it's just me and you | klaus mikaelson

xiv. | cara mia

chapter 32

Give a little time to me or burn this out
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around
All I want is the taste that your lips allow
My, my, my, my, oh give me love

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

JADE STOOD OUTSIDE the Forbes house with a fearful look on her face. The events of the last hour had not yet reached her, her mind still clouded, unable to decide which emotion to dress as the main one. Happiness? Relief? Anger? Fear? Guilt? They all were competing for dominance, yet none emerging as the clear victor.

She got out of that cell just because of Klaus. Without him, she would've either continued to sit there and massacred her father's body, or fallen into another meltdown just looking at his corpse.

Well, without him, she would've been the one who's corpse would be lying somewhere discarted, waiting to be forgotten.

Corpse.

Her father was a corpse.

Jade was sick to her stomach at the very thought. She could not describe the feeling for the life of her. It was as though he hadn't truly died at all. She still felt his presence, like an unshakeable shadow, lingering on her shoulder, looming from behind, coursing through her veins, and entwined with her very soul. He was rooted so deeply within her that even his death couldn't expel him from the world. In a way, he seemed to have become the first immortal human, living on forever inside her as an enduring weight on her heart.

Jade guessed that this was probably how Klaus felt during Homecoming.

"I don't know." He finally murmured, shaking his head. "I guess... free?" He said, his words coming out more like a question rather than definitive answer. "That's what I should feel, but..." He trailed off, glancing at the girl. "I don't."

Yeah, she could fucking relate.

Jade reluctantly approached the front door of the house, pushing it open with trembling uncertainty etched across her face. Yet, as she crossed the threshold, she was immediately engulfed in a strong, loving embrace from her sister.

"Oh, my God, you're okay." Caroline whispered tenderly into the blonde's bloodstained hair. "You're okay." She echoed herself, her words like a soothing lullaby, her eyes closing as she clung tightly to her sister.

Jade let out a deep, shuddering sigh, her arms wrapping around Caroline's form.  "I'm okay." She whispered. "Are you okay?" She asked, concern etched in her voice.

Caroline nodded rapidly. "I'm okay." She whispered back, and Jade drew in a deep, steadying breath as they slowly parted from their embrace. "I'm sorry, I should've listen. I shouldn't have gone with him." Caroline confessed, her voice heavy with guilt.

"No, you have nothing to be sorry for." Jade quickly responded, her throat tight. "It's all his fault." She added, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Oh, my God." Liz breathed at the sight of her eldest daughter. "Honey, are you okay?" She rushed to Jade's side, her motherly instincts taking over as she instinctively searched for any signs of physical harm, momentarily forgetting the supernatural nature of her daughter. "Where's..." Liz's words trailed off into a hushed uncertainty, unable to finish her question as she caught the expression on Jade's face.

"I..." Jade began, her voice trembling, her throat closing up as her eyes welled with tears. "I... I'm sorry." She stammered, her words strained as she shook her head. "I'm so sorry..." She choked out, her face twisting into a pained grimace.

Liz furrowed her eyebrows, her concern deepening as she touched her daughter's trembling shoulder. "What happened?" She asked, her voice filled with worry, her eyes searching Jade's face for answers.

Jade drew in a shuddering breath, not meeting her mother and sister's eyes. "I, uh, he wanted to... kill me and..." She trailed off, her head still shaking rapidly, her eyes fixed on the floor as tears streamed down her face.

The blondes immediately widened their eyes, their breaths catching in their throats. "What..." Liz whispered, her grip on Jade's shoulder tightening in a protective gesture.

Caroline knitted her eyebrows in a mixture of sadness and sympathy. "Oh, Jade..." She breathed, instinctively pulling her sister into another tight, comforting embrace, causing sobs to spill from Jade's lips.

"I'm sorry." Jade choked out, face twisted in pain. "He was right, I'm a monster." She whispered almost inaudibly, as if to herself.

Father killer.

His death was her dream.

So why did she feel like this?

Why does she feel like the worst person walking the Earth? Why isn't she happy? Why isn't she jumping from joy? Why does she feel guilty?

"No." Caroline protested immediately, her head shaking as a few tears began to trace their paths down her face.

Liz gently shook her head as she lovingly stroked Jade's hair. "Jade, listen to me," She implored gently, her eyes brimming with warmth and understanding. "You're not a monster." She affirmed, her words a soothing balm for her daughter's wounded soul.

Jade, with a sudden surge of emotion, pulled away from their embrace, her head shaking with an agonizing weight. "I killed him, Carrie." She confessed, her voice heavy with guilt. "I killed our dad."

Jade looked straight into her sister's twin eyes, which mirrored her sadness. But the younger blonde's gaze was not of grief, it was out of the saddness for her.

Caroline knew what this meant for Jade, and she knew how relieved she should feel. And she knew just as well why she didn't feel it.

Jade felt guilty for her. She shouldn't.

Caroline agreed to meet her father, she was stupid enough to believe his pretty lies about family, about love, about change. She felt like a silly child again, looking at her father with big, sparkling eyes, her only concern being whether they would make it in time for ice cream before her favorite ran out. It turned out that her father hated her, hated what she had become, and would rather kill her than accept her. So, no, she didn't feel the slightest bit of grief at the news of his death.

Taking a step forward, Liz firmly grasped her firstborn's shoulder, her gaze penetrating deeply into Jade's eyes. "That man wasn't your dad. He was a soulless monster who didn't deserve that title." She said calmly and gently, causing Jade's lips to tremble. "Do you understand? He was the monster, not you girls." She whispered, glancing between her daughters.

Jade sniffled, her head shaking. "Please, don't hate me." She choked out, her face twisting in pain. "Just please━" She pleaded, her voice quavering with desperation. She began to utter another plea, but a heart-wrenching sob overcame her, and she simply slumped her head between her shoulders in a gesture of surrender. Liz's heart sank at the sight of her daughter, and she quickly pulled her to herself, her hand running through her hair in a soothing manner.

"We don't hate you, J." Caroline whispered as she joined the embrace. "Of course we don't hate you." She echoed, burring her face into the blonde's hair.

The last time such an embrace took place was more than five years ago, when Jade was moving out of Mystic Falls, fleeing the memories of her father, who was on his way to prison. Who was on his way to disappearing from their lives. Temporarily. Now it was similar, albeit he was gone forever. This parallel prompted yet another sob to escape from the shaken blonde, and she clung even tighter to the women.

He was gone.

Forever.

It finally reached her.

"I would do the same." Liz broke the momentary silence, her voice quiet and gentle. "If I had been there, he would have died  before he could lay a finger on either of my girls." She whispered, giving them both a tender kiss on their foreheads.

Jade briefly closed her eyes, sighing as she breathed in her mother's comforting scent. "I love you, mum." She whispered, causing a small smile to form on the elder woman's lips. Caroline quickly said the same, resting her head on her mother's shoulder, her eyes closing.

"I love you too, so much." Their mother said, the end of the sentence whispered more to herself than anybody else. They stood like that for a while, each of them savouring the comforting moment of being in each other arms.

It didn't happen often━being so close to each other━considering their family's history. Neither of them will admit it out loud, given their shared trait of stubbornness, but they each cherish those moments when they are simply family, spreading their love for one another. Liz felt as if they were little girls again, tucked in the embrace of a mother who would be able to defend them from every evil in this world.

But she didn't. She didn't protect them.

And that will ramain her greatest sin.

As they reluctantly pulled away from their embrace, all of them sniffing and wiping away tears, Liz decided to break the somber mood.  "I should ground you for life for leaving me out of this." She scolded, her tone more playful than angry, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Caroline snorted, using her sleeve to dry her eyes. "We're adults, mum." She said, her eyes rolling slightly, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

"And vampires." Jade added hoarsely, rubbing her face with her hands, her mood beginning to brighten.

"And I'm your mother." Liz said with a narrowed look, before sighing deeply. "I should be protecting you." She said, guilty look flashing on her features.

"Don't worry, I had... help." Jade said hesistantly, biting her bottom lip.

"What kind of help?" Liz questioned in confusion. As she saw her daughters exchange a meaningfull look, with her youngest smilling cheekily at her older, flustered one, she huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "I definitely need to have a word with that young man." She grumbled under her breath.

Jade's eyebrows shot up and she leaned towards her sister. "Did she just say 'young man'?" She whispered, causing the other to snort in amusement.

"He's like a milion years old, mum." Caroline said, arching an eyebrow.

Jade hummed in agreement. "He was actually there when they invented numbers." She added, face contorted in thought.

"And colors."

"And tim━"

"━I don't care." Liz interrupted with an authoritative tone that made both of her daughters halt mid-sentence, amusement dancing in their eyes. "I need to have a little chat about his intentions with my daughter." She declared. When Jade caught the sheriffness in her mother's voice, she couldn't help but groan and throw her head back in exasperation.

"Oh, God." She muttered, her eyes briefly closing in mock despair.

Caroline clicked her tongue and gave her sister a consoling pat on the shoulder. "Good luck." She whispered, an amused twinkle in her eye.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The women later sat down for dinner together, carefully avoiding the painful subject of their girls' father.  Before Klaus helped her out of that god-forsaken cell, he promised that he would get rid of her father's corpse and Jade was profoundly grateful for this offer, as she couldn't fathom facing the gruesome task herself. She also had no desire whatsoever to know where her father's remains would rot for all eternity.

Klaus... what a plot twist, that man was.

He was a master at pissing her off, killed her so many times that she didn't even remember anymore, comforted her, teased her, kissed her, then tried to kill her sister, saved her from her father and now invited her to a ball. That man was an enigma, if she had ever seen one.

During their dinner, Caroline shared that Klaus had offered her a sincere apology, using those big, fancy words that live only in his vocabulary and not in any other normal person's. She said how he explained to her that she was never in any danger, how he had hybrids prepared that would have carried his blood to her if something had stopped him. How he truly regretted his act.

Jade was taken aback by this, and a strange warmth spread under her skin, and more specifically in her undead heart.

He cared.

Now, as the late evening draped the world in the shadows of the October solstice, Jade and Caroline found themselves lying together on the elder sister's bed. The black cat nestled between them, curled up into a small, contented ball, sound asleep. The only illumination in the room came from the soft, warm glow of Christmas lights, delicately wrapped around the metal bars of Jade's bed, casting an autumnal ambiance in her childhood bedroom, where a few of cinnamon and apple candles glowed, adding some more light.

Yes, she was a unapologetic whore for autumn, got a problem?

Jade took a sip of her ginger tea and set the cup aside on her bedside table, exhaling softly. "How are you feeling?" She asked softly, settling on her side and leaning her head against her hand, the other one petting the purring cat softly.

Caroline offered a casual shrug. "I should be asking you that question." She mumbled under her breath, saddened and tired eyes fixed on the sleeping animal.

