Tangled Up In Blue

The overpowering smell of burning wood wakes Lola, the sting of acrid lingers as she looks around confused to see the room is untouched. She goes to grab her phone from the nightstand but her hand goes straight through the phone and nightstand.

"Cora?" Lola calls out for her Aunt, knowing this is the same kind of dream that her Aunt put her in all the months ago to tell her about breaking the spell.

Lola climbs out of the bed and slowly walks towards the door of the bedroom. When she opens the door, she isn't greeted with the plantation she is staying in. Her heart rate begins to increase as she sees the walls of a familiar home she spent a lot of time in, now with water dripping down the charred and burnt walls.

She flinches when she hears something falling behind her as she walks down the hallway. Partially relived when she turns to see it was a framed picture that had fallen and not someone else.

"Cora, this isn't funny! I know you love your practical jokes but can we just get straight to the point, please?"

When Lola reaches downstairs, without even thinking, she finds herself in the music room of this home. Her breath halts at the back of her throat when she sees it looks exactly how it was when she was last here, in 1892.

The holes in the walls, the broken piano in the corner of the room, the destroyed grandfather clock in the corner of the room. The windows no longer having any evidence of glass due to the high temperatures of the fire that began in this very room. Lola's hands trace along the burnt drapes against the broken windows until she notices something, something that is missing. There are two things that were in here the night of the fire in 1892 and yet they aren't here now unlike everything else that is exactly as it was.

There is an indication that whatever is now missing was there prior to Lola entering that room. A part of the wooden floor not as burnt as the rest of the floor, meaning that something was there during the fire and now it's not.

"After all this time you still think about me?"

Lola's blood runs cold as she hears the skin crawling voice coming from behind her, frozen in her spot too scared to turn around and face the person. She closes her eyes as she tries to control her breathing when she hears footsteps getting closer to where she's standing. A malicious laughter escapes the person when Lola flinches at their harsh grip around her wrist, forcing her to face them.

Lola shakes her head in disbelief, "This isn't real."

Lola gasps in pain as they pull her closer to them by her wrist. Shivers run down her spine as they run their hand through her hair, lowering their head to be by Lola's ear, "This is going to be fun."

Lola immediately sits forward in her bed as she wakes gasping for breath. Her breathing becomes erratic as she glances around the dark bedroom, sighing with relief that it was just a dream. A shaky hand runs through her hair as she lays back down catching her breath. But her breathing stops for a moment when she notices bruising that is already beginning to form on her wrist.

She turns to face Klaus' side of the bed to see it's empty which is when she hears the front door closing. Lola gets out of bed and opens the drapes up slightly to see Klaus walking towards the pile of dead vampires in the middle of the courtyard.

Klaus starts pouring gasoline over the pile of vampires as Lola opens the front door. She leans against the door frame, watching as Klaus sets alight the pile, "Do you want some marshmallows?" Klaus turns around, startled slightly as Lola's presence, he smiles over to her, "Or maybe you want to do the annual Mikaelson bonfire early this year?"

Klaus laughs slightly as he walks over to Lola, he wraps his arms around her waist, "You should be asleep."

Lola sighs as she puts her hands on Klaus' chest, "I can't sleep."

Klaus frowns as he takes in Lola's stiff posture and anxious expression, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing..." Lola looks at Klaus who's expression shows he already isn't believing her story, she sighs, "Can you remember when Cora got in my head and told me about breaking the spell?" Klaus nods as he takes Lola's hand, walking her back into the house, "I've just had a similar one but Cora wasn't there. He was there."

Klaus shakes his head and he walks into the living room, going straight to the drinks table, "Love, we spoke about this. He's dead."

Lola scoffs as she sits on the sofa, "So is Cora and yet she was still able to get into my head."

Klaus sits beside her, "Cora was able to do so because of you both being Whittaker witches. Something that your coven is able to do whether you're alive or dead." Lola shakes her head at Klaus' assumption, not believing him. He takes hold of her hand, "It was just a meaningless dream. You have nothing to worry about."

"For a split second I thought the exact same. Until I seen this." Lola turns her hand in Klaus' hold to show the bruising forming on her wrist, "He grabbed my wrist, Nik."

Klaus' posture stiffens as he looks down at the marks on Lola's wrist, his jaw tightens trying to not get too angry about it, "What happened in the dream?"

"I was in the house and it was just like we left it." Lola begins to explain, "Exactly how we left it but there were things missing. The book wasn't there and neither was he. At least not in the part of the room where we left him." Lola glances over to Klaus who is starting to look as anxious as Lola feels, "But then he was behind me and grabbed hold of my wrist and I woke up."

Klaus stays silent for a moment, trying to think why all of a sudden Lola is being tormented by a man he once described as a walking virus. He thought he was rid of this man 120 years ago and yet he still finds a way to infiltrate their lives again. Lola removes her hands out of Klaus' hold, sitting forward on the sofa and running her hands through her hair as her knee begins to bounce up and down.

Klaus softly places a hand against Lola's knee, "Look at me." Lola sits up from her slouched posture and turns to face him, "As of right now, this is just a dream. Like you said before, Cora was able to do this and she is dead. That means he is still dead." He takes hold of Lola's hands, "We're going to get the link between you and Sophie removed for good and then we can find a way together to stop this from happening again."

—✤—

"Adrianna, answer the god damn phone!" Lola snaps, pacing around the study as she leaves Adrianna yet another voicemail, "Your wedding is in less than five weeks, you're back in New York while I am stuck in a mosquito infested town in need of distractions. I know I joked about you being a bridezilla but what I didn't expect is for myself to be a maid of honour...zilla." Lola's attention goes to the doorway to see Klaus chuckling at her meltdown, she scoffs as she continues to pace, "Just call me back!"

Lola slams her phone onto the desk in the study before flashing a hostile grin towards Klaus, "Something amusing?"

Klaus continues to laugh as he steps further into the room, "Yes actually, there is." He leans against the desk, pulling Lola closer to him as he wears a mischievous grin, "I never expected to see you so worked up over a wedding."

