i know it inside my heart
forever will forever be ours
even if we try to forget, love will remember
you said you loved me, i said i loved you back
what happened to that?
~ selena gomez, love will remember
Though it had been a while since Lydia last woke up feeling safe and protected in the arms of the person she loved, it came back naturally to her. She didn't think twice about it. For a few moments, all she did was lay there and take a deep breath, glancing up to see Kol's sleeping face. None of it felt awkward or out of place, everything seemed normal. Like this was how things should've been. That only lasted for so long. It was soon that her eyes widened and she scrambled out of the bed and his arms, trying to think of how she even ended up there. She recalled getting drunk last night and Kol coming into her room, but how did she end up in his?
Her sudden movement caused Kol to wake and he sat up in his spot, his eyes glancing around like something was wrong since he was startled.
"How did I end up in bed with you?" Lydia narrowed her eyes, wishing she wasn't such a lightweight when it came to drinking. It didn't take much to get her completely drunk.
Kol seemed to relax at this, now aware that nothing was wrong. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair."I brought you to my room because your door was broken and you were drunk. When I laid you down, you insisted that I lay down with you so I did. I apologize if I over-"
"No, it's okay," Lydia interrupted him. Even if she was angry with Kol for other reasons, she understood what he did. She would rather be with Kol than left alone in an open room."You just scared me when I woke up because I didn't know how I got here and I didn't- it doesn't matter. It's okay."
Kol was relieved that Lydia wasn't angry with him, but he couldn't help but feel that something was still bothering her. She looked on edge, lost in her own thoughts. She tried to hide her face from him, staring down at the floor and letting her hair fall down her face. Kol knew that look well, it was how she got whenever she was thinking about a specific someone.
"Are you alright, Dia?" Kol asked gently, not sure she would even want to talk to him about it. He missed being the person she went to about everything and when she didn't respond, that only increased his worries."Lydia? What's troubling you?"
Lydia still didn't respond which prompted Kol to lean forward slowly and place his hand on Lydia's arm, only for her to flinch and jump back, finally noticing that Kol was trying to get her attention.
"S-sorry, Kol," Lydia breathed out."I was just thinking about why I don't like to drink that much."
"There is nothing wrong with liking to be alert and conscious," Kol reminded her. He knew why Lydia didn't like to drink a lot. It was rare that she did when they were together and she only did if she was with Kol. He thought that changed, but he was wrong."Besides, you are safe here."
"I know," Lydia cut him off gently."And so. . . I guess I should apologize. To you. I think I owe you an apology."
"Apologize for what, darling?" Kol furrowed his brow as he tried to think of a reason that Lydia would have to apologize for."You have done nothing wrong."
"It's just that when we were in New Orleans, I said that you were a monster," Lydia reminded him slowly."While you're not exactly in my good graces, I shouldn't have said that. It isn't true."
While Kol appreciated the sentiment, he wasn't offended when Lydia said what she said. If he was broken up like that too, he was sure he would react the same way."I am the one who owes an apology and I understand if you refuse it, but I am sorry for what happened. Truly. I do not have a single excuse."
Lydia was silenced by his response. At this point, she wasn't even upset. She wasn't angry or heartbroken, she was just confused. Because she had asked herself this question over and over again. Why would Kol say those things to her? Why would he hurt her? Why would he spend months lying to her? None of it made any sense to Lydia and she couldn't get a straightforward answer from him. And she would remain in the dark.
Her eyes glanced over to the clock on the nightstand and then widened once she saw the bright red numbers that showed her it was much later than she wanted it to be."Oh my god! It's so late, what time did we fall asleep!?"
Kol also took a look at the clock, his shoulders deflating and a deep breath escaping his lips. He wished they had a chance to talk properly."Do you really not remember anything?"
Lydia's eyes darted around the room as if she would see something that would jog her memory. Quickly realizing nothing could, she turned her attention back to Kol and let out a defeated sigh."I remember everything up until I came back to my room. Then I remember you coming to my room and asking you some questions, but I don't remember what they were about."
"Let's just say, I think you would make for a great talk show host," Kol teased her, causing Lydia to pout and grab the pillow from the side of the bed, throwing it playfully at him. Despite being more than capable of catching it, he allowed it to hit him and laughed at her.
