When Briana got back to the hotel that night, her mind couldn't stop racing. One question played on repeat in her mind as she tossed and turned that night: What the hell am I doing here?
Every time she closed her eyes to sleep she saw Damon's hurt expression when he realized Klaus' words rang true. When he realized Briana was willingly choosing to stay.
Briana had tried calling and texting Damon multiple times earlier that night begging her to listen to her, but he didn't respond. She knew that not only was he angry, he was hurt by her actions. Her betrayal.
Briana rolled over and grabbed her phone from the nightstand: 2:47 am. She groaned. Her thoughts raced over her life back in Mystic Falls. The life she was actively leaving behind.
Briana brought the phone to ear as listened to it ring, silently begging Liz to pick up, despite the time. When she didn't, all Briana could muster was a lengthy voicemail.
She shakily breathed as tears formed in her eyes, "Hi Mom. I'm sorry it's so late. I just really miss you and I-I just needed to hear your voice." Briana spoke into the phone as she tried to hold back tears.
She rambled on for about 5 more minutes before cutting her loses and hanging up the phone. Tears now falling down her face. She silently sobbed into her pillow thinking about all the people she was disappointing. It was like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, but at the same time, she'd never felt so free.
In the midst of her sobs she heard a light knock on her hotel door. Curiously, she walked over and looked through the peep hole to see the original hybrid standing there. She quickly brushed her tears from her eyes and opened the door slightly.
"What are you doing here?" She spoke barely above a whisper. Trying hard to avoid the hybrid's gaze.
"Couldn't sleep." He spoke softly. "I had a hunch that you couldn't either."
Briana looked up at him to see his soft figure. It was different from the way he usually carried himself. She could tell that his mind was also racing. She opened the door and stepped to side to welcome him in.
"You're upset." Klaus said and he took a seat on the edge of her bed as Briana got back under the covers.
"I'm fine." She lied as she tried to wipe away her remaining tears. He didn't rebut, even knowing she was clearly lying, instead he took her hand in hers.
"I know that caring for me isn't without its challenges.." He said looking down at their intertwined hands as he grazed hers softly with his thumb. Briana couldn't help but also look down at them.
"It's not yo-" She started.
But still looking down, Klaus replied, "Thank you." He looked up. She slowly did the same.
"For being here. For caring. Despite all the pain it's so very clearly causing you." He spoke softly. She looked away from him, squeezing her eyes shut to prevent more tears from falling.
"I have no idea what I'm doing." She cried softly. Refusing to look at him.
Klaus looked at her sympathetically. He had never seen her this vulnerable. They had often discussed the deeper chapters of their lives, but he's never seen her cry. He hated it. He hated that she was this upset. But he mostly hated that he was contributing to it.
"I'm sorry." He whispered but she only shook her head as more tears escaped.
"It's not- It's not your fault." She mustered out in between cries. "It's me. I should've know this wasn't going to be easy. How much hurt I would cause them." She cried referring back to her friends in Mystic Falls.
There was not a doubt in her mind Damon had told all of them about Briana's connection to Klaus. She couldn't bear to think about how much Caroline was disappointed in her.
"How do I do this?" She sobbed, pleading with the hybrid. "I can't lose any of you."
Briana was so overwhelmed with emotion she was finally breaking. All the late night thoughts she'd been having about everything hating her. All the fear and shame that she was hanging on to. She couldn't hold it in any longer.
She sat there and cried, both her hands now covering her face as she sobbed into them. She hated that Klaus was seeing her this way. Weak.
He's the strongest being on the planet and here she was, crying hysterically, at the thought of hurting her loved ones.
He moved to the top of bed to sit next to her. He wrapped her in his arms as she cried into her chest.
"I can't speak for them, but I'm not going anywhere." He whispered as he played with her hair, kissing the top of her head lightly.
"No matter how hard you try." He kissed her head again. "I promise."
She didn't respond, but he could feel her smile softly at his promise. They sat there for what felt like hours wrapped in one another's embrace as Briana's cries subsided.
When she finally calmed herself down she looked at him, still wrapped in his arms, with her swollen eyes. He smiled lovingly down at her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, apologizing for her breakdown.