Jade shook her head immediately. "No." She asserted, pulling herself up to a more dignified position, her tone firm as she spoke. "You're the one who's boyfriend bit you and then got out of town, leaving you alone. You're the one who got captured and then tortured." She said sharply, but her tone was tender. "I just happened to kill the torturer." She shrugged, her head shaking slowly.

Caroline snapped her eyes to her sister's, her mouth tight as she listened. "I..." She began, her mouth closing and opening, searching for the right words. A dry, humorless chuckle escaped her lips, that turned into a soft sob after a few, quick moments. "I..." She tried again, but her vision started to become blurry, few tears slowly decorating her face as she sobbed.

"C'mere." Jade whispered softly, pulling her sister to herself, letting her cry on her shoulder.

"He hated us." Caroline spat, sniffing loudly. Jade sighed as she ran her finger's through her little sister's curls in a soothing manner. "He wanted to kill us. His daughters."

"I know." The older one whispered, leaning her head against hers.

"He told me I'm a monster."

"Well, he should've looked in a fucking mirror." Jade grumbled, unable to hide the anger in her voice. Sighing, she leaned back, resting her head against the headboard. "You're the furthest thing from a monster, Carrie." She told her softly, glancing at the top of her head. "Don't ever think otherwise." She reassured in a whisper, her fingers continuing to comb through her hair.

Caroline sniffled, wiping the tears from her face. "What did he tell you?" She asked, still laying on her sister's chest. Jade was about to open her mouth to answer, but as her mind returned to the events from earlier that day, she closed it, only a sigh as her response.

Greatest disappointment.

Born broken.

Parasite.

Ungrateful.

Wrong.

Not good.

"Stuff." She decided on saying, continuing to twirl her sister's hair strands between her fingers.

Caroline shifted her position, pulling away from her sister and lying on her side, her head propped up by her bent arm. "Whatever he told you, it's all lies." She declared, earning a quizzical arched brow from Jade. "He didn't know you, but I do." She said, pointing her finger at her chest. "And I'm telling you━you're the best." A faint smile played on her lips.

Jade smiled slightly, huffing a little in amusement. "Thanks." She murmured, playfully nudging her sister with her knee. "You're pretty cool, too." She added, glancing sideways at her sister, who reciprocated the affectionate smile.

After their smiles faltered, Caroline sighed, collapsing on her back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "I hate him." She shook her head. Her voice was quiet as she spoke, but the sharpness in her tone was evident. "I hate him so much, Jade."

"I know." Jade copied her sister's position, slumping lower on the bed and staring ahead. "I hate him, too. But he doesn't exist anymore, you know?" She tilted her head to the blonde, eyes not leaving the ceiling. "Fuck him." She shrugged her shoulders.

Caroline nodded slowly, lips pouting in thought. "Where is he?" She asked after a pause, glancing to the side at her sister.

"Why?" Jade asked as she twisted her head, eyebrows knitted together in question.

"'Cause I wanna dance on his grave."

Jade immediately closed her eyes, an involuntary laugh escaping her lips. As Caroline chuckled quietly, Jade shook her head. "I don't know." She admitted with a sigh. "Klaus... took care of him." She added, her face contorted with hesitation.

Caroline nodded thoughtfully. "That's probably for the best."

"Yeah..." Jade replied with a resigned sigh. She reached out to Morti, her fingers gliding gently over the cat's soft fur.

The sisters lay like that for a while, the only sound echoing in the room was Morti's quick heartbeat and the soft crackling of the candles. Drawing a big breath, Caroline decided to break the silence.

"How are you two?"

Jade immediately threw her head back, eyes closing in exasperation. "For the love of God..." She mumbled under her breath, her tone almost a whine. Snapping her head back up, she shot her little sister a narrowed look. "Don't you hate him?" She barked, her face souring up.

"I did." Caroline nodded, her voice sincere, earning a raised brow from the older blonde. "Until he apologized." She confessed with a long sigh, running her fingers through her hair. "Until I saw the look on his face when I told him about you." She said with raised eyebrows as she locked their gazes.

Jade's eyebrow was firmly arched, her eyes narrowed into slits. "What look?" She asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Scared." She said, causing both Jade's eyebrows to jump in surprise. "You made Klaus Mikaelson, the most dangerous creature in the whole world, the boogeyman of the supernatural, the pain in all of our asses, look absolutely terrified." Caroline explained with a smile tugging at her lips. "I would've put it on my resume." She mused, her shoulders shrugging playfully.  "Or at least on my collage application." She added with a self-assured nod.

Jade stared blankly at her sister for a few moments, then rubbed her face with her hands. "I'll keep that in mind when applying for the position of world leader." She quipped, her voice muffled.

Caroline pushed the other woman slightly, causing her to smirk in amusement. "He cares about you." She said, raising an eyebrow at her, causing her smile to falter. "Do you... care about him?" She asked, her tone a little hesistant.

A beat.

Jade had never met a soul who spoke her language. True, she had met a couple who knew words, sentences, verses even. But he. He was fluent, knew every word, every intricate letter and made poetry out of them, wrote books that could turn into volumes. He knew her by one look, he knew her pain, he knew her suffering. Suffering, that he turned into joy in the blink of an eye, without effort, puff, just like that.

How?

She felt like she had been stuck in a endless labirynth, unable to find an exit for all her life. And he felt like a light, guiding her to freedom. But the question arises━will he be the one standing at the door?

She thought for a second.

And she found herself wishing that.

Oh, God.

What are you doing to her, hybrid?

"Yeah." Jade breathed in defeat, her eyes rolling. When she saw Caroline's eyes starting to sparkle and a wide grin forming on her face, she raised her palm up, eyes closed. "Please, don't say it out loud or I'm gonna get violent."

Caroline snorted, rolling her eyes. "Okay, I won't." She said, her tone dramatic, causing the older one to scowl. "It'll be out little secret." She whispered, nudging Jade in the knee teasingly.

Jade bit her inner cheek to stifle a smile. "You really... are okay with this?" She asked, her tone hesistant. When Caroline shot her a questioning look, Jade elaborated. "You know, with me... liking him."

"It's freaking complicated, to put it mildly." Caroline sighed sharply, rubbing her forehead with her fingers, Jade nodding to herself as she reached for her tea, taking a sip. "He made my boyfriend his little bitch, but..." She trailed off, causing Jade to snort as she raised her mug. "I never seen you this happy as whenever he's around." She said, causing Jade's smile to falter. "I've never seen you happy, if I'm honest." Caroline added, saddness flashing on her features.

"Hey, that's not tr━"

"━Yes, you can feel happy. With me, Kat, or Cami." Caroline interrupted her, causing her sister to scowl. "But he's actually making you happy. If that makes any sense."

"It literally doesn't."

"It does, and you know it." Caroline said sharply, earning a surprised look from her sister. "And I would love for you to finally be just... happy." She murmured, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

Jade started at her little sister for a few moments, her jaw rolling as she blinked away the one tear that started to form in her eyes. Groaning, she pushed her sister by her shoulder in exasperation. "You're gonna make me cry, so shut up." She spat, causing Caroline to huff in amusement and push her back. "I've cried more this month than I have in my entire life, I've had it." She grumbled under her breath.

Caroline smirked. "Welcome to being a girl."

"It sucks." Jade huffed into her mug, taking a sip as she rolled her eyes.

Caroline's eyebrows jumped up and down as she leaned back on the bed. "Don't I know it." She muttered.

Jade sighed, downing the last of her tea and setting the empty mug aside on the nightstand. Turning to her sister, she spoke up. "If everthing turns out fine I... I'll try to talk to him. About the mu━Tyler, I mean." She corrected herself, her sister's unamused face making her smirk. "To leave him alone."

Caroline smiled briefly. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet; he could tell me to go to hell for all I know." Jade muttered, collapsing on the bed and crossing her legs.

Caroline scoffed, rolling her eyes. "P-uh-lease, he would walk you to hell, if you asked him to."

Jade hummed, twisting her head to the side, smirk on her lips as she spoke. "Isn't that every girl's dream?"

"It so is."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Happy birthday!" Caroline and Katherine chimed in unison, the latter's voice coming through the phone's speaker. However, Jade didn't stir an inch; she merely mumbled something incoherent under her breath, lost in the embrace of slumber. "Jade?" She called out again, but nothing happened.

"I swear to God, nothing can wake that bitch up." Katherine grumbled, causing Caroline to nodd to herself as she stared at her sister's weirdly stretched out body. "When we were stuck in that teacher's apartment, I thought she dropped dead. And then she started to talk in her sleep, it really freaked me out."

"Oh, my God. I hate when she does that." Caroline muttered. "When we were little, we shared a bed once, and she suddenly jolted upright at a ninety-degree angle and began listing all the ways she could kill me and make it look like an accident. "I was fucking ten!" She whisper-shouted into the device, causing the doppelganger to snort in amusement.

"Oh, mine wasn't that bad, then. She just snapped her eyes open and said something like 'violence solves all problems'. I mean, she wasn't wrong, so..." She trailed off, earning an eyeroll from the blonde.

"Maybe she'll say something now." Caroline mused, her head tilting in thought as she started at her sister's sleeping form.

"Poke her." Katherine suggested.

Caroline started to jab her finger into her sister's shoulder, but there was no reaction. "No, nothing."

"You sure daddy psycho didn't kill her?"

"Shut up." Caroline grumbled in response.

Katherine huffed in amusement. "Jaaaade, do you see that creepy girl without her head in the corner? She wants to play with youu..." She drawled, her voice wavering ghostly for dramatics.

Caroline hesistantly looked behind her shoulder. "Oh, my God, shut up. You're seriously creeping me out." She hissed into the device.

"Play with me, Caroline... I'm soo lonely..."

Caroline rolled her eyes and started to shake her sister awake. "Jad-ow!" She yelped, unable to complete her sentence as Jade suddenly spun around and delivered a left hook straight to Caroline's jaw. "You whore!" She exclaimed in outrage, clutching her face, while Katherine laughed in the background.

"Have you learnt nothing? Don't sneak up on me." Jade said hoarsely, her sleepy eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "Especially when I'm fucking sleeping." She grumbled, rubbing her eyes with a yawn.

"I thought vampirism gave people better hearing, but not everyone, apparently." Katherine quipped.

"Let's try that again, shall we?" Caroline chirped, adjusting her jaw back into place. "Happy birthday!" She exclaimed with Katherine one more time, wide grin returning to her face.

Jade responded with a lazy smile, bowing her head and twirling her wrists playfully.  "Oh, why thank you."

Caroline seated herself cross-legged on Jade's bed, positioning the device between them. "You're twenty three, Jade! You're basically an old lady." She said with a smile, earning a slight chuckle from her sister.

Then, it suddenly dropped. "Oh, no." She said, eyes wide.

"What?" Caroline asked, concern flickering across her face.

"I'm stuck in a filler year." Jade gasped, fanning her face dramatically with her hand.

Caroline's face fell. "You absolute bitch." She spat, pushing her sister's back with a huff, that only made her grin wider.

