Wheel Inside the Wheel
Part I

Flashback, Salvatore Crypt — 36 hours ago:

Nothing goes away until it has taught you what you need to know. Even if we run one hundred miles an hour to the other side of the world..we find the same problem waiting for us. Stefan was tired of running.

He tried to create a new life for himself in Savannah but it still had him back in Virginia right where he started; in the middle of vampire chaos. Enzo turned Stefan's girlfriend Ivy into a vampire, the Salvatore brought her to Whitmore in the hopes of him leaving her there with Caroline so he could start fresh once again. And yet as he walks through the cemetery, it was an odd feeling of coming full circle.

The most harrowing feeling is when you look around and you have no shoulder to lean on. There was a time in the youngest Salvatore's life where he was lucky to have two shoulders to lean on when needed. Both Lola and Damon would always be there for him as they grew up, almost like parental figures to him. However as Lola carries on with no emotions and Damon being gone, Stefan was lost.

As Stefan steps into the Salvatore crypt holding onto a bottle of bourbon, he's surrounded by family members and yet feels more alone than ever before. He exhales a long breath, "Yep..this is happening. I'm gonna talk out loud to a crypt filled with my dead family." His eyes soften, a wave of sadness overcomes him, "All except you, Damon. Because wherever you are..it's not here."

"Lola too, of course. She may be alive but she's not exactly well." Stefan laughs bitterly, taking a seat on a small bench within the crypt, "Wanna know what's funny? Even Klaus is struggling to bring Lola's emotions back." The smallest pinch of amusement on Stefan's face drops, and a feeling of sorrow overwhelms him, "I hate that I can literally hear you saying you'd know just what to do to bring our sister back."

"I gotta say.." Stefan stares out in front of himself, vision beginning to go blurry as his eyes sting with tears, "I'm not doing so great without you. I keep trying to start over, but..I can't get anywhere. Because I'm lost, brother." His voice trembles, staring down at the bottle of bourbon in his hands, "I'm lost."

Stefan was tired of making it look like he didn't care about Damon's death and that he moved on from it. The longer he stays sitting in this crypt, the more frustrated he gets with the reminder he's alone. His grip tightens around the almost empty bottle of bourbon with a feeling that if he throws this across the crypt he'd find a small ounce of satisfaction from it.

Quickly coming to his feet, tears falling down his cheeks and his grip around the neck of the bottle so tight he aims it towards the back wall of the crypt. He expects to hear the sounds of shattering glass, but he doesn't.

Stefan's eyes are bloodshot and wide, in complete bewilderment at Damon standing before him, catching the bottle of bourbon with ease. Damon looks unfazed, glancing between the bottle in his hands and a stunned Stefan, "So what? Gone a couple of months, you think it's okay to waste a perfectly good bottle of bourbon?"

The dazed look on Stefan's face doesn't fade. You could hear a pin drop between both brothers it was so quiet as Stefan watched Damon bring the bourbon to his parted lips, "Damon?"

"Yep." The infamous Salvatore smirk twitches at the corner of Damon's lips, "In the flesh."

There was a moment where Stefan was doubting that his brother stood right in front of him. The youngest Salvatore is holding his breath, not daring to blink in case Damon disappears when he does so, "How am I seeing you right now?"

The smirk against Damon's lips fades, a more serious expression bestowed on his face, "Because I'm not dead, Stefan." Damon holds up the bourbon as he chuckles softly, "I mean this stuff's good, but it's not I see dead people good."

The oldest Salvatore cautiously steps closer to his younger brother, "It's a hell of a long story, brother, but..I'm back." Damon's eyes gloss over as he smiles, "I'm back."

It still felt like some illusion to Stefan that Damon was alive and right in front of him. He slowly brings a shaky hand to Damon's shoulder, thinking that if it was an illusion his hand would go straight through Damon. The dark haired Salvatore watches, nodding in affirmation towards Stefan.

More tears fall down Stefan's face, smiling widely when he pulls Damon into a right embrace. In that moment both Salvatore's felt more relaxed and at peace than they have in months, it felt like things were starting to go back to how they were.

Damon wraps his arms around Stefan, tightening the embrace, "I'm back, Stefan." Stefan tightly shuts his eyes, crying out even more.

They both remain in this comfortable silence, feeling at peace being reunited until Damon pulls away from Stefan, his hands going against his younger brother's shoulders, "Is Lola okay? How's the baby?"

A shaky breath falls from Stefan's lips thinking of their sister. He wanted to tell Damon everything but what happened to Lola and Hope is a story that Damon should hear directly from Lola herself.

Stefan's brows pull inwards, his breath catching in the back of his throat to attempt to not make his voice sound shaky, "That's something you need to hear from Lola herself. I know you've just came back from wherever but feel like heading over to New Orleans? A lot of stuff has happened over there, brother."

—✤—

To say the last forty eight hours felt like a whirlwind to Damon would be an understatement. Forty eight hours ago he was trapped in a prison world with Bonnie and an infamous sociopath who had spent the last eighteen years trapped in the same prison world.

