SEVEN SINS

Sequel story of: "Seven Dates"

Fan Fiction – Alternate Universe

Starring: Caroline & Klaus

From: Lovely Vero

Writer's note:

Please; take into consideration that this fan fiction story is a sequel of "Seven Dates". I highly suggest that you go read the first part story before starting this present one. Thank you guys!

Chapter 9

EPILOGUE

"QUEENS AND KINGS"

MEMORIAL SERVICE

ELENA & ENZO

"You came as dust, you'll leave this earth as dust." The priest finished his eulogy on those final words. "May, Elena Gilbert rest in peace in her after life."

"You're sure they can't hear or see us?" Elena questioned.

"Positive." Enzo replied, nodding.

"What a load of bullshit! I mean, what the priest just said." Elena rolled her eyes to the ceiling of the church, standing in a setback position, with Enzo by her side.

"Perhaps it is, but it's your memorial service nonetheless; be grateful they are giving you one to start with." Enzo replied, with a loud sigh.

"Why would they not?" Elena turned her head and sight toward him. "I had friends, who loved and cared for me?"

"Because you're a huge pain in the butt; that's why, Elena!" Enzo replied, dryly.

"Pff… No wonder you never had one!" She rolled her eyes more, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Who said I'd never had a memorial service?" Enzo replied, a glimpse of redness brushing his cheeks.

"Well, you just did now!" Elena grinned, raising both of her eyebrows; comically.

"Oh dear God! Give me the strength to stay strong!" Enzo prayed, his head raised toward one of the church's stained glasses; while making a cross sign in front of his chest.

"What are you praying for?" Elena asked, curious.

"To give me the strength to not kill you!" Enzo mumbled, angrily, between his teeth.

"I'm already dead anyway, what's your point?" Elena shrugged, annoyed by his companion's attitude.

"No, you're not!" Enzo whispered near Elena's ear. "And do you know why you're not? Let me explain the concept to you for the hundreds' of times!"

"Why are you whispering if they are not hearing us?" She asked, teasingly.

"Just to annoy you; it brings me joy!" He added, smirking.

"By all means, entertain me then!" She growled, unhappy.

"You weren't supposed to die, you took somebody else's place, that shouldn't have been yours to start with! In return you've been granted of an "in-between two worlds" life in another dimension. Do you understand the concept now, Miss "I know everything"?" Enzo bring two fingers near his right temple. "Or is the concept too far edge for you?"

"Whatever." Elena shrugged. "But, tell me what was I supposed to do? Let Stefan die?"

"Yes, because he was supposed to die. That's why I was there, to help him toward the transition." Enzo added, under clenched teeth.

"What help that would have been!" She rolled her eyes, even more.

"Well, sorry to disappoint your "highness", but you're stuck with me now, as much I am stuck with you. And let me tell you, it's not a fucking walk in the park!" Enzo busted at her.

"You don't have to scream, I'm dead but not deaf!" Elena lashed out.

"It's like I'm talking to a wall, isn't it?" Enzo stroked both his closed eyelids. "Ok, let's go…We need to leave now." He grabbed her left forearm.

"But… I can't … I can't leave my friends behind?" Elena watched the group of faithful friends and family gathered on the first rows of the church.

"Well, princess… It's something you should have think beforehand, would you say?" Enzo pulled her away, before both of their auras disappeared for good.

"Caroline?" Bonnie's turned her head toward her friend, tears rolling on her face. "She's gone, she is really gone, isn't she?"

"Bonnie." Caroline stared into her friend's eyes, before hugging her tightly in her arms. "Yes, she is."

They were both sitting on the first bench, in front of the priest, who was now shaking hands to pay his respect to the group of faithful friends and family' members.

"Are you both ok?" Stefan asked, gently stroking Caroline's shoulders.

"Are you?" Caroline and Bonnie stood from their sitting positions, before hugging him, alternatively.

"I'll be fine." Stefan replied, hugging them back, one at a time.

"Where's Damon? I can't believe he did not show to pay his respect?" Bonnie mumbled, angrily; between her teeth.

"He did." Stefan nodded, while grabbing Bonnie's hand in his. "He stood for a few minutes at the back of the church." He informed them both. "You know him… He's not capable to cope with everything that just happened."

"It's alright. He came for "her" that is certainly counting for something." Caroline nodded, with a ghost of a smile spreading on her lips.

"I'll go see Jeremy." Bonnie nodded toward Elena's younger brother. "He's with Matt. He'll need our comfort also."

"We'll be with you in a short while." Stefan reassured Bonnie, with a single nod; before turning his sight back to Caroline.

"Where is he?" Stefan inquired, with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know whom you're talking about?" Caroline replied with thin lips; while sweeping fake dust on her black dress.

"Oh? You want me to spill his name out? Fine! Where's Klaus?" Stefan asked, his sight narrowed on his female friend.

"I don't know and I don't care!" She shrugged, lying through her teeth; while turning on herself to grab her clutch bag.

"Right?" Stefan nodded. "So, let me get this straight?" He added. "You lied for months to your friends about dating this guy…"

"We weren't dating!" Caroline turned on herself to face the young vampire. "I had an agreement to …" She bit her bottom lip; she had been this close to say the word "date". "An agreement to be in his presence seven times, in return of freeing Tyler of his compulsion on him."

"Right! How beautifully said!" Stefan raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Then, you met this Kitsune, psychopath, named Arian Satō; who basically decided to chase you and Klaus to the end of this world, and into a parallel one."

"Well, that part is true." Caroline sighed, loudly; while crossing her arms over her chest. "Though, technically the end of the world is not Mystic Falls."

"Right!" Stefan rolled his eyes. "And; the said Arian kidnapped you to another time dimension, where Klaus rushed to save you from his lethal claws." He added. "Which part of you "not giving a damn" am I missing now?" He narrowed his sight on the blonde.

"Fine! I don't know where he is!" Caroline busted; angrily. "I have… I've tried to call him several times, but his voicemail ate my messages all the times." She added, shrugging. "I thought, I would see him today of all days, but, as you can see; he did not show up." She scattered the crowd with both eyes, one last time.

"Maybe he wanted to give you more time?" Stefan came to the only conclusion.

"Or maybe; I'm more trouble that I'm worth." Caroline shrugged, a veil of sadness falling on her face.

"Well, it's kind of true that you're a pain in the ass most of the times." Stefan teased.

"Hey! Not fair!" Caroline punched his left upper arm, playfully.

"Klaus is a complex man, Caroline. Are you truly ready to embark in a relationship with him; now that you're back as a human girl?" Stefan asked, while tilting his head.

"I don't know? Is he still even interested in me? Or was it only a competition between him and Arian?" Caroline questioned herself, falling into a silence mode. "How are you really handling her death, Stefan?" She raised the question, after a few minutes.

"It's hard, Care." Stefan nodded. "I take a small consolation in the fact that Enzo went back for her; you know? She wasn't alone in her last moments." He added, tears filling his eyes.

"And Damon?" She asked more.

"I guess he has lost not only the woman he had fallen in love with; but he also had to cope with the fact that a past friend had lied to him at the same time." Stefan replied, nervously rubbing his hands together.

"I guess you're right." Caroline nodded, before hugging his friend.

"Why are you really here?" Elijah questioned Katherine; while taking a last glimpse at the memorial pamphlet he had received with Elena's picture on the front page.

He was sitting a few rows in the back; when the bombshell female vampire had sat by his side.