"You, love, have nothing to apologize for." He kissed her forehead gently. His action speaking a thousand words.
She smiled up at him, her face thanking him for his kindness. As she looked up at him, her eyes wandered all over his face before ultimately landing on his lips.
He chuckled softly noticing her actions before using his free hand to bring her chin to his mouth.
The kiss was soft but loving. As soon as their lips touched, everything else in the world faded away. Briana melted comfortably into the kiss. Her entire body relaxed with his touch. Her problems suddenly disappearing.
As they pulled away, she brought her hand to stroke the side of his face. Causing soft smiles to emerge on both of their lips.
"You should get some rest." Klaus spoke as he shifted to get up from the bed but he felt Briana's hand grab his arm to pull him back towards her.
"Stay." She whispered. She smiled lightly as he sat back onto the bed and pulled her in for another kiss.
The two spent the rest of the night wrapped in one another's arms. Klaus laid flat on his back as Briana had her head on his chest, her arm wrapped around his waist.
Klaus watched as Briana drifted into sleep, a smile on his face as he held her in his arms. He would periodically lean down to kiss her head.
For those few hours, everything was perfect. They were the only two people in the world. No drama, no problems just pure bliss.
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A knock on the door woke Briana up the next morning. She tried to ignore it but whoever was on the other side of the door was very persistent.
"Go away." Briana shouted with a groan, not even bothering to open her eyes and she snuggled deeper into Klaus' chest who was still fast asleep.
"Bri, cmon. Open up." The brunette heard Stefan say as he knocked again.
She groaned causing Klaus to stir awake. He looked around confused as Briana groggily made her way to the door.
"Can I help you with something?" She spat angrily as she opened the door to reveal Stefan.
"Have you seen Klaus? I can't find him anywhere and his sister is downstairs demanding new clothes. I can try to track him down but I figured he's more likely to listen to you and I can't take Rebekah by myself any longer." Briana couldn't help but giggle at Stefan's pleas for help with Rebekah.
"No need for that Stefan." Klaus stated suddenly appearing behind Briana in the doorway, his arm wrapped around her waist as he placed a kiss to her temple.
"I'm right here." Klaus said smugly looking towards the younger vampire who had a look of disgust on his face. Briana covered her face in her hands knowing how this looked.
"It's not-" Briana started but Stefan put his hand out of stop her.
"I don't need to know. Just get dressed and help me. Both of you. Please." Stefan spoke as he closed his eyes clearly trying to get some images out of his mind.
"We'll be right down." Briana smiled sincerely as Stefan gave her a thankful smile as she shut the door.
She smacked Klaus' chest causing him to groan out in pain.
"What was that for? We didn't do anything." He spoke rubbing his chest as Briana stood with a furrowed brow and her arms crossed over her chest.
"I know that and you know that but it just looks really bad!" She exclaimed as he started to laugh admiring at her actions.
"It's not funny!" She exclaimed.
"I know sweetheart, I know. It's just if you're going to be with me, you're going to have to get used to being bad sometimes." He smirked in her direction as he made his way out of her hotel room causing her to roll her eyes.
"I'll see you downstairs." He spoke.
As the door closed behind him, Briana couldn't help but notice the smile that spread across her face. His words replaying in her head: if you're going to be with me
She hated how much she loved the thought of being his. Being with him every second of every day. Falling asleep in his arms every night. It made her giddy just thinking about it.
--------------
"There has to be more to this dress." Rebekah complained from the dressing room as Briana stifled a laugh in the fitting room next to her.
If Klaus was going to be compelling Rebekah new clothes, Briana was definitely going to get in on it. She's been rotating between the same few outfits for months.
"There's not." Klaus groaned as he and Stefan sipped champagne in their chairs waiting for the two girls.
Rebekah stepped out of the dressing room in a black mini dress, "So women in the 21st century dress like prostitutes then?" She asked her brother and Stefan as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Hey, not all of us." Briana said emerging from the dressing room with Briana in a tight green dress that stopped mid thigh.
She noticed Klaus adjust himself to sit more straight up in his seat at the sight of the brunette.
"You know I got dirty looks for wearing trousers." Rebekah complained.