Now Damon walks through the hallways of the place Lola has called home, in the heart of New Orleans. It hasn't even been twelve hours since all Salvatore siblings were reunited and the happiness of them being together again was short lived now a new problem has came to light. Elijah was missing.

There will always be a small part of Damon that will never fully understand what it is about the Mikaelson family that has Lola always by their side no matter what. Perhaps that part of him is fuelled by jealousy that Lola has found a home with a family that isn't bound with her by blood, but in the end..he was happy for her. He just didn't often show that.

Despite the history that Damon may share with the Mikaelson family, he made a promise to himself that he wasn't going to let that make him and Lola drift apart anymore. He was proving this and would carry on proving this for as long as he needed to.

With dried sage in his grasp that Lola asked Damon to get, he heads straight to the room off the courtyard where Lola has remained since last night attempting anything she can to try and find some answers on Elijah's whereabouts.

The room was silent when Damon walked in, Lola stands in the far side of the room with her back to the door, chanting under her breath in front of a table covered in lit candles. Stefan sits on the nearby couch glancing through one of Cora's grimoires when he reaches his arm out, thrashing it around to catch his brother's attention.

Damon frowns down at where Stefan sits wearing a serious look on his face bringing his fingers to his lips before pointing over to where Lola is almost in a trance, being so focused on her spell. Damon scoffs, shaking his head ignoring Stefan when he steps closer to their sister, "Lo—"

The feeling of a hand against Lola's shoulder makes her gasp, jumping out of her almost trance-like stature. Without even giving herself a second to see whose hand was against her shoulder, she reaches her hand out throwing Damon across the room with magic.

Damon groans out when he collides with the wall on the opposite side of the room before he falls against the piano causing it to break beneath him. Lola's eyes are wide staring over to her brother in shock, hands cover her mouth, "Damon!"

The heretic glares over to him as he slowly starts to sit up, looking at his sister unimpressed, "What the hell are you doing, D!?"

"What am I doing!?" Damon echoes in an annoyed tone quickly coming to his feet storming towards Lola, "What are you doing!? You're the one who just threw me across the room!"

"Don't sneak up behind me when I'm in the middle of a spell!" Lola's shoulders slump turning round to face the table now with blood spilled across it and the small vial of Klaus' blood tipped over. She scoffs grabbing hold of the now empty vial, "You made me spill all the blood, jackass!"

Stefan sinks further into the couch, covering his face fully with the grimoire to hide the amusement all over his face, "Can we make it a regular thing that Lola throws you across a room? I know I'd benefit from it." The amusement stayed on Stefan's face until a flash catches his attention making his eyes widen as he sits forward, "Lola!"

Lola was too busy glaring at Damon who began storming over to her she didn't realise one of the candles had fallen, causing the drapes behind the table to set alight, "Shit!"

Lola rushes to the drapes using her magic to stop the fire from spreading even more before slowly turning around to face Damon with the same irritated look she tends to have around her older brother.

"Ooo-kay." Stefan drawls out coming to his feet, heading straight to the bar within the room, "Sorta regret coming along to this reunion right about now."

"Sorry for being a good brother and going out to get what you need!" Damon waves the bunch of dried sage in front of Lola who looks completely unfazed at his antics. That may have increased Damon's irritation but hearing laughter from his brother made the irritation even worse, "While Stefan just sits there not doing anything! Except being an annoying asshole and laughing. Care to share what's so amusing?"

"We didn't think you'd actually find some." Stefan chokes back even more laughter as he brings the glass of bourbon to his lips, "Lola doesn't need the sage, brother."

Both mouths of the older siblings are gaped towards Stefan. Lola narrows an annoyed glare towards him, "You were always the biggest snitch out of us all!" She then turns her attention back to Damon as she flashes an innocent smile, "Brother..I love you and I'm so happy you're here but.."

Damon's brows shoot up signalling Lola to continue which makes her laugh softly before she shrugs, "I'm trying to focus to try and push through everything Esther is blocking me with."

The oldest Salvatore's face twists with confusion, failing to see how any of this fits into place, "Okay..and..?"

"And.." Lola drawls out sounding more annoyed than she intended, "I can't do that when I have you constantly pacing behind me, telling me how Elena has done the worst thing possible by having Ric compel her memories of you away."

Damon sighs, looking away from his sister and a sorrow look covers his face. Lola takes hold of his hands, moving to the side to catch her brother's gaze, "Look, I get it. It sucks and we will talk more about it when I've figured this out. Okay?"

Damon rolls his eyes before snatching the half full glass of bourbon out of Stefan's hand, "Give me that."

"Lola!"

The sound of Klaus' booming voice practically shaking the compound's walls catches everyone's attention. Lola breathes out heavily before heading straight out of the room, "Both of you stay in here. This won't take long."

