Just a little note for this chapter. There are typos towards the bottom, and each one is deliberate. Anything I missed at the top just slipped through the edits.

Here we have it: the shortly awaited sequel to the Forgotten. Years have gone by. The Mikaelson family has grown and known something they known since they were human: peace.

But peace makes for a boring story.

So buckle up everyone because we are in for a ride.

We're gonna have some laughs.

We're gonna shed some tears.

And if I do my job right we'll be on the edge of our seats more than once.

The Blood Moon is Rising...

Both girls were sprawled on their stomachs before the Christmas tree with their ankles crossed in the air, and per their tradition they wore matching onesie; this year the pattern was snowflakes on a classic plaid.

Kol watched from the sofa as his daughter and niece flipped through a glossy magazine. Neither girl truly cared for fashion, but with the school's New Year's Eve ball around the corner both had decided it was time to take an interest; if they left it to Rebekah, as they normally would, then floor length gowns and sleek up-do's would be involved, and it was quite simply not that kind of party.

It was a high school dance masquerading as a ball.

"You know if you two don't go to bed soon Santa won't come," he felt Elena shake with laughter at his side. He slipped his fingers through her hair.

"Dad," Eve rolled her eyes, "we've known the truth about Santa Clause for a while now."

"Who said anything about Santa Clause?" Elena cracked an eye open; her husband's heart beat under her ear. "Even if he did exist I'm certain everyone in this house would be on the naughty list."

They were cousins, but everything about them screamed sisters; from their attire to the way they tilted their heads.

Even their quizzical looks were similar.

"I'm talking about Santa Klaus," he smirked. "The not so jolly, un-sainted fiend your aunt Caroline forces into a red suit every year."

His voice strained under suppressed amusement.

A warm glow flowed through Elena.

"What?" Eve did a half push up.

"Are you telling us that my dad dresses up as Santa every year?" Hope's features grew animated. "How did we not know this?"

"He wanted to make sure you never saw him," he propped his chin on Elena's head.

"Hope?" Mischief glowed in Eve's eyes. "Suddenly I'm exhausted."

"Me too," she faked a yawn.

Eve grinned. She jumped up, kissed Kol and Elena's cheeks and wished her parents goodnight.

Elena listened to them pass through the halls and wish Klaus and Elijah goodnight.

She turned her head, brushing his collarbone with the tip of her nose.

"You know they're not going to bed, right?" She mumbled, twisting just enough to lazily kiss his neck.

"I know, darling," he chuckled, already picturing Klaus' face when the girls showed up – probably via astral projection.

"What'd he ever do to you?" She snuggled into his arms, practically crawling into his lap.

"Seriously, darling?" Disbelief coloured his tone.

"I meant recently," she mumbled. She would have rolled her eyes if she could have opened them.

"Oh, recently..." he hummed, tipping his head back and playing with her hair. "... recently, nothing."

"Okay," she shifted, getting more comfortable.

"Okay," he kissed her hair. He could hear her heart slowing and her breath evening out. "Should we head off to bed?"

She mumbled something that sounded vaguely negative.

"You're sleeping in the sitting room," he felt his eyes droop, "on top of me."

"You're comfy," she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, "and I want to see Santa Klaus."

"You could just tell me what you want for Christmas," he snickered.

"I just did."

He probably could have stayed awake, but her soft warmth seeped into his mind and he drifted off.

He jerked awake when Klaus yelped and girlish giggles filled the sitting room.

Klaus spun, looming over the couple on the couch, voice rising with his blood pressure.

"You two did this," he roared, motioning toward the laughing teenagers.

"Just him actually," Elena blinked. She smirked up at her husband. "What do you think, babe? Should we get him a big armchair? We could put it between the fire and the tree; the kids can tell him what they want for Christmas."

Klaus turned vermillion.

Elijah came through the door with Freya and Rebekah; Finn and Sage were on their heels.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Rebekah struggled to hide her laughter.

"Dad's..." Eve gasped, clutching her ribs. "Dad's gonna move the chair, and Mom is getting a camera."

"Nobody said anything about a camera," Klaus' eyes widened. He wheeled on his niece.

Elena tapped Kol's chest with the back of her hand. "We could all take one; I see next year's Christmas cards."

Elena didn't realize how loud they were being until she felt the air shift and her eleven year old son appeared.

Erik miscalculated the distance though and stumbled over the arm of the coach, falling on top of his laughing parents.

"Wrong lap, Rik," Hope doubled over, laughing.

He blinked, groggy from being awoken at a late hour, and confused by the raucous laughter of his family. It took him a moment to realize that his uncle wore a red hat and suit.

When he did notice he tipped his head up to his mother.

"You never told me it was Santa Klaus," he pushed his bangs back. "Think of all the postage I wasted."

Every year she questioned the ability of the compound to accommodate their allies. As time passed and the family grew they had to fit more and more people until they couldn't see across the dance floor for the crowd, but this year was different.

They had transformed the courtyard into the perfect spot for the school dance.

She still wasn't sure how they had done it.

It was Kol's fault, though she suspected Klaus had been involved. They had both freaked when Erik revealed his cousin and sister were 'really looking forward to the party'; his exaggerated tone had been accentuated by kissing sounds.

By the time she and Hayley caught the kids Hope and Eve had tied Erik to a chair and were getting ready to dye his hair bright purple, and their fathers had caused just enough damage to relocate the ball.

She leaned one elbow on the counter, flagging down the bartender they had brought in for the evening.

"Scotch and soda on the rocks, and bourbon, neat," her eyes flickered over the crowd in search of her children.

"I'm gonna need to see your ID, miss," he wiped up a spill.

She tried to hide her annoyance. It was hardly his fault that she was an eternal teenager, or that her children looked more like younger siblings. It was hardly his fault that he had to ask for ID.