Lydia breathed out a laugh."Okay, but in all seriousness, do I really ask that many questions?"
"It is not so much the amount as it is the fact that you can ramble out ten of them in one breath," Kol admitted, thinking back to all the nights where Lydia used to ask him questions.
"I know, I know," Lydia nodded agreeably."I am well aware that I have a rambling problem."
"While you most certainly do ramble, it is not a problem," Kol remarked."You are good to talk to, but if you wish to get to our destination today, we must end our conversation short. Are you still sure you wish to do this? That witch could be playing a game with you."
Lydia shrugged her shoulders and smiled knowingly at Kol with a small glint of boastfulness in her eyes."Then I'll win. But there will be no game to play if you don't get out of bed so that we can get on our way."
"If we must," Kol sighed dramatically while he pulled himself off the hotel bed.
"Oh, please," Lydia scoffed."There is no way you want to spend any more time in this shoe box they dare call a room. Just get dressed. I'm gonna go get my stuff from-"
"Not to worry," Kol chimed in. He bent down to the side of the bed and grabbed Lydia's bag, tossing it and letting it land on the other side of the bed where she stood."I am going to shower in your room, you use this one."
Lydia nodded her head in agreement, but as she saw Kol turn to leave, something inside of her told her to call out and stop him. So she did. Then when he turned around and waited for Lydia to respond.
Lydia pressed her lips together and traced her tongue alongside the inside of her bottom lip. She knew what she wanted to say to Kol, she just couldn't form the exact words. Lydia would never forgive Kol or forget what happened, but she also didn't like carrying this anger inside of her. In some ways, the anger was just a front to mask her pain. It was easier to be angry with Kol than it was to face the pain that he caused.
"Over the past few years, I created a habit of handing out my forgiveness to people who don't deserve it," Lydia spoke up."I give it away to easily and I let them walk all over me. I stopped doing that. It wasn't good for me. I don't forgive you, that's not what this is about. I just don't want to harbour hatred inside of me. But I know better than anyone what it's like to have someone messing with your head. To have your thoughts not be your own and to not have clarity. I know what that can do to someone and I know that Silas was messing with you. So, I will cut you some slack."
Kol stared at Lydia, his eyes longing for her to say more, but he knew that there wasn't much she could say. Kol could say that he wanted Lydia to run into his arms and that was what he would say if he was selfish, but with Lydia, he always put her first. He didn't want her to forgive him and move on so easily, he didn't want her to be with someone unworthy of her love. Even if that someone was him.
"I understand," Kol acknowledged."There is no need for you to explain yourself to me. You feel whatever you wish. I was in the wrong. That much is clear and since I was, it would not be fair of me to demand that you feel anything other than resentment towards me."
Lydia stood with her back straightened, closing her eyelids and wishing that Kol had said anything else. It was hard to not want to forgive Kol when he kept responding to her in that way. In a way that made her question how he was able to say those things to her and still look at himself in the mirror.
She chose not to respond and instead, once she grabbed her clothes from her bag, she turned to face the small bathroom that was behind her, but just as she turned, Kol spoke.
"Your outfit is truly stunning, by the way," Kol smirked at her, clearly teasing her.
At first, Lydia squinted her eyes and then glanced down at her body, only for her eyes to then expand as she let out a small shriek and covered her mouth. Lydia completely forgot that she still wore Kol's shirts to bed. She just slept in them so often and more than he ever did and sleeping in anything else just felt strange."I- oh my god! The girls told me to stop and that it was bad and it is I know. You can totally have it back, it's just that I got so used to sleeping in them and-"
"It is quite alright," Kol couldn't help but chuckle at the way her cheeks reddened."You should keep it. It looks better on you."
Lydia just sighed through her nostrils and closed her eyes tightly, quickly slipping into the bathroom and internally yelling at herself for sleeping in his shirt. They were just so comfortable. At night, when she wore them, his scent was still there and it pulled Lydia into an embrace that reminded her of the nights she would lay in his arms and who was she kidding? She was still hopelessly in love with Kol Mikaelson.