"Well, firstly I had this black dress that I've never wore." Katherine replied, while glancing at her slim figure in the revealing, deep neckline, short silk dress.

"Really?" Elijah titled his head at the brunette.

"I guess, I felt …" Katherine let a deep sigh escape her lips. "I feel sympathy for all of them." She finally admitted, while nodding toward the small group.

"I'm sorry; I'm not sure I heard you right?" Elijah teased, a smirk appearing on his manly lips. "Did you say that you were feeling "sympathy"?"

"It's not like I can't feel those kind of emotions, Elijah; it is just that I chose to not fell them." She replied, dryly. "It has been easier over the centuries, you know?" She added, turning her sight toward his own.

They stared at each other for a few minutes, without exchanging a word; silence feeling the space.

"Yes, I do." He finally nodded.

"Why are you here?" She asked, casually; swallowing a nervous lump into her throat, while glancing at her fresh manicure.

"Well, one of us needed to be here. Klaus had disappeared God knows where? Rebekah wasn't feeling comfortable to show her face; I guess I was the honorable one to pay our respects." Elijah commented.

"Plus, she was a doppelganger; and you obviously had something for the girl." Katherine commented, toneless. "What kind of picture did they put on the first page of this memorial pamphlet, anyway? She represents my doppelganger's line they could have taken a better picture of her?" She commented, rolling her eyes.

"I liked her, because she reminded me of you, Katherine." Elijah opened his heart to the brunette.

"And the makeup is all wrong, look at it!" The brunette pointed toward Elena's picture; with a slight trembling tone of voice. Katherine had perfectly heard his say; but she wasn't able to respond to it the way he wanted her to respond.

"I see." Elijah closed both of his fists; a thin line forming on his lips. "If it's the way you want it."

"I … I don't know what you're talking about." Katherine responded, faking ignorance.

"I've ran after you for more than five hundred years, Katerina. It's time for me to accept the inevitable." The Original raised himself on his legs, while pulling on his impeccable blazer. "It's time for me to stop." He added, toneless. "I'm sure that regardless of both of your unsympathetic behaviors, Elena would have appreciated that you took the time to pay your respect. Goodbye, Katerina." He saluted with a single nod, before retracing his steps toward the church exit.

"Elijah?" She called, turning her upper body toward the exit door, before seeing him disappear from her sight.

"Elijah?" Caroline ran down the church stairs to reach the Original who was leading his fast walking pace toward his luxurious car.

"Caroline?" He turned on himself to face the young woman. "It was a beautiful service."

"Thank you." She nodded, a ghost of a smile blessing her lips. "It means a lot that you were here. Elena would have wanted that." She added, truthfully.

"I came to pay my respect in my family's name." He explained, nodding himself.

"Talking about your family…" Caroline nervously rubbed her hands together; while drowning her sight in the Original's.

"My brother Nicklaus is, to say the least, a complicated man, Caroline." Elijah commented, burying both hands in his trousers' front pockets. "That doesn't mean he's not in here in thoughts; or that he doesn't, fondly, think of you."

"He has a weird way to show his concerns, I would say?" Caroline replied, dryly; crossing her arms over her chest.

"He's…" Elijah started his sentence, before being cut in the middle of his momentum.

"A complicated man … I know, I know… You, Stefan and many others had warned me about him." Caroline busted, nervously gesturing with both opened arms and hands.

"And yet, you're fondly thinking about him too?" Elijah let a smile curve one side of his lips.

"He saved my life, Elijah." Caroline replied, her voice filled with mixed emotions. "He's careless, unpredictable, head strong… But he's also honest, carrying and he would run to the other side of the earth if it meant saving the ones that he loves."

"That I know my dear." Elijah nodded. "Why do you think my siblings and I have put up with him all these years?" He added, smiling. "But, he's still insecure in believing that others could run to the other side of the earth to save and love him. That's Klaus biggest insecurity."

"How can I make him realize, Elijah?" Caroline questioned, hopeful to find a way to reassure the hybrid of her own feelings; even if she had promised herself to stay away from him. Her days and nights since her return to Mystic Falls had been filled of thoughts of him, mixed with the sadness of Elena's departure.

"I don't know?" Elijah shrugged. "But, you were the one who managed to change him for the better; maybe you'll manage to lower many of his insecurities also?" He added, before taking his sitting position behind the steering wheel.

Cairo – Egypt a few days ago…

They all turned their sights toward the portal, when Stefan had passed through it; rolling on the ground, before slowly raising on both of his legs.

"Wait … Where's Elena?" Bonnie passed beside Kol to stare into Stefan's eyes, sadness plastered on his face. "No, no, no … we're going back, we can't leave her there?" She screamed from the top of her lungs, being held on her momentum by Kol's left arm enrolled around her waist. "Let me go, my friend has been left alone in that hell!"

"Where's Elena, Stefan?" Caroline stumbled on her own two feet to reach her friend's standing position. "Where is she? Tell me?" She busted to his face.

"Brother? What… What are you hiding from me? From us?" Damon stammered, a lump forming in his throat.

"I'm so, so, sorry…" Stefan shook his head. "Elena is … Elena is dead." Stefan announced, tears rolling on his cheeks.

"What? No … She … She was behind us; when we were running to reach the portal." Bonnie shook her head, in deep denial.

"There was this … This huge steel rod… It came from nowhere. I swear, in better circumstances, I would have managed to push it aside, or use my vampire speed to avoid it…But, I turned around to notice that the tunnels were starting to collapse, and … Elena saw the rod coming at me, and she pushed me… And…" Stefan tried to explain, stammering through his sentence; while nervously passing a hand through his tangled hair.

"She pushed you out of the way; and the steel rod entered her chest." Damon finished his brother's sentence toneless and with a death look.

"Where is Elena now?" Elijah took a step forward.

"I'm not her number one fan, but … Elena is still a doppelganger, "my" doppelganger, she is far from being stupid, and she is also a survivor." Katherine claimed.

"I've tried to pull the rod out, I swear I did…and I would have carried her with me through the time portal, but … The rod was buried deep in the stone wall; and I would have needed more time… And she begged me and begged me to leave without her." Stefan confessed, while wiping his face of his tears.

"I'm going back." Caroline announced, a huge smile plastered on her face. "I'll go back and I'll find her and …" She was stopped in her delirious momentum, with a set of arms wrapping themselves around her waist.

"Shush; I'm here, it's going to be ok." Klaus whispered, brushing his lips on top of her head, while slowly bringing Caroline's trembling body near his chest.

"No! Let me go!" Caroline cried, while kicking her legs and closed fists to make him release his grip on her.

"No, I won't let you go!" Klaus grabbed both of her wrists to maintain her in an immobile position; only to wait for strong rage to come to a halt; before hearing her sob in his arms.

"Oh my God! Elena is dead." Bonnie let herself fall on the ground.

"Bonnie?" Kol kneeled in front of her sight. "Don't put this on your shoulders, darling; this was her faith, as lethal and terrible it seems, it was still her faith."

"She's my friend, Kol; and now she is gone." She lowered her head on his shoulder, while he closed his arms around her.

Enzo had watched the general scene, while keeping quiet in his setback position. He finally reached the time portal that was still active.

"Where are you going?" Damon called his past friend, while placing his body in front of Enzo.

"Let me pass, Damon." Enzo ordered him, both closed fists placed on each side of his waist.