"Oh that reminds me, I have like 3 pairs of jeans I'm gonna get you should try them on." Briana looked towards Rebekah before going back to seeing how the dress looks on her.
"You wore trousers so women today can wear nothing." Klaus said as he sent a wink in Briana's direction. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"And what is this music? It sounds like a cable car accident." Rebekah said looking at Stefan who just continued to drink his champagne.
"Oh poor thing. Who's gonna tell her cable cars aren't really a thing anymore." Briana made a jokingly fearful face causing a smile laugh from Klaus.
"It's dance music." Stefan replied sheepishly
"People dance to this?" The blonde question as Stefan just nodded his head.
"Are we done?" Klaus asked his sister annoyed.
"No!" Briana exclaimed not really caring how inpatient the hybrid is.
"And why are you so grumpy?" Rebekah asked moving towards her older brother.
"Yeah what is your problem today? I would think with all the rest you got last night that you would be in a better mood." Stefan said sarcastically as he looked between the hybrid and the human. Briana rolled her eyes.
"I needed one thing from you to figure out why my hybrids are dying and you lost it." Klaus said as he downed the remainder of his champagne.
"I didn't lose it. It's just been missing for 90 years." Rebekah responded carelessly. Briana and Stefan gave each other an uneasy look regarding the necklace they were certain was around Elena Gilbert's neck.
"Now, what do we think of this?" Briana said facing towards the Mikaelson siblings and Stefan. Her arms out to get the full look of the dress.
"I like it." Klaus said with a smirk on his face which Briana happily returned.
"Bex? What do we think?" Briana asked doing a small turn.
"Get it. And the jeans with the brown top. Oh! And the red dress!" The blonde responded as she nodded her head with a smile.
"I don't recall seeing a red dress." Klaus cleared his throat as he looked towards Briana who just shrugged her shoulders teasingly.
"And what about this?" Rebekah spun giving Stefan a better look at the dress she had one.
"I like it." Stefan spoke, very clearly lying through his teeth. Rebekah gave him a look knowing he was lying.
"What?" He questioned obliviously.
"I could always tell when you're lying Stefan." Rebekah turned away to make her way back to the dressing room.
"Try on the blue one I grabbed for you. I think that one will be much better!" Briana called out as Rebekah nodded, not bothering to turn around.
"Nice one, good work." Klaus said sarcastically to Stefan as he refilled his champagne flute as Briana sauntered over taking a seat on his lap.
She grabbed the full champagne flute from his hand and brought it to her lips as his hand found the thigh of her legs across his.
"You're the one who pulled the dagger out of her." Stefan shot back at Klaus.
"I heard that!" Rebekah called out causing Briana to choke on her champagne in laughter.
"I really do like her." Briana chuckled.
Stefan couldn't help but notice the small acts of affection the hybrid and Forbes girl gave one another. He watched as Klaus rubbed small circles into Briana's thigh as she played with the hair on the gape of his neck. The were small acts, but they spoke volumes.
"Here Bri you can have my chair. I'm gonna get some air." Stefan said rising from his chair.
"I'm good." Briana smiled innocently causing Klaus to smile widely as Stefan shook his head slightly before exiting the store.
"So this red dress..." Klaus trailed off, moving his fingers up her thigh, slightly biting his bottom lip. His eyes looking up seductively at her.
"It's a secret." Briana smirked back.
The dress wasn't anything special, but she couldn't help but tease him time to time. Maybe one day she'd let him see it.
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Back in Mystic Falls, Damon and Sheriff Forbes walked through the town square as Liz filled Damon in on her ex husband coming back to town.
"So Mayor Lockwood called your gay ex-husband to torture your vampire daughter?" Damon asked nonchalantly as the two walked.
"Yes. I've been keeping him locked up to make sure the vervain's out of his system. So you could you know.." Liz said seriously referring to compulsion.
"Can't we just kill him?" Damon asked.
"No Damon." Liz shot back almost immediately. "He's my daughters father."
"He sounds like a douchebag to me. From what Briana's told me, and now this." Damon said as they crossed the street. The mention of Briana paining both of them.
"Have you heard from her?" Liz stopped as she turned towards Damon. Her voice filled with wonder.