"Hey, don't insult the birthday girl, miss forever-dancing-queen." Katherine chimed in, the smirk in her voice evident.

"Shut up, you old hag." Caroline snapped, glaring at the phone.

Jade huffed a smile, her head slightly shaking. "How's Bali, Kat?" She asked, glancing at the phone. "I'm still waiting for a postcard."

"What?" Katherine barked in confusion. Before Jade could have any chance to response, she spoke up. "Ah, yes, Bali. It's incredible, I have a massage scheduled in few hours, actually. I think I'm gonna steal Nyoman and his magical fingers, I cannot imagine my life without him now."

Jade missed the weird look Caroline gave her. "Oof, I'm gonna tell Elijah you're cheating on him." She teased, lounging back on the bed and crossing her arms behind her head.

"There's nothing to cheat on." Katherine mumbled.

"Mhm." Jade hummed maliciously. "So, where's my birthday gift?"

"Lost in the mail, I suppose." Katherine mused nonchalantly. "It should arrive tomorrow."

"So you forgot."

Katherine gasped theatrically, earning an eyeroll from the blonde. "I can't believe you've just accused me of that, Jade Forbes!" She shouted in mock distress.

Jade hummed, her smile taking on a colder edge as she leaned toward Caroline's phone and brought it closer to her lips. "If I don't see a gift waiting at my doorstep tomorrow, I'm telling Klaus your location." She threatened, her voice dropping to a low, menacing tone.

Caroline whistled softly, her eyebrows nearly disappearing into her hairline. "Oh, that's just below the belt."

"You wouldn't!" Katherine shouted.

"Try me, bitch." Jade spat, before dropping the phone back onto the bed.

"My turn!" Caroline exclaimed happily, interrupting their banter. She pulled out a long, velvety box from behind her and handing it to her. "Happy birthday, J." She said with a wide smile.

Jade took the box with a smile, but when she opened it, only loud gasp excaped her lips. "Oh, my God!" She exclaimed in excitment. "Oh, my God, oh, my god!" She whisper-shouted with a grin as she pulled out her presenet, examining it with wide eyes.

"Do you like it?" Caroline asked cheekily.

"Where the hell do you get that? It's beautiful!" She asked, her eyes fixed on her new dagger, twirling it between her fingers. "And it's red!" She said with the widest grin as she brought it closer to her eyes, catching every detail.

"Guess."

"Etsy?"

"Duh."

"Oh my God, I can't wait to stab it into someone." Jade mumbled to herself as she waved it around, getting used to its weight and handle.

"Okay, did she get you a dildo or what?" Katherine questioned in confusion.

Jade snorted, and Caroline rolled her eyes. "Yeah, with strawberry lube. Wanna try it with me, Kitty?" The older one asked, smirk tugging at her lips.

"I thought you'd never ask."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Jade sat perched on the kitchen island, her legs elegantly crossed, savoring a slice of the birthday cake her mother had ordered. She also gifted her a beautiful, silver necklace with a sparkling gem hanging from the chain. Jade smiled at that, knowing that it was a family hairloom, which previously was hers. She remembered Nana Forbes trying to bury it with her rotting corpse in the coffin, but Jade stole it from her greedy neck when she was laying in the hospital, waiting for Miss Death to finally drag the old hag back to hell.

Mum still didn't know the real story. May we keep it that way.

However, her mother had been called into work and had to leave, leaving Jade and Caroline to continue the celebration on their own.

The now 23-year old felt strange, but not necessarily in a bad way. It was her first birthday without her father walking among the living, spent happily together with the rest of her family, so all in all she had nothing to complain about. After sleeping off last night's events, the girl felt slightly better, a little lighter. She knew that she would never get rid of her father from her heart, but she also knew that this burden would lessen, day by day, agonizingly slowly. But the girl just happened to have time in abundance.

What puzzled her was that she didn't get any calls from her Louisiana girl. No phone call, no text message, no videocall, no present at the doorstep, nothing.

Well, apparently she's in for a trip to New Orleans and kicking someone else's ass, not just Gerard's.

"Jade?" Caroline called out, her mouth full of the carrot cake.

Jade looked up with raised eyebrows. "Huh?"

Caroline, pointed at Jade with her spoon. "Dad's dead." She stated matter-of-factly, her voice muffled as she chew.

Jade stared at her blankly for a second.

Then, after a few seconds, she extended her hand, and the two high-fived each other with satisfaction.

Jade hummed contentedly, setting her plate aside and sliding off the kitchen island. "I think celebration is in order, don't you?" She mused as she opened the liquor cabinet, pulling out a bottle of champagne.

"Oh, I surely do." Caroline responded with a cheeky grin. As Jade chuckled and poured them a generous amount of the alcohol, the girls raised their glassses in the air. "May he rot in hell." Caroline toasted.

"I heard it's cold there this time of year." Jade mused with a mockful look. Then, she glanced at her sister, her smirk wide on her face. "He'll fit perfectly." She said as they clinked their glasses together and downed the contents.

Over the next hour, the sisters finished the entire bottle of champagne and were in the process of sipping their seventh Bloody Marys while dancing to Lily Allen's 'Fuck You' when they were interrupted by the doorbell.

Jade whipped her head towards the sound, eyebrows knitted toghether. "Who dares to interrupt our father's wake?!" She exclaimed with mock indignation, affecting a obnoxious posh accent that drew a disgraceful snort of amusement from her sister.

"Maybe it's the Jehovah's witnesses again." Caroline shrugged, downing her drink.

Jade thought for a moment, and then shrugged and started to walk towards the door. "What the hell did Jehovah even witness?" She questioned loudly, her nose scrunched.

"Your mom." Caroline exclaimed in the distance.

"It's our mom, you stupid bitch." Jade twisted her head around with a grimace. When she finally arrived at the door, she swung it open. "What the━" She began, but there was no one waiting on the other side.

As she glanced down, her grimace deepened when she saw two, giant boxes━one was black, wrapped elegantly with a red ribbon, and the other one was blue, adorned with a gold one. She looked around, looking for any possible suspects. When the only person in her line of sight was Mr. Morrinson, who was watering the fake flowers on his windowsill, she didn't think he could be the mystery delivery guy. She glanced back down at the large boxes. "Oh." She murmured as she saw two envelopes tucked behind the bows.

There's actually a fucking ball.

The girl sighed and grabbed them, kicked the door closed and started to walk back into the kitchen. "What is━" Caroline began when she heard her sister's footsteps, but when the sight of her appeared behind the corner, her eyebrows jumped up in surprise. "That." She spat, pointing at the boxed with a grimace.

"He wasn't kidding."  Jade muttered as she carefully set the boxes down on the dinner table, her eyes briefly widening to emphasize her point.

Caroline knitted her eyebrows together. "About what?" She inquired as she got up from the couch and walked over to the other blonde.

With a deep sigh, Jade reached for an envelope from the blue box and handed it to Caroline.  "There's a ball." She blurted out, her lips forming into a straight line.

Caroline eyes widened as she glanced at the envelope. "There's a what?" She asked in bewilderment while opening it.

"You deaf?" Jade asked with soured face, doing the same. She slightly rolled her eyes at her name written in calligraphy, and then just bluntly snorted at the wax seal on the back.

"So extra." She murmured under her breath as she tore the envelope, revealing the invitation inside.

Please join the
MIKAELSON FAMILY
This evening at seven o'clock
For dancing, cocktails & celebration

Jade huffed slightly with amusement, how presumptuous does one have to be? Well, the whole family is now together, with mummy hen in charge, so their egos probably barely fit in that house. In that house. Blinking to push the thought away, the girl turned the card over, her dark thoughts momentarily disappearing as she read what was written there.

I owe you a waltz,
Yours, Klaus

She tried to surpress the smile that was begging to form on her face by rolling her jaw, but she failed miserably as she caught the curious look her sister gave her.

"What?" Caroline asked with narrowed eyes, which darted between the girl and the invitation.

"Nothing." Jade shrugged, placing the invitation back onto the table. The sisters were caught in a staring contest, when suddenly Caroline's hand jolted out, but Jade was quicker, instantly snatching it away.

"Oh, really?" Caroline deadpanned, placing her hand on her hips. "So nothing got you smiling like a goddamn shark?"

"Yup." Jade nodded innocently. "I just like that font, you know? It does something to me." She shook her head in mock thought. When her sister gave her an unamused and sceptical look, Jade groaned and showed her the message. Caroline's eyes lit up like some child's on a Christmas day, and Jade immediately raised a threatening finger. "Not a word." She growled. As Caroline locked her mouth with an imaginery key, both of them glanced to two, giant boxed which lay on the dinner table.

As Caroline gently lifted the lid of the box, her eyes widened immediately. "Holy..." She trailed off, unable to end her sentence because her jaw dropped almost all the way to the floor.

"...Shit." Jade helped her out as she did the same and to her eyes appeared a black dress which was carefully folded inside.

As Jade gently pulled the dress from the box, her eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets. The black, satin gown was floor-length, with a huge thigh-high slit that was adorned with black lace that extended all the way to the bodice. Turning it around, she saw that the dress had a slight cutout on the back, which was completed with a ribbon lacing.

Oh, my fucking God.

It was a dress fitted for a straight-up villain and Jade thought her heart-eyes couldn't get any bigger, but then she saw the fucking tag.

"Well, I defenitely don't hate him now." Caroline breathed out in astonishment while examining her own dress, which was colored in various shades of blue and decorated with reflective gems on the bodice.

Jade shook her head, her eyes glued to the fabric in her hands. "I want to burn it just for the sheer satisfaction of daring to dress us up like goddamn Barbie dolls, but it would be a fucking crime." She declared vehemently, turning to her sister and pointing at the tag with her jaw dropped. "Caroline, it's Vivienne fucking Westwood."

Caroline gasped, her fingers tracing the elegant gown. "How the hell does he know your favorite designer?" She asked as she scanned it up and down.

"No, no, no." Jade shook her head. "How the hell does he know our fucking measurments?" She asked, bewilderment clear in her features as she put the dress to her body. "Especially yours." She added, eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean 'especially mine'?" Caroline asked, mirroring her Jade's suspicious look.

Jade immediately pulled her lips. "Nothing." She said innocently, ignoring the disbelieving look her sister shot her.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The ball was in full motion now.

The Mikaelson mansion's grand foyer filled with a procession of elegantly dressed guests, their gowns and tuxedos exuding opulence and sophistication. The soft, enchanting strains of violins danced in the corner, intertwining with the lively conversations and joyous laughter that filled the air. Smiles adorned the faces of the attendees, their lips caressed by the effervescent bubbles of expensive champagne.

"Mother invited Elena Gilbert. Personally." Elijah disclosed, his brows furrowing in contemplation as he put the champagne glass back on the table where he was standing by with his younger brother. "Doesn't it irk your curiosity, brother?" He questioned, eyes narrowing in a twitch.