Just as Lola steps out into the courtyard she's greeted with a tense looking Hayley who quickly rushes down the stairs. Lola smiles towards the hybrid, eyes shining with concern towards her, "You okay, Hayls?"

Hayley breathes out a heavy breath laced with annoyance as her shoulders slump, "I don't know how you put up with his ego. Meet me in Rousseau's later? So we can figure out our own plan?"

The Salvatore's expression softens towards Hayley, clearly just as tense as her and Klaus regarding Elijah. Neither of them have said it out loud but it was clear there was some sort of pull between Hayley and Elijah, something Lola could understand by having the same kind of connection with Klaus.

Lola takes hold of Hayley's hand as she nods, "I'll see you there in a couple hours."

Lola remains in the middle of the courtyard after Hayley leaves, feeling like this is the first time she's been able to take everything in for herself. Lola's humanity has only been back less than twenty four hours and it felt like she hadn't had time to process everything flooding her mind.

The indescribable surge of happiness she felt being reunited with both of her brothers, the admiration and love she felt towards Klaus when he never gave up to bring her back. But then there's still the large hole inside of her making her feel empty, knowing Hope is somewhere in the world. It was an unbearable type of pain and she would never wish this type of aching feeling on anyone.

However just as she begins to calm herself from the harrowing feeling of emptiness, a wave of guilt pushes her to the ground. She hurt Elijah before her humanity was off and pressed the knife into his back even further without her emotions. She knew she wasn't a match against Esther's magic but Lola was still determined to do everything she could to bring him home.

A loud scream from upstairs brings Lola out of her thoughts. She holds back an eye roll knowing Klaus is up to his usual antics with a witch he dragged back here from the cauldron.

When she steps into the room where she knows Klaus is, she's greeted with the witch unconscious, forks imbedded into his hands to attach him to the chair and blood dripping down his neck.

Lola wears an unamused expression, glancing between the witch and a proud looking Klaus with blood splattered across his face, "You've been back less than five minutes and have caused Hayley storming out then leaving him practically dead and staining our floors."

"He's still alive," Klaus shrugs, kicking the witch's feet, "..barely. Poor chap couldn't handle the fun I was having."

The smug look on Klaus' face made it impossible for the faintest smirk twitch in the corner of Lola's lips to not appear. She stands behind the unconscious witch, grabbing a fist full of the blonde curls making his head arch back.

Klaus leans against the arm of the couch opposite Lola, watching her intently. She swipes her index fingers against the blood dripping from the witch's neck before closing her eyes and pressing her fingers against his temples. She begins to chant under her breath which causes the witch to gasp awake, eyes are wide when Lola's chanting intensifies.

The heretic tries to focus on reading the witch's thoughts, to see if there is any clear indication on what Esther's plan may be with Elijah. This witch was one of Esther's lackeys so he would've known even a small part of her plans. He screams out, pleading with Lola to stop as it feels like electricity is shooting through his veins.

The hybrid's brows knit with concern as he slowly comes to his feet, cautiously watching as Lola's chanting becomes faster and her hands start to shake. With a sharp gasp, a breathless Lola steps backwards from the now semi conscious witch. Hands grip the side of her face, eyes are scrunched shut when bright flashes flood her mind. She can hear a male's voice, not distinctive enough to know what he is saying, flashes of a muscular arm with a thick tattoo against it.

Klaus knew exactly what Lola had just experienced after his previous conversation with Elijah. He remains in the same place, cautiously watching Lola as she slowly opens her eyes regaining her focus. She glances towards the hybrid, shaking her head to indicate she couldn't get into the witch's thoughts regarding Esther.

As the witch becomes fully conscious, his eyes are wide looking around the room until his gaze is met with a smug looking Klaus standing in front of him, "What do you want from me?"

"Well it's quite simple, really.." Klaus shrugs, as he steps closer to the witch, "You tell us what my mother's plans are, you tell us where my brother is and we will let you go."

The witch flinches when Lola walks around him, now standing in front of him. He shakes his head glancing between the hybrid and the heretic, "I don't know anything."

"Oh, that's a lie.." Lola drawls out, arms crossing against her chest as she narrows a expressionless stare at him, "Zac, isn't it? It feels like you have hundreds of needles piercing through your skull, right?"

Zac harshly breathes in through gritted teeth as Lola tightly wraps her hand around his throat. Her eyes darken, "That will all end when you tell us what Esther has done with Elijah."

She glances down seeing the forks pierced through his hands, her hands wrap around both of them, twisting them around making Zac scream out.

"All you have to do is cooperate, young Zachery!" Klaus shouts out louder than Zac's screams.

A sinister grin is covering the hybrid's lips when Lola steps away from the witch making him breathe out. Darkened eyes following Lola across the room. Zac doesn't break his glare away from the heretic as she turns around in her spot to face him once more.

He begins to chant under his breath making Lola's face twist with discomfort, her hand clutching around her neck as though she's struggling to breathe. There was only seconds that Zac thought he may have had the upper hand until Lola stands up straight, no longer having the discomforted look on her face and instead a patronising look towards him.