•
Rebekah paced up and down the foyer, her heels clicking against the marble floors as she bit down on her bottom lip nervously. She was a bit behind on the situation. She was out getting manicures with Rae yesterday and then the two decided to grab dinner and catch a movie. She didn't get home till late and Lydia's door was already closed, so Rebekah assumes the psychic had gone to bed. This morning when she woke, Lydia's door was still closed and Rebekah waited a bit, but when Lydia failed to come out, she went in. Lydia wasn't there. Rebekah called her phone, but got no answer. She called Rae, who told her to wait for her before doing anything else.
Relief flooded Rebekah as Rae pushed open the front door, now having her own key. Not that it mattered. They rarely locked the door. Only Lydia did at night. Since Rae was human, Rebekah also made the decision to put the house in her name. No need for any unwanted surprises from vampires that held a grudge or two against the Mikaelsons.
"What took you so long?" Rebekah huffed, turning on her heel to face Rae."I have been sitting here worried for-"
"Nine minutes," Rae finished for her, nodding her head and knowing that Rebekah was exaggerating."I was on my way to the store, which was why I got here quickly."
"So have you heard from Lydia?" Rebekah interrupted."Because I would rather not have to call my brothers. They asked me to look after her, I cannot tell them that I do not know her whereabouts. They will demand to know how I lost her."
"Well, first of all, you can't lose a grown woman," Rae reminded her."She either left without telling you or was kidnapped by one of your hundreds of enemies."
"I am not sure how that is helping," Rebekah placed her hands on her hips."You seem oddly calm throughout all of this."
"Because I called Kol on the way over here," Rae answered her."I figured that if anyone would know where she is, it's him. And he's with her. They're going to get some item that binds the Other Side? I'm not sure what that means. But she's alright."
Rebekah let out a sigh of relief."Oh, thank god. Why wouldn't she tell me?"
Rae shrugged her shoulders."I don't know. But if it makes you feel any better, she didn't tell me either."
Rebekah nodded her head slowly while Rae's eyes trailed down to the ground, biting on her bottom lip.
"Are you alright?" Rebekah worried, watching as Rae perked up and smiled at her, nodding her head quickly.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just have a lot to get done today," Rae assured her."I have to go get some supplies for when school starts. A new laptop. Notebooks. Textbooks. That sorta thing."
"Well, I am an excellent shopper," Rebekah shrugged her shoulders."Why don't I join you?"
"I can turn shopping for lightbulbs into an exciting excursion," Rebekah told her proudly."Just give me half an hour to get dressed properly. I've been too busy worrying since I woke."
"So you just wear a silk gown to sleep?" Rae raised an eyebrow. It wasn't exactly a gown, but Rebekah knew what she meant. The white silk slip dress she had on was definitely looked like a dress that she could wear out if she chose to.
"You should know this, Rae, we spent all summer in a hotel room together," Rebekah reminded her lightly, glancing down at her outfit."I do not leave my home unless I am in proper attire and my hair is done."
"Actually, I don't, you would always wake up before me," Rae reminded her. By the time she would wakes Rebekah could be ready to face the day.
"Well, if you would like to see how the magic happens, you are more than welcome to accompany me," Rebekah offered."You can finally see my closest. Though I will most likely borrow something from Lydia's. She has upped her style since she returned."
Before Rae was able to answer her, Rebekah shot forward and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the staircase that led upstairs to the bedrooms.
•
Lydia knew that it was just a warehouse. Warehouses were fine. All they did was hold storage. On their own, they shouldn't have terrified her. But add in the long, cold, and dark hallway they were walking through, the lightbulb at the end that was flickering, and the fact that they it was housing a supernatural artifact that was bound to the Other Side and Lydia thought her feelings were justified.
After finally leaving the hotel, they finished the rest of their journey and ended up at the warehouse in the middle of nowhere during the nighttime. Lydia wished she could be anywhere else. She held an incredible amount of power, but she was still someone who was easily spooked. The rest of the trip had gone smoothly. Things were still awkward between the two of them, but there would be moments when Lydia would forget what happened. When Kol would say something stupid and make her laugh and she would be reminded of why she loved him in the first place. Then she would remember and her heart would break all over again.
"Why would someone store the item that binds the Other Side in a random warehouse off the hideaway?" Kol didn't try to hide his confusion regarding the situation. He glanced down at Lydia who didn't answer, but he took notice to how she was practically glued to his hip.