Klaus hummed as he took a sip of his sparkling liquor. "Well, perhaps she invited her to bond over the fond memory of me killing them both." He quipped, earning an unamused glance from his elder brother. "Don't we all know Mother needs friends." He added, the words dripping with cynical amusement, casting a fleeting glance towards the entrance.

"I am not jesting, Niklaus." Elijah chided, a subtle tightening of his jaw betraying his unease.

Klaus snapped his gaze skyward and licked his lips, exasperation clear in his tone as he spoke. "What do you want me to say, brother? Or do?" He replied, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Yes, I am aware that it is certainly unsettling, although treachery runs in this family, so it is nothing out of the ordinary." He continued, his tone tinged with bitterness, and a sardonic smile played on his lips. "Would you like me to talk with her? Ask her about it? Gods know I'm her favourite." He added with a sarcastic smile.

Elijah released an exaggerated sigh, his gaze flitting around the bustling foyer for a brief moment. "Is something wrong, Niklaus? You're more... tense than usual, so to speak." He said in curiosity, nonchalantly swirling the glass in his hand.

"Everything's fine." Klaus grumbled under his breath, tilting the champagne glass and downing its contents.

Elijah glanced behind his brother's shoulder, smile tugging at his lips at the sight. "I understand." He nodded, taking an innocent sip of his champagne.

Klaus furrowed his eyebrows. "What's that supposed to bloody mean?" He asked in confusion, eyeing the smugness on his brother's face.

"Nothing, I just saw the reason walking through the entrance." He shrugged nonchalantly. When he saw his brother's head whipping around in an almost supernatural speed, he smirked to himself, patting him on his shoulder. "Have a wonderful evening, brother." He said before stepping back and vanishing into the swirling sea of guests.

Klaus' heart skipped a beat.

The air in his lungs seemed to vanish at the sight of his favourite ripper wearing the dress he had given her. It wrapped perfectly around her curves, as if it had been made just for her, no one else. Her black heels tapped on the tiles in an even rhythm along with his heart, one of her long legs visible for all to see, revealing a huge black snake that was tattooed on her thigh, albeit its beginning was hidden under the material. Klaus smiled slightly at the sight of her own additions━because obviously she had to add something, it would be a sin if she held back. Her arms were wrapped in gloves of black lace, reaching up to almost her shoulders, and on her legs she had see-through knee high stockings, that were cinched up with leg garnets.

She looked like a queen, like Persephone, ruling over demons and the damned, next to whom the face of death itself pales with fear.

"And here I thought they couldn't get more extra." Jade mumbled under her breath as she scanned her surroundings, earning an amused huff from her little sister who did the same.

The safe house was unrecognisable. The staircase, which had threatened to kill you as you walked up it a few years ago, was now solid, adorned with lots of warm lights. The entire interior was beautiful, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, basking guests in its warm glow. Jade's eyes involuntarily turned to the second floor, towards their room, and as soon as she did so, she felt a lump growing in her throat. A moment later, the sound of her sister clearing her throat snapped her out of her thoughts, and as she turned to look at her, her gaze stopped at man who had invited her there.

Oh, dear lord.

Klaus stood among the crowd, his presence commanding and powerful, dressed in a tailored black suit that fit him flawlessly. The jacket hugged his broad shoulders, tapering down to his trim waist, accentuating the sinewy strength of his physique. The matching black dress shirt clung to his chest and a velvet black tie adorned his neck, a subtle hint of luxury amidst his dark ensemble. As Jade's eyes traveled up, she met his gaze, and the intensity in his blue eyes pierced through her. The flicker of possessiveness danced within them, a simmering heat that promised a tumultuous encounter. The stubble on his jawline added a touch of rugged charm to his otherwise polished appearance, a reminder of his fierce and unpredictable nature.

When he directed a satisfied smirk her way, Jade inhaled deeply, her racing heart struggling to regain its composure as she leaned towards her sister. "Ulcesu mu shuom uru, mi phrillum 70 iyai use'a." 'If I speak, I will set the feminist movement back 70 years.' She murmured, causing Caroline to let out a soft laugh in amusement, her gloved hand pressing to her mouth to sti

As Klaus slowly made his way to them, he blinked in a momentary stun when he caught the strange language━he knew hundreads of different languages, but that was bloody new.

When Caroline caught the sight of the hybrid, she murmured a quick good luck to her sister, and then disappeared in the crowd, making some excuse about finding Bonnie, who, as it turned out, was also invited.

By Kol.

Not having a longer chance to think about the strange couple, the sight of the man who invited her obscuring her view. "Good evening, Miss Forbes." He greeted politely, clasping her gloved hand in his and placing a soft and lingering kiss to her knuckles, his slightly darkened eyes not leaving hers.

Jade drew in a big breath, her lips curving into a small smile as she dipped into a graceful curtsey. "Mr. Mikaelson." She greeted back.

Klaus held onto Jade's hand a moment longer, his lips stretching into a mischievous smile. His eyes roamed over her form, taking in every inch of her exquisitely adorned figure. "You look breathtaking tonight." He remarked, his voice low and filled with appreciation. "I must say, the dress suits you perfectly."

Jade, feigning mock coyness, let out a soft gasp, her gloved hand moving to her chest.  "Really?" She teased playfully, a glimmer of coquetry dancing in her eyes, which only deepened Klaus's beguiling smile. "Why, thank you. Some creep left it on my doorstep, can you believe that?" She asked with a scoff, faking outrage.

Klaus' smile widened, amusement flashing in his eyes as he watched the woman. He played along with her charade, his voice laced with mock innocence. "Well, it seems that this creep you speak to me of has an impeccable taste."

Jade huffed, her glossy lips stretching into that wide smile that he couldn't get enough of. "I have to agree, but don't tell him." She whispered conspiratorially, her voice dipped in a hushed tone as she leaned in closer, her eyes playfully narrowed.

Klaus regarded the woman before him, a sly smile curling his lips as he relished their intimate proximity. Despite her heels, she stood a few inches shorter than him, a fact that he secretly reveled in. It meant that those captivating, stormy eyes of hers were compelled to gaze up at him, an irresistible pull he found undeniably alluring. "My lips are sealed, sweetheart." He leaned in as well, their faces drawing tantalizingly close as he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

Jade, her attention ensnared by Klaus' entrancing watercolor eyes, was momentarily lost in their depths. Her tongue darted tantalizingly over her bottom lip, and with a slow, deliberate movement, she reached out to straighten his tie

Let's ignore the fact that it was perfectly fine in the first place, okay?

Klaus' eyes were glued to her lips as she spoke, especially when her tongue swiped over her bottom lip as her hands worked on his tie. "You look not too bad yourself, Creep." She quipped, her gaze trailing down to the velvety tie that adorned his immaculate attire. She offered a nonchalant shrug as her eyes returned to his. "Dark colors suit you." She remarked, her tone seemingly casual.

"So I've heard." He murmured back, the annoying memory of Katerina telling him that not affecting him in the slightest, his mind too busy with the woman before him.

Jade, pretending that Klaus' gaze didn't affect her, glanced around the opulent foyer. "Is there something to drink in this silly palace of yours?" She asked, her voice feigning nonchalance.

When the hybrid caught her slightly speeding heart, he smiled softly to himself. Taking a decisive step closer, he pressed his hand against the small of her back, his touch electric as it lingered, drawing her closer. His voice, a velvety murmur, brushed her ear, igniting a shiver down her spine. "It depends on what you fancy." He spoke, his voice a low murmur. Jade swallowed, trying with all her might to ignore the burning sensation of his hand, adorned with his chilling rings against her skin.

His voice, however, with that fucking accent, caused a shiver to run down her spine.

Klaus's lips curled into a knowing, predatory smile when he felt goosebumps forming on her bare skin. Looking pointedly ahead of them, he continued. "There is champagne, Louis Roederer Cristal Brut and other equally high-quality spirits selected exclusively for this evening," He said, his smile deepening at the dramatic eyeroll the woman gave him. "Or..." He trailed off, lowering his head to her ear. "Something a bit more... satiating, I would say."

Jade's jaw clenched as Klaus' warm breath tickled her ear, sending a wave of heat coursing through her veins. Taking a big breath, the twisted her head in his direction. "The ridiculously priced champagne, please." She said, locking her gaze with his. When he arched an amused brow in response, she leaned in, her breath hot on his ear. "For now." She whispered, smiling widely at the slight jump in his pulse.

Taking a few graceful steps back, Jade procured a champagne glass from the tray of a passing waiter.  Before she turned around, she took a deliberate sip and sent him a mischievous wink, enjoying his hungry eyes and the slight tug of his lips.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Elijah! Hi!" Jade called out with a toothy grin as she caught the sight of the Original.

"Good evening, Jade. You look utterely divine." He complemented, to which the blonde grinned and dramatically rolled her eyes, tucking a stray curl behind her ear in mock coyness. "Are you enjoying yourself so far?" He asked with a smile, looking pointedly at the mingling crowd before them.

"Of course! Free alcohol━check, reason to get dress up━check, hot guys and girls in tuxes and slutty dresses━check, check, check!" She said with a grin, causing the Original to chuckle and shake his head. "But you know that this is ridiculous, right? Even for you." She raised an amused eyebrow as she swirled her glass for emphasis.

"I do." Elijah gave her a discreet look, causing her to chuckle. "Don't tell my mother that." He said in a hushed tone.

"I would never share your secrets, 'Lijah, don't you know that already?" She asked, fond smile tugging at her lips, which he mirrored in a second. "And don't worry, I don't even wanna talk to her, she's creeping me the hell out." She confessed, glancing briefly toward the top of the staircase and widening her eyes when she met Esther's gaze. Jade abruptly turned back to Elijah, leaning in closer. "Oh, God, she doesn't have a supernatural hearing, does she?" She whispered urgently.

Elijah chuckled softly, patting her shoulder in comfort. "No, she doesn't. You're safe."

"Thank God."  Jade sighed in relief, taking a long sip of her champagne, purposely avoiding looking back at the Original Witch.

"Can I ask you a question, Jade?"

"Sure thing, sugar." Jade mused, warm smile on her lips. When Elijah shot her a narrowed look, she rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not drunk." She said monotonously. After a beat, a mischievous smirk played on her lips. "...Yet." She said, wiggling her eyebrows. "This champagne is crazy." She commented, glancing at her glass before shaking her head.

Elijah blinked blankly for a second. "Very well." He sighed, leaning towards the girl. "Do you perhaps have any knowledge of why my Mother invited Elena personally?"

"Oh, yeah, I heard something about that." Jade's eyebrows knitted together in thought. "No, I don't. I hate that bitch, and my sister recently crossed her out of her life, so..." She trailed off, her head shaking as she clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Nada."

"I see, thank you." He nodded, his eyes clouded in thought. Before Jade could ask him about it, he spoke up. "Where did you lose my brother?"