"Why would you put your nose into this? If someone will go back to find Elena, it will be me, not you!" Damon poked his chest with a straight finger.

"No, it will be me, Damon." Enzo repeated himself, his sight narrowed on his friend.

"Do you hear this guy?" Damon shook his head in disbelief. "Why would you even go back there?"

"Because…" Enzo lowered his head, shamefully; taking upon himself the strength to finally spoke the truth. "Because, I'm the angel of death. I'd been sent here to help one of you transition toward the final stage of your supernatural life. Elena took Stefan's place; she wasn't supposed to die, Stefan was."

A deadly silence fell over the entire group; leaving them all in a gloomy stage of deep thoughts.

"What? What are you talking about?" Damon lashed out, both hands grabbing his head.

"I'm sorry, man … I was on a mission; I couldn't tell you the truth." Enzo begged for his forgiveness. "Now, I need to go back to her; I need to help Elena deal with her death."

"Over my dead body!" Damon pushed Enzo on the back wall; his right forearm firmly pushed on his friend's throat.

"Damon, for God sake!" Stefan jumped toward the duo; while trying to separate them. "Let him go!"

"Did you hear what he just told us? He knew that someone … He knew that you would die! And he did nothing to prevent it. That's why Elena is dead now!" Damon lashed out.

"You know nothing about that, let him go for God sake!" Stefan managed to grab Damon's arms to release his grip on his victim.

Enzo took the opportunity to jump away from both brother's standing positions, placing himself in front of the time portal; before turning his head to take a last glimpse at his friend.

"I'm sorry Damon." He threw those last and final words, before jumping through the time portal.

Elena was sitting on the white sandy ground, both arms wrapped around her raised knees, darkness surrounding her in a gloomy but relaxing fog; with the black and imposing dog lying near her feet. If it wasn't for its presence near her, she would have probably lost it all together.

She slowly raised her head while feeling another presence near her; before noticing the muddy pair of boots near her sitting position.

"Enzo?" She exclaimed, relief filling her voice and empty soul.

"Oh! I'm so mad at you Elena Gilbert! You have no idea how damn mad I am at you!" He pointed a straight finger at her. "You foolish girl!"

"You're repeating yourself." She rolled her eyes to the darkness surrounding them.

"Oh, I'm repeating myself? Really sugar?" He growled, while lowering his upper body near hers. "You've just killed yourself! You weren't supposed to die – It was Stefan's time, not yours!" He paced back and forth, while nervously passing a hand through his dark hair.

"What would you have done in my place, Enzo?" Elena raised her sight at him; while keeping her sitting position near the dog. "Would you have let faith take away from you one of your best friends?"

Enzo closed his eyes, head bend, with a loud sigh escaping his mouth.

"You can't go against God's wishes, Elena… You simply can't!" He replied, in a softer tone of voice.

"Well… I just did." She responded to his say; before raising on her legs to face him with a raised chin.

"What am I supposed to do with you, now?" Enzo questioned himself, shrugging his shoulders, fatalistically.

"I don't know?" Elena shrugged, herself. "What are you doing of your time when you're not in a mission?" She teased. "What is this place anyway?"

"You think it's funny?" Enzo asked, mouthing the words at a mere inch of distance from Elena's trembling lips. "You're between life and death, Elena. You weren't' supposed to die, but you've died anyway."

"What do you mean? Am I supposed to stay in this darkness forever?" Elena wondered, while raising her right hand over her chest.

"Oh, don't tempt me this way, sugar lips." Enzo narrowed his sight on her, a devil smile raising both corners of his manly lips.

"Go to hell, Enzo!" Elena busted to his face; closed fists placed on each side of her tensed body. "You think I'm enjoying this? You think I'm happy to be dead?" She added, tears filling her eyes.

"No, I don't thing that, Elena. I think you acted foolishly." He replied, calmly; while handing his opened right palm to her.

"What… What is this?" She stared at his offered hand.

"Take my hand, we're leaving." He softly ordered, before feeling his cold fingers interlacing with his. The dog suddenly raising on his legs.

"Where are we going?" She asked, mostly curious.

"You'll see…" He winked at her, a smile spreading on his lips.

BONNIE AND KOL

Bonnie stepped outside of the Salvatore's boarding house, a few tears rolling on her cheeks while sliding around her neck the blue scarf Stefan had given her, that used to belong to Elena. He had kept a few of her belongings as souvenirs; but had also wanted Bonnie to keep the scarf as a good luck charm.

She accelerated her walking pace to reach her car, before coming to a halt, finally noticing Kol Mikaelson's standing position in front of his jeep; casually leaning his back on the passenger's door, with both arms crossed over his chest.

She took a deep breath inside her lungs, while holding his fiery sight for a few seconds; before raising her chin and pass by him on the front parking area.

"Kol." She nodded, politely, without adding more to her greeting; while keeping a rapid pace to reach her own car.

"Bonnie Bennett…" He replied, playfully; while rushing behind her back to keep the pace. "You're playing the "I'll ignore that jerk and maybe he'll go away" card, as I can see, darling?"

"I'm busy, Kol; isn't it time for you to leave this boring city, already?" She replied, toneless; while burying her left hand into her cross body bag. Where were her damn car keys? "I don't know, like …Someone to kill, somewhere to go, somehow?"

"Oh… How much I like it when you're talking dirty to me, Bonnie." Kol teased; his tongue slapping inside his mouth.

Bonnie came to a halt, eyes and both closed fists placed on each side of her tensed body; before turning on herself to face the Original.

"Listen, Kol… I'll be eternally grateful for the help you've brought into this hell that Shinichi had managed to create. Of that you can be certain; but …" She stopped in the middle of her sentence, while taking a deep breath into her lungs.

"But… But nothing!" He shrugged; casually.

"But… Now it's time for me to go back to my life as I knew it before." Bonnie finally ended her say.

"Well, you'll do as you wish, after you'll fulfill your end of the bargain, little witch." Kol replied, both hands crossed over his chest; a huge smile spreading on his lips.

"What… Whatever you're bubbling, I want nothing to do with it!" She shook her head, waving with her hands as a dismissal gesture; before turning on herself to dismiss him, once more. "Goodbye, Kol!"

"You owe me a "date"; Bonnie Bennett!" Kol shouted, in a loud and ordering tone of voice.

Bonnie froze her walking pace, before swirling on herself to face the Original, once more.

"Are you that insensitive?" She busted to his face. "I just … I just lost my best friend, for God sake; and … And you're talking about a date?"

"Are you done?" Kol raised his left eyebrow, questioning; both arms now crossed over his muscular chest.

"Am I done?" Bonnie lashed out, furiously. "Not, I'm not done! I'm grieving, it hurts like hell… And you're… You're there, with this "smirk" that I can't stand looking, plastered all over your face!" She added, tears filling her eyes.

"Let me rephrase it, Bonnie. Are you done feeling sorry for yourself? Are you done being the last one in line that your friends will think about? Are you done being the one that will be considered reliable and helpful, but will never be desired for her own beautiful qualities and incredible beauty?" Kol questioned, unshakable. "Because, if you're done, darling; I'm the man for you. I'm the man that will make you forget your own name, or how little the world is making you feel."

"Asshole!" Bonnie shouted, angrily, with her tears now rolling freely on her cheeks; before starting to hit Kol's chest, repeatedly, with her closed, tiny fists.

