this mess."

Adrianna shakes her head, she sits back and rests her head against the headboard, "You don't ever have to apologise to me, Lo." She sits up, and turns to face Lola properly, "Sometimes I don't think I can describe in words how much our friendship means to me. Even when you are going through a lot in your life, continuing to pave your own way for yourself, you still always make time to talk with me and keep me involved in your life. Even if there are some days we don't talk as much and you need time to yourself, just like I do too; I know that you'll always be there for me. And I'm always going to be here for you too."

"Nobody has consistently made the effort to keep me around in their life as much as you have." Lola smiles, looking down at their intertwines hands, "And you will never know how much that means to me, knowing I'm important enough to be in your life even as you move further with yours." Lola's glossy eyes meet Adrianna's, "I hope you know that and how our friendship will always mean something to me, no matter what happens."

Adrianna laughs breathlessly, wiping her tears away, "I think I have sympathy hormones." She pulls Lola into a warm embrace, "I love you so much."

Lola smiles to herself, relaxing in Adrianna's hold, "I love you too."

Adrianna pulls away from the hug, she smiles down at Lola's bump, placing her hand against it, "I hope this little girl realises how much I love her as well."

The pair both gasp when they feel the baby kick against Lola's stomach, "She loves her Auntie Adrianna just as much."

Their happiness is short lived when there are an array of loud knocks against the front door, "Adrianna!"

Adrianna rolls her eyes at Klaus' booming voice from the other side of the door, "I'll ignore him."

Lola closes her eyes for a moment before she sighs, "He won't leave." She begins to climb out of the bed when the knocking continues, "I'll go-"

"No." Adrianna holds Lola's arm to stop her from moving. She smiles at her best friend when she climbs out of the bed, "You've came here for a break, that's what you're getting. I'll sort this."

Adrianna opens up the door to see a clearly agitated Klaus as he looks past Adrianna into the apartment, "Where is she? I need to speak with her."

Klaus attempts to step into the apartment but Adrianna moves, she closes the door a little as she wears a stern expression, "No, you need to give Lola some time. You're not coming in here."

Klaus steps back, looking amused towards the redheaded vampire, "Do you really think it wise to try and keep me away from her?"

"Lay a hand on me and Lola will never forgive you." Adrianna bluntly quips back as she shrugs her shoulders. Klaus rolls his eyes looking down the hallway when Adrianna sighs, "Klaus, you need to just give her this space."

Klaus scoffs, his agitated manner is replaced with anger, "And allow for others to poison Lola's mind on why she shouldn't be with me?"

"Who said anything about Lola leaving you!?" Adrianna raises her voice just as loud as he does, "She's not! Are you really going to stand there and accuse me of doing that? Stop letting your paranoia take over!" Klaus' jaw tightens as he glares at Adrianna, "One month from now Lola is going to be in the last month of her pregnancy, she needs to be in a calm environment. You can't blame her for wanting to get away from the compound and all the drama that comes from there when she is as stressed and exhausted as she already is." Adrianna's eyes soften towards the hybrid, "I'm not going to let anything happen to her, just like I know you won't. We both want what's best for her and this is it, Klaus. It's just temporary until she feels stronger."

Klaus' angry manner stays for a second before it disappears. He bows his head, taking in Adrianna's words and realising the truth in her words. He sighs, looking back at her with a helpless look in his eyes, "Just tell her that I love and miss her."

—✤—


this chapter was all set to publish last night but then wanted to add the part of lola and davina and then the ending in before i published, stan adrianna always and forever

oops 14K words...

guys...

there are only six chapters left of season one, ahh! also only four chapters left until the start of the finale for season one plus a certain special salvatore will be arriving in new orleans then too...

the excitement i have is literally no joke and the excitement i have to start the next chapter is unmatched

holly x