Jade shrugged. "I dunno, some...where." She drawled, pointing casually to various spots within the crowd. "Why? Can't I talk to my favorite Original?" She asked cheekily, turning to the vampire.

"I'm flattered." He chuckled, causing her to send him a grin. "Please, do repeat that in my brother's presence."

"I so will."

Suddenly, a loud gasp resounded behind the blonde. "Jade! Oh, heavens, you look positively stunning. That hair! You should wear it up more often." Rebekah exclaimed with a bright smile, her gaze focused on Jade's pinned-up curls.

Jade looked at her for a few seconds in a daze.

Wasn't she mad at her...?

Well, if she forgot about it, who cares. She missed her Original girl.

"Aw, thank you, Bex." Jade waved her hand dismissively in the air, before scanning Rebekah from top to bottom. "And you look hot as fuck too." She said bluntly, causing Elijah to send her a look behind her back. "Told ya' emerald green was your color." She added with a triumphant grin, while Rebekah simply rolled her eyes. "Where's your date?"

"Oh, Matt's over there, fetching me a drink." She turned around, looking pointedly at the blonde man in the distance.

Jade immediately furrowed her eyebrows, nose scrunching up in distaste. "Matt...?"

"Oh, it's not how you think." Rebekah quickly clarified, waving her hand in the air. "I brought him here to kill him." She smiled innocently.

"What?!" The blonde shouted with wide eyes.

"Rebekah." Elijah warned through gritted teeth.

"Absolutely not." Jade hissed, eyes narrowed.

"Why not?" Rebekah whined, tone similiar to a little child.

"'Cause he's my," Jade paused, swallowing the lump in her throat as her eyes instinctively darted towards that room. "Dead best friend's brother." She said, clearing her throat. "Kill someone else. Elena, maybe?"

"If I kill Elena, my brother will skin me." Rebekah deadpanned. "And then kill me too for good measure." She huffed in annoyance.

"Then, I don't know! Kill whoever else you want!" Jade whisper-shouted, gesturing dramatically. "Matt's off limits." She warned, pointing a finger in the annoyed blonde's direction. "And Bonnie." She added after a while. Then, she rolled her eyes. "And my sister, duh."

"You're not killing anyone." Elijah interjected firmly, his tone authoritatively resolute.

"Ugh, you're both no fun." Rebekah muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting.

When Jade just threw her free hand in the air in exasperation, Elijah took a step towards his sister. "Rebekah, it's time for us." He said as he connected his gaze with the woman on the first floor.

"Where you going?" Jade asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"To make a toast." Rebekah smiled before following her brother.

"Fancy." Jade whistled, completely missing the mischievious glint in the Original's eyes.

The blonde quickly found her sister among the crowd, who was standing beside Bonnie and Matt. Before she could say anything, Elijah's commanding voice echoed through the foyer.

"I extend my warmest welcome to each and every one of you on this splendid evening. Tonight, we gather not only to revel in the grandeur of this magnificent affair but also to celebrate the bonds of family and new friendships." He said with a warm smile, eyes darting among the crowd. "So, my dear friends, let us raise our glasses, for tonight, we toast not only to the Mikaelson family but also to a certain birthday celebrant among us."

Jade choked on her champagne.

Trying to stifle the coughing fit with her hand, she poked her now huge and blazing eyes at her sister, who purposely wasn't looking at her, her eyes focused on Elijah with a small, innocent smile on her lips.

Elijah's words rang in Jade's ears as she attempted to regain her composure. "May she continue to embrace the endless possibilities that each night brings, and may her unending journey be filled with love, laughter, and, of course, a bite of excitement. Cheers!" He toasted and took a sip, everyone in the mansion following.

When Jade finally got her speaking ability to work again, she turned to her sister. "I'm going to skin you alive." She hissed in fury.

Caroline bit the inside of her cheek, her shoulders rising and falling innocently as she shook her head.  "I don't know what you're talking about." She replied, her angelic façade in place.

"You━wha━ugh!" Jade sputtered with wide eyes, giving up and throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"Now, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance." Elijah continued, glancing at his mother, who looked back at him with a small smile.

"Faas ahe'aruhr rai Vicki auo lorv takou, chouthir gisir tag alb?" 'Bitch was dead as Vicki's hair almost all their lives, what the hell is he talking about?' Jade whispered to her sister, who only gave her a quiet snort of amusement in response. When she glanced back at the Original family, she locked her gaze with Klaus, who was looking at her with a dumbfounded expression. She responsed with a smirk and a small shrug.

"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Elijah concluded with a smile before descending the stairs.

The crowd immediately buzzed with conversation and movement as everyone searched for a partner. Jade remained in place, her eyes fixed on the Original Hybrid, who slowly made his way toward her, a confident smile playing on his lips. "I owe you a waltz, don't I?" He asked smoothly as he reached her, his hand extended for her to take.

"You might've mentioned something." She murmured nonchalantly, slowly placing his hand in his.

Klaus gave her a lopsided grin as he led her into the ballroom, his eyes glued to her face. Jade wanted to pretend she didn't notice him staring, but her eyes betrayed her and she looked up, her mouth stretching into a smile against her will as she saw the look on his stupid face.

Stupid, yeah. Totally.

The music filled the ballroom as a multitude of couples lined up in two rows, gracefully bowing to the rhythm of the violins as the waltz began. Hands entwined, they moved elegantly to the music. Jade kept her head held high, gazing ahead, though she could feel Klaus' intense gaze on the side of her face.

The feeling was out of this world for Jade. Where she was now dancing a waltz with the most dangerous being on earth, a decade years earlier she had been playing hide and seek with Vicki, drinking stolen beer and gossiping about everything and everyone. A knot began to tighten in her stomach at the thought, and her eyes wandered for what seemed like the hundredth time towards their room upstairs. Until now she had been dancing on autopilot, it was only when the hybrid spun her around and placed his hand on her waist that she awoke from her bubble.

"How are you feeling?" Klaus asked, his eyebrows knitted together in worry as he listened to her slightly speeding heart and followed her previous line of sight.

Soon, sweetheart.

The blonde snorted, eyebrows raised. "What? No 'happy birthday'? Manners those days, really..." She trailed off with a scoff, her head shaking in mock disbelief.

"I wanted to wait a bit, yet I had forgotten how impatient you are." He tutted mockingly, earning a curious look from the Forbes woman.

"What do you mean?" She asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Klaus hummed innocently. "Who knows." He whispered with a little smirk as he led her in the steps, the woman keeping up with ease.

"Asshole." She muttered under her breath, earning a sharp pinch to her waist in response. "I'm fine." She hissed, slapping him on his shoulder with a look, which caused his smirk to widen. "Definitely better than yesterday. I might've thrown another temper tantrum at home." She said, her tone embarassed. "Might've." She repeated, sending him a narrowed look.

"You're going to feel peace." The hybrid said, causing all the amusement to fade from the girl's features. "Maybe not now, but it'll come to you, in time." He recalled her own words with a smile, not a smirk, a smile━the real smile that was so contagious, that she couldn't help the slight tug of her lips.

Silence fell between them, the loud notes of the violin echoing throughout the room as they danced. Jade felt comfortable in his arms, which chased her away from the dark thoughts that circled around her head like a black storm cloud. She couldn't stop them. Everywhere the girl looked, she was reminded of the dead brunette. That window by the main entrance? Their entrance, which they had made themselves because the door was bolted shut. That archway over the corridor? There they were carving out mark of how much they had grown in a year. That huge staircase? They nearly fell down them because they were wet and limp every time they went to their room, which was on a higher floor.

Was, because she let the whole house go up in smoke.

Shaking herself off the gloomy memory lane, she shifted her gaze to the hybrid, who was already watching her. She just prayed that she wasn't that transparent. "You weren't lying about your waltzing skills." She mused as he twirled her gracefully around.

"I would never lie about waltz." He said in mock seriousness as he pulled her to himself, causing a soft, unvoluntery laugh to spill from her lips. Smiling to himself in triumph that he had succeeded in bringing a smile to her face, he gave her a pointed look. "You're quite the dancer yourself."

"Well, you're talking to Miss Mystic Falls of 2004, or whatever it was called." She bestowed with an eyeroll.

"I know." He muttered with a smirk.

"What?" She spat, immediately stunned. "Are you, like, spying on me? Because that's hella creepy. I'm not even gonna ask how you knew my and my sister's measurements."

The hybrid shrugged innocently. "I might've done some research."

Jade narrowed her suspicious eyes into tiny slits. "What. Research."

"Your police record was certainly amusing, sweetheart." He replied, sly grin threatening to break his face in half.

Jade comically widened her yes. "Are you fucking━" She could't finish her sentence, because he swiftly spun her around, casting one last smug smile in her direction in goodbye.

"Hello, darling." Kol greeted with a smirk, curtsying a little.

"Kol." She breathed, sighing deeply to surpress her momentary anger. "Long time no see." She said, adopting a smile on her lips.

"I apologise for the lack of call. Nik wasn't entirely pleased to teach me about the modern world and its technologies." He dramatically rolled his eyes.

Jade clicked her tongue against her teeth, nodding slightly. "Right. I forgot you were napping for a century."

Kol chuckled, his smile brimming in amusement as he spun the baby vampire in his hold. "May I interest you in wreaking some havoc now?" He inquired, his voice low and hushed as he leaned in.

Jade arched an eyebrow. "Won't your mommy ground you?" She asked, matching his quiet tone.

"Oh, darling, it's clear you don't know me." Kol tutted with a mischievious smirk. "Let's change that, shall we?"

"Hm, won't Bonbon be pissed?" She asked, glancing at said brunette, who was now dancing with... Klaus.

Kid you not.

That's the most awkward-looking dance couple she has ever seen.

When Klaus felt her gaze on him, the woman sent him a wink and showed him a thumbs up. The hybrid was about to react, but then his eyes zeroed in on who the woman was dancing with, his stoic face quickly turning into a scowl.

Kol's eyes darted to Bonnie, and he responded cheekily. "She's already pissed, but certainly less so than when I greeted her on her doorstep today. Although I know someone who certainly will be."

"And you're wondering why you're always in that damn box." Jade mumbled under her breath. When she saw the complete murder in the Original's eyes and felt his grip on her tightening, she pulled her lips innocently. "Sorry, sensitve subject." She whispered sheepishly.

Drewing a big breath, her eyes flickered to the witch. "Bonnie has a steely armor, she doesn't let many people in. You need to have patience." She advised him. "And she always puts everyone first, so if you really... like her, just be there." She shrugged, glancing at the witch's dance partner. "Trust me, it'll work." She mumbled, the corners of her lips twitching slightly upwards.

Kol scanned the woman in his arms carefully, looking for any kind of deception. "I don't like her." He rolled his eyes, his tone defiant. "She's just... interesting." He shrugged, trying to appear indifferent.

