Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the Vampire Diaries, I admire Rebekah though, she goes through a lot of things throughout her life and all she wants is to be loved and she's not getting the love that she deserves, so it hurts me

Chapter Three

Bella's head felt like it was about to burst. Esther claimed to have forgiven Klaus and wanted to be a family unit once more. While she fully believed that mothers could show unconditional love and forgiveness to their children, the members of the Mikaelson family were known to have a serious anger issue and to hold grudges; she wanted to believe that her mother-in-law's intentions with her revival to the land of the living were pure as she said but there was this niggling doubt at the back of her mind that refused to be ignored.

Although Klaus had made it his mission while they were together to trample all over her emotions and self-worth as a woman, Bella had not gotten far in this life by being stupid and she could count on her hand how many people, human or supernatural, that she unquestionably trusted, one of them was lying in a hospital bed with around the clock medical attention, the Quileute tribe and the wolf shape-shifters were out, all that remained were her two companions she'd turned in a moment of loneliness during the late 1500s and 1700s respectively. After she'd taught the duo to survive in the supernatural world without suspicion, Bella had left them to be on their own devices, offering counsel only when they needed her, were in danger or asked for her personal opinion, it was only in this generation that they had been reunited in Forks, Washington and she'd been reasonably pleased to see that they'd played their parts perfectly, acting as if they did not know her.

Now she needed them and while she felt slight guilt, she sent two texts as soon as she was out of the room, pretending she hadn't noticed Esther attempting to get her attention, that was really rude and out of character for her since, when she was human, the woman had been a surrogate mother figure to her, with her own mother having died giving birth to her and her father was unable to look at her without flying into a rage and beating her.

Just as she'd been about to get in her car and return to her hotel room, maybe sleep for half the day, Rebekah flashed in front of her. "Elijah choked me." Her voice was incredulous and angry but there was an undercurrent of hurt...and fear. "He did what?" Bella was appalled. Maybe she'd been away from the Mikaelson's too long, but the blonde was someone Elijah had always adored and to hear what he'd done...

Rebekah's face twisted in a grimace. "He choked me, Bella. He didn't really do it to hurt me, but to prove a point to that doppelganger wench." There was definitely spite towards this mystery girl and Bella was intrigued. "I can't believe he actually did that...No, never mind. I can. Nik and he are just alike in many ways." Seeing Bella's expression become uncomfortable, the blonde sighed. "You know, we can't have girl time if I have to dodge around bringing up my brother in conversation. I want to understand you again, you seem changed. I want to reconnect."

Nodding slightly, she shrugged with a small smile. "Get in then. I haven't got a fancy mansion but the room service at my hotel is good, and the staff might be fun to snack on while we catch up." Before she and Klaus had 'separated', compelling and feeding off of servants had been something of a bonding thing she and Rebekah did.

Once the blonde walked around to the passenger's side, opened up her door and slid inside, Bella got in too, contemplating smacking Elijah, accidentally of course, with the car, as she saw him coming up the driveway. The urge passed but she could see him watching them drive away in the rear-view mirror. Once they arrived at the hotel, Bella immediately cleared the way of shopping bags and ordered some cake, ice cream, pie and a bottle of white, red and peach wine respectively, smiling at Rebekah's raised eyebrows.

"What? I can't listen to you talk about your brother in a friendly voice—" the blonde cut her off. "I don't do friendly." Rolling her eyes, Bella took off her shoes, placing them neatly back in their box. "Fine. In a comradely tone, without excessive amounts of comfort food, booze and a hot young man, or woman, to look at." Taking off her pendant next, she returned it to its jewelry box, then she repeated the process with her jacket and earrings, barefoot and much more comfortable in her jeans and white T-shirt, she belly flopped in the middle of the bed, beckoning Rebekah to join her.

"I guess that answers one question, if you were interested in only men these days." Rebekah commented lightly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "I've been known to roll in bed with women here and there, and enjoy it." Seeing her expression, Bella sighed, grabbing a pillow and stuffed it underneath her stomach. "Yes, Rebekah. I wasn't a nun while away from your brother. Fortunately for everyone involved, I didn't have the spine to step out on him publicly like he did often in my presence and I'm sure he continued to do long after I was gone."

Rebekah shook her head. "I think that you're working with false or outdated information. Bella, Nik flirted with women and he was charming, certainly, but you might be w—" At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "That can't be room service that fast. ...Can it?" Shrugging, the brunette scooted off the bed and walked up to the door, running her hands through her hair to tousle it a little, before opening the door, before opening it wider and lo, behold, it was indeed room service.