"I need distractions. I need to stop thinking about last night." Lola sighs as she wraps her arms around the back of Klaus' neck, "Plus, I'm trying not to feel like the world's worst sister while Damon is trying to find Stefan who has been drowning over and over again all summer because Silas trapped him in some safe." Klaus' jaw slacks as he is about to respond but Lola continues, "As if doppelgängers couldn't be any more confusing and now apparently Stefan is one too." She frowns to herself, "What if I'm a doppelgänger? Would you still love me if I was a doppelgänger?"

In one swift motion, Klaus turns them both round that Lola is now sitting on the edge of the desk when his hands on either side of the desk, "I am going to love you no matter what." Confusion floods Klaus' face, "When did Damon inform you of all this?"

Lola rolls her eyes as she picks her phone up, "He left me this long ass voicemail this morning." She presses the speaker before playing the voicemail,

"Hey, Lo. Listen, you know how you've been hounding my ass all summer to try and find Stefan? But then I was like pft don't worry about Stef, he is just living life as Bob Marley somewhere. Well, you may have been on to something. Turns out our brother has been on holiday at the bottom of Steven's Quarry stuck in a safe that was meant to be Silas' home. And get this, Silas has shown his true face and just so happens to be the first descendant of  Stefan's doppelgänger line. Now, I know what you're gonna say...you're on your way to help, blah blah blah. But I'm sorry, little sister, you're gonna have to just let me deal with this one. But then I know how stubborn you are and won't even listen to me request which is why I am blocking your number for the foreseeable until I sort out this mess with Stef. Love you, sis."

Klaus raises a brow at Lola, "He's blocked your number?"

Lola grimaces at Klaus, "Mhm. Which is why I need to distract myself."

He glances up at the ceiling before Klaus smirks over at Lola, closing the gap between them both, "Well if it's a distraction you desire, I'm happy to oblige."

Lola matches the same smirk as Klaus until he collides his lips with hers. Both of their eagerness builds as Lola's hands grip onto Klaus' shirt pulling him closer, her legs wrap around him to close the small gap between them. A shiver runs up Lola's spine when she feels Klaus' hands rest upon her upper thighs, slowly moving further up.

"I cannot believe you disposed of those vampires without me." Rebekah pouts as she walks into the study. Lola and Klaus pull away from each other, breathless and glare over to Rebekah who looks out of the window, "You know how I love to set things on fire!"

Klaus shrugs his shoulders as he moves away from the desk slightly, "Was I supposed to leave them in the front yard to rot? Besides, they were my responsibility." Klaus flashes a devilish smile as he holds his hand out for Lola to take, "They attacked the woman I love who's carrying my child!"

Rebekah rolls her eyes, "Oh, I am so moved by your new-found sense of fatherly duties towards Lola who is carrying your hybrid bun in her oven."

Lola clears her throat as she stands between both Mikaelson siblings, "So are we going to come up with a plan instead of just standing here not doing anything?"

"Well, that depends what plan you mean, love--" Klaus smirks over to Lola, "My plan for global domination, or Rebekah's plan to find love in a cruel, cruel world?"

Rebekah silently laughs before taking a thin paintbrush from the desk beside her and throws it in Klaus' direction. Klaus quickly catches it with ease, smirking as he does, before it can embed itself in his face.

Lola rolls her eyes at their antics, "The plan to rescue Elijah. You know, the good brother? The one who is now in the possession of Marcel, the prodigal son who is now enemy number one, after you stabbed him in the back?"

Klaus purses his lips slightly, trying to fight back his grin, "In the front, if we're being specific."

"You're not funny." Lola glares over to him, "We need to get him back. So is there a plan, or what?"

"Okay." Klaus sighs as he walks further into the study, "Well, firstly, Marcel is not enemy number one-- he's my friend." He shrugs his shoulders as he sits next to the desk, resting his feet onto the desk as he twirls the paintbrush round, "Albeit one who is unaware that I'm trying to sabotage his hold over the supernatural community of the French Quarter, but a friend nonetheless. And secondly, I daggered Elijah in order to gain Marcel's trust. If I had known he would place my brother in the hands of a particularly nasty teenage witch, I certainly would have weighed my options a bit differently. And thirdly--" He gestures towards Rebekah, "Sister, please."

"And thirdly, the plan, as you have demanded, is for Niklaus to simply ask Marcel for Elijah back."

Lola raises a brow as she glances between them who are both wearing the same furtive grin, "I'm supposed to believe that?"

Rebekah scoffs, "Please! Klaus may be a miserable excuse for a sibling, but there is none more diabolical."

"And that's only the Plan A, love!" Klaus smirks towards Lola, "There's always a Plan B."

Lola mimics the same smirk as she walks over to where Klaus is sat, "That's more like it. Please tell me Plan B is better than asking Marcel for Elijah back like we've just accidentally kicked a ball over the garden fence."

Klaus smiles up at her, "War. Which leaves one last thing to ask." Klaus stands up from his seat, holding his hand out for Lola, "Lola, love, will you do me the honour of going to war with me?"

A calculated grin forms on Lola's face as she intertwines her hand with Klaus', "I'd love nothing more."

—✤—

"It's about time you answered the god damn phone, Ade!"

"There has just been quite a bit to sort out over here, Lo. Are you okay?"

Lola sighs as she contemplates on what to begin with but figures it's probably for the best everything that is going on is explained once Adrianna is home, "It's nothing that can't wait until you're back here. You are coming back, right?"

"Yes, I'll be back soon. I just need to finish sorting things out over here. The main one being is cancelling the entire wedding."

"You're cancelling the wedding!?" Lola exclaims as she stands up from the sofa, "Why the hell are you cancelling your wedding, Ade!?"

"Because there are things that are way more important than putting an extra bit of metal on mine and Nate's fingers."

"You've been looking forward to this day before Nate even proposed! What's going on? What could be more important than that?"

"You."

Lola's eyes widen and mouth gapes open about to bite back but Adrianna beats her to it, "Don't you even dare try and talk me out of it because you'll never be able to. You're my best friend who has a lot of shit going on right now and I'm planning on being by your side throughout it all. Nate and I have both agreed this is what's best. We can get married whenever we want but as of right now, you are our priority."