"That's it, let it all out!" Kol grabbed both of her wrists, before bringing the sobbing brunette into the comfort of his arms. "Let it all out, darling, let it all out …" He whispered, while softly brushing the top of her head of his lips. "I bet no one thought of hugging you this way, right?"

Bonnie dropped all her defenses, fisting Kol's sweater to keep her equilibrium; while lowering her head on his chest. She needed to let go of this pain inside of her soul; she needed to grant herself the chance to grief while being taking care of, or loved… by Kol Mikaelson? Really?

"I'm sorry…" She finally whispered, brushing her tears off her cheeks; after letting out her repressed pain of the past few days.

"Why? You needed to let this go, right?" Kol concluded, peacefully; before cupping her face with both hands. "Come with me, Bonnie Bennett?" He suggested, seriously.

"What? Where?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"Nowhere, everywhere; but mostly California? It's truly beautiful in this time of the year… Just leave the town, follow your dreams, and take a leap of faith with me." Kol mouthed the words on top of her parted lips.

"Are you crazy?" She opened her eyes, widely.

"Most of the times, but you knew that about me, already." He winked. "What do you say?"

"I can't leave, Kol… Elena just died… My friends need me to support them in this ordeal." Bonnie replied, shakily.

"And who will support you, darling?" Kol questioned. "Who will put your first?"

"You seem to know a lot about that?" She questioned herself.

"I know more than you think." He nodded, a shy smile blessing his lips. "What do you say?" He took a step back, while handing his right opened palm to her.

"I can't…" She shook her head. "It wouldn't be right."

Kol nodded, before turning his back at her while slowing retracing his steps to reach his parked jeep.

"I'll give you five minutes to retrace your steps toward my car. After five minutes; I'll leave you forever, Bonnie Bennett." He placed the ultimatum on the table, before taking his sitting position behind the steering wheel, his head lowered on his seat; eyes closed.

The next minutes felt like an eternity to the Original; while praying and hoping that he could have, finally, find someone to share his grieves and dreams with. For some unexplainable reasons, Bonnie Bennett felt like the one!

"You're a jerk you know?" He let a smirk spread on his manly lips; when he finally heard the soft whisper in his ears.

He turned his head toward the brunette who was now sitting by his side, with a scared look plastered on her face.

"Stop smirking this way!" Bonnie pointed a straight finger toward his face. "I feel like you're going to kill me or something?"

"It's more the "something" part." Kol grinned, grabbing the blue scarf to slowly pull Bonnie's face near his, before brushing her parted lips of his own. "Come here?" He wrapped his right arm around her waist, before pulling the young witch on his lap. "I knew you would come to me." His smile spread, while deepening their kisses.

"Why?" Bonnie panted, between his sensual ministrations, while trying to catch her breath; with both her hands reaching the base of his neck to softly caress his hair. "I can barely stand you." She lied through her teeth; ghost of a smile spreading on her own lips.

"Because, Bonnie Bennett; we're each other' energy of life, the fire spreading into both of our veins." Kol admitted, while softly nibbling on her bottom lip. "And because, you like kissing me as much I like kissing you."

"Perhaps…" She moaned, feeling his manly lips slid on her neck.

"And you owe me a date." He teased, both of his hands raising underneath her t-shirt, on the bare skin of her back; before caressing her silk skin. "California, baby?"

"If you promise to make me feel "alive" again, ok?" She nodded, nervously.

"That's a promise I won't have any problem to keep." Kol replied, before crashing his lips back on hers.

DAMON & STEFAN

"You're hitting the road without even a goodbye?" Damon heard his brother's voice, while strengthening his upper body from his bended position inside the car trunk. He raised his head and sight at Stefan's silhouette in front of the morning sun. "A bit cowardly of your part, would you say?" He added, while leaning his right upper arm on the car body.

"I left you a letter on the kitchen counter." Damon slammed the trunk door, in an acute noise.

"How brotherly of you." Stefan mocked, rising his eyes to the sky; while crossing his arms in front of his chest. "So? You're leaving Mystic Falls for good?"

"Yes." Damon nodded, wincing. "I think this town has seen enough of me." He added, with a sour smile plastered on his lips, while directing his walking pace toward his driver's door to unlock it.

"I'm hurting too, you know? And … I miss her… I miss her way too much." Stefan confessed with a hoarsely tone of voice; his sight lowered to the ground. "I feel responsible for her death; if only she hadn't…" He added, without being able to finish his sentence.

"Yah… I know you miss her; I miss her too." Damon lowered his head; swallowing a lump inside his throat. "Don't feel responsible, Stefan. I'm grateful at her heroic gesture. She saved my brother's life." The young vampire raised his sight in the one of his brother, standing on the other side of his car.

"I bet you would have preferred to have her alive instead of me, though?" Stefan cleared his throat, before throwing his say to his brother's face.

"Don't ever presume to know what I'm thinking, Stefan!" Damon pointed a forbidden finger toward his brother's standing position. "I feel mostly responsible for this "shit" already, if not entirely." He added, lowering his head, shamefully.

"Aren't we all?" Stefan shrugged, fatalistically.

"I came back in this city with the single intention to wreck my brother's chance to find love and happiness." Damon admitted, tears filling his eyes. "And look how easily I've managed to achieve it?"

"You are not responsible for Shinichi's evil actions, Damon." Stefan shook his head. "She choose her own fatal destiny. And knowing Elena, she would want us to grant her respect for her choice."

"But, I've managed to drift your relationship with Elena apart, because of my presence in here." Damon busted, angrily; mostly at himself. "Stop making shitty excuses for my actions, Stefan!"

"We were both in love with her, Damon… There's nothing remotely wrong about loving someone." Stefan replied, his sight narrowed on his brother.

"I guess, you're right." Damon shrugged, lowering his level of temper. "You're always managing to be right, aren't you?"

"I'm a big pain in my brother's ass that's what you're saying?" Stefan let a small smile spread on his lips.

"The worst kind." Damon nodded, smirking.

"I forgive you." Stefan added, truthfully.

Damon lowered his head, nodding himself.

"Where are you heading anyway?" Stefan asked, curious.

"I don't know? Grand Canyon is beautiful at this time of the year, I've heard." Damon shrugged. "I have a box of Bourbon in the trunk; I should be fine." He addressed a last smile at his brother. "Goodbye, Stefan."

"Right." Stefan nodded, sadly. "Goodbye, brother."

Damon took his sitting position behind the steering wheel, while starting the engine, sunglasses placed on the tip of his nose, his right foot pushing on the accelerator. If he wasn't glancing at his rear view mirror at his brother's standing position, he would be fine … He repeated to himself, several times, a single tear rolling on his left cheek… You need to be strong, Damon Salvatore, you need to be strong!

He suddenly pushed his foot on the brake pedal on a tire squeak, before raising his sight in his rear view mirror with a speechless expression plastered on his face. Damon Salvatore promptly stepped out of his classic sport car, standing near his opened driver's door, his sight narrowed on his brother Stefan.

"What, I mean…" Damon stammered, passing a nervous hand through his tangled hair. "Why is there a luggage bag placed at your feet?" Damon shouted with much emotions felt in his tone of voice.

"Because I was planning to leave this town with my brother." Stefan replied with a loud voice. "But, he was too much of a coward to ask me to tag with him." He added, while grabbing his army bag, before advancing toward the car's parked position.

"I didn't know…" Damon shook his head, a speechless expression plastered on his face.