Disaster avoided, Bella managed to move the conversation away from herself and redirect it back on Rebekah, catching up on all the things she missed while away and they did indeed take turns feeding on the room service guy. Apparently the "doppelganger wench" was Elena Gilbert, and before her, Katherine Pierce, or more commonly known as Katerina Petrova. The Sun and Moon curse was one of the many lies created in the effort to free Klaus of his curse that bound his werewolf side. He'd broken his curse with Elena's blood but he still needed her alive in order to make more hybrids. Klaus had killed Esther, not Mikael. He terrorized Elena and the girl's group of friends that fancied themselves as the Scooby gang or something with the way they always had to come rushing to save the day.

It was a lot to process and by the time Rebekah had finished talking, it was almost one in the morning, the booze and sweets pretty much devoured between the two of them. "Just stay here. We can share the bed like when you were younger. I will drive you home later in the morning but I'm really buzzed and while I know a crash won't kill us, I'd hate to wreck the car." Rebekah's nose scrunched up adorably. "I have to sleep in the same clothes? No way. I can manage on my own, Bella. You get some rest." Bella was already unbuttoning her jeans, doing a wiggling motion to get out of them without having to move or lift up. "Ugh, are you sure?"

Rebekah only laughed. "See you later, Bella. Don't think I haven't figured out you're hiding something." Entirely too drunk to think deeply or panic, the brunette lifted one hand in acknowledgment, not noticing when the blonde vampire quietly left her hotel room, her jeans were shucked off and then her underwear, and the shirt, not willing to risk getting in the shower, she changed into her recently bought pajamas, slipped back under the covers and went to bed.

Her hope for oblivion was for naught. The talk with Rebekah about Klaus' cruelty only brought her vivid imagination to life, the things he'd done, the lives he'd ended, it was all shown to her. And even more than that came the memories that she'd been suppressing for years, memories that made her glad that Edward could not read her mind...

{DREAM MEMORY MODE}

"I've had talks with Father." Bella's oldest sister, Gia, commented with a forced levity to her tone. "You should be so lucky, it seems that you are to be wed to Niklaus, son of Mikael." Hands paused in their stitching and she turned to stare at her kin. "Tatia's Niklaus? The boy—" Gia cut her off, "Man. He is of age now, as are you." Sighing, she reiterated. "The man with his mother's looks, all that golden hair? We are speaking of the same person, are we not, sister? I think Tatia will not like this at all. And to be truthful, I do not think that I like it very much either." Returning to stitching, the subject was closed on her end.

"It matters not what Tatia likes or dislikes. Do not bring shame on the family by being prideful. Father will be furious if you refuse, even more so since Esther likes you and personally arranged the match with her husband's approval." Gia rested her hands on top of Bella's, making the younger woman still. "...You can be free now. He cannot lay another hand on you, sister. Is that not a better outcome?"

Try as she might, Bella could not deny the blossoming feeling of hope in her chest.

{END DREAM}

Startled from her dream by the sound of her ring-tone, Bella blearily opened her eyes, disoriented and mouth dry. Groping around blindly, she nearly flipped off the bed, but she managed to snag her phone, arm thrown over her face and pressed the 'TALK' button. "'Ello? Mm, g'morning. Mm-mm. 'm up. 'm up. Come over? Mm-mm. 's fine. Uh-huh." Rubbing a tired hand down her face, she opened her eyes slightly. "Yes, I'll be there soon. I know. I will. Promise. G'bye." Pressing the 'END' button, she prepared to lay her head down for a few more minutes of rest.

Only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.

Dropping face first into the pillow, she contemplated doing the actual teenage thing and screaming into it, but nixed that decision and pulled herself out of bed, flashing over to the door and opened it. Standing there was Angela Weber and Jessica Stanley. "OMG. What are you still doing in pajamas? It's like almost ten in the morning, Bella. Get with it, girl. Come on! Up, up, up!" Bustling inside, she practically bulldozed over Bella and Angela came in too, smiling apologetically. "Accidentally bought her Red Bull, she's been like that for hours." Bella grimaced sympathetically. "It was torture. But enough of that. Things are definitely getting tense back in Forks."

Those words were absolutely ominous, Bella decided as she closed and locked the door. "Tell me everything while I shower. Then I have to leave out, speaking of which, you two could join me while I visit old friends this lovely morning." Jessica went around the room cleaning up, folding up her clothes and gathering trash, making a speculative noise at the sight of her new clothes.