"Jesus fuck." Jade whispered under her breath in exasperation, eyes closing briefly. "Sure." She shot him a tight smirk. Kol was about to defend himself some more, but she was quicker. "Havoc, right. What do you think about..." She trailed off in a whisper, eyes focusing on the eldest Salvatore.

Kol followed her line of sight, smirking when he caught her target. "Unremarkable, boring, mediocre. He'll do just perfect." He murmured, sending a malicious smile in her direction.

Jade shared his expression, and then noticed that the partner switch was coming. "I'll meet you later." She winked.

"Can't wait, little ripper." He smirked, raising his arm and spinning her around, the blonde landing back into the arms of the Original Hybrid.

"That was one time, and I was high and drunk as hell, and I have no idea how I menaged to steal that allig━" She started to rant in a rush, but when she noticed his smug smile, her intense face fell. "You were kidding." She deadpanned, her face now cold as stone.

"I was, although now I'd kill to hear the end of that story." Klaus said in amusement.

Jade scoffed, her eyes darting around her surrondings in annoyance. "Well, maybe when you throw another ball, I'll tell you." She shrugged.

"Is tomorrow working for you?" He questioned, his face absolutely serious.

Jade stared at him blankly for a few seconds, and then snorted, her grin sparkling with amusement as she slapped him on his shoulder. "Shut up." She shook her head.

Moments later, the music finally came to an end, and everyone on the dance floor bid farewell to their partners with graceful bows.

The two of them exchanged glances.

"Smoke?" Jade cocked her head, her thumb pointing at the back door.

The hybrid smiled, extending his arm toward the woman. "After you, my lady."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The elegant couple strolled leisurely behind the opulent Mikaelson mansion, the dimly lit outdoor space bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The distant strains of music from within the mansion provided a gentle backdrop to their quiet conversation, accompanied by the soothing chorus of crickets in the night. Jade placed a burning cigarette between her glossy lips as she inhaled the smoke, her eyes focused on the moon that hung high in the dark sky. "Thank you for inviting my sister." She said quietly as they stopped by some bench and sat down.

Klaus smiled softly as he leaned his elbows on his knees. "No problem." He said, taking a drag of his burning stick. "I just assumed she enjoyed events such as this."

Jade hummed as she leaned back, her legs crossing. "So you did that for her?" She asked, questioning eyebrow raised as she stared at the side of his face.

"Of course." He said with a little shrug, also leaning back. Smiling softly to himself, he turned in the blonde's direction. "What, you had someone else in mind?" He asked, his smile turning into a smug smirk as he watched her rolling her eyes, trying to cover her smile by taking a drag.

The pair sat in a comfortable silence for a while after this, both of them keeping their eyes skyward, watching the unmoving stars that hung above their heads. "You know," The hybrid started, catching her attention. She glanced at him, however he kept his gaze high. "In the tenth century, when my siblings and I were human, the stars were our guiding lights. They served as our navigation, helping us find our way through the vast unknown." He mused, a small, nostalgic smile forming on his lips as he observed the night sky.

Jade watched him for a second, catching every detail on his face. She couldn't help but wonder what Klaus looked and acted like as a humn. A young adult, with twenty years on his hands, not a thousand. As a pure man, untainted by a years of murder and hatred. Before all the pain.

Sighing, she pulled her lips, taking a mighty drag and turning her gaze towards the sky again. "I would probably die in those times." She blurted out, causing a low rumble to emerge from the hybrid's chest in amusement. He finally tore his gaze away from the stars and directed his attention towards Jade, a playful glimmer in his eyes. "I'm serious!" She exclaimed, lightly slapping his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Like, cold water and no soap? Ew?" She scrunched her face at the very thought. "Or I'd catch some cold or rash and die miserably. Or get lost, forgetting which star is which."

The hybrid smiled to himself, his eyes glancing from the woman to the sky and back. "I highly doubt that." He replied, his voice soft and sincere as he spoke. "I imagine you would be one of those stubborn women who would throw themselves into the whirl of battle, not having even the shadow of a desire to stay at home and tending to it."

Jade stared into his sparkling eyes as if in hypnosis, her amusement slowly disappearing from her face at the amount of sincerity in his gaze. Choosing not to hold back her smile, she shook her head slightly and cast her gaze once more into the night sky. "I would sooo kick your ass with a sword." She teased as she inhaled the smoke.

Klaus raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Have you ever held one?"

"No." She murmured under her breath, causing the hybrid to huff in amusement. After a second, her head twitched to the side in thought. "Well, do the little ones count?" She asked, glancing to the side at the man.

"No." He said immediately, his voice slightly muffed by the dangling cigarette in his mouth.

"Then no." She mumbled in defeat, her eyes rolling.

The hybrid smiled as he inhaled the smoke and flickered the ash away. "Fancy a lesson?" He asked, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Of sword fighting? From an actual Viking?" She questioned, her eyebrows disappearing under her bangs. Scoffing, she glanced away, her head shaking. "Like you even need to ask."

"Then it's a date."

Jade snapped her eyes back to his in a blink. "Date?" She echoed in a drawl, her eyebrows rising in amusement.

"If you will." Klaus replied with an innocent shrug, his eyes locked onto hers.

Jade's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him a his cheeky smirk. "Aren't you forward, Mr. Mikaelson?" She asked as she leaned back on the bench, propping her head on her hand.

"I've been called worse." He twisted his lips, his shoulders raising and falling. Then, he glanced back to her, amusement dancing in his eyes. "By you."

Jade hummed. "True." She said, nodding slowly in agreement, causing his smile to widen. Then, she sighed dramatically. "Well, I don't know." She drawled, her lips forming into a pout as her face contorted in false thought.

A knowing smile broke on Klaus' lips as he stood up,  Klaus stood up, extending his hand toward her.  "May I show you something, Miss Forbes?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Klaus led the woman through the bustling crowd in the foyer, his steps purposeful and confident.  Jade didn't live to know what exactly he had to show her, getting only a mysterious smile in response when she asked. When they reached the huge staircase, Jade's heart dropped almost to her stomach, guessing that whatever he wanted to show her was upstairs. Upstairs. Just as she was about to ask for the tenth time, the sound of clicking glass resounded through the foyer.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Esther's echoing voice brought the ongoing chatter to quieten, everyone present raising their gaze towards the toasting woman.

"Bloody hell." Klaus muttered under his breath, drawing a slight snort of amusement from Jade as she watched him shoot an irritated look at his mother. Inside, she felt a sense of relief wash over her, stealing one last glance at their room before focusing on the Original Witch.

"Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass." The woman said, raising her own glass in the air.

"Trying to get the whole town drunk to make them like you more?" Jade quipped as Klaus handed her a champagne glass from a passing waiter. "Smart." She admitted, her face impressed. The hybrid just replied with a look, causing her to shot him a teasing smirk, before they both turned their attention back to Esther.

"It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!" The Original Witch exclaimed, her wide smile prompting the entire foyer to echo with clinking glasses and sips of champagne.

The hybrid turned towards the blonde with a small smile. "Cheers, Miss Forbes." He said, raising his glass.

"Cheers, Mr. Mikaelson." Jade responded, clinking her glass against his, the pair downing the contents in one go.

When Klaus set aside the empty glasses on the waiter's tray, he turned to the vampire. "I believe we can make our escape now." He said, expanding his arm towards her.

"Ugh, do we have to?" She groaned, reluctantly looping her arm around his.

Klaus' smile faltered slightly. "We don't have to do anything, sweetheart." He said softly, gently touching her hand,that was squeezing his bicep tightly. "Although I believe you might want to." He whispered, the corners of his lips twitching upward.

Jade sighed, her eyes darting between the stairs and the hybrid. After a moment, her grip on him faltered. "Fine." She murmured, causing the smile on his face to deepen.

Slowly they began to go upstairs, the girl kept looking at the room she did not want to enter. Because it was not the room. As Klaus began to lead her in that direction, her grip on his hand tightened again, although when he opened the door next to it, it immediately relaxed.

"Oh." She let out quietly when he stepped aside, letting her enter first with a sweep of his arm. She took few steps forward into the room, or rather, the art studio. "Oh." She said much more confidently as she walked, her eyes darting around. "Your evil lair." She mused, trying to cover the complete jealousy that hit her like lightning when she caught the sight of his work.

Stop. He's, like, a milion. Of course he would be fucking brilliant.

The walls were made of dark brick, a perfect contrast to the hanging works of art, which were wrapped in gold frames and illuminated with warm light for a better view. Some paintings were not his, her artistic eye immediately picking out Narcissus by Caravaggio, Tree Trunks with Ivy by Van Gogh, or... kid you not, Love and Pain by Edvard Munch. Also known as Vampire, cheeky bastard.

The rest of the room was strewn with an array of works, scattered haphazardly across the floor, with a few easels and chairs. Jade approached a massive table piled with dozens of sketches and drawings, mostly done in pencil or charcoal. She shook her head as she picked one up, attempting to suppress her envy while studying the perfect strokes on the paper.

"My atelier is an evil lair?" Klaus asked, and she almost forgot he was even there, her head snapping up in momentary daze. Klaus watched her with mild amusement as she scanned his drawings, but his fingers twitched in slight nervousness. He didn't like to show his work, not because he was insecure, of course not, he was aware of his skills, but it was art. His art. And art was intimate. Even more so, as she had a clue in the matter.

"I just know how this works, you know?" She said with a raised eyebrow, pointing at the table.

Klaus hummed as he walked over to the blonde, leaning against the table and studying her. "And how this works, pray tell?" He inquired.

"Let's take this one, for example." She said, raising the drawing in her hold. It was a small sketch of an alley of some kind, the lines slightly jagged, sloppy, careless of the sketch's final appearance. "You were mad doing this one. Probably someone told you that it's called an elevator, not a lift." She quipped, snorting at her own joke. Klaus responded with a mock scowl, and she grinned, picking up another sketch. "And this one, geez, you were furious drawing this one." She shook her head, eyeing the sharp charcoal lines of some crowd. "Maybe somone insulted your ego." She shrugged. When he was about to respond, she gasped dramatically, turning to face him. "Don't tell me it was because of me?" She asked cheekily, her smile wide as she brought the paper sheet to her face.

Klaus hummed, adopting a stoic expression. "Some of them, not this one." He said, nodding towards the sketch in her hold.

Jade's cheeky grin faltered. "What?" She asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

"You inspired some of them." He repeated, his tone casual.

"The angry ones?"

"No."

"Annoyed ones?"

"No."

"So which━"

"━That one, for example." He said, looking pointedly at the freshly finished painting on an easel across the room.

"Oh." Jade responded as she turned around, her lips forming into a smal 'o' at the sight.

The artwork depicted a candle, made using a knife technique. The whole painting was dark, with a candle placed in the centre on a stand on a small plate, which gave a yellow, warm light, brightening up the gloomy background.

She... inspired this?

Klaus watched Jade's reaction as she took in the painting, a mixture of surprise and wonderment evident on her face. He observed the way her eyes traced the knife strokes and how her lips subtly parted in awe. "What does it make you feel?" He asked, his voice quiet and low as he stood beside her.