"So? Are you going to invite me or not?" Stefan asked, shrugging; while reaching the passenger door.

"You don't have to do this, you don't have to …" Damon tried to articulate his thoughts the best of his abilities.

"I don't have to, but I want to be with my brother, we've been separated by life for too many centuries already." Stefan replied, truthfully. "More so, Elena would want this for us."

Damon stared into his brother's eyes for a few seconds, finding their true connection after so many heartaches and disappointments.

"You're going to tarnish my style." Damon mocked, while replacing his sunglasses on the tip of his nose, before taking his sitting position back on the driver's seat.

"Do I know it?" Stefan teased, himself; before lowering his own pair on the tip of his nose; before taking his own sitting position on the passenger's seat.

REBEKAH AND MATT

"Hey! Come on man; don't throw a chair on the wall, would you? We've just renovated this establishment!" Matt busted to the male customer who seemed to have had one to many drinks. "Relax, or I'll have no other choices but to throw you out." He threated the guy; who growled and took the exit himself without verify Matt's truthfulness in his say.

"Do you need help, Donovan?" He heard the recognizable female voice ask him; before turning on himself to face the female original. "I could seriously kick this guy ass, if you want me to?"

"Rebekah." Matt saluted the Original, with a single nod and a ghost of a smile blessing his lips. "And thanks but… I think I've managed the situation, quite well."

"Matt." She returned his greeting and smile. "How have you been?" She asked, nervously rubbing her hands together. "I mean, I knew about Elena's memorial service, but…I did not feel comfortable being present, you know?"

"I know… I mean, I understand your feelings." Matt cut her short, politely. "Elijah was there though, and it meant a lot." He added, truthfully.

"Are you … I mean, are you ok?" Rebekah wondered. "I mean… I wanted to call you so many times; but, I felt …" She stopped in the middle of her own sentence, lowering her head, with a shade of light red spreading on her cheeks.

"But, you felt that what happened was your fault?" Matt finished her sentence, with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, something like that." Rebekah nodded, shamefully.

"It was not Rebekah. Come on! Shinichi was a mentally deranged man who wanted to destroy the world as we knew and know it. Nothing of his doing was your fault." Matt shook his head, while reassuring her.

"Maybe not that part, but … I brought on you a fair share of headaches; you can't deny that, can you?" Rebekah questioned. "And; I'd compelled you. And, I know that you were mad at me for that."

"I was a long time ago." He stipulated, before keeping quiet.

They stood, awkwardly in front of each other; with their sights drown in each other.

"Ok, then … I don't want to hold you much longer, you must be busy at work." Rebekah concluded, while scattering the Mystic Grill, that, expect for one elderly man sitting at a table and the drunk one who had left, was completely empty of clients.

"Oh yes, I'm very busy indeed, it's none stop as you can see." Matt teased, while looking around; his laughter mixing with Rebekah's a few seconds later.

"How's the business since you came back to the city?" She questioned.

"Quiet, mostly. The owner had to rebuild the façade after the storm, there was a lot of damage." He explained. "Hey, Eh… I need to bring those boxes in the back; if you want to join me?" He offered, while grabbing one of the said boxes that was placed on the bar counter.

"Sure." Rebekah nodded, smiling; before grabbing one herself.

"Oh no, I didn't mean that I needed help to carry them. It's heavy, leave them there!" He shook his head, apologetically.

"Hey? Who saved your ass back in Shinichi's world? You think that because I'm a girl I can't carry a few boxes?" Rebekah winked at the young man.

"You had to remind me how truly powerful you were and are, and how truly human I am, did you?" Matt teased, pushing the backdoor to deposit the box on a nearby shelf.

"And you had to remind me of my poor damsel in distress status because I'm a girl." She, playfully, stuck out her tongue at him.

"You, Miss Mikaelson, are anything but a damsel in distress; let me tell you that." He grinned at his own say, before grabbing from her hands the box she was carrying to slid it beside the one he had deposit himself on the shelf. "Thank for your help, Bekah." He thanked her, before turning his sight back at her to study her facial features.

"What?" She raised her right hand to touch her nose. "Do I have something on my nose, or face? Matt? What is it?"

"No, no … It's just a strand of your hair that fell from your ponytail." Matt explained, smiling; before raising his right hand to place the strand behind her left ear. "There, all good now." He whispered, before taking an extra step to softly grab her chin.

"Thanks." Rebekah replied, while swallowing a nervous lump in her throat. "Why do I feel like you're going to kiss me, Matt?"

"Because I am." He mouthed the words, his warm breath caressing her parted lips.

"Don't… please, Matt." Rebekah closed her eyes. "You, kissing me? That would change everything, once again?" Rebekah whispered. "I'm not good for you" She added, tears filling her eyes. "You're back into your life now, and you're safe … And a human."

"And you're back too, and safe… And you're a vampire; what are we going to do about that, Rebekah Mikaelson?" Matt questioned, swallowing a lump in his throat, himself. "And, don't decide for me, ok? Because I have a fucking problem on my hand." He added, while catching a deep breath inside his lungs. "I'm in love with you; and I can't, for the life of me, stop thinking about you." He added, before kissing her trembling lips. "So, I propose that … That we take this slow; and see where it will lead us?" He suggested.

"Do you really mean what you're saying?" Rebekah questioned, a smile spreading on her lips; while a few tears of joy rolled on her cheeks.

"I mean it." He nodded, smiling; before crashing his lips on hers.

"Matt?" They both startled at the call. "Oh! I'm so sorry; I didn't know!" Caroline Forbes raised her right hand over her eyes.

"Caroline?" Matt softly pushed Rebekah at arm length; before wiping her red lipstick from his lips. "What can I do for you, Care?"

"Actually; I was looking for Rebekah?" Caroline lowered her head, with a single nod toward the female vampire; while nervously rubbing her hands together.

"What can I do for you, Caroline?" Rebekah asked, dryly.

"I need your help. And, I got it, Rebekah… Before, Shinichi's shebang from hell, we weren't the best of friends." Caroline started, hopeful to open Rebekah's mind to a new possibility of friendship.

"That's an understatement." Rebekah sighed loudly, while casually looking at her manicure.

"But, since then … I mean… We fought the devil together; and … I've grown, somehow, more found of you…" Caroline lied through her teeth, while trying to flatter Rebekah's huge ego. "You saved me from a fall back then? Remember?"

"Really, Caroline? You're giving me this huge urge to throw-up, so … Could you just get to the point?" Rebekah crossed her arms in front of her chest; while tilting her head.

"Ok, I need to find your brother Klaus, do you know where he is?" Caroline questioned, hopeful.

"Of course, I know where he is, he's my brother!" Rebekah stated a fact, with a raised chin.

"Then, please, tell me where I can find him?" Caroline begged of her.

"Why would I do that?" Rebekah shrugged. "No disrespect, Caroline; I know that he would have walked the entire surface of the earth to save you, but he's still my brother, and you've managed to broke his heart more times than I could count on one hand."

"I don't want to hurt him, no this time, Rebekah, I beg of you?" Caroline shook her head, joining both hands in a prayer gesture. "Since we got back from Cairo; I've called him several times, but my calls went to his voice mail, he never answered them. I'm worried sick about him."

"Maybe he don't want to talk to you, maybe he forgot about you and wants you out of his mind and life? Did you ever think about that possibility, Caroline?" Rebekah questioned; lying through her teeth.