Without further prompting, they went into detail about how Edward had gone on a rampage, destroying a good portion of the Cullen household, Carlisle and Esme were claiming that he was going through a teenage rebellious period. Jasper and Alice had flown the coop, Rosalie and Emmett had "returned" from college, attempting to make him see the proverbial light. Charlie had been denied access to any visitors and they were thinking about moving him to a bigger hospital with superior staffing. Bathed and dressed, Bella confessed everything that had gone down with her and the Cullens, the shifters, etc. Jessica was appropriately outraged on her behalf and even offered to rip "Eddie's" stone nutsack right off "as he didn't need it anyway, he wasn't a man", Angela being more the silent support, squeezing her shoulder in comfort when Bella became choked up on some parts.

While they were curious about her old friends, they kept their queries to themselves as she drove them to the Mikaelson family mansion, Jessica did complain about being under-dressed when a servant allowed them inside and the blonde went quieter still when they entered the parlor, watching as the Mikaelson siblings were being outfitted and catered to.

"And look who showed up. I thought you'd be still at the neck of a toilet, emptying your stomach." Rebekah teased, though it was hard to detect the friendly note underneath her smug voice. "I'm not that much of a lightweight. I admit to nearly hitting my head when your mother called though." The blonde Original laughed lightly when Bella admitted that much.

"Rebekah, tell me how handsome I am." Kol insisted as he stared at himself in the full length mirror. "Ah, Kol. You know I can't be compelled." Rebekah inspected her nails and her comment made Elijah and Finn chuckle.

Their moment of levity was interrupted when the door was thrown open and Klaus strode in. "You went after Elena? What is wrong with you?" his face was thunderous and he was on a warpath in Rebekah's direction, smoothly Bella intercepted him.

"I for one think she was quite justified, the girl did have the audacity to put a dagger in her back. Maybe you admire the girl's cheek, seeing as you dagger you siblings at any sign that they might actually be happy and their happiness doesn't include you." And that was a low blow, Bella knew it, could see it in his face. "Here we go." Rebekah sighed.

"Perhaps you'd like a dagger in your heart?" Klaus' voice lowered to a threatening whisper. "Again with the dagger threats, don't you have any other tricks?" Kol interceded. "Oh, go back to staring at yourself." He turned his head to glare at his sibling. "And who are you, my father?" The dark haired Original raised a mocking eyebrow. That seemed to do the trick and Klaus turned to face Kol completely. "No, Kol. But you're in my house." Kol stood up, getting in his personal space. "Then perhaps we should go outside." It was all in his voice, his stance, that cocky smile, he was rarin' for a fight and the two attempted to stare the other down.

"Enough!" Esther chose that moment to enter. "Niklaus, come." Klaus spared a moment to glance at his mother, then back to Kol before walking around him and following after him as she walked into another room.

"That was...intense." Jessica commented. "Is he always that..." It was clear she was trying not to be rude and Elijah came to her rescue. "Introductions are in order. Isabella, who are your lovely companions?" Bella smiled at the most noble Original. "Angela Weber and Jessica Stanley. Angela is my eldest protégé, the last time we spoke, I do believe she was the curator of her own museum...about fifty or sixty years ago. It was quite lovely actually, the décor and atmosphere. Maybe the two of you could visit the place, see if anything's changed together?"

Angela flushed with embarrassment at her not so subtle attempt to get them together and pleasure at the praise. "Bella..." So, she'd been taking in his lean profile, lingering on his hands a little too long. He was a handsome man after all and seemed to take care of himself and he just radiated power.

"I think that anyone could appreciate Jessica's work as Elizabeth Bathory, a creative soul. I empathized with the brutality. Beyond that, she was a nurse and owned her own bar/club, unfortunately a jealous ex decided it'd be wise to burn it down and she decided to beat him with his own legs after tearing them off."

Kol was giving Jessica an almost admiring gaze before taking her hand and kissing the knuckles gently. "I wasn't so keen on this life in the beginning is all, it was radically different than what I grew up surrounded by. Lots of anger issues I was working through." Jessica seemed flustered and carefully retracted her hand from his grip. "I have much better control of my temper." she added with a quirky little smile.

"I just got the most brilliant idea. Elijah can be Angela's date to the ball and Kol can be Jessica's." It took a little manhandling but she forced the two girls into the company of the Original men in question. "And I was hoping I could steal a dance with my favorite Mikaelson of you lot besides Beks." Tentatively, she stretched her hand out and Finn, never one to deny her, took hold of her hand, spinning her around as if she wore a dress at that exact moment, making her laugh gently, happily.

"Dancing with another man while your husband has agreed to accompany you wouldn't be right, Isabella darling." Esther admonished. "Did you make him swallow nails or threaten him to be nice to me for the evening? Niklaus loathes my presence and to force us into close quarters is beyond cruel." Bella tried to keep her voice neutral but it rose in higher pitch towards the end.