Jade scoffed, her eyes still glued to the painting. "Don't go all artsy on me, Mikaelson, I won't fall for that." She said, turning to him with a deadpanned expression. "I used that."

"Does it work?" He asked with a slight smile, his eyebrows raised.

"69% of the time." She replied, giving him a cheeky wink, causing his eyebrows to jump even higher in amusement. "Advise for the future━don't even try to talk me into hyperrealism. Last guy that tried to tell me it's 'real art' earned a broken nose." She shook her head, annoyance crossing her features at the memory. When she heard the low chuckle of the hybrid, she turned properly to him. "It's true! Like, art is supposed to make you feel something, to think, to ask yourself some questions, not to be this blank portrait in black and white without any creative touch. Like this━" She said, turning sharply back to the painting. "It's dark, the colors are all tuned, moody, the blues are turning into greys━ten points for the post-impressionism, by the way, I'm a total whore for it━"

As she rambled gazing at the painting, Klaus' eyes were focused only on her. When she delved into her views on the subject, her voice filled with conviction and her eyes glued to the painting, Klaus found himself falling deeper under her spell. He watched her with an intensity that bordered on awe, drawn to her like a moth to a flame, unable to tear his gaze away from her, the words spilling from her mouth like an enchanting melody.

"━the warm light in the middle from the candle is the complete contrast to the whole piece, it's the dominant thing. Why? And I'm not asking you, because that's not important. The artist's view is not what's important." She said firmly, pointing at the hybrid without looking at him. "What's important is how other people view it. What they feel when they're looking at it." She explained, drawing a huge breath as she bore her eyes to the canvas.

Klaus was spellbound. He couldn't talk. He couldn't blink. It would be a bloody crime.

"And I feel..." She trailed off, her head tilting as she contorted her face in thought. "Hope, I guess?" She twisted her lips, tilting her head back as she pondered. "Like, the whole thing is just so dark, so hopeless and... empty," She shrugged, pointing at the painting. "But the bright, burning candle in the middle is lighting up the whole thing, like the spark at the end of the tunnel, pulling you towards the exit, you know?" She concluded with a little shrug.

You don't even know how right you are, sweetheart.

Her words were like poetry, and the way she conveyed her thoughts with such fervor and conviction left him utterly captivated. He watched her every move, his eyes locked onto her as if she were the most captivating masterpiece in the room, to hell with all the artworks.

His candle. His flame.

Finally blinking and twisting her head to the side, her lips parted in surprise when she saw that the hybrid was already looking at her. Clearing her throat awkwardly, embarrassment warming up her veins, she shrugged, scratching her neck. "So... uh, nice use of shamrock green, looks nice." She said, glancing back to the canvas and pointing at it, her lips formed into a tight, straight line.

Klaus couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph and amusement as he observed Jade's reaction. He had been so absorbed by her passionate discussion that he hadn't even realized the intensity of his gaze. In that moment, surrounded by his own artwork, Klaus found himself captivated by the masterpiece that was the baby vampire before him, and he couldn't have been more entranced.

"You're impossible, sweetheart, has anyone told you that?" He finally spoke up, his lips curled into a fond smile as he watched her.

Jade clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Actually, yes. Someone did." She looked at him pointedly, trying to fight off the smile that was begging to be let out upon seeing his face. Turning around to not look at him any longer, she pointed around the room. "Um, these are... wow." She marveled, her head shaking in genuine awe. "You're fucking incredible. And I don't say that often." She spun around, her tone firm as she pointed at him with her finger.

Klaus' mouth opened and closed for a few times, trying to find the right words. "Thank you." He finally decided on replying, a warm appreciation filling his eyes. "Actually, one of my landscapes is hanging at the Hermitage, not that anyone would notice." He added, a hint of pride in his tone.

"I'm sorry, what?" She widened her eyes. "You've compelled yourself to the Hermitage?" Her raised eyebrows disappeared beneath her bangs. After a moment, she scoffed and waved her hand dismissively.. "What am I saying, of course you did."

Klaus shot her a fond smile. "Have you been?" He asked with a little tilt of his head.

"Nope." She said bluntly, her lips making and audible pop as she leaned back on the table. "The bigger half of my life I've spent here, in this hell hole, daydreaming about seeing the world with━" She cut herself off, clumping her mouth shut. Blinking for a few moments, without looking at him, she continued. "And then I skedaddled all the way to New Orleans. And then I was too busy working to actually afford living there, so... I ended up not being anywhere, really." She shrugged, her fingers fiddling with some paper sheets.

"I'll take you." Klaus offered without hesitation, leaning in beside her with a wide, genuine smile.

Jade raised an amused brow. "Will you, now? And where, prey tell?" She teased, her arms folding across her chest in anticipation.

"Have we not already established Italy?" He asked, his eyebrows high on his forehead.

Jade clicked her tongue, nodding slowly. "Ah, yes. By a yacht."

Klaus grinned, leaning towards her. "I already see it, sweetheart." He said, outstretching his arm dramatically. "We would buy ourselves a Gulet Yacht━"

"A hybrid yacht?" She cut him off with raised eyebrows.

"Well, it's only fitting, don't you agree?" Klaus countered cheekily, a playful smirk adorning his face.

Jade barked a laugh in response, hiding her face in her hand. Klaus' smirk turned into a smile at the sound. "And I'm the impossible one." She said, her head shaking. Sighing, she uncovered her face, crossing her arms once again. "Sure, Gulet Yacht, what then?"

"Then, love, as we set sail along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast," Klaus began, his words laced with excitement. "The sun would be setting, casting hues of gold and deep purples across the cerulean sea, and we would indulge in delectable delicacies prepared by a private chef."

Jade hummed and nodded slightly, playing along. "Mm, fancy." She quipped, her lips quirking as she watched him with a playful twinkle in her eyes. "And what would be on the menu?"

"Only the best Italian cuisine, of course." He said, his eyes gleaming with a mix of charm and fondness. "Freshly caught seafood, succulent pasta dishes, and of course, bottles of exquisite wine from the finest vineyards in Tuscany." He mused. "And then, of course, we'd waltz on the deck." He concluded with a shrug, his bright smile contagious as she watched him.

"It sounds like you've thought about it before." Jade remarked, her eyes narrowing playfully as she gazed at him.

"Once or twice." He mused innocently, causing her to raise an incredulous eyebrow at him. "Have you not?"

Jade shrugged, her lips forming a teasing pout. "Once or twice." She echoed, her angelic gaze briefly meeting his.

Klaus laughed lightly, ducking his head down. As she joined in, the hybrid reached into the pocket of his suit jacket. "I believe you've been patient enough." He said with a small smile, pulling out a small oblong box and handing it out for her to take. Jade blinked in surprise as she accepted the gift. "Happy birthday, Miss Forbes." He whispered, smirk tugging his lips upwards.

Jade's previously parted lips curled into a matching smirk. As she slowly opened the box, she spoke up. "Thank you, Mr..." She couldn't finish her sentence, her words dying on her tongue at the sight. "What the fuck?" She whispered in astonishment, her eyes glued in the necklace in her hold.

Not just any necklace.

Cami's necklace.

A necklace that was destroyed by the blonde bitch in Tennessee, three months ago.

A disbelieving sound left the blonde's lips as she gently took the black, velvety choker in her hand. Her bewilderment deepened even further as she turned the little moon charm around, running her finger over the messily carved 'C' on the back.

"How━what━?" She stammered, whipping her head towards the hybrid. "That's the necklace." She whispered, pointing at the choker. "But it got━"

"━Destroyed, yes." Klaus finished for her with a nod. "I've menaged to found the most similiar looking one."

Jade shook her head rapidly. "No, that's exactly it. It even has Cami's..." She trailed off, her eyes widening comically in realization. "What the fuck?" She whispered under her breath, slowly pushing herself off the table, her shocked eyes not leaving his amused ones. "You were in New Orleans?!" She shouted, her eyes threatening to fall from their sockets.

He was in New Orleans.

Marcel.

Klaus.

Together.

Her heart threatened to leap out of her throat at the very thought. They met. They met before Jade had time to think about what to even think about it! Klaus was his fucking father, and he thought he was dead and she didn't tell him the truth, and he's mad, and then Marcel, that lying ba━

Wait. Now she didn't have to decide. They've met on their own.

"I have not had the pleasure, although one of my hybrids has had a holiday."

Oh.

Jade blinked. "You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"But... what... how..." She whispered under her breath, her hand touching her forehead in bewilderment. Then, she snapped her head up to his, eyes wide again. "You talked with Cami?!" She exclaimed again, her hand clutching the necklace now jerking in agitation.

Klaus hummed, physically forcing himself to not laugh at the woman. "She's really something, that one, isn't she?" He mused, tapping his chin in mock thought, enjoying the absolute bewilderment on her face. After a second, he shrugged. "Doesn't seem to like me very much."

"You're fucking joking."

"I swear on my eternal life that I am not."

She rapidly shook her head, eyes darting around the room for a few seconds, her brain not processing what was happening. "But that bitch didn't even━!" She stopped herself, head whipping around in his direction a flash. "You conspired with my sister?!"

"Well, conspired is a little bit of a stretch━"

Jade scoffed loudly, walking up to him and slapping him sharply on his shoulder. "What the hell, Klaus!"

"If you don't like it, I can send it ba━"

"Shut up, oh, my God." She cut him off, rubbing her forehead with her free hand. Klaus simply grinned in triumph. "I don't━I mean━I..." She stammered, struggling to find words. They looked at each other in silence for a moment, Klaus' smile only growing in response to her flustered state. After a moment, she let out a deep sigh. "Thank you." She decided on saying, her sincere eyes boring into his.

Klaus' smile softened as he watched her.  "You're very welcome, sweetheart." He leaned in, his voice hushed, causing a small laugh to spill from her lips as she placed the necklace back to the box. "But that's not everything I've wanted to show you."

She snapped her head to his. "Oh?"

The hybrid hummed, nodding slowly. Pushing himself off the table, he expanded his arm in her direction. "Would you like to follow me?" He asked, cocking his head towards the door.

Jade let out a sigh, her head shaking as she looped her arm around his. As Klaus began to lead her, she muttered. "If I'll get another heart attack, I swea━" She abruptly paused when she realized where they were going.

"I can't." She shook her head and took a step back, her undead heart palpitating as she stared at the door.

"You can."

"No, you don't understand, I━"

"I do understand." He said gently, a knowing glint sparkling in his eyes. Glancing towards the door briefly, he smiled, trying to encourage her. "Just take a peak." He whispered.

Jade's eyes darted between the door and the Original, her heart threatening to rip out of her chest on its own. His tone, his eyes, they were so encouraging, so knowing. Swallowing loudly, the blonde nodded, causing Klaus' lips to curl into a soft smile, the man taking a step to the side, allowing her to enter.