"I just want a chance to talk to him, one last time; and then if he don't want to talk to me after what I need to share with him, I'll leave him alone for good, I promise." Caroline begged the female Original to reconsider. "Please, Rebekah?"

"She seems legit?" Matt commented, in favor of Caroline. "And, plus … You know my feelings toward your brother." He added, wincing. "But, Caroline is also my friend and I think you should help her, if not for her, could you do it for me?"

"Thank you so much, Matt." Caroline addressed him a smile.

"Ok, fine!" Rebekah rolled her eyes to the ceiling, hearing Caroline's acute cry of joy; before feeling her arms wrapping around her. "Eww… Don't hug me this way!" She exclaimed, under Matt's burst of laughter.

ELIJAH AND KATHERINE

Elijah drank, in one single gulp, his glass of Whiskey, before turning his head toward the threshold of the parlor room of the Mikaelson' Manor; the front chime of the entrance door suddenly ringing its tone.

He walked to reach the handle of the front door; before startling at the view of Katherine Pierce holding a bottle of wine in one hand, and what seemed to be a CD box of a TV series, and a few bags of popcorns. Her present outfit left nothing to the Original's imagination: thigh leather pair of pants, deep cleavage tank top, a pink cashmere cardigan, and black high heels pumps as finishing touch.

"Are you going to stand there with this stupid speechless expression plastered on your face, or will you invite me in?" She rolled her eyes, before pushing herself into the entrance. "Never mind, I'll invite myself."

"Katherine, what are you doing here?" Elijah questioned, closing the front door on its arch.

"Mm… Nice little abode you have here, Elijah." The brunette strolled inside the parlor room, getting rid of her cashmere cardigan; before throwing it on the back of an armchair.

"What do you want, Katherine?" He followed her inside the room, both hands buried in his front trousers' pockets; with his sight slowly sliding on the length of her sexy silhouette.

"Well, I was in the neighborhood, obviously; so I've said to myself: why not pay a visit to my dear old Elijah?" She grinned, teasingly at him. "I brought wine, popcorns and this!" She raised the CD box in her right hand; before reaching the entertainment unit to slide one of the CD inside the DVD player.

"And what is… that?" Elijah arched an eyebrow, questioning.

"The entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She responded, retracing her steps toward the sofa; before patting the empty space beside her. "Now come sit near me."

"You got to be kidding me!" Elijah strike both his eyelids. "Are you serious, Katherine?" He asked, with wide opened arms, and a mouth opened expression plastered on his face.

"Never been more serious, Elijah. You're lacking some serious knowledge, and it's my duty to become your teacher and show you what you're missing in the human world as the best series of vampires that has ever been written." She informed, seriously.

"Will you leave after?" He sat beside her, while grabbing the bottle of wine. Alcohol could seriously become his salvation tonight!

"Do you want me to leave?" She questioned, while twirling a long strand of her brown curly hair, between her fingers, a devious smile plastered on her luscious lips.

"Let's watch one episode, shall we? So I can free you of your teaching duties afterward!" He growled, while ignoring her obvious attempt of seduction.

ooOoo

Three seasons of the Buffy series later…

"So, what do you think?" Katherine asked.

"Very gothic characterisation of our species." Elijah commented. "And the blonde chick will end up with Spike." He added, while crunching on a few popcorns.

"What makes you think that?" Katherine questioned more, amazed by his brilliant deduction; before suddenly turning her head to take a glimpse at his dark silhouette. The day had left its place at the night, and they were now both sitting in the penumbra of the parlor room.

"It's true, no?" Elijah arched an eyebrow at her question; while turning his head to stare into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Well, yes; but it's beside the point." She pointed out.

"Arrest my case then, Katherine." He shrugged, fatalistically.

"I want to hear why you think they would end up together, Elijah? I'm curious now?" Katherine maintained her position in her questioning. "Maybe, she'll go back to Angel, of maybe she'll meet another awesome vampire, or even a human?"

"No, that wouldn't work. There was an obvious attraction between that Spike character and the blonde vampire slayer from the start. They are fighting all the time; when they are not fighting, they are glancing at each other, with lust filling their eyes. Opposite attracts; it's a well-known fact." He came to the honest conclusion.

"You seem to know a lot about that last fact?" Katherine commented, while swallowing a nervous lump in her throat.

"I think …" Elijah straightened his upper body on the sofa, before suddenly raising himself in a standing position. "I think it's time for you to leave." He suggested, politely. "Thank you for the viewing of this series. It was highly … What would be the right term? Instructive!"

"It's not finished you know?" She raised on her legs, herself; while gesturing toward the entertainment unit. "There are still a lot of seasons in front of us?"

"It is "finished", Katerina." Elijah nodded; with an obvious imply on their relationship.

"I… I don't know how … I don't know how to settle, Elijah." Katherine honestly confided in him. "I've been running all my life; and I don't know how to give my trust to someone…To a man." She added, truthfully. "I don't know how to give it to you? Because, you were the one I was running away from."

"I can't run after you all my eternal life, Katerina." He shook his head. "I can't run after a ghost. A single idea that you could one day transform back into the young woman that I've met so many centuries ago, it's not fair to me or to you."

"I'm not sure I want you to run after me anymore; Elijah." The brunette shook her head, while nervously rubbing her hands together. "Look at me! I'm … I'm a nervous wreck. Katherine Pierce has never acted like a nervous wreck in the presence of men. But, in your presence I'm so different." She confessed, humbly.

"What are you saying?" Elijah questioned, frowning.

"I don't know…" Katherine replied, biting into the thin skin of her bottom lip. "I almost died in this parallel time dimension; and at that moment, the only person that I could think was… you!" She raised her sight in his. "I guess, what I'm saying is that I don't know how to do this? How to do "us"?"

Elijah took a step forward, before gently cupping her face with both hands.

"You know what I just saw?" He let a smile spread on his face, his fiery sight buried in hers.

"No?" She shook her head.

"A glimpse of the woman I fell in love so many, many, centuries ago." He confessed.

"But… I'm not that woman anymore, Elijah." She protested.

"Shush, let me finish… And I also saw the woman I'm falling in love with … now! At this present moment." He added, truthfully; before lowering his head to brush her lips of a kiss.

"What does this mean?" She mouthed the words in top of his parted lips.

"Probably that we'll have more seasons of that series to watch in front of us." He teased, playfully; before crashing his mouth back on hers.

CAROLINE AND KLAUS

"I'll enter the dagger so profoundly into your chest, Rebekah; that you won't have the time to feel what is hitting you! And then; I'll put you back into your coffin!" Klaus growled to himself, unhappy, leading his rapid walk through several corridors of the International Airport; while pushing the poor crowd of passengers out of his way; under their loud exclamations of disapproval.

He had specifically asked not be called or disturbed for any stupid reasons, except perhaps a life and death situation; which, in all honesty after defeating the Kistune, Shinichi, meant that there wasn't such one, where and when, his immortal sister would need him! Therefore…

Klaus Mikaelson had hidden in the wood, the past few weeks; and that since his return to Mystic Falls, and into to the present world. His longer hair and thick scruff on his face was enough indications that socializing and being in the modern world has not been one of his main priorities. Instead, his top and main priority has been to avoid "her" in all costs necessary; "her" being his number one weakness, the "now" very "human" Caroline Forbes!

But Bekah's message couldn't have been clearer:

Klaus;

It's a life and death situation; I need to leave Mystic Falls A.S.A.P.; my life is in danger, meet me at the airport – Terminal B234; at 18:00.