Before Lydia was able to say anything, a loud slamming noise rang out through the dark hall causing Lydia to nearly jump out of her skin and turn around to face the direction from which it came. She noticed that the door they just came through had slammed shut.
"Relax, darling," Kol was amused by her jumpiness. She never was a fan of anything scary."It was just the wind."
"Yeah, yeah, just the wind," Lydia repeated sarcastically."That's how every horror movie you ever made me watch started. Then there's some evil spirit or a killer clown or someone with a chainsaw chasing you down the hall."
Lydia absolutely hated horror movies and despised whenever Kol would make her watch them. Since they were a couple at the time and Kol did a lot of things for her that he didn't like, Lydia decided to do the same. To no one's surprise, she spent the majority of the movies with her head buried into his chest. Kol always offered to turn it off for her, but then he would most likely tease her about it later. Lydia also didn't mind being wrapped in Kol's arms and she wondered if that was why Kol would turn them on. To have an excuse to hold her protectively and to have her wanting his protection.
"You do know that you are more than capable of taking any of those things down, yes?" Kol reminded her. Only Lydia would be terrified of monsters, but live with the worst of the worst.
"Not if I pass out because it's popping out of no where gives me a heart attack!" Lydia exclaimed."And I cant exactly kill ghosts now can I?"
Kol shook his head and didn't bother to hide his laugh, pushing through the double doors at the end of the hall once they reached. Behind the doors, they were met with rows of different shelves, each filled with different items.
"Will we have to search through all of these?" Kol's voice was showcasing the dread he was feeling at the thought of having to go through each and every box.
Lydia, in the other hand, wasn't focused on that. The second she stepped into a room, she was hit with a sense of death. It wasn't exactly the type of thing she wanted to be sensing, but it wasn't in a way that was dangerous or scary. Just creepy.
Her eyes scanned the room briefly before shaking her head and stepping deeper into the room."No. . . Follow me."
Kol raised a curious eyebrow, watching as Lydia began to walk away. He didn't dare question her actions, knowing she knew what she was doing. He simply followed her directions and followed her.
Lydia passed by several aisles with Kol trailing behind her, but she didn't stop at any of them until she reached one somewhere in the middle. Then, she stopped dead in her tracks and began to walk down the aisle.
"Being a psychic is so weird," Lydia mumbled beneath her breath."How do you suppose I became one? I know that it must've been on my biological mother's side, but how does it work?"
"Either she was or someone on her side of the family," Kol suggested."I do not know much about psychic lineage, only that it passes down the bloodline."
Lydia nodded her head, but she didn't respond as she stopped in front of some type of wooden crate that was similar to a coffin. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew that it was what they were looking for."T-this is it."
Kol didn't hesitate to place his hand on either sides of the wooden door and snap it off with ease, placing it towards the side and allowing for Lydia to pull away some packing blocks that were most likely used to prevent whatever was inside from being damaged.
The second that Lydia got a good look at what was inside, her eyes widened almost instantly. Once Kol peered over at it, she was not the only one who was shocked. The one thing Lydia wasn't expecting to be in there was a statue of a person. Certainly not one that looked exactly like the person who grew up in the room across from her.
"Is that. . .?" Lydia trailed off, unable to finish.
"Amara," Kol finished for her."It must be."
"She's who they all come from," Lydia breathed out."All the Petrova Doppelgängers. How long as she been like this?"
"I would imagine ever since Silas was entombed," Kol answered honestly."I take it to be easier if we do not wake her. It may be more difficult if she is awake."
Lydia nodded her head in agreement, suddenly feeling glad that Kol had decided to join in on her little quest. The whole situation was disturbing to her. From the abandon warehouse to the entombed lover of the man Lydia murdered. Lydia was glad she didn't have to do it alone or with someone who wasn't Kol because there was still no one she felt safer with. All that was left was the journey back.
•
"Now why would one dare choose these hideous flat pieces of rubber for footwear?"
Rae resisted the urge to laugh as she listened to Rebekah's comment. She didn't even have to turn around to know that Rebekah had just picked up the pair of shower shoes Rae had placed into her shopping cart. They had spent all day going to different stores to get things that Rae needed and were currently in a bedding and bath store to pick up some supplies for her dorm.