Lola scoffs slightly in shock as she sits back down, "You can't expect me to let you go through with this."

"You can and you will. I'll be back soon."

Lola stares down at her phone in shock when Adrianna hangs up without giving Lola a chance to stop her. She looks up when she sees a figure in the corner of her eye standing in the doorway, "Who are you?"

"Joshua Rosza." The awkward looking vampire announces as he steps further into the room, he laughs nervously, "Well, just Josh. I don't know why I said my full name."

Lola smiles up at him slightly amused, "Oh, so you're the new vampire." Josh nods awkwardly, "Is there something you want, Josh?"

"Klaus told me to look for you." Josh's face pulls slightly, a mixture of awkward and confusion, "Make sure you were still here and not breaking into people's houses, again? Is that like, uh, a daily thing you get up to?"

Lola scoffs as she throws her phone onto the sofa and stands up, closing the gap between her and Josh who straightens up slightly, "So, you're the new nanny."

Josh's shoulders broaden as he attempts to not look intimidated, "The what?"

"The people in this family continue to believe I need to have someone with me at all times." Lola purses her lips as she frowns, "Which is strange because I've never gave them a reason to think otherwise."

Lola smiles innocently at him as she pats him on the shoulders, "Anyway, did Klaus give you any instructions before he left?"

"Actually, yeah." Josh drawls out as he gestures towards the door leading to the basement.

Lola walks down the stairs to the basement first to see the one vampire who wasn't killed from the other night in the park chained up, going in and out of consciousness.

Josh clears his throat as he walks past Lola and stands closer to the vampire, "Klaus wants me to bleed this guy dry and drain the vervain out of him."

Lola's brows shoot up in excitement, "Oh, well why didn't you say that in the first place."

Lola's attention goes to the other side of the vampire as the corner of her mouth twitches up in a smirk when she notices a pitchfork leaning up against the wall. Without thinking twice, Lola walks over and grabs the pitchfork before stabbing the chained up vampire straight through his abdomen.

She releases a satisfied breath as she rips the pitchfork back out of his abdomen before smiling broadly over to an uncomfortable looking Josh, "I, uh-"

Lola shrugs her shoulders as she looks at the pitchfork in her hand, "I have a thing for forks. Even giant ones."

"That, uh, sorta felt personal."

"This asshole attempted to attack me the other night." Lola stabs the vampire yet again, twisting it slightly while it's still impaled in the vampire, "So because I can't kill him, I'll use torture instead."

Josh laughs awkwardly, "Somehow the whole match between you and Klaus kinda makes sense now."

Lola grabs a knife from the side and gestures it between Josh and the vampire, "Try it."

Josh hesitates for a moment before taking the blade from Lola and pathetically stabbing the vampire making Lola roll her eyes, "Oh, for crying out loud. Use force, Josh." Lola takes the blade and slashes the vampire's stomach. She holds the blade out for Josh once more, "See?"

Lola and Josh both turn as they hear footsteps heading down the steps into the basement to see Klaus looking annoyed. Lola holds the knife out further towards Josh, "He isn't going to drain the vervain out of himself."

Josh nods and takes the knife out of Lola's hand. Lola walks over to Klaus who has began to pace in the corner of the room, "That was quick. Plan A didn't work I take it?"

"Like I said this morning, there is always a Plan B. Marcel continues to grow suspicious that you haven't shown yourself yet."

Lola rolls her eyes, "I figured as much." She takes the photograph from the other night out of her pocket and gestures towards the vampire chained up, "Considering he gave this one an old photograph of me."

They both stand side by side, watching Josh continue to stab the vampire until Klaus turns to face Lola, "Perhaps it's time that we stop with the hiding." Lola's interest piques as she then turns to face Klaus as he takes hold of her hand and showing a devilish grin, "Marcel is throwing a charity ball tonight and the only way it would be possible to get through it, would be to have you by my side as my beautiful date."

Lola smiles back at him before kissing his cheek, "I'd love to. It's about time Marcel and I catch up." Their attentions both get drawn to Klaus' phone to see Rebekah is calling him. Klaus steps away to answer the phone and Lola looks over to see Josh who has stopped stabbing the vampire, "Keep going."

"Niklaus, for the love of Mary Magdalene, how long does it take to ask a simple question?"

"Much longer than you'd think, considering the answer was, as expected, "No."" Klaus turns back round and walks towards Lola, "Marcel's man, Thierry, is suspicious. He thinks you killed ten night walkers."

"Well, that's a lie! I only killed eight. Should I make Thierry the ninth?"

"Marcel is playing friendly. We can't kill the favourite son, or he'll catch onto us."

"So, war it is, then?"

"Indeed. Do you know what to do with the witch?"

"I believe I do."

"Good. You manage Sophie Deveraux. I'll take care of the next step." Klaus hangs up and walks towards Josh, "I ordered you to drain him of blood. What's taking so long?"

Josh glances between Klaus and the vampire anxiously as he shrugs his shoulders, "Sorry. I'm not, like, medieval-torture-expert-guy."

Klaus sighs before he takes the same pitchfork Lola used earlier and rushes towards the vampire and impales him with it.

Josh cringes slightly as he watches, "What did he do to you, anyway?"

"It's not about what he did. It's about what he's going to do when we're done here, which is whatever I want him to, just like you. For example--" Klaus rips the pitchfork out of the vampire's abdomen, he turns to face Josh and begins to compel him, "--Drive this through his torso."

Klaus hands Josh the pitchfork which Josh takes and immediately stabs it through the vampire's abdomen, looking horrified as he does, "That is crazy." He glances over to Klaus and Lola, stunned, "I didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway."

"It's called mind compulsion." Klaus begins to inform, "Vampires can compel humans. Originals, like my siblings and I, can also compel vampires, and no one can compel Originals. You following?" Josh nods hesitantly as he looks at Klaus frightened, "Good. That is how a brand-new nightwalker such as yourself is here doing my bidding with no one the wiser."