Rebekah

"Hey, watch where you're going, buddy!" One man busted, while pointing a finger toward the Hybrid. "It's an airport, not a football field!"

"Watch where I'm going, or what?" Klaus retraced his steps toward the young man; before grabbing the poor lard by the throat to push him on the back wall. An altercation was exactly what the doctor would prescribe for his present bad mood… Pity he couldn't snap the man's head in front of such large crowd. "What will you do to me, mm?"

"Klaus, for God sake; let him go!" He heard the female voice ordering him; before turning his sight toward the blonde woman standing in setback of a few feet of distance from his own.

"Caroline?" Klaus questioned her presence with his haggard sight. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm the one who asked your sister to call you here; release this poor man, would you?" Caroline begged him to do; with a single nod; while nervously rubbing her hands together. She was hoping that she still had some sort of power over him?

It's under a loud sigh of relief that she finally sow Klaus release his grip on the poor victim, while taking a step back.

"I'm going to call security; you're a threat to the human race!" The man busted to the hybrid's face; his right hand rose to his throat to rub his bruised skin.

"Oh buddy; you have no idea how much your say is right!" Klaus tilted his head toward the back, hoarse laughter escaping his lips; before drowning his eyes into the man's. "You'll grab your suitcase, present your deepest apologies to me while adding that you're an asshole, and then you'll forget all about this encounter." He compelled his victim, a large smirk appearing on his lips.

"I'm so sorry, I'm such an asshole; I'll leave now." The man repeated the compulsion; before grabbing his suitcase and disappearing from their sights.

"Was this really necessary?" Caroline rolled her eyes; arms crossed over her chest.

"Well, I don't know about "necessary", Love; but it was certainly fun!" Klaus replied, a pernicious smile plastered on his manly lips. "Now…What is this? Why are you here? Where's Rebekah?" He questioned, losing his smile; both closed fists placed on each side of his waist.

"You're sister is fine. And…Geez, how have you been, Caroline? It's been a while since the last time I saw you? When was this? Oh, right, it was the day I had to save your ass from a parallel universe, now I remember! Do you want to catch up with me? Share a cup of coffee, perhaps? I'll tell you what I've been up to, and you'll tell me all about yourself, ok?" Caroline mumbled, angrily, between her teeth; her chin raised in a confrontational gesture. "Where were you all this time?" She couldn't forbid herself to question. "I've called you hundreds of times, and you … You've never answered a single one of them?"

"None of your business, sweetheart." Klaus responded, dryly. "Maybe, I wasn't in the mood to talk to you. Why are you carrying this luggage with you?" He nodded toward the pink suitcase, placed at her feet; while dismissing her say.

"None of your business, either! Why would I carry a luggage in an airport?" She shrugged, playing the indifferent card. "Maybe; I'm catching a plane to somewhere, with someone? It's not like you're interested, or am I wrong?"

Klaus let a loud growl of frustration escape his lips, before promptly grabbing both the said pink luggage and her right hand to drag the young woman through a few terminal corridors.

"What are you doing? Let go of my hand, Klaus!" Caroline ordered to his deaf ears; while squirming to free herself from his strong grip; but, without succeeding.

He finally pushed her through a staircase entrance, before closing the said "do not enter" door, behind their backs.

"You like troubles, don't you?" Caroline pointed toward the said door. "You did not see the sign? We can't be in here!"

"I thought you knew that I like to play with "fire"; cross forbidding lines, it's my nature, Caroline; I wanted you after all?" He raised an eyebrow at her say.

"What's "that" supposed to mean?" She blanched at his imply.

"Why would you want to see me? Why did you lure me in here of all places? Why would Rebekah even agree to help you?" Klaus lashed out to her pale face; before pacing back and forth on the small level. "I've specifically told her that I wanted nothing to do with you!"

"Why? Are you for real?" Caroline grabbed her head with both hands. "I was worried sick about you, Klaus!" She placed herself in front of his path, before hitting both of her closed fists on his muscular chest. "Fuck you, if you can't see how worried I was about you! Fuck you if you can't realize how much I needed you after losing Elena! Fuck you for leaving me alone!"

The hybrid startled at Caroline's harsh say, while grabbing both of her wrists; before pushing both of their trembling and agitated bodies toward the back wall.

"I'm "bad" for you, Caroline; why can't you understand that?" The hybrid cupped her face with both hands. "I'm as "bad" as Shinichi was!" He mouthed the words on top of her parted lips. "I won't bring you happiness; and you deserve so much more…Especially that you are now back as a human." He added, lowering both of his hands away from her face, while taking a few steps back. "Find yourself a nice human boy; and forget about me."

"So, that is the real reason why you've avoided me? Because, I'm back as a human now?" She questioned him, tears filling her eyes.

"It is better this way; Caroline." He expressed his say, his lips closed into a severe line. "I had my fun with you; but now, if you want me to spell it out … I'm kind of bored with you. Plus, you were more trouble than you're worth." He shrugged his shoulders; falsely indifferent. "But, I guess you weren't bright enough to get the message the first time, Love?"

The blow knocked his left cheek like he had predicted that it would. He knew in his heart that his say would push Caroline over the edge. At the same time it gave him the kind of pain and relief he needed after throwing such lies to her face.

"You're lying!" Caroline shook her head, tears rolling on her cheeks. "You're afraid of taking a chance with me, and you're the biggest coward, Klaus Mikaelson!" She added, while pointing a finger toward his chest. "You're saying that I'd lured you into meeting me in here? But did you even question yourself why? Why in this airport? You are the biggest player of the two, Klaus Mikaelson. You lure me into seven dates with you, you lure me into falling deeply in love with you, and you lure me into believing that I could change you and make you happy, what a stupid fool I was?" She found comforting closure in her final say; before throwing a few boarding passes at his feet; only to retrace her steps toward the exit, to finally slam the door to his face.

"Caroline…" He let the cherished name escape his lips, in a soft whisper.

He finally lowered his upper body to pick up the three boarding passes thrown on the floor. The three pieces of paper, each with a flight for tonight's departure: Paris, Rome, Tokyo.

"What?" He exclaimed to himself, a speechless expression plastered on his face.

ooOoo

ROME…

Caroline stepped outside the luxurious bathroom, closing the light switch; before entering the penumbra of their suite. She took a quick glimpse, through the opened doors terrace, at the breathtaking view of Rome, before continuing her walking pace toward the King size bed; where her lover was awaiting her arrival.

"How did you manage to buy all three tickets?" Klaus questioned.

"Stefan, bought them for me." Caroline explained, while throwing her dressing gown on a nearby chair. "With a warming: Are you sure, Caroline? Klaus could easily be the biggest jerk there is on this earth?" She teased more.

"Remind me to send Salvatore a "Thank You" card." Klaus winced at the said imply.

"And he also said: But, he's also faithful to the ones he loves." She added, winking at the hybrid. "But, that much I knew already."

"Are you sure about this?" Klaus questioned, one last time; while seeing the woman he had madly fallen in love with, approach the bed.

"Yes; I'm sure." She nodded, a smile spreading on her face; before letting the blue silk fabric of her nightgown fall at her feet. "There's nothing I want more."

"You're so beautiful, Love." He complimented, his fiery sight sliding from her perky naked breasts, to her flat stomach; to finally die on the tiny square of blonde pubic hair, hiding her Venus mount.