"Now, now, sweetheart. Let's not be dramatic, I know you're fond of making a scene but I'm not in the mood for all my siblings to come rushing to your aid like a damsel in distress." Klaus' voice was perfectly calm, a little on the condescending side though and it rankled her pride. "I make a scene?" Bella demanded incredulously, attempting to take a step forward but Finn's hand on the back of her neck calmed her down and halted her advance at the same time.

"Both of you, enough." Esther commanded tightly. "Bella, I know the situation is not ideal and my son has done irreparable damage to your heart, but I know you, little swan. I know what's in your heart of hearts even when you pretend that you don't." Bella looked away from her imploring gaze, feeling shamed and stripped bare as always. "Don't run away again because you're scared and its easy." Gently, one hand touched Bella's cheek. "Believe in yourself. You're home, where you belong."

Exhaling shakily, Bella shook her head and offered a shaky smile. "As always, you know my weak points." She nodded. "I'll attend the ball with Niklaus."

Although she couldn't believe that she was going along with this crazy scheme, Bella thought it was the best decision that she go, get out of her hotel room for a little while. It helped that Esther was actually more amiable to the idea of Angela and Jessica being there for the ball, she even chuckled over her matchmaking attempt and told her that if such things were to be, it'd fall into place with Bella nudging them along.

Angela and Jessica were less than amused but after a few hours of ball gown shopping, their bad attitudes lifted, especially when they figured out that it wasn't on their dime. Before they even realized it, night time had arrived and it was time for the ball to start, they arrived fashionably late, dressed to the nines, just in time for the waltz. Bella reminded herself to give Klaus the benefit of the doubt, especially when she noticed him with a blonde young woman, he gave her the mystery girl the first dance, and she settled for Finn, managing a convincing smile when the eldest Mikaelson looked at her with worry behind that indifferent mask, then she moved on to Elijah, he traded off Angela for her, then Kol and even one with the same blue eyed man she met the other day.

There was no dance with Klaus.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, threatening to choke her, Bella grabbed herself a drink from the nearby waiter and went outside on the balcony. Just sipping on that drink and pretending that the world didn't exist.

The sickly sweet scent of Cold One was nearly missed as the wind chose that moment to pick up and she spun around, "Edward." Her voice was soft. "What are you doing here?" The eternal teenager turned his head and met her gaze head on, her hand grasped the rail as she noted his blood red eyes. "Oh God..."

"I've missed you, Bella, my love. And you've missed me. Come on. It's time to go home." He held out one hand, beckoning her to take it. "...No." Bella stated firmly. "No?" Edward echoed her and it reminded her of the rejection of his proposal. "I said 'No', Edward and if I were you—" He moved quickly, reaching out to wrap his hands around her throat or shove her off the balcony, she wasn't sure which, when a blur stopped him in his tracks, throwing him against the stone wall.

"When a lady says 'No', take a hint, she means 'No'." It was the blue eyed man again. Edward tried to take a snap for his throat and got tossed over the balcony for his trouble, the man following after him. There was a screeching sound, like metal being scratched or torn, and Edward's hoarse yell, that drew the attention of the entire Mikaelson family, the man's brother she assumed and the doppelganger.

"I'll be back for you, Bella! I love you." And Edward, missing one arm, blurred away. But that declaration had her...no, the Mikaelson's looking at her.

This conversation wasn't going to be pleasant.

And that's a wrap. This chapter was significantly longer than my other two. I wanted to add more bonding time with Rebekah and Bella, since I didn't get to do that last chapter. Klaus stood Bella up to try and woo Caroline, yes that did happen. It's not that he doesn't feel anything for her, it's more along the line that he's hurt that she left him and she's hurt because she thinks that he cheated on her, they're both wrong and Rebekah will play a vital role in making them both realize they're being stubborn idiots.

Edward showed up this chapter. Was he trying to actually go through with a Shakespearean suicide act, that will not be clear for several more chapters at least. But yeah, the Mikaelson's are going to be curious about how the hell she knows a Cold One, considering that usually traditional vampires despise and kill them on sight. Kol and Rebekah did plot to kill Matt, that much is true canonically, but they didn't get to go through with it. Not with the whole Edward fiasco. Esther has not cast the spell to bind them, Bella didn't drink the wine, but Angela and Jessica did, as did the rest of the Mikaelson's. Damon did rescue Bella, it's not because he likes her but because he was just pissed and Edward was a convenient target.

Next chapter, Bella comes clean about everything. Klaus and Bella actually talk...without spewing insult at the other.

As always, if you liked this chapter, please drop a review. I'd like to make a note that on my profile page is the links to what outfits Bella, Jessica and Angela are wearing, so you have a clear idea.