Damon hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell Liz what Briana was up to and who she was with. Liz was barely on board with Damon and Caroline being vampires, but finding out her other daughter spent the summer with an immortal original hybrid definitely would not go over well.
"A little bit. Nothing much. Why?" Damon asked. He could tell Liz was worried about her daughter from the look in her eyes.
"She left me this really lengthy voicemail last night. She was pretty much just rambling I could barely understand her. Basically that she just needed to know I was okay and I loved her? I don't know. I tried calling her back but she didn't respond." Liz spoke obliviously.
Damon looked down at ground realizing how hurt Briana was by the way things ended between them when he was in Chicago. She had called and texted him a million times but he didn't respond.
"Do you think I should be worried?" Liz asked softly.
"No, no. I'll see if I can get through to her. I'm sure she's fine. Just misses you." Damon reassured the Sheriff giving her a sincere smile which she returned.
"I miss her too. But I'm glad she wasn't around for this. Bill and Briana never got along." Liz said as they started walking again. Damon could hear the hurt and regret in her voice at the mention of Briana's relationship with her father.
He knew when he was done here, he needed to check in with Briana. Was he pissed at her? Yes. Did it hurt to know she was siding with Klaus? Immensely. But at the end of the Damon couldn't deny how much she cared for the Forbes girl. He hated knowing she was upset because of him. Or even worse, thinking he hated her.
--------------
"Well look whose back." Briana said as she sat next to Rebekah on top of the bar top at Glorias as she saw Stefan walk in. She shot Stefan a serious look with her eyes. Stefan pulled out his phone to see Briana had sent him five text messages urging him to get to the bar.
"Yeah sorry, retail therapy was making my head explode." The Salvatore responded.
"Tell me about it." Klaus said sipping on his drink earning him a playful slap on the shoulder from Briana.
"What's she doing?" Stefan asked motioning towards Gloria who was chanting.
"She's failing." Klaus said monotonously. Receiving yet another smack on the shoulder from Briana.
"Be nice." She commanded under her breath.
"It's hard to find something when you don't have anything to go on." Gloria spat towards the hybrid. The look on Stefan's face turn to panic.
"So use me." Rebekah said getting off the bar top. "I only wore it for a thousand years."
Stefan looked towards Gloria and then back towards Briana who nodded ever so slightly confirming his fear. They were looking for the necklace.
Stefan and Briana watched with wide eyes as Gloria chanted, holding Rebekah's hand to find the necklace. Briana was holding her breath nervously trying hard to hide her nerves. She avoided looking towards Klaus.
"I found it." Gloria said turning towards Stefan. She knew. Briana could sense that Gloria knew what Stefan was hiding.
"I get images. There's a girl. With her friends." Gloria spoke calmly.
"Yes a dead girl with dead friends if I don't get my necklace back." Rebekah said sassily.
"I'll have to dive back in to get the details." Gloria said calmly.
Briana saw Klaus rise from his seat and move towards the witch when she quickly followed behind.
"So dive." The hybrid demanded.
"I need more time." Gloria responded and Klaus moved closer to her.
"And space I'm sure." Briana said pulling the hybrid back by his shoulder causing Gloria to send her a thankful smile which Briana returned.
Briana slid her hand down Klaus' arm to lace their fingers together. Her other hand pulling on his bicep.
"We can wait." Klaus said not taking his eyes off the witch.
"Klaus." Briana said sternly tugging slightly on his hand.
"I'm sure you can. But that's not what I asked." Gloria said back harshly earning a glare from Klaus.
"Hey. Why don't we just come back later? I'm hungry. I'll let you pick who we eat." Stefan said as he moved towards Klaus and Briana.
Klaus smiled slightly at the thought of Stefan giving into his vampire urges but he stayed persistent. He didn't budge.
"C'mon. I wouldn't mind some alone time with you." Briana whispered seductively in Klaus ear, not caring that two other people in the room had supernatural hearing.
Klaus tried to hide his smirk as he backed away from Gloria. Briana tugged slightly on his arm before taking it and wrapping it over her shoulders as they made their way out of the bar.
-------------
Briana can't help herself whenever she's around Klaus. She's drawn to him. She needs him. Ever since their first kiss at the bar in Tennessee, Briana needed Klaus' lips on hers. The sexual tension between them was so thick is practically filled the air. But Briana refused to give in. Not yet. But that wasn't going to stop her from having any fun.