"They're called shower shoes," Rae answered, slowly turning around to face Rebekah who was holding the pair of shoes with the edge of her finger, like she was afraid touching it would harm her hand somehow."They aren't met to be pretty. They're meant to protect you from bacteria transmitted in public showers. Like in a dorm."
"You do not get your own bathroom?" Rebekah's eyes widened slightly, dropping the shoes back into the cart."How preposterous! Next thing you are going to tell me is that you have to share a room with a stranger."
Rae nodded her head quickly, watching as Rebekah's eyes widened and she shrivelled her nose in disgust. She imagined that Rebekah hadn't shared a room since she was much much younger. And human. Rebekah was use to the finer things. That included having her own living area.
"It's all part of the college experience," Rae responded with fake enthusiasm.
"College nightmare is a more accurate term for it," Rebekah countered as she began to push the cart when Rae began to walk down the aisle."Why would you put yourself through that?"
Rae bit down on her bottom lip. She loved hanging out with Rebekah, but sometimes she could be a little bit blind to how the human life was much different from that of a vampire. Rebekah didn't understand things like having to get a further education in order to get a job so she could afford things like clothes, food, a mortgage. Rae tried to be patient with her. She understood that Rebekah was trying and did want to know.
"You know what?" Rae decided as they began to walk down the space between the aisles, turning around and walking backwards."I think that going to college would do you some good."
Rebekah's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she laughed and shook her head."What? No. That is most certainly not suitable for me."
"Why? Because you'll have to trade in your Dom Perignon for cheap beer out of solo cups?" Rae challenged."You want to be human. Well, you cannot be human without experiencing the grunt work. Compel yourself in. You can room with me. It'll be fun. I promise."
"It is not that I do not believe you, but I am not so sure I will fit in," Rebekah sounded unsure, but she did sound like she was considering it.
"So I'll help you adjust," Rae shrugged her shoulders before she wiggled her eyebrows playfully."Get off your throne and come on to the other side and see how we live. No maids, no mimosas with breakfast, or five course meals for dinner. No vampire tricks. Well, except for compelling yourself in. And maybe making sure that we're roommates. And possibly getting us the biggest room. I promise, bu the time you're done your first semester, you will be able to claim the whole campus as your kingdom."
Rebekah paused for a moment, pursing her lips to the side as she thought about it. She wasn't doing anything. Klaus and Elijah promised that they would let her be. She had no plans for once and college couldn't be that bad. On the plus side, it would allow her to spend more time with Rae. Something that she had been wanting to do more and more lately.
"Okay," Rebekah gave in, watching as Rae smiled widely and clapped her hands together, causing her to smile as well.
"Ah, this will be so much fun!" Rae exclaimed happily, glancing to the side and noticing something sitting on the shelf that they were just walking by. She laughed to herself before reaching for the shimmery silver dress up item laced with plastic purple stones. She took it and turned back to face Rebekah, placing the plastic crown on top of her blonde hair.
"What is a queen without her crown?" Rae responded sarcastically, causing Rebekah to laugh and shake her head, raising her hand to steady the crown on top of her head, smiling as Rae began to pull the cart from the other end.
"Come on, let's now go get everything that you'll need," Rae decided, nodding behind her and walking off while Rebekah followed, wondering if this was really what she wanted. She did enjoy living in her mansion. She enjoyed swimming in her heated pool and her at home gym. She wasn't sure that she wanted to give that up, but it seemed to mean something to Rae that she at least tried. Rae wanted to show her what it was like and for Rebekah, that was enough.
•
While they hit a few bumps on the road, the trip to Mystic Falls was somewhat pleasant. Except for the frozen person in the backseat. She didn't want to go anywhere near that thing. It was a giant reminder of Silas and what happened with him. She would rather not think about Silas ever again.
Lydia was never more happy to be sitting on the couch in the Mikaelson's living room. It was never the most comfortable, in her opinion, but she would rather be there than back in that warehouse. Thankfully, Rebekah was no where to be seen when they arrived, which was fine by Lydia since she didn't feel like explaining any of this to her.
"When is Silas' scorned lover going to show?" Kol questioned as he walked back into the living room after getting a glass of blood for himself. Lydia turned his offer down when he asked if she wanted one.