It was Kol's fault, and maybe Klaus'; and a little bit hers…definitely Caroline's.

She was the one who compelled the bartender. No teens would be getting drunk on their watch.

It would seem eternal teenagers were included.

"No, you don't," she met his eyes, attempting to compel him. It was a shame that Caroline had put the guy on vervain in preparation for those students who were vampires.

"No ID, no drinks," he shrugged. "I don't make the rules."

She sighed, spinning away from the bar and pushing through the crowd of teenagers. If she was going to deal with her overprotective husband and his brother then she was going to need a drink. She was certain she would have to sneak into the study for Klaus' private stash, but then a few kids moved and she spied her solution and sidled up to it.

"How's my favourite brother-in-law," she shifted on her feet, making her powder blue skirt twirl around her knees, "other than incredibly handsome."

"Should I be jealous?" Sage appeared at his other side with a smirk and a twinkle in her eyes.

"What do you want, Elena?" He chuckled.

"Drinks..." she smiled hopefully, while motioning over her shoulder, "Caroline's handiwork."

"Scotch and soda?"

"And a bourbon, please and thank you," she turned to Sage when he moved through the crowd. "You'd think Caroline would have made exceptions."

"It was last minute," Sage shrugged. "She was a little crazy this morning. Couldn't Kol have gotten your drinks?"

"Without causing a scene?" Elena cocked an eyebrow.

"Fair point," she laughed, "he doesn't look much older than you."

"Especially since he shaved," she glanced toward her husband. He was holding Erik's sleeve, nodding slowly as Erik talked; they looked like brothers.

"Here you are," Finn materialized, passing her two glasses.

"Ah, thank you," she stretched up, pecking his cheek. "You're an angel," she backed into the crowd. "Seriously, I see wings."

She slipped between witches, vampires and wolves until she was on the edge of the dancefloor. With the added room she could walk freely, and she used her newfound freedom to sashay toward her boys.

"What are my favorite troublemakers up to?" She tilted her head. Erik pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes, mumbling under his breath in the hope that she wouldn't hear.

She did.

"Erik Henrik Mikaelson," she would have put her hands on her hips if they weren't full, "what have I told you about doing things that will annoy your sister?"

"I'm not trying to annoy her," he protested.

"No," Elena drew out the word, shaking her head, "you're just trying to embarrass her by tricking your father into creating a public scene which you know he will do. Now, go and find your friends."

"Yes, mom," he hurried off.

"I'd better not find you spiking the punch with Freya's tequila later," she called after him. Once he was out of earshot she placed the glass of bourbon in Kol's hand.

"Thank you," he sipped, staring onto the dancefloor.

"Thank Finn," she drank half her glass, "because I forgot my ID."

"That's nice," he mumbled, staring straight ahead.

"Care compelled the bartender," she went on, tilting her head when he hummed. She followed his gaze and she found Eve's full black shirt spinning around her legs as she was twirled by a laughing Milton Greasley. She wondered how far she could go before the words registered.

"I'm thinking about getting a tattoo," she nursed her drink.

"That's nice, love," he blinked.

Her eyes cut to his vacant face and then around the room, lighting on the one person with the same intent expression.

"A paw print on my lower back," she finished her drink, rolling her eyes when he just nodded again. "Yeah, I thought Klaus might like it... sort of like a claiming thing... you know we've been having an affair for ten years."

"Mmhmm..."

"In fact I think we're gonna sneak off in a few minutes for some hot sex..." another vague noise, "… or maybe we'll just throw down right here."

"Eve might find that embarrassing," his tongue was heavy with sarcasm.

"More or less embarrassing then having her father stare at her and her friend?" She placed her empty glass on a passing server's tray.

"More," he downed his bourbon, "though not as much as when I tear out Niki's liver and feed it too him."

"Leave your brother alone," she turned him by his lapels and then smoothed his black jacket.

"As long as he leaves my wife alone," he placed his hands on her hips.

"You know I don't go for blondes," she caught his jaw, turning his face away from Eve. "Stop spying on her."

"That boy's not good enough."

"Okay," she held his face, "firstly, MG is her friend, and just her friend; trust me, I know the signs of a girl experiencing her first love. And secondly, is there any boy who will ever be good enough for your baby girl?"

"Of course not," he snorted, "no boys, no girls... nothing. She is too young."

"She's seventeen," Elena laughed, "I was dating Stefan at her age."

"If I hold Eve to your standards then she'll be jumping through time within a year and falling in love with a psychotic maniac."

"Well, you can't stop love," she smirked, kissing his cheek. "Now, stop spying on her and ask your beautiful wife to dance."

"But Eve's going to get her heart broken," his eyes flitted to the dance floor.

"I'm pretty sure she'll be the one doing the heartbreaking," she laughed.

The tinkling sound washed over him. The brass band finished off the final strains of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' and picked up a second tune with the promise of sweet romance in the opening bars.

"I love this song;" she closed her eyes and sighed.

"I know," Kol smiled. His heart warmed when a dreamy expression crossed her features. "May I have this dance?"

She opened her eyes slowly, smiling up at him.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Kol swept her into his arms, twirling her around before pulling her close to his chest and singing the words that had once sent their children off to sleep.

Rebekah watched the pair of them from her vantage point on the stairs. She bent over the railing, tapped Elijah's shoulder and nodded.

"How long before they pull a disappearing act?"

He followed her gaze. "Common courtesy dictates they remain until midnight."

"You're talking about Kol and Elena," Klaus glared at the boy twirling his daughter around. "When have they ever let courtesy dictate what they do? They'll be gone in ten minutes."

"My money is on the countdown: 8 seconds," Caroline nodded.

"Five minutes til midnight," Hayley decided.

"I