On the walk back to the storage yard, Stefan and Rebekah each picture random blonde girls off the street to feed on while Klaus declined. He had other ideas of passing the time.
When they walked back into the storage unit, Stefan, Rebekah and their lunch made their way over to the chairs in the middle of the room. Klaus couldn't wait any longer. They barely made it out of eyesight before Klaus vamp sped Briana up against the closest wall.
His lips immediately finding hers. It wasn't long before his tongue found its way into her mouth. Their mouths moving in perfect harmony. She ran her fingers through his hair pulling him closer to her, if that was even possible. She knew Stefan and Rebekah could hear them, but she didn't care.
Klaus lifted Briana up by her thighs as she wrapped her legs around his waist, never breaking the make out. As his lips left hers, the suddenly found the side of her neck. Briana panted heavily as he moved up and down her neck, closing her eyes and throwing her head back.
It was taking everything in her to hold back. Her head was saying this isn't how the first time with him should be, but everything else didn't care. She brought his head back to her lips when she took control of the kiss, practically clawing at him.
She could sense how is demeanor changed seeing how powerful she felt taking control. He smiled into the kiss and let her lead. In that moment, a wave of confidence and strength she's never felt before had taken over.
She took his bottom lip into her mouth. Sucking intensely on it. As the passion of the kiss intensified, Briana bit down into Klaus' lip causing it to release a single drop of blood. Klaus softly groaned in pleasure.
Briana pulled away from the kiss, using her thumb to wipe the drop of Klaus' blood from the corner of her lips before licking it clean. Their eye contact never broke. He smirked fondly at her. He was still holding her up in arms.
She wrapped both her arms around his neck pulling him in once more, but this time. The kiss was soft. It was full admiration rather than hunger. As Briana pulled away, she jumped out of Klaus' arms. They didn't say a word, but rather just stared longingly at one another while they caught their breath.
In that moment, Klaus realized how powerful Briana really is. The way she took control, when he had her pinned against the wall, he'd never been so turned on.
The two walked back towards Rebekah, who was sitting on top of wooden crates, and Stefan who was still feeding on his blonde. Briana tried smooth out her now knotted hair while smirked proudly at his actions.
"Ah there you are. Had enough have we?" Rebekah asked snakily looking towards her older brother.
"Not even close." Klaus replied as he looked towards Briana, smirking slightly. Briana couldn't help but feel the blood rise in her cheeks.
"Tell that to your hair." Rebekah said sarcastically as Klaus' hand went to his head. Briana looked up towards the hybrid and rose her hand to fix his hair and straighten up the mess she made.
"My girl's dead I'm bored." Rebekah scoffed as she turned away in slight disgust having to watch Klaus and Briana interact.
Klaus rolled his eyes at his younger sister and moved over to Stefan who had just dropped the blonde's lifeless body to the ground.
"Someone was hungry." Klaus said examining the scene before him.
"It's been a long day." Stefan said, the veins still underneath his eyes.
"Try being related to her." Klaus said sitting on the couch next to Stefan as he cocked his head in Rebekah's direction. Briana stood next to where Klaus sat on the couch, but she felt his hand on her hips pulling her down onto his lap.
"Stop torturing the poor girl." Briana said as she wrapped an arm around Klaus' neck.
Rebekah gave Briana a friendly smile as Stefan chuckled at Klaus' words.
"And why are you being mean? You used to love me." Rebekah said looking at Stefan.
"It's been 90 years Rebekah. Give him a minute." Klaus looked towards his sister who was immediately offended.
"Why are you taking his side?" She asked.
"Because, sister, I feel pity for any man who doesn't give you what you want." Klaus replied cockily earning a smack on the chest from Briana as she tried to stand to make her way over to Rebekah.
Klaus hands refused to leave Briana's hip as she stood causing her to give them a light tap to let her go.
"Will you stop making me out to be a brat? I am not a brat!" Rebekah exclaimed angrily.
"A thousand years of life experience says otherwise." Klaus said as Stefan chuckled yet again.