"You don't have to be here, you know?" Lydia pointed out to him."You helped me a lot these past few days and you don't have to do anything else. You can leave if you want. Well, you don't have to leave because obviously it's your house and I can't tell you to leave-"
"I do not have anywhere else to be," Kol shrugged his shoulders."And like I said, I do not trust her and I most certainly do not trust her around you."
"I thought you liked witches," Lydia recalled how Kol was known to hang around witches all of the time.
"That does not mean I am going to leave you with one that randomly showed up and demanded that you go fetch her some object," Kol scowled. Lydia was about to ask why he even cared. He claimed he didn't love her, so if she was risking her life, why did it bother him? She didn't get the chance to ask before someone else spoke.
"I demanded nothing of Lydia," Tessa announced her presence as she strolled into the room, causing both Lydia and Kol to look in her direction."She could have said no, but then I wouldn't be able to bring back her little friend."
"How exactly do you plan to revive Bonnie Bennett?" Kol asked. Lydia sometimes forgot that he was a witch and was probably wondering what spell she was planning on using since bringing people back from the dead wasn't common.
"I will switch the link to the Other Side from. . . That woman," Tessa shrivelled her nose as she looked at the frozen Amara."To Bonnie. Simple."
"So what, is Bonnie going to be all frozen and stone like too?" Lydia raised her eyebrows. She wasn't about to help bring Bonnie back so that she could live her life like that.
"Bonnie will be fine," Tessa assured her."Though, I will need some help. The spell I'm using is quite strong and requires me to channel magic from other sources. You will do just fine."
"Absolutely not," Kol stood from the couch, crossing his arms in front of the chest, showing that he was against Lydia being used in the spell.
"Why do you need to channel me?" Lydia asked curiously, ignoring Kol's objection. It didn't mean anything to her if she didn't mean anything to him. She was still somewhat new to the ways of witches and she didn't see how she could be used to help with the spell.
"A psychic and a vampire with the power of Silas running through her veins," Tessa reminded her."Let me put it in a way someone your age can understand. You're basically a hotspot for spells, Lydia."
Lydia seemed satisfied with the answer, only she noticed that Kol was feeling quite the opposite."And what of Amara? Will she remain like that?"
"It doesn't matter to me," Tessa shrugged her shoulders."Silas is gone, which means that she can't retinitis with him. Since she's immortal and the cure is gone, she can't die. They will be separated for all eternity. Now, can we begin?"
Lydia nodded her head slowly. She didn't care much for Amara and like Tessa, she also wanted to ensure that Amara would never connect with Silas. Like she had told Silas the night she killed him, he took her from her love, so she would take him from his.
•
Despite being involved in this supernatural world for quite some time, Lydia still didn't understand a whole bunch of things about how it worked and she was sure she never would. Like how Bonnie just appeared out of thin air once the spell was complete. Lydia may have jumped when that happened. The idea of someone coming back from the dead was still odd to her. She only went along with it for her siblings, Caroline, and Bonnie's family. If it wasn't for them, Lydia would've rejected Tessa's offer. She didn't kill Silas for a reward.
After the spell was done and she explained to Bonnie what happened, Tessa left. She didn't say where she was going or what she was planning to do, but Lydia didn't think it would ever be a problem. Tessa wasn't a threat. She wanted Silas dead and Amara and Silas separated for all eternity. She had that now and so Lydia assumed that she was off to live her life the way that she wanted. Shortly after she left, Kol did as well to find Rebekah which meant that Lydia was now alone in the living room with Bonnie.
Lydia was a bit uncomfortable around Bonnie. The two of them rarely talked and she could tell that Bonnie was uncomfortable in the Mikaelson Manor. Plus, like a lot of people, Bonnie thought that Lydia was a fool for getting involved with the Mikaelsons. She didn't say it, but Lydia knew that was how she felt.
Lydia had called Jeremy to tell him that it worked and he could bring Elena and Caroline over, which meant that Lydia and Bonnie wouldn't have to awkwardly sit there for much longer.
"Thank you. . . For what you did, Lydia," Bonnie spoke up."I know that we aren't exactly close and I would expect you to have helped me, but I appreciate it."
Lydia shrugged her shoulders and leaned back against the couch."I didn't do anything."