"I'm a heretic, Zac." She leans against the table near Zac, picking up a hair pin off the table and twisting it round in her hand. The exact same hair pin she used to kill Thomas, "You'll have to do better than your little spells to hurt me."

Zac's eyes widen noticing what's in Lola's hands, the smirk twitching at the corner of her lips infuriates the witch even further, "Le démon sans visage."

"Lola. Leave the room." Klaus' eyes darken towards the witch as dark greys flash underneath his eyes, hands tightly clench into firsts understanding exactly what Zac has just said.

Lola glances to her side where an agitated Klaus stands who is about two seconds away from ripping the witch's head off. Just as Klaus takes a step towards the witch, Lola holds her hand out pressing it against Klaus' chest, "Not yet."

She hums in amusement stepping away from Klaus and circling around Zac, "The demon with no face." She repeats the witch's insult in English coming to a stop directly behind the witch and glancing over to Klaus as she grins, "That's a new nickname, isn't it?"

Klaus hums, hands going behind his back before taking a step closer, "I think it's wise we get some sort of diary to keep note of all these nicknames you're collecting, love. Perhaps you could ask Stefan where he gets his from."

The pair wear the same sinister grin, Lola walks around Zac, pressing one of the forks imbedded into his hand even further making him scream out, "Nice choice with the forks, by the way."

The hybrid can't help but chuckle as he shrugs watching Lola stand beside him, "Figured I take some tips from the one and only."

"Thomas was right about you." Zac harshly states through gritted teeth, eyes full of fury towards the unfazed heretic, "He said there would come a time when all that was left of you was the darkness you've so desperately tried to hide for the past century."

Tilting her head, Lola's lips purse up into the corner as she breathes out a humourless breath before she clicks her tongue, "So close.."

Zac's face twists with confusion, brows furrow towards the heretic, "What?"

"I was so close to letting you go." The words falling from Lola's lips were laced in a callous and patronising tone that matched with the sinister smile. She steps closer to Zac, without hesitation punching him with so much force the chair almost falls back.

Lola hated how quickly anger would overcast any other sort of emotion whenever Thomas was brought up into conversation. She had hoped after killing him in France, there wouldn't be any mention of him again. With a fist full of Zac's hair, she forces him to look at her, blood spilling from his nose, "When you arrive in hell..send Thomas my best."

Klaus' face was covered in a sadistic level of pride as he watches Lola slowly turning on her heel to face him, "We're not going to get anything useful out of him. He's all yours."

Zac's entire body trembles with fear watching as Lola leaves the room, slamming the door behind her making him flinch. His eyes slowly go towards where Klaus stands wearing a smug grin, "What are you going to do?"

"What I'm known for." Klaus' tone was deathly calm, pulling the sleeves of his shirt up, "Living up to my villain like nature and putting an end to worthless specs of dust like yourself. I did have the plan of making your death quick but then you decided, in a rather pathetic way, to insult my wife." His hand tightly grips around Zac's throat making the witch gasp out for breath. Klaus' eyes turn amber, the dark grey veins appear underneath, "It was especially foolish to do that in front of me."

Despite him being gone and knowing that there is no possibility he will ever come back, Lola couldn't figure out why anything regarding Thomas Wetherby made her change instantly. She could feel the happiest she's ever felt and then the second anything reminds her of him, all the happiness evaporates.

There was always one thing that would calm Lola's thoughts from the darkness that Thomas would cast over her..her daughter. Laying across her bed with eyes closed, Lola floods her mind with thoughts of Hope. Wondering what Rebekah is doing right now with her, if they're both happy..what stage of Hope's life is she up to. Can she laugh? Can she crawl? Smile?

There would always be a feeling emptiness that Lola would feel until she had Hope in her arms again. But there was comfort knowing that Hope was with Rebekah. It broke Lola that she wasn't there to witness new milestones or just being with her daughter but she knew how much Rebekah yearned for a family. There was no one else that Lola would've trusted more to be with her daughter.

Lola gets pulled out of her thoughts hearing the door to their bedroom opening, Klaus covered in blood stepping in. She props herself up on her elbows, watching as Klaus takes a rag wiping the blood against his face away before he smiles lovingly towards her.

The heretic matches the same smile but her eyes almost fatigue-like as she sits up on the edge of the bed, "There's something I want to talk to you about." Klaus drops the rag now covered in blood onto the dresser, listening intently, "Your mother. When she first took over Lenore's body and I was at the shop with her.."

"I'm already aware of this so called offering my mother is trying to push onto us all." Klaus swallows harshly before he sighs, "Wanting to put us all into bodies of mortals just like she's done with Kol and Finn. Would you do it? Would you accept that offer?"

"No." Lola answers quicker than she expected herself to do, almost like an instinct. She ponders on it as she comes to her feet, beginning to pace, "I don't think so. Esther was saying it could be a way to replace Hope. I'd like to think I have more motherly morals than her because nothing would be able to replace Hope. I'd also be back as a siphoner, not having my own magic."