Briana rolled her eyes as she sat on the wooden crate next to Rebekah throwing on arm over the blonde's shoulders.
"I don't think you're a brat Bex. I say if they want it, make them work for it." Briana said looking cheekily at Klaus as the blonde giggled. She turned back toward Rebekah giving her a smile.
"Well, you're no picnic either." Stefan said looking towards Klaus who looked back at him sternly, slightly thrown off by the younger vampire's words.
Rebekah and Briana both chuckled under breath, hiding their laughs in one another's shoulders as Klaus shot them a threatening look.
"I mean, I've only spent one summer with you and I feel like I wanna blow my head off." Stefan said, blood still all over his lips.
Rebekah and Briana couldn't help themselves but laugh at Stefan's insults.
"What are you laughing at?" Stefan motioned towards Briana who's laughing subsided.
"Half of the time it's your fault. The flirting, the not so subtle eye contact. Kill me now." Stefan gagged recalling Klaus and Briana's actions.
Klaus laughed at Stefan's verbal attack at Briana while the brunette crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl on her face. At the sound of his laughs she gave a stern look in Klaus' direction causing him to shut his mouth instantly.
Rebekah was laughing hysterically at the entire exchange, "Fantastic." She breathed
Stefan rose from his chair and made his way towards the exit of the storage yard.
"Where's he going?" Rebekah inquired as Klaus rose from his seat coming to wrap his arms around Briana's shoulder.
His actions confirming her own thoughts. He felt the same connection between them. They wanted to be touching each other whenever they could.
"To write a name on a wall. It's a long story."
--------------
Klaus were persistent on going to check with Gloria to see if there had been any progress on finding out why the hybrids were failing. Briana who was tired and frankly bored insisted she would stay in the storage unit.
He hated the idea of leaving her alone. Vulnerable. But Rebekah happily agreed to stay with Briana in hopes Stefan would come back. The two girls sat and talked while they waited.
Briana really liked Rebekah. She quickly learned that Rebekah wasn't the monster everyone paints her out to be, she was just a girl who had her humanity taken from her. At her core, Rebekah just wanted to be normal. Maybe that's why she envied Briana from the moment she set eyes on her.
Briana excused herself and stepped outside as she tried to call Caroline. No answer. Shocker. Briana sighed, her mind wondering what her sister was up to in her absence. She hated that she had barely been in contact with Caroline.
Meanwhile...
Klaus walked into Gloria's bar. The witch was still sitting in the middle of the empty establishment, the necklace in hand.
"I told you I needed more time." She spoke, her eyes closed as she felt his presence enter her bar.
"And I told you, I'm not one for patience. Find me what I'm looking for and I'll happily be on my way" Klaus said smugly as he sauntered deeper into the bar.
"I need more time." Gloria glared at him. Klaus shifted angrily as he let out an aggravated breath.
"Well go on then. I'll wait." Klaus said smugly as he sat at one of the tables next to where Gloria sat.
She looked towards him. She tried to ignore his presence as she clutched the necklace in her hand, but beside the fact of how uneasy the hybrid, she had lingering thoughts on her mind.
She released the necklace and walked towards the hybrid who looked up at her uncomfortably.
"Let me ask you something." She said as she turned towards the bar to fix Klaus a drink.
"That girl of yours." She started as she poured, a smile crept onto Klaus' face hearing Gloria refer to Briana as his.
"Does she know what she is? Or for that matter, who she is? Because if she did-" Gloria tried to finish her thought regarding the brunette, but Klaus sped towards her, wrapping his hand around her neck.
Gloria looking towards Klaus with pleading eyes. Gasping for breath. He held her in his grasp, he could feel her life slipping away when he did something he normally wouldn't. He let go.
As Gloria caught her breath, her hand placed on her chest she took a step back from the hybrid.
"I take it she doesn't." Gloria breathed. Klaus looked at her with warning eyes, but Gloria being around a long time, could tell that those eyes were filled with worry.
"But you do."
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a/n: oh hey :)))) a huge thank you to everyone is reading! make sure to follow my tiktok for this story (kmstories1001)
what and who do you think Briana really is?? leave your predictions in the comments!!
hope you guys have enjoyed this story so far!! next up: back to mystic falls!