Josh stutters slightly as confusion builds, "But I never had my guts drained out of me."

"Yes. That, young Joshua, is because I got to you before you had even a drop of herbal vervain in your system. You see, it prevents compulsion. Marcel has had his whole crew taking it since I returned to town," Klaus steps closer to the vampire who is unconscious once more, Klaus grabs hold of his face, "And that is why our friend here needs to be bled dry of it, so I can compel him to follow my every command. And with my brother currently in captivity awaiting rescue, we can't afford to be gentle about it, can we?" Klaus takes the pitchfork out of Josh's hand and smirks over to Lola, "Would you care to do the honours, love?"

Lola mimics the same smirk as she takes the pitchfork from him, "Gladly." Lola harshly stabs the pitchfork through the vampire's abdomen once more, twisting it round roughly before ripping it back out and handing it back to Josh.

"Be quick about it." Klaus instructs to Josh as he takes his phone out of his pocket when it begins to ring, "I have an army to build, and one compelled minion does not an army make." Klaus steps away slightly, answering the call, "Well?"

"You were right about the traitor. Luckily, she's just a kid and she doesn't know anything about us and what we're up to. Do you want to hear the part that's gonna please you the most?"

Klaus smiles, "Oh, do tell!"

"She's in love with someone in Marcel's inner circle. Guess who it is?"

Klaus chuckles slightly, "Right-hand-man type, favours silly caps?"

"Two points for you. Thierry is fraternising with the enemy."

"Well, that means he just unwittingly became the key to our entire plan."

"I told you you'd be pleased."

Klaus smirks as he begins to pace around, "Oh, to be young and in love in a city where witches and vampires are at war. How very tragic."

Lola follows Klaus as he walks up the stairs from the basement, she closes the door behind her when they reach upstairs. She pins Klaus against the closed door and reveals the knife from earlier and presses it slightly against Klaus' chest, "I do hope that whenever you bash this whole war between vampires and witches you don't include me in the category of witch bitches."

"I wouldn't dream of it, love." Klaus spins Lola round so her back is against his chest, he takes the knife from her and putting it in his back pocket. Butterflies swarm around Lola's stomach when she feels the warmth of his hands against her wrist and feeling his breath against her neck, "Besides, I would expect you'd be on my side, and my side only."

—✤—

Later in the day, Rebekah arrives back home with Sophie Devereaux and leads her into the living room where Klaus and Lola are waiting for them both. Sophie sits on the sofa beside Lola as Rebekah paces around and begins to explain their plan.

"Are you out of your mind?" Sophie exclaims, "No way."

"It's very simple--" Rebekah continues to explain as she paces in front of Sophie, "We need you to perform a teeny, tiny locator spell to help us find our brother."

Sophie scoffs as she shakes her head slightly, "Witches who practice magic in this town get caught, and then they get killed."

"Yes, about that." Klaus moves from the spot behind a chair, he walks around it and takes a seat opposite Sophie, "It seems you left out a crucial detail when we made our deal--Marcel's secret weapon, the way he knows when a witch is using magic..."

Rebekah sits on the chair next to Klaus, "Girl about yea high, cute as a button, anger issues?"

The colour drains from Sophie's face as her eyes widen, "Davina? Where have you seen her?"

"I don't know." Rebekah sighs, "The little brat erased my memory right after she threw me out a window with her bloody mind."

"Let me cut to the chase." Klaus sits forward slightly in his seat, with a condescending smile, "Davina has Elijah. You witches, I assume, want to get Davina away from Marcel. We don't know where she is. Ergo, we need magic."

Sophie shakes her head, "Davina would sense it."

"Unless, of course, another witch—" Rebekah drawls out, "Say, a traitor to the cause, Katie for example—was to perform much more powerful magic at the same time. That would create a smokescreen, concealing your very small spell from Davina."

"Katie doesn't deserve to die."

"That's debatable..." Lola grunts under her breath.

"Sophie Devereaux!" Klaus angrily slams his hands on the table, he stands up from his seat and sits on the table closer to Sophie, "You're in no position to be so principled. You can't win a war without a few strategic losses, no matter how regrettable they may be. How many times have the vampires been one step ahead, known something they shouldn't? Your sister, executed in the public square for practicing magic-- who knew she'd be caught? Did she even attempt to flee?"

Sophie's eyes widen and realisation sets in, "...She was caught hiding in a cargo hold of a freighter before it set sail down the Mississippi."

Klaus wears a fake sympathetic look as he looks away for a moment before back at Sophie, "And who, pray tell-- of Marcel's valued inner circle-- manages his business at the docks?"

Sophie sighs, her posture slumped, "Katie's boyfriend, Thierry."

Lola watches Sophie intently when she leans forward on the sofa, making Lola catch gaze at her wrist. Lola sits forward herself and grabs Sophie's wrist by force making Sophie attempt to pull herself away, "What are you doing?"

Lola grabs Sophie's other wrist, "Have you recently formed any bruises on your wrists at all?"

Sophie snatches her wrist out of Lola's grip and glares over to her, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Lola clears her throat as she glances around the room which is when she notices a letter opener on the table beside where Klaus is sitting. She grabs and and moves closer to Sophie who begins to panic and moves away. Lola scoffs as she grabs Sophie's hand, "Oh, grow up."

Lola pierces Sophie's finger with the letter opener, she feels the same prick against her finger making her slump back in the sofa slightly. Klaus' tenses slightly as he realises what Lola was trying, he turns to look over to a confused Rebekah, "Show the witch out."

Klaus watches as Rebekah walks a confused looking Sophie out of the house, he looks back over to Lola who is looking equally confused, glancing down at the bruises on her wrist, "This doesn't make any sense. I'm linked to her, so surely the bruises will have also shown on her."

Klaus sighs softly as he sit beside Lola on the sofa, "You need to stop overthinking this, love."

Klaus goes to take hold of Lola's hand but she moves away from him before he can, "It's easy for you to say!" She snaps, "You're not the one being haunted and tormented in your dreams!" Lola looks over to Klaus, her eyes fill with regret at the unintentional snap, "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"What the bloody hell was that?" Rebekah demands as she comes storming back into the room.