She stops in her step, shrugging her shoulders when she flashes a soft smile in Klaus' direction, "I'd be weak so no. I wouldn't."

Lola would never admit it but there was hesitation in her answer, Klaus knew that. He believed deep down Lola would always class the idea of being mortal like a fantasy. She said she wanted to become a vampire again before she gave birth but she didn't want to become one as quickly as she was forced to.

"Did she say anything else to you?"

The blonde Salvatore breathes in sharply as she rolls her eyes, "Admitting it was thanks to her Thomas came back and the only reason she did that was so I was distracted. Also if I never killed him she would have just done it herself."

"Lets make a deal." Klaus closes the gap between them both, his eyes softening. Hands going against Lola's waist pulling her closer, "We never speak of that man's name ever again."

A broad smile spread across Lola's face, her hands wrap around Klaus' neck, "I love that deal."

The original's lips brush against Lola's lips before she pulls away, eyes having a familiar gleam Klaus was familiar with. The same gleam that would always compliment her eyes whenever she wanted to tell Klaus something but too busy trying to figure out how to word it, "What is it?"

A ripple of nervous laughter escapes Lola's lips as she pulls away from Klaus, anxiously pacing in front of him, "Okay, so I know we've just agreed to never speak of his name again, but..when I was in France to kill.." She pauses for a moment, glancing over to Klaus who raises an inquisitive brow making her flash an awkward smile, "That man, there was a split second where he had the upper hand and he sort of..kind of.." She stops pacing, breathing in sharply, "He got inside my head and flooded it with different visions and I've just got another one."

Laughter from Klaus was the last thing Lola ever expected after both agreeing not even a minute ago to never speak of Thomas again. Now when she does speak of him, he stands unable to control his amusement before shaking his head, "I know."

The heretic's face twists with confusion when her shoulders slump, "You know?"

A tight lipped smile spreads across Klaus' face as he nods, "I know."

"How—" Lola's mind answers her own question before she says it out loud. She sighs the smallest hint of a smile was nothing but sadness, "Elijah."

"He told me about the visions you had a hundred years ago about that man. Elijah also expressed concerns he thought you were having similar visions again after that morning when we received my mother's dinner invitation." Klaus' brows knit with concern watching as Lola collapses onto the edge of the couch, it was like a dark cloud suddenly loomed over her. A cloud full of guilt.

Klaus kneels in front of her, his hand softly going against her knee, "We'll find him, love. What was the vision?"

Lola places her hand against Klaus, only for a second before smiling genuinely at him as she comes to her feet, "It doesn't matter. We'll talk about that later."

"So.." Lola drawls out, her words laced with tease watching as Klaus comes to his feet. He locks eyes with the mischievous look in Lola's eyes, "Your wife, huh?"

Lola could feel Klaus' rapid heartbeat as she slowly rests her left hand against his chest, tapping her fingers, "I think there's something missing if we're still moving in that direction."

The corner of Klaus' lips twitch up into a smirk, looking up at the ceiling as he hums in thought. He wraps his arms around Lola's waist, pulling her close, "And who was it that removed it in the first place?"

He pulls the ring out of his pocket, the sun beaming through the opened balcony doors makes it shine, Lola will never not feel like her flutters every time she sees the ring. Klaus holds it out in front of Lola, his eyes gleam with the same level of tease as her, "Are you going to leave it on this time?"

The Salvatore tilts her head, pursing her lips to stop herself from laughing as her tone turns high pitched, "Well.." She couldn't hold back her laughter once she caught the unamused look on Klaus' face, "If it means you keep saying your wife then yes."

A wide, beaming smile spreads across Lola's face with no intention of fading as Klaus places the ring against her finger once more. For months it felt like their world had completely stopped spinning on it's axis, forever under darkness. If they focused enough, they'd feel the world moving around again, slowly bringing them back into the light they've so desperately needed in their life.

Lola drags her hands up Klaus' abdomen, resting against his chest as she forces him backwards, "The answer will always be.." The back of Klaus' legs hits with the couch, his eyes not breaking away from Lola when he drops to the edge of the couch. He looks up at her in awe, hands snaking around the back of her legs before pulling her down onto his lap. Lola presses herself into Klaus' lap, brushing her lips against his, "Yes."

Klaus arches his head back, fingertips digging into Lola's thighs; feeling Lola's lips against his jawline moving down to his neck. A low rumble chuckle escapes his lips, "The last time you reacted this way was when you were pregnant. I—"

Lola pulls away from Klaus, her hand slapping across the hybrid's lips to stop him from continuing. Her brows are furrowed, biting the inside of her cheek as she concentrates. Moving one of his hands away from Lola's thigh, Klaus pulls Lola's hand away from his mouth as he wears a curious look, "Are you trying to listen for a heartbeat?"

With her other hand, once again she covers Klaus' mouth continuing to concentrate, "Shhh."