"So are you." Caroline straddled his legs, before positioning herself upward on his lap; where his more than obvious erection brushed the inside of her thighs. "I like this scruff on your face." She cupped his face, before touching the hair on both of his cheeks. "It's sexy."

"Duly noted!" He smirked, while grabbing both of her bottom cheeks to raise her hips over his pelvic area, before, unexpectedly, burying his hard length to the tilt of her wet walls.

"Oh…" She titled her head toward the back; a moan of pleasure escaping her parted lips.

"That's where I want to be, Caroline; deep… Buried deep inside of you." Klaus growled; his lips sliding from the delicateness of her neck, to the deep valley on her chest, before finally finding one of her breasts that demanded nothing more than his erotic ministrations on its hard nipple.

Caroline rocked her hips, back and forth, up and down; creating more delicious frictions between his hard member and her sensible walls.

"How much I like the way you ride me, Love." He admitted, sensually, letting out a loud sight of pleasure escaping his manly lips. He finally brought his left wrist near his lips, entering his fangs to tear the skin open, before offering the bleeding wound to his lover.

Caroline started to suck Klaus's blood, the thick red substance filling her mouth, before slowly sliding inside her throat. She had forbad herself to pass out or throw up over the strong iron after taste. It was one thing to be a vampire and drank the red elixir as an aphrodisiac, it was a complete different game to drink it as a human… But for "him" she would do it; and more so… For "herself" she would do it.

It's when he felt she would reach her climax point that he decided it was the right time to snap her neck. As truly disturbing it was to bring himself to do it; he knew in his heart that no other moment would be less painful for Caroline.

Carline's final breath came at the high peak of her orgasm, and it's softly that her head fell down on Klaus's chest.

"I love you so much, Caroline." He whispered, a tear rolling on his left cheek; while his lips brushed her hair.

ooOoo

Klaus stood on the balcony; his sight lost in the first glow of the sunrise over Rome.

"Klaus?" He heard the soft whisper; before frantically turning on himself.

"Caroline?" He exclaimed, while rushing by her side to slide his left arm around her waist. "Are you ok? You're as pale as a ghost?" He caressed her cheeks.

"Of course I'm pale, I'm back as a vampire, silly man." Caroline let a small laughter escape her lips.

"I'd placed a blood bag on the nightstand, did you see it?" Klaus inquired, in a worried tone of voice; while brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ears.

"Yes, I saw it. I drank a little bit." She nodded, smiling; while lowering her head on his chest. "I just need time to regain my strength."

"Oh thank God, Love!" He let a sigh of relief escape his lips; while wrapping both of his arms around her body. "You came back to me… For eternity!"

"Which is starting to be a pain in the ass, if you're asking me; Klaus Mikaelson?" She teased him, openly; under his loud burst of laughter.

"I love you, Miss Caroline Forbes; you were born to be my pain in the ass." He grabbed her chin, to raise her sight in his.

"I love you, Klaus Mikalson; more than words could say." She confessed, before feeling his lips crash on hers.

The…

Do you think it's the "end"? Well, not quite just yet …

"And this is the Master Bedroom of your penthouse, Sir." The hotel valet pushed the two large doors leading, both, female and male guests inside the large room, before the trio could stand in front of the panoramic view of Cape Town.

"It's breathtaking!" The exotic bombshell exclaimed, placing her lean silhouette, dressed of a long, silk blue dress, in front of the view.

"It's exactly what I wanted." Her companion glanced at the view, while raising his pair of sunglasses on top of his head. He pulled a hundred dollars bill from the front pocket of his white pair of trousers. "Thank you for your help." He added, before burying the said bill in the valet's right hand.

"You're too kind, Sir." The valet grinned at the large tip he had just received, making a reverence before retracing his steps to leave the bedroom.

"I'll go take a bath, will you join me?" The female guest raised her sight in her companion; both of her hands sliding on his muscular chest.

"I'll join you in a minute." He whispered, blessing her forehead of a kiss; before gently sliding his right hand in the small of her back to push her toward the adjacent door leading her to the bathroom.

"Ok" She agreed, smiling; leading her walking steps to cross the threshold of the luxurious bathroom, before disappearing from his sight.

A discreet knock startled the male guest in his deep contemplation of the view.

"Please, accept my biggest apology for the disturbance, Sir." The General Director of the luxurious hotel nodded in respect.

"It's not a bother, what can I do for you?" The male guest turned on himself to face the middle age, greyish hair, man.

"Pardon me again. A huge mixed up with the credit card by one of the office clerks, at the reception. Apparently the suite was charged to another name and credit card by mistake." The director explained, nervously rubbing his hands.

"It's not a bother." The man smiled, pulling his wallet from the back pocket or his trousers to retrieve the said card.

"Thank you … Mister?" The director took a rapid glance at the name engraved in the plastic card, assuring himself of not making the same mistake, once more.

"Arian… Arian Sato… But you can also call me the King of the world if you prefer?" A devious smile spread on the Asiatic man's lips, with a discreet wink addressed to the Director.

"You've just rented a twenty thousands dollars' nightly rate penthouse for the month, I'll call you whatever you wish to be called, Mister Sato…Or should I say : King of the world?" The Director winked back, teasingly; before retracing his steps toward the exit. "I'll bring your credit card back into your hands in the shortest delay possible."

"No rush." Arian replied, before turning his sight back to the panorama of the city.

"I'm waiting for you, you know?" The soft feminine voice called him.

Arian turned on himself, sliding his fiery sight on the length of Misao's silhouette, wrapped in a tick white body towel; the right side of her upper body leaning on the arch of the bathroom suite door.

"Then I shall not make you wait any longer, my love." Shinichi replied by pulling on his tie and unbuttoning his shirt to rapidly shorten the space between them.

THE END

I'm grinning at the present moment, while imagining all of your faces (jaws hitting the floor – opened mouth speechless expressions) with the final scene I just gave you ;) I see a few of you running after me with a baseball bat (Kol's style). BE NICE - PLEASE! ;)

Count on me to surprise everybody with an "End" like this one. A bit of explanation? I don't know, maybe I should let you imagine the "why" and "how come", all by yourselves? Nah that would be mean of me, would it?! ;) The Divinity "Inari" granted both Shinichi and Misao an immunity against death, because of their "pure" and "unconditional" love toward each other. Granted it is "incest" love, but that love was fundamentally what saved their souls from paying by their deaths for their sins.

This also means that Arian is still around, without giving this knowledge to all the others ;) What can I say? I love my bad boy' characters, therefore it's hard for me to kill them ;)

I loved that Damon and Stefan left Mystic Falls together, I always imagined this DEFAN' final scene in my head. I loved that Bonnie took charge of her life and followed Kol to California. I loved that Caroline proposed to revisit the three cities (of the first story) to Klaus; and that he was the one to bring back her vampirism. I loved that Enzo and Elena are stuck together in this other "between life and death" dimension. I loved that Katherine went to Elijah to finally admit her feelings, in her own twisted ways, I give you that ;) I loved that Matt and Rebekah managed to take things in a slow pace in their relationship.

I want to warmly thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me in this fiction journey of this "SEVEN DATES" sequel. I hope you had a blast reading it. It was different from the first part story, some would probably say that it was less Klaroline centered, but what can I say; I love to explore all characters, it's my forte now ;) And that makes the story special in my humble way.

Bless you all for following this story, with all my love and good wishes my dear readers;

Lovely Vero