Lola sighs as she walks out of the room, "I need a minute."

A short while later, Rebekah softly knocks against the door of Lola's bedroom before peering her head round the door with a warm smile, "Are you doing okay?"

Lola sighs before smiling over to Rebekah, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Rebekah walks fully into the room, showing her holding a garment bag, "Nik told me about everything." Rebekah clears her throat as she sits on the edge of the bed next to Lola, "I know it's easy for all of us who have never dealt with this mental torment to say to not let it get to you, but-"

"I know, I know." Lola interrupts, already knowing what Rebekah was going to say, she gestures down at the open grimoire in front of her, "There's herbs you can use to block the mind control, I just need to find some. But until then, I need distractions and I am praying that whatever you've got in that bag is part of a distraction."

Rebekah smiles broadly as she stands up, she walks over to the wardrobe and hangs the bag up, unzipping it to reveal a stunning black dress, "Well, while I was out today getting all the information we need for tonight I seen this in a shop window." She takes the dress off the hanger and walks over to a curious looking Lola, "And thought that you would look exceptional in it tonight. Go ahead, try it on."

Lola takes the dress and walks into the adjacent bathroom within the bedroom to try it on. Rebekah sighs slightly as she waits, "Marcel keeps asking about you."

Lola scoffs, "I know, Nik has told me. How do you feel about seeing him again?"

Rebekah hesitates for a moment as though memories rush back to her regarding her history with Marcel before shaking them away, "I don't feel anything."

Lola walks out of the bathroom wearing the dress when she gives Rebekah a knowing glance, "You and I both know that's bull, Bex."

Rebekah watches as Lola walks over to the mirror before she shrugs, "It doesn't matter how I feel." She stands behind Lola, her eyes soften at her best friend before her, "You look beautiful and no one will even be able to tell you're pregnant."

Lola smiles back at her as her hand goes straight to her stomach, "Perks of not really showing yet either." She tilts her head slightly as she looks back at herself, "Lets hope the boobs don't give it away."

"Do you still have your daylight ring?"

Lola waves her right hand around as she turns to face Rebekah properly, "Never took it off."

"Best behaviour tonight." Rebekah warns as she walks out of the bedroom.

"I can't promise that!"

—✤—

Lola walks into Klaus' study, back in casual clothing when she turns the lamp on that's on the desk. She gets a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach as though she's being watched. Lola turns around and looks out of the window, it's as though her heart skips when she sees a set of amber eyes staring back up at her amongst the wooded area of the gardens.

She flinches when she feels Klaus' hands against her shoulders, "What are you doing?"

Lola pushes her thoughts to the back of her mind as she flashes an innocent smile up at Klaus, she holds up some papers, "Here. It's a copy of the spell to create a daylight ring. Make it look like the waistcoat weasel and his pretty little witch are planning to create their own kingdom." She watches as Klaus smirks down at the spell as she sits on the edge of the desk, "Marcel will fall right into our little plan."

Klaus closes the gap between them both as he sets the papers down beside her, "Your great mind is one of the reasons I love you."

"One of the reasons?" Lola purses her lips to fight back a winsome grin, "Care to share the others?"

Klaus leaves a trail of soft kisses against Lola's cheek down to her collarbone, "We'd be here all night." Klaus scoffs as his phone begins to ring, he picks it up off the desk revealing Rebekah is calling, "Little sister!"

"Well, brother, I believe I've made certain Marcel will be properly distracted tonight."

Klaus chuckles slightly as he sits next to the desk, "Dare I ask?"

"Let's just say his attention will not be on us. I did my bit. What are you doing to ensure Elijah's safe return?"

Klaus smirks over to Lola, "Thanks to Lola we are currently organising insurance against the tenderhearted."

"Meaning?"

"We need proper motivation for Katie to cast a powerful spell tonight. I'm creating that motivation. Marcel has ordered a rousting of the witches. And I, in turn, have arranged for things to go tragically wrong. Marcel may not be concerned with Thierry's romantic entanglements... But there are other crimes which he'll be less inclined to so easily forgive... Killing a vampire, for example. That would be unforgivable. If Katie hopes to save her one true love from Marcel's punishment? Well, a rescue mission like that will require something positively magical. But then... what's worth dying for, if not love?"

Proud of himself, Klaus hangs up the phone when Lola hops off the desk and begins to walk out, "I'll go and get ready."

"Perhaps..." Klaus drawls out as he takes hold of Lola's hand to stop her from stepping further away, "You should stay here tonight instead."

Lola scoffs as she looks over to Klaus with an incredulous smile, "You're kidding, right? You were just saying that Marcel is growing suspicious because I've not shown myself yet. Why have you suddenly changed your mind?"

Paranoia fills Klaus' eyes, he begins to pace around, "What if he figures out you're not a vampire anymore? What if he hears the baby's heartbeat?"

Lola stops Klaus from pacing further as she takes hold of his hand, giving him a reassured look, "He's throwing a huge party, he won't even be able to tell the heartbeat is the baby's in a sea of other people."

Klaus hesitates for a moment, about to agree until he shakes his head, "It's too risky, love." Klaus begins to walk out of the study, "I'll figure out an excuse as to why you could not attend this evening."

—✤—

"So you help him with his plan, for him to then disinvite you to an event he isn't even hosting?" Damon scoffs over the phone, "That definitely sounds like Klaus. Why isn't he letting you go anyway?"

Lola hesitates for a moment, not wanting to say the full truth over the phone, instead choosing to say half of the truth, "Because we don't want Marcel to know I'm not a vampire anymore. Now I am yet again stuck in this stupid house with nothing to do. Ade has gone back to New York to get some of her things and took Hayley along with her then Klaus and Rebekah have gone off to this party."

Damon begins to laugh, "I'm disappointed in you, Lo."

Lola frowns as she sits up slightly in her bed, "In me? Why?"

"I've never known for my sister to let people tell her what to do. Even Klaus."