As Klaus removes Lola's hand away from him again, an amused grin twitches at the corner of his lips, "Sweetheart, I didn't want to say this but..you're dead. It's not possible anymore."

"Last time I checked you're also dead and have been dead for a thousand years." Lola scoffs as she fully moves off Klaus, coming to her feet, "That didn't stop you getting me pregnant before, did it? Do you want a repeat of last time?"

Klaus smirks staying sat down as he watches Lola walk across the room, "I think if it was possible..we'd already know by now." He vamp speeds behind her, grabbing her waist and twisting her to face him, "There is no harm in trying however.."

Lola chuckles softly, stepping backwards looking up at Klaus, "You said that last time."

Klaus crashes his lips against Lola's the tension between them both was always so thick and always felt impossible to pull away. Lola breathes out feeling Klaus' lips latch onto her neck, "Nik.."

Klaus' hands trail down Lola's body to her hips before he picks her up to sit on the table behind her making Lola smile, "Nik, we need to stop."

"Mhm." Klaus mumbles in between hungry kisses against Lola's neck.

He presses himself between her legs, one hand grip against her thigh as his other snakes up Lola's shirt. Lola doesn't necessarily make Klaus stop, she wants this just as much as he does but right now wasn't the time, "Seriously we have to." Lola laughs breathlessly, eventually working herself up to pulling Klaus' hand away from under her shirt, "Nik, my brothers are downstairs and your brother is missing."

Klaus huffs pulling away slightly, he knew Lola was right. Both of his hands stay against Lola's thighs as she remains sitting on the edge of the table when they can hear the sounds of ACDC on full volume downstairs before it gets quickly shut off.

"Did you turn deaf in the prison world!? Shut up!" They hear Stefan shout making Lola rolls her eyes burying her face into Klaus' chest. Klaus rolls his eyes when he can hear glass now shattering downstairs and Stefan speaking up again, "That was your fault. You know that, right?"

Lola scoffs, her face still buried in Klaus' chest, "That seems appropriate."

"As appropriate as us right now?" Klaus chuckles, he runs his hands through Lola's hair making her look up at him as Klaus wears a teasing smirk, "It could be worse..Elvis could be on top volume. Even worse..hound dog."

A smile spreads across Lola's lips as she laughs when Klaus brings up whenever he was at the apartment Lola and Adrianna shared in the fifties, Adrianna would play hound dog on top volume as a not so subtle hint she didn't like Klaus.

"Now that I think about it." Lola hops off the table, patting Klaus' chest before she steps away, "You were lucky I was a bitch and left you in the fifties because then you didn't have to deal with her when Elvis died."

Lola laughs harder reliving that day in August of 1977 and having to deal with Adrianna mourning her favourite artist. Lola looks over to Klaus as she continues to smile, "Seriously, she was close to switching it off."

Klaus watches as the amusement speaking about her best friend vanished on Lola's face, her eyes turn dull with guilt as she turns away from Klaus. He sighs stepping closer to her, "You have to talk to Adrianna, love."

Lola exhales a shaky breath looking away from him, "Yeah, I know."

The hybrid's hand goes against the heretic's chin, making her look up at the soften stare in his eyes, "You're overthinking it."

"Maybe you're under-thinking it." Lola argues back as the guilt overpowers her, "I said the worst things I could've possibly said to her. To all of you."

Lola and Adrianna were inseparable ever since they first met outside of the diner where Adrianna worked at in Chicago. And they had never fell out, they were like soulmates and never gave up on each other. It was obvious by the look on Lola's face how much she regrets how she acted around the girl who has been her rock for almost sixty years.

"Adrianna is many things. Including a good person and a good friend. You both know each other incredibly well, sweetheart. She'll know that everything you may have said was anything but the truth." Klaus runs his hands through Lola's hair, his hands rest against her cheeks as he smiles, "Just like I did."

Looking at the warmth in Klaus' eyes calms Lola down instantly, the same warmth returning in her eyes. She exhales a long breath before she nods softly. On her tip toes, she rests her forehead against Klaus before he tilts his head slightly and softly presses his lips against Lola's.

All of the thick tension and heat between the couple came rushing back as their kiss intensified. It always felt impossible for these two to pull away from each other and it felt even more impossible after it being so long since they were in a good place like they are now.

Lola is the one to pull apart from the kiss, their lips still practically touching, "We need to stop."

The heretic exhales a long breath, running her hands through her hair as she turns her back on Klaus, "We need to get Elijah back so how are we going to do that? I need more of your blood and I.."

Her breath halts at the back of her throat when she feels Klaus move her hair off her shoulder, exposing her neck before his hands snake around her waist from the back. Lola closes her eyes, swallowing harshly trying to compose herself, "I'll—"

Lola could feel goosebumps run up her spine when she feels Klaus' lips against the nape of her neck, his teeth slightly nipping as his hands grip even more against her waist. A shaky breath falls from Lola's lips, feeling herself get lost in Klaus, "Fuck it."