"Except for travel across the country with your ex-boyfriend, find Amara, drag her back here and be used in the spell," Bonnie corrected her."I know that Tessa offered you a favour and you chose to bring me back. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Lydia figured it would be easier to just go along with it. She sent her a soft smile, but before either of them were able to say anything else, the sound of the doorbell ringing broke through the room. Lydia didn't hesitate to stand up, but when she did, she felt a little bit light headed. It was an odd feeling, one that she hadn't experienced in a while. Since it passed in a few seconds, Lydia ignored it and continued to walk towards the front door to greet her guests.
A part of Lydia felt odd when bringing her friends over to the Mikaelson Manor since they didn't get along with the Mikaelsons. Klaus insisted it was fine. While he didn't like the idea of them in his house, he was no longer there. Lydia was.
"Lydia!" Elena exclaimed, stepping into the house once the door was open."How could you run off without telling anyone?"
Lydia beamed up at Elena, hoping that she could get on Elena's good side and get her to leave her alone. Lydia went so long without having Elena in her life, it was strange to have her back. But she liked it. Her relationship with Jeremy on the other hand, wasn't seeing much development."I told your boyfriend. And Jeremy. And Klaus."
"I wouldn't mention those names in defence of your safety," Caroline added.
"Hey!" Jeremy responded defensively."So where's Bonnie?"
"The living room," Lydia answered, stepping out of the way and nodding towards the direction from which she just came. She stepped out of the way to allow for Jeremy and Caroline to rush through so that they could go see the newly revived Bonnie.
While those two ran off, Elena remained behind, not going to see Bonnie just yet and instead, focusing on Lydia, which made her happy for some odd reason."You could've gotten hurt, Lyds."
"I can take care of myself," Lydia reminded her."And it's not like I was alone. I was. . . With Kol."
Kol was still a sensitive topic between the two of them. They always had a rough relationship on account of Elena trying to murder him and his siblings, but just when Elena was trying to push her feelings aside for the sake of her sister, Kol went and broke Lydia's heart. So now, Elena still doesn't like him.
"With Kol?" Elena repeated in disbelief."He was with you? And you were okay with that? What happened?"
"Damon and Jeremy would only make up an excuse for me if I brought someone with me," Lydia explained."I thought I texted Klaus for help, but I texted Kol, and then he showed up and I didn't want to go alone and- wait. What did Damon end up telling you?"
"Jeremy said that you wanted to practice your new found powers and didn't want to hurt anyone, so you went to some forest a few towns over," Elena answered.
"But then I could accidentally hurt the animals?" Lydia frowned when she heard this.
Elena bit down on her bottom lip to keep from smiling at Lydia's comment."Let's get back on track. How was it? Being around him again?"
Lydia shrugged her shoulders and glanced down at the marble floor for a moment."I. . . Don't know. He wasn't rude of anything. He was actually nice."
"Did you two talk about what he said?" Elena inquired, tilting her head to the side.
"A little bit," Lydia admitted."He said that he was confused because of the whole Silas memory wipe thing that reverted him to his old self and getting his memories back put him in like an identity crisis. He apologized but. . ."
"Will you be able to forgive him?" Elena raised her eyebrows, watching as Lydia opened her lips to respond, but closed them and glanced around the room.
The truth was, Lydia didn't have an answer. She loved Kol and if he hadn't broken up with her the way he did, she would have no problem saying that she wanted him back. And she did want him back. The issue was that she knew she shouldn't. He was awful to her. Lydia vowed that after Jace, she would never let a man treat her like that again. But Kol's situation was different. Jace hurt Lydia because he was a terrible person. Kol hurt Lydia because he had some creepy psychic poking around in his brain.
"I don't know," Lydia admitted softly."Eventually, maybe. Not right now. I try to push him from my mind. I try to forget everything that he said to me. Then I see him and. . . It doesn't matter what I do. My heart takes over and I miss him. I remember all the little things about our relationship that I lost, that I miss. He seems fine. He seems like he moved on. I don't know how. I guess that just means he never really loved me. And I keep waiting for him to say something. For something to happen that will tell me that what he said was a lie. But I know that's true and since it isn't, I don't think I could ever get back with him, not that he wants to. But if he did, us getting back together would be wrong, right? After what he did?"