Lola purses her lips as she looks over to the dress Rebekah had given her that is hanging up against the wardrobe, "I know you haven't unblocked my number because you wanted to know what's going on over here. Have you found Stefan?"

"We found him. It's a long story but we've got him."

Lola breathes a sigh of relief as she sits up fully in bed, "Thank god. Put him on the phone, I want to speak to him."

"He's passed out. We found him with some crazy ass witch."

"Who is this witch and what did she do?"

"Cut a long story short, she linked Silas to Stefan so that Silas can't use his weird mind control on anyone. Stef is okay, I'm just waiting for him to wake up. Elena is sitting with him now."

"Call me when he wakes up." Lola walks over to the dress, a hint of a smirk appears, "I don't care if I'm at this stupid party, call me."

—✤—

Klaus can't help but smile as he looks around the compound his family once called home, knowing that it won't be much longer until they're able to call it home once more. A hint of excitement flows through him at the thought of he and Lola bringing their child up within these walls, able to tell stories of their history in this city.

His eyes get drawn to the entrance of the compound, his breath catches in the back of his throat when he sees Lola walking in looking around the decorated courtyard. His annoyed stare meets Lola's smug one as she cockily waves over to him.

Klaus clenches his jaw as he walks straight over to her with a stern look, "We agreed you were going to stay at home."

Lola shakes her head as she shrugs, "No, you agreed that with your annoying ego. I never agreed to anything of the sort."

Klaus immediately goes to Lola's wrist where bruises had formed, conscious that if Marcel sees the bruises it will be revealed Lola is no longer vampire.

Catching onto this, Lola pulls her wrist out of Klaus' hold, "I've been covering up bruises since I was a child. I know how to make it look like I don't have any." She shrugs as she glances down at the make up covered wrist, "Besides, they've pretty much faded anyway."

Rebekah smiles sweetly at the pair as she walks over to them, "And thanks to my amazing taste, this dress hides your little secret." She glances over to where Marcel is standing who has not yet noticed Lola, "I need booze."

Lola watches Rebekah walk towards the bar then looks back over to an anxious looking Klaus. She sighs as she takes hold of his hand, "Stop worrying." Lola flashes a smug grin as she straightens his tie, "Our plan will go ahead smoothly while I get to enjoy prison release for the night."

Klaus can't fight back an affectionate grin, gazing at Lola, "You make it impossible to stay annoyed."

"I know." Lola's hand traces along Klaus' suit jacket, taking his outfit in as she pulls him closer to her, their lips practically touching, "You should wear all black suits more often."

"I love you." Klaus whispers against Lola's ear as he wraps his arm around her waist pulling her closer.

He lowers his head against the nape of Lola's neck making her smile but her smile soon drops when she looks over to see Marcel catching her stare. They both wear the same shocked expression towards each other, both getting flashes in front of them from their past.

Lola pulls away from Klaus slightly as she begins to look awkward, "On second thoughts, maybe I should have just stayed at home."

Klaus looks over to see Marcel dismissing himself from whoever he was speaking to and begins to walk towards the pair. Lola tries to walk away but Klaus takes hold of her hand to stop her, "It's too late now, love."

"Lola Salvatore," Marcel's booming voice approaches them both as he smiles broadly towards her, "I was wondering when you were gonna show your face around here."

Lola smiles dryly towards Marcel as she twirls the lace mask around her hands, "Well I did have a feeling I should have extended my absence, at least until I'm able to fight away my intrusive thoughts where I want to kill you."

Marcel shakes his head slightly, laughing at Lola's bluntness, "You haven't changed at all."

"You certainly have." Lola mutters in a harsh tone, she glances around the decorated compound, "Nice little kingdom you have going on here, Marcellus. I would say it must have been hard creating this kingdom on your own but we both know Nik and Elijah created the empire you've latched your claws onto." She purses her lips before smiling broadly to Klaus, "I believe they call that sloppy seconds these days, don't they, my love?"

"Steady, love." Klaus drawls out as he pulls Lola closer to him by her waist, "We are here as Marcel's guests. Which means we need to act like honourable guests and be civil to one another."

Lola smiles sweetly at Klaus in a mocking way as she caresses his cheek, "Being civil wasn't on the invitation."

"How about a dance?" Marcel suggests as he holds his hand out to Lola who is raising her brow at him, "Just one dance. Then if you still feel the same, I'll let you throw the first punch."

Lola glances over to Klaus before handing him her mask, "Fine." She takes hold of Marcel's hand who guides her onto the dance floor, "But if my heel goes straight through your foot, know it wasn't because of your poor dancing skills."

The pair both begin to dance as the hostility on Lola's side continues to grow larger and larger. Marcel sighs, "You know, you could look at me instead of looking anywhere else."

Lola scoffs, continuing to look anywhere but at Marcel, "If I wanted to look into the eyes of a traitorous bastard then I would."

"Come on, Lo. Enough with the cold shoulder." He pulls away slightly, both still dancing making Lola glance over to him, "Don't you remember how close we used to be?"

"Yes, I do." For only a second, Lola's cold exterior lowers as sadness seeps through when she thinks about the past but her cold exterior appears once more as she glares over to Marcel, "But then I also remember the years afterwards where we all mourned you thinking you were dead. Yet all this time you were here."

"And yet none of you bothered to even come back."

"Because it was too damn hard, Marcel." Lola snaps at him, "Mikael had burned the city down and we thought you went down along with it. They all had to flee."

Marcel shrugs as he twirls Lola around, "But you didn't."

Lola frowns over to Marcel as he pulls her back towards him, "What?"

Marcel glances over to where Klaus and Rebekah are standing, "We were both the outsiders of this family, Lo. They will always stick together but us outsiders? They'll easily push us to the side." He catches Lola's frown, "Am I wrong?" Marcel laughs to himself, "Who am I kidding? You both seem as loved up as you did a hundred years ago."

"You think it's been easy for us?" Lola retorts then laughs in an exasperated manner, "There has been constant drama to get to where we are now."