She twists around in her spot to see Klaus smirking at her before her lips collide with his, the taste of his lips filling her taste buds in a way like never before. Their desire for each other burns so strong, they were addicted to each other.

Lola starts to back Klaus towards their bed as her hands move down his abdomen and pulls his shirt off with ease. Klaus smirks at Lola, "We need to stop, love."

"Uh-huh." Lola mumbles softly before crashing her lips against his again.

Klaus smirks when Lola pulls away and removes her own shirt. He chuckles brushing his lips against hers, "Your brothers are downstairs and my brother is missing." His hands snake around her bare waist, "We have to stop."

Lola smirks as she scoffs when Klaus repeats everything she has said earlier, "Shut up."

Lola's hands go against Klaus chest as she pushes him down onto their bed before she climbs on top of him. Her lips go against his jawline, slowly moving towards his neck, "What makes you think you can be in control, Lola?"

With ease Klaus twists them around so now he towers over Lola as his eyes darken with a dominate look, "Do you think you deserve to be in control? Because you don't. There's only one thing you deserve right now."

Lola smirks, pressing her body against Klaus' as her tone turns low and seductive, "And what might that be?"

The hybrid lowers himself to brush his lips against Lola's before he brings his lips towards the side of her face as he whispers, "Punishment."

Lola chuckles lowly, her head sinking further into the pillows as Klaus' lips latch onto her neck. She breathes out softly feeling his hand trail down her bare stomach making her back arch but all of the pleasure she feels right now vanished when she hears a muffled voice outside of the door, "Why are there so many doors in this place!?"

Lola eyes are wide hearing Damon's voice and watching as the door cracks open the smallest amount. She quickly moves out from under Klaus and stops Damon from opening the door even more than he has, "Damon, don't you dare step any further into this room!"

"This is your room?" Damon mumbles in a confused tone before he scoffs, "I thought this was mine! Why are there so many—"

Damon tries to crack the door open a little further but Lola blocks it with her foot. Her back is pressed against the door to stop him from opening it, "Damon, please just go downstairs. Now isn't the best time."

"I haven't seen you in months and now you don't even want to see me, I mean—"

"She's not alone in here, Damon." Klaus says sternly interrupting the oldest Salvatore, he leans against the wall beside the door, "So, why don't you piss off?"

Lola frowns up at Klaus, hitting his bare chest, "Hey."

The hybrid rolls his eyes before speaking in an irritated hushed tone, "Do you want him to walk in here?"

"Riiiight.." Lola breathes out as a whisper before she clears her throat and speaks louder, "Damon..piss off."

"Oh god, are you two.." The disgusted tone that fell off Damon's tongue made Lola bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing, "I'm not even finishing my sentence."

Lola and Klaus can hear Damon walking back down the corridor. With a smirk Klaus fully shuts the door before wrapping his arms around Lola's waist and pressing his lips against hers. She pulls away pointing at their now closed door, "That was a sign."

Klaus' shoulders slump giving Lola an unamused look making her roll her eyes, "Don't give me that look, it was. That was Elijah."

Lola breathes out a long breath as she starts to walk towards the set of drawers, "Yeah, I mean I've lost count how many times he's walked in on us." She picks out any shirt for Klaus and throws it at him, "Damon almost walking in on us was a sign that we need to stop and do what we were originally doing which was figuring out a way to find Elijah."

Klaus sighs as he and Lola both put on a different shirt each, "Esther is too powerful. She won't be easily found." He walks straight out of the bedroom as he continues, "I need to draw her out."

"Wait, I'm coming with you!"

Lola rushes out of the room to catch up with Klaus who is already half way down the stairs to the courtyard. Klaus sighs deeply, he understands why Lola wants to help but he knows that it's not a good idea, "I know you want to help, Lola, but you can't."

Klaus tone was soft as he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he turns to face Lola who is frowning at him as she follows him down the stairs, "My mother is wretched. She will target you in order to thwart me, and I can't very well save Elijah if I'm busy saving you, can I?"

Lola knew deep down he was right, she wasn't a match compared to Esther's power as much as that irritated her. Lola was powerful but not as powerful at the original witch. She sighs before she nods reaching the end of the stairs, "At least call me with regular updates?"

The hybrid flashes a small smile at Lola, "You have my word. I'll just—"

"Wait!" Lola eyes widen watching as Klaus walks to the room off the courtyard that she was in with her brothers this morning. Klaus' phone was in there and if he walks in there..he sees the chaos that unfolded with Lola and Damon.

"Maybe.." She laughs breathlessly as she vamp speeds in front of Klaus and blocks him from walking into the room as she starts to ramble, "Maybe you should get a new phone! Like a fresh start. I think that's a great idea."

"Have you hit your head?" Klaus places his hands against Lola's cheeks as he smiles, narrowing his stare towards her expression of pursed lips and squinting eyes, "Why are you pulling that face?"

"Pulling a face?" Lola echoes in a fake confused tone, while still pulling the same face, "What face? I'm not pulling a face. This is just my face."