"That's not necessarily true," Elena replied."From what you, Caroline, and Stefan have told me, this was completely out of character for him. Maybe it was just Silas messing with his head that made him lash out. You don't have to stay away from someone just because they hurt you once if you think that they're worthy of forgiveness. Just be careful."
Lydia nodded her head in agreement, but didn't respond. Even if Kol was just confused about what he wanted, he could have just told her that he was done with her. He didn't need to point out every single one of her flaws and insecurities. Besides, the other night he told her that he didn't love her. So nothing changed.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Elena raised an eyebrow."You look pretty pale."
Elena reached out with her hand and placed her palm against Lydia's forehead, causing her to scrunch her nose and pull away quickly."Lydia! Stop it, you don't look well."
"Bleh," Lydia rolled her eyes."I'm a vampire. I can't get sick. I'm just tired so I'm gonna go take a shower and then go to bed. Go see Bonnie."
Elena was hesitant, but she accepted Lydia's answer. She figured she would be here long enough to keep an eye on Lydia and she didn't want to push her. Elena's role in Lydia's life was still uncertain and Elena didn't want to overstep any bounds."Okay, we'll get out of your hair soon. I'll come up and check on you before we leave."
"Okay," Lydia mumbled as Elena nodded her head and then walked away to go find her friend, leaving Lydia to stand in the foyer alone for about two seconds before the front door was pushed open.
Lydia was hoping whoever it was didn't want to talk to her. She was feeling exhausted and figured it was from being channeled. She didn't exactly know how to handle that, so she thought sleep would fix it. Unfortunately it was someone who wanted to talk to. And someone who wanted to talk to her.
"Hello, Dia," Kol greeted, closing the door behind him once he stepped inside.
"Did you find Bekah?" Lydia wondered.
"I reached her when I got outside," Kol informed her."She will be home in a few hours. She is out with Rae. Once she returns, I will greet her and then be on my- what is wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Lydia was surprised by his comment, watching as he shrugged off his jacket and threw it to the side, completely ignoring the fact that they had a coat closet.
"You look ill," Kol told her, his eyes scanning her in a worried manner.
This was the second person to tell Lydia that she didn't look well, which was concerning, but Lydia didn't think it was that big of a deal."I feel fine."
"I wonder how many years it is going to take for you to learn that you cannot lie to me," Kol half joked.
Lydia patted her lips to make some type of sarcastic remark to distract Kol from thinking something was wrong, when all of a sudden there was a sharp pain in her throat. She rose the back of her hand to her lips to cover her mouth when she coughed, but when she finally did, she felt a liquid leave her lips and when she looked down at her hand, all she saw was crimson blood.
•
Next Time in Illicit Love
Lydia and Kol are forced to discuss the state and future of their relationship.
Outfit credit: R.A.M.A on Urstyle
Hi! It's been a while, I apologize. Not that long, but long enough that it's unusual. This chapter has been done for a little while now, but I have just been so overwhelmed the last few days and I like to update when I have time to enjoy it and can look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you for being patient.
Also, I realized a mistake I made while writing. For some reason, I kept switching between the show being set in Virginia and Georgia in the first act. I have no clue why, I am aware that they are two different states, but for some odd reason I kept on forgetting which one it was set in. My mistake!
I'm debating on finishing a short story I had done in the one shot book which is basically an AU where Lydia does know about vampires and who Kol is at the time they met. I have a little bit done, but the issue is that it contains a spoiler for something so I can't release it until the end of act four. I'm excited because we'll be getting into some of my fav chapters from the act soon. I like the next one because it just has some of my fav Lydia and Kol moments and is only focused on them. There was supposed to be other scenes, but they got cut because I felt like that chapter should only be about them. I think only Elena appears once but it's to talk to Kol about Lydia.
Then there's a chapter which is focused on Lydia and Klaus' friendship, then one that focuses on Kol and Elijah's broken relationship and I think it's the only chapter that Lydia isn't in. It's just Kol, Elijah, Marcel appears once, and Klaus over the phone. Then there's another chapter and then a time jump and then we get into my absolute fav chapters of the act.
Anyways. Thank you for reading. Hope you all enjoyed, be sure to comment your thoughts. Have a good day/night!