"Drama revolving around your brothers?" Marcel quips making Lola look at him slightly taken aback, "Klaus filled me in that you were back in Mystic Falls with them both. Last time I seen you, I remember you telling me you wanted nothing to do with either of them."

Lola shrugs as she looks away from Marcel once more, "Some grudges aren't worth holding on to."

"When I heard there were Salvatores in the Quarter a few months back there was a part of me that hoped it was you." Marcel admits, his tone becomes more soft as he stops them both from dancing, Lola catches his guilt ridden stare, "I have to admit I felt disappointed it wasn't you. You understood me the most out of everyone, Lola. And I am sorry that everything happened the way it did."

Lola turns away for a moment, not expecting Marcel's confession. She clears her throat as she breaks away from him, "Excuse me."

Lola walks away from the crowd in the middle of the dance floor, leaving Marcel standing there watching her walk away. A stressed looking Lola walks back towards where she left Klaus standing who is now with Rebekah who looks at her concerned, "Are you okay?"

A spiteful laugh escapes Lola, "It's times like this I wish I wasn't you-know-what so I could drink everything in sight." Klaus pulls Lola closer to him, his hand finding a place on her lower back as he leaves a soft kiss against her temple in the hopes it would calm her down slightly.

Rebekah smiles as she stares out into the crowd, "Perfect, the next step in my plan has arrived."

Lola follows Rebekah's gaze to see Cami walk into the compound, looking stunning wearing a floor length white dress, styled with large angel wings, "The bartender from Rousseau's?"

Rebekah's smile widens as she continues looking towards Cami, "What better way to distract Marcel than to put his very human new girl in a room chock full of vampires?" Rebekah crosses the courtyard and walks over to Cami as she smiles broadly, "Cami, darling. You look precious."

Cami laughs, breathlessly as she glances around the lavish party, "This party is ridiculous, but I think I went a bit splashy with this dress."

"Nonsense." Cami looks over Rebekah's shoulder to see Lola approach them both, Klaus one step behind, "You look stunning."

"Amelia, hey!" Cami grins at Lola, "What a small world."

Lola catches confused glances from Rebekah and Klaus at Cami calling her Amelia. Klaus chuckles slightly as he leans closer to Lola, "Very small indeed."

"Another drink, brother?" Rebekah questions as she links arms with Klaus leaving both Lola and Cami.

Lola clears her throat, stepping closer to her, "Listen, Cami. Tell me if this is too forward but I remember you telling me how you done a degree in psychology..."

Cami smiles towards Lola as she nods, "That's right, abnormal psychology."

"I know I said before that my friend knows a thing or two about psychology but then I was thinking about what you said about speaking to a stranger and thought maybe-"

"Here." Klaus unintentionally interrupts as he passes Lola a drink and stands beside her again.

Cami looks through the crowd when her smile begins to drift away, "The guy of hers Rebekah was talking about..." Cami's stare stays in the midst of the crowd making Lola and Klaus follow it to see Rebekah speaking with Marcel at the bar, "I'm sensing that would be Marcel."

"I wouldn't worry about it." Klaus assures her, "Ancient history."

Cami looks back over to Lola and Klaus, annoyance beginning to fill her expression, "I'm beginning to think your sister is a bit of a bitch."

Both Lola and Klaus laugh at Cami's unexpected bluntness, "It's as though she invented the term!" Klaus agreeing with Cami's statement. He takes Lola's glass from her hand and places it on the table beside them before glancing over to Cami, "Excuse us."

Klaus takes Lola's hand and guides her onto the dance floor. His hand finds a place against her lower back while the other doesn't break away from hers. Lola's other hand finds a place against the back of Klaus' neck as they begin to sway along to the music.

"Have I mentioned how breathtaking you look tonight?" Klaus lowers his lips towards the side of Lola's face, sending shivers up her spine, "Mesmerising in fact."

Lola moves her head slightly, brushing her lips against Klaus', "You clean up pretty well yourself."

"Well don't be fooled, love." Klaus plasters his infamous smirk, "I'm the devil in disguise." He twirls Lola around, a hint of mischief glistens in his eyes as he pulls Lola back towards him, "So...Amelia."

Lola playfully rolls her eyes, "Stop. I wasn't expecting that we'd be staying here permanently so when I came here looking for Hayley I thought it wise to use a fake name."

Klaus hums to himself, "Permanently, you say?"

"I want to make this city our home once more just like you do." The warmth of Lola's eyes glisten, showing nothing but her love towards the man standing before her, "Wherever you go, I go."

"Well then," Klaus twirls Lola around once more, this time pulling her back towards him so her back is against his chest, "Perhaps we should both go back home and see if this dress looks better on the floor."

Lola turns to face Klaus, their lips practically touching until she spots an agitated Marcel on the outskirts of the crowd, speaking to one of his vampires, Diego. She begins to smirk, "And miss the epic drama that is about to happen? Never."

Klaus follows Lola's stare just as Marcel storms towards another vampire, Thierry, grabbing him by the throat and pinning him against the wall. Klaus and Lola both match the same smirk, feeling pleased their plan is starting to begin. They both continue to dance as Klaus listens in on Marcel's argument with Thierry as they stand above the crowd.

Lola looks over Klaus' shoulder to see Cami looking helpless in the middle of the crowd, staring up at Marcel. Lola breaks away from Klaus, taking hold of his hand and walks over to her, "Cami." Lola softly speaks up making Cami jump out of her thoughts, "Are you okay?"

Cami sighs as she looks back up at Marcel, "He's got a temper, doesn't he?" Cami lowers her head, her eyes darken with sadness briefly before clearing her throat, "I guess this is the moment I remember I know better."

Lola watches as Cami walks out of the compound as Josh walks towards her and Klaus. He stands slightly behind as Klaus reaches into his suit jacket and withdraws the daylight ring spell Lola provided earlier. He passes it over his shoulder towards Josh who takes it and swiftly pockets it himself before walking away.