Klaus chuckles about to move past Lola towards the door but she moves against blocking it, "I broke it." She flashes a false smile, "I broke your phone. So you should just go and get a new one. You best hurry."

"Lola.." Klaus drawls out as though he's about to lecture a child, "Why are you not allowing me to go into this room?"

With pursed lips, Lola shrugs nonchalant looking anywhere but in Klaus' direction, "No reason."

The hybrid can't help but let out a chuckle at Lola attempting to play dumb. He moves to the side attempting to open the closed door behind Lola but she moves in parallel with him, blocking the door.

"No, Nik. I'm serious." Lola continues to block Klaus from walking into the room as she flashes an innocent smile, "You don't want to walk in there."

With a raised brow, Klaus easily lifts Lola up making her squeal, he moves her to the side before he steps in the room. She rushes after him but it's too late as his eyes dance around the room. The burnt drapes, broken piano, one of Klaus' pieces of art on the floor instead of the wall and wax from the candles and blood all over the floor.

Klaus' shoulders slump, giving Lola an unamused stare but a hint of amusement could still be seen in his eyes, "You've only been reunited with your brothers for less than twelve hours. What could you all have possibly done to have caused this?"

Lola grimaces, flashing an innocent smile as she shrugs, "Would you believe me if I said it was Damon's fault?"

"Actually, I would." Klaus quips in a dull tone before he laughs, "Love, you're finally back with both of your brothers. Enjoy it..just don't ruin any more of the house." His hands go against Lola's shoulders squeezing them slightly as he smiles softly, "I'll bring Elijah home, I promise. Whatever it takes."

The heretic smiles lovingly up at him as she nods, "I love you."

Klaus runs his hands through Lola's hair, bringing her closer to him before kissing her forehead, "I love you."

With a smile on her face, Lola walks back up the stairs towards her room when she spots Stefan stepping out of the room he's staying in. He smiles softly at his sister, "Hey, Lo." He clears his throat, shoving his hands into his pockets, "Uh, why doesn't Damon know that Hope is alive?"

Lola's eyes widen, shushing Stefan as she hits his chest, "Keep your voice down—"

"Damon isn't here." Stefan holds his hand up as he says this in a soft tone, "I've told him to go to the liquor store on Royal to replace the bottle he broke."

"What liquor store on Royal?" Lola frowns, "There isn't—"

"I know." Stefan chuckles to himself as he shrugs, "I just wanted to speak to you without him listening in. Speak to you about Hope."

Lola sighs, she knew Stefan would want to speak about this now he was back in the City. She just wanted that conversation to never get brought up but who was she kidding. She nods, "Come with me." Lola walks down the corridor towards her and Klaus' bedroom and steps inside with Stefan following, "We can talk in here. It's spelled."

Stefan frowns stepping into the room as Lola closes the door. He goes to sit on the edge of the bed, "Why is your bedroom—" Stefan sat on the edge of the bed for less than a second when he is hit with the realisation and quickly steps away from the bed, "Never mind. Figured it out on my own." His entire body practically shudders before he scoffs, "That's made me instantly uncomfortable. Anyway—"

"So, I've been thinking." Lola interrupts her brother, not acknowledging Stefan's previous comment, "We don't tell Damon about Hope. We just let him think what everyone else thinks."

Lola's shoulders slump seeing the conflicted look on Stefan's face, "Too many people know already, Stef. I don't think he will get mad about it when we eventually tell him, he'll understand why we did it."

"I know he will, but.." Stefan sighs, he knew Lola and he knew when she was covering up her true emotions and this was one of this instances. The youngest Salvatore could tell his sister hated keeping the secret of her daughter being alive and well from their brother. Stefan's eyes soften towards her, "Are you okay with not telling him this, Lo?"

"Yeah.." Lola breathes out, she clears her throat realising she doesn't sound convincing, "Yeah, I am. It's what we need to do. And, uh.."

She flashes a quick smile but her eyes shown the real heartache she truly felt, "Soon the time will be right and we can just forget about these past few months and move on. I think we should go and find him before he causes more chaos."

When Lola was reunited with her brothers last night, it pained her to lie to Damon saying that Hope died, making him believe what everyone else but a small handful of people know. Deep down Lola knew that Damon wouldn't be angry that she kept this from him, or at least she hoped he wouldn't. But even if Damon didn't understand Lola's point of view, she didn't care because all she cared about was the safety of her daughter..and if that meant keeping her a secret from her older brother then so be it.

Lola would always keep Hope safe..whatever it takes.

—✤—

which bitch got sooooo carried away that this chapter needed to be split in two?
✨it's me..hi, i'm the problem it's me✨

also if you haven't already, go read my one shot book bc things will get mentioned in this book that are referencing chapters in that book. so if people comment saying "what does this mean" the simple answer will be,
go read the one shot book xo

a lil reminder of lola's ring too xo

hope you enjoyed the chapter my loves x

part 2 of this chapter is coming v soon