As Jade hesitantly opened the door, her heart stopped beating completely at the sight before her.

A small sound of shock escaped her lips, the girl hiding her drooping jaw with her hand as her huge eyes scanned the room that had long since been theirs. The walls━previously dilapidated and draped with mold from the humidity━were now covered with dark wooden panels, and the windows, those huge windows that had always been half shattered, were now whole, adorned with emerald curtains.

"The explosion didn't take the whole house." Klaus murmured, his voice a soothing backdrop to the whirlwind of emotions in her chest. "Most of the east wing survived. Half of this room." He said as he leaned against the doorframe, his eyes not leaving her form.

The woman heard his voice, but didn't really hear him. His words popped in and out of her head, which was too busy processing the view before her. Turning around, her eyes moistened at the sight of the beam, which remained as it was, with their initials carved eight years ago.

"I didn't know what the house was when I bought it, although when I was walking around with my architect, we ended up here at some point. It turned out that I had predecessors. Much younger than the Fells."

Jade's gaze wandered further, taking in the various details of the room that had once been their sanctuary. Easels of different sizes stood in different corners, poised for artistic creation. A new, bottle-green couch had replaced their old one, perfectly complementing the emerald curtains. A grand bookshelf, a table, and an imposing standing lamp adorned another corner. A substantial drawing stand stood proudly, accompanied by a well-stocked shelf of paints, pencils, brushes, and all the tools an artist could desire. In yet another corner, a gramophone with an array of records, all her favorites, beckoned to her.

"Of course, I didn't know who they were, albeit after a second glance one could guess." He sighed as he folded his arms across his chest. "I could guess."

Jade slowly turned around to him, her voice so quiet, so soft, so weak as she spoke. "What is this?"Her words trembled in the air, her gaze searching his for an explanation, her heart heavy with a mixture of bewilderment and confusion.

"That, sweetheart," Klaus replied with a tender smile. "Is your new atelier." His eyes held an unspoken depth of understanding, and Jade turned away, unable to meet his gaze as tears threatened to spill. "At first I didn't want to touch it, perhaps replace the floors and walls, yet after the explosion.... there was no other choice."

As Jade eyed their room, or rather her room now, her gaze stopped on one wall, causing her to immediately press her hand to her mouth to suppress a quiet sob at the sight of two photos in a large frame. Inside it were Polaroid photos showing young Jade and Vicki, their smiles wide, adorned with braces.

"You can come and go as you please. It is spelled with your family blood that your sister allowed to lent, no one can enter here without it being in their system." Klaus explained gently, boring his eyes into the blonde, his carrying a solemn promise."The room is yours and yours alone." He concluded in a whisper.

Jade tried to swallow the large lump that formed in her throat, although she didn't succeed. "Where were these?" She whispered, pointing at the framed photos.

"The first one was downstairs, where kitchen is now, the second was here, between the beams on the floor. These are the only that I've menaged to find."

Jade nodded absentmindly, her eyes locked onto the photos, her heart aching with memories. A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as she reminisced, her voice quivering with emotion. "We stole a half-working camera from the pawn shop; it only had two films inside, so we wanted to save them for a good occasion." She explained, huffing with a ghost of amusement, the hybrid smilling slightly as he watched her. "This one was on Halloween 2003, our favourite holiday. I got permission to trick-or-treat for the first time then, so of course we had to capture it." She told him as she pointed at the first photo. "We're ghostbusters." She huffed with a little smile, altought it turned out more sad than amused. Swallowing, she turned to the photo hanging next to the first one. "This one is Vicki's 14th birthday, a year later. I got her a mixtape of her favorite songs; mainly Britney Spears and 50 cent." She shook her head her voice held a fragile nostalgia as she gazed at the picture of a grinning Vicki wearing a pink tiara.

After a few seconds, she covered her face with her hands once again, hiding her pained expression from the hybrid.

Memories with Vicki hit her like an ocean wave, especially the most recent ones when they sat in that very room and smoked cigarettes, acting as if nothing had ever happened, as if their friendship had not been destroyed, as if she had not died.

She drew in a shuddering breath, slipping her hands and pressing them to her face as she eyed the room once more, her head shaking in disbelief all the while. He did it for her. He found out and did that. He turned their safe haven into her safe haven, giving her a place that would be hers alone. He could have blown it off, converted it to anything else, and he did that. For her.

Who the fuck does things like that?

Nobody.

"Are you alright?" Klaus' concern deepened as he observed the turmoil on Jade's face, her heart's erratic rhythm, and the quiver in her trembling lip. Should he not touch it? Did she not like it? Did he took it too far? Did she━

His thoughts were cut short as the girl flashed toward him, her hand urgently pulling him toward the adjacent room, pulling him inside and closing the door behind them. Without giving him a chance to speak, her arms wrapped around his neck, drawing him into a tight embrace, and Klaus stood frozen, surprised by her sudden action.

"Thank you." Jade whispered, her voice so soft, so small, that even if they were standing among a crowd of vampires, only he would hear.

Klaus swallowed in surprise, her cherry scent overwhelming his senses for a quick second. "You're welcome, sweetheart." He whispered back, reluctantly wrapping his arms around the blonde's waist, his moves as if he was afraid to touch her, as if she was made of porcelain.

Jade's breath, hot against his neck, sent shivers racing down his spine as she spoke. "Not a hug person?" She inquired, her words a tender caress, her heart beating in sync with his own.

"Not really." He admitted, his voice barely audible, his senses filled with the sweet scent of her lavender shampoo. He couldn't resist taking a deep breath, letting her fragrance wash over him.

"Why?"  Jade pressed, her arms still encircling his neck. Smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she felt his grip tighten around her waist, in the same time trying to ignore how her heart started to beat faster as his fingers touched her bare back.

Klaus considered her question, his voice barely audible as he spoke. "Never trust it, you can't see the other person's face." He said, his voice filled with a sincerity that surprised even himself.

"Well," She began, sighing a little as her lips curved as she listened to his heartbeat. "I'm smiling." She said, leaning her head against his neck. "You?"

The hybrid swallowed when he felt her hair tickling his senstive skin, her grip on her tightening in response. "I suppose I am, too." He admitted, the corners of his lips twitching upwards.

Jade huffed, her smile getting wider upon hearing his voice. After a moment of just enjoing being in his arms, she pulled back her hands falling to her sides as she took a step back, already feeling cold. "Why did you do all of that?"  Jade's question hung in the air, her eyes locked onto his, searching for answers. "Why would you even bother?"

Klaus found himself entranced by the intensity in her stormy eyes, his thoughts briefly lost in her gaze. Fixing his eyes on the floor, his mouth opened and closed in search of the right words, his silence stretching for a few heartbeats.

"Because it was important to you." He finally breathed, his voice laden with a sincerity that left Jade momentarily stunned. His unwavering gaze met hers, his face devoid of his usual playfulness. "And what's important to you, it's important to me." He whispered, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that went beyond mere words.

Jade's heart seemed to skip a beat as Klaus's words hung in the air, and he could hear it, of course he could. Her stormy eyes locked onto his with an intensity that mirrored his own, unable to look away. Who could? When he was looking at her like that? The sincerity in his voice, the earnestness in his gaze, it all left her momentarily speechless. The room began to shrink, the time began to just stop.

"What makes you happy, no matter how big or small, makes me want to keep you that way. If you smile, no matter how widely, no matter if it was because I brought it to your face or not, makes me happy. If you cry, it shatters my soul, slices through me like the sharpest of knives." He ranted fiercely, his eyes not leaving her for even a second, the girl watching him without blinking. She didn't dare to. She didn't want to miss anything. "Because you're important to me." He confessed, his voice shrinking into a mere whisper, but she heard him clearly. "So dearly it scares me to death itself."

His voice echoed through the walls of the atelier, the only sound was their heavy breathing as they remained in an intense staring contest.

There, sweetheart, he bared you his heart. The question arises━what will you do with it?

Will you destroy it? Will you break it into the smallest of pieces? Will you drive your sharp claws into it and tear it in half? Or perhaps, just perhaps, will you do something else? Something bolder?

Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Take a chance. He dares you.

But if not, he understands. He understands enough to let you go free. Without remorse, without guilt. It wouldn't be anything new, he understands.

Please, sweetheart, he's so tired of feeling like this, please don't be afra━

Klaus' train of thought came to a screeching halt when he felt her lips on his own.

Klaus stood there, frozen for a half of a second, his breath catching in his throat as the warmth of Jade's lips met his own. Time seemed to stand still, all doubt, all fears, melting away, leaving only them, alone, together. Two broken souls finding their match.

So brave, his little ripper. His flame.

After a split second, Klaus responded to her kiss, which was not like their previous ones, no. It was not a starving one, filled with lust, need and want. No, this one was gentle, their lips as if getting acquainted for the first time, as if just dipping a toe into unknown waters, testing if they would drown.

Jade placed her hands lightly on his jaw, as if holding him in place, not allowing him to leave or pull away even for a moment. Klaus' hands found their place on her hips, pulling her impossibly closer, leaving not even an inch of gap between their bodies. It would be a sin. She tasted like champagne they drank before, with a hint of strawberry from her lipgloss, which he was more than delighted to lick off. He savored the flavor, his tongue tracing the outline of her lower lip, teasing and coaxing a low, moan-like sound from deep within his throat.

Jade reciprocated in kind, her lips parting subtly, allowing him further access. Their tongues danced, a subtle battle for dominance that mirrored them both. A flame to flame. Spark to spark. Fire to fire. Klaus curled his fingers around her neck and angled her head to deepen their kiss, drawing a quiet moan from the blonde, to which he responded by smiling widely into her lips, causing her to chuckle softly.

Slightly pulling away from each other, but not too much, they leaned against each other's foreheads, smiles on their swollen lips. "I fancy you too." Jade whispered breathlessly as she glanced up, her sparkling eyes boring into his soul. Klaus reponded by laughing softly, shaking his head as he kissed her once more.

a/n: another biggest chapter i just cant help myself (unedited, so sorry for any language errors)

im a whore for writing their internal love paragraphs its just so pure I CANT!!!!!

also, i just learned the word incredulous and ive never been happier

FUNFACT; originally this chapter had smut, but i crossed it out, oops. (don't worry its coming i wrote like 1,5k of it and they didnt even touch properly (i have problems) but then i was like uhhhhhhhh its not fitting actually so i scratched it off)

but don't worry horny fucks, its coming

and its coming big

pun intended.

i also deleted a whole ass fight about tyler, i just wanted ONE chapter with happy jade ok???

a dialogue that was deleted when they smooched

"Kol will be fucking furious at me."
"I'm kissing you and you're thinking of my brother? Do I look like a bloody Salvatore to you?"

i had to show you this bc i love making myself laugh apparently (dont worry there will be a flashback of them wreaking havoc at the ball i just didnt have the strength to write it in this one, its already almost 17,5k <crying emoji> and i just wanted to be done)