They watch as Josh joins Marcel and the others on the balcony and hands Marcel the spell. Marcel continues to grow more and more angry towards Thierry until even Lola can hear his raised voice,

"Here's a lesson in friendship-- friends don't lie to me, they don't break my rules, and they do not steal what is mine!" Marcel steps away from Thierry momentarily, taking a deep breath before facing him again, eyes full of rage and betrayal, "For the crime of murdering one of his own, I sentence Thierry Vanchure to one hundred years in the Garden."

Below, on the dance floor, Klaus smirks proudly, "And it begins..." He turns to face Lola fully, "I'll see you back at home, love."

Lola nods, she quickly leaves a peck against Klaus' lips. Her thumb wipes away a small hint of lipstick off him as she mouths, "I love you." Lola quickly makes her exit before Marcel notices and before everything is about to happen.

—✤—

With her heels in her hand, Lola walks out into the gardens of the plantation as her curiosity begins to grow remembering the odd feeling she got from seeing a set of amber eyes watching her earlier tonight. Lola crouches down beside the pool, her hand skims across the water making her smile to herself, feeling comfort from the coldness of the water.

Lola looks further into the wooded area when she can feel eyes on her again. Standing up straight Lola steps closer but pauses in her step when she stands in front of a wolf. She frowns slightly, not being able to remember the last time she was in this close of proximity to a wolf when it was so calm.

"You're not supposed to be out here."

Lola whips around shocked to see a woman standing behind her, "Who the hell are you?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Sabine." Sabine smiles politely at her, "We met. I'm one of Sophie's friends."

"You're one of the witches." Lola realises, she narrows her eyes towards Sabine, "Were you the one I threatened?"

Sabine laughs slightly as she shakes her head, "That was Agnes and Lucy. Sophie just asked me to come keep you company while everyone's out." Sabine looks over Lola's shoulder towards the wolf, "You know, it's drawn to you. The child you're carrying is part vampire, witch and part werewolf. You and Klaus made something special."

Lola scoffs as her hand goes straight to her stomach, "You sound like Elijah. It took some time but I eventually came to terms with this whole miracle pregnancy." Lola frowns slightly, "Even though I don't even know what...it is"

"You know, I can do something about that, if you want?" Sabine suggests, stepping closer to Lola, "I mean, find out if it's a boy or girl."

Lola narrows a confused stare towards the witch, "I thought you couldn't do witchy stuff around here?"

Sabine laughs, "It's not magic, just an old trick my grandmother taught me. Come on. You have to be a little curious."

Lola hesitates briefly before smiling back at Sabine, gesturing down at the black ballgown she is still wearing, "Let me get changed first."

Once Lola changes into something more comfortable, she finds Sabine in the kitchen who is clearing the kitchen counter. She frowns towards her, "You're not gonna butcher me or something, are you?"

Sabine smiles genuinely towards her, "Lay down here then I'll hold this crystal above your stomach and it will reveal what you're having."

Lola gets up onto the kitchen counter and lays down as Sabine said. Sabine holds up the crystal above Lola and straight away it begins to sway side to side making Sabine smile, "I think it's a girl."

Lola gasps in shock slightly until Sabine begins to frown as the crystal starts to swing in the other direction, "No... wait."

"Wait what?" Lola frowns, "I love him but please tell me I'm not having a mini-Klaus."

The crystal suddenly glows with a bright light, which causes Sabine to drop it. All of a sudden, her eyes roll back in her head, and she begins to chant in a low voice, "Hoc est infantima malom. Nos omnia perditu el eam."

Lola sits up straight and jumps off the counter, she attempts to shake Sabine out of whatever trance she is in, "Sabine? Sabine, I don't like this! You're freaking me out."

Sabine shudders slightly as she looks over to Lola, fear floods her eyes before flashing a fake smile, "Sorry, I just-" Sabine clears her throat, "I don't know what happened. I should go."

Lola's jaw slacks as she watches Sabine rush out of the kitchen and hears the front door closing after her. Lola heads straight upstairs and grabs one of her grimoires and begins to search through it to find any clues regarding what Sabine said.

—✤—

After yet another argument between himself and Rebekah, Klaus walks into his and Lola's bedroom. All the frustration leaves as his eyes soften to see Lola already asleep, her grimoires spread out across their bed.

He begins to undo his tie as he walks over to her side of the bed, sitting on the edge of it and removing a strand of hair from Lola's face. The dip in the bed wakes Lola, she smiles straight away looking up at Klaus as her hand cups his cheek, "Hey."

Klaus takes hold of Lola's hand, leaving a soft kiss in the palm of her hand, "Go back to sleep, love."

"I've only just drifted off, I wanted to stay awake until you got home." Lola stretches slightly as she turns in the bed and removes the grimoires, "There is something I found out but first, how did tonight go?"

"Just like we planned. Marcel fell right into our trap as you seen and the young little witch done exactly what we expected." Klaus explains as he begins to undress, "I've gained Marcel's trust by killing the witch as a way to protect him, Thierry is now the newest member of the garden prison and Marcel has promised Elijah's safe return." He scoffs as he pulls the sheets back and climbs into bed beside Lola, "Rebekah, however, is not best pleased about Katie's death."

Lola sighs as Klaus pulls her into his chest, "As much as she will refuse to admit this, Rebekah doesn't like seeing people get hurt in the crossfires. But it needed to be done." She lefts her head up slightly, smiling up at Klaus, "Hey, I'm proud of what you've achieved."

Lola lays back down, kissing Klaus against his bare chest. Klaus pulls the sheets up further, "What were you going to tell me?"

"Oh yeah, I found something out earlier." Lola says with her eyes shut, wrapping her arm around Klaus' chest as she smiles, "I think we're having a girl."

A girl.

This news sends shivers up Klaus' spine, he forms goosebumps up his arms as his heart warms with further excitement than before. He smiles down at his love in his arms before leaving a soft kiss against Lola's forehead, then wrapping his arms around her. Making a promise there and then he's going to stop at nothing to protect both of his girls.

—✤—

A/N: Who was in the dream I wonder...😳

Everything will be revealed soon...🤭

I seriously cannot cope with how much I love Lola and Klaus, it's not even funny🥲🥹

Hope you are still enjoying the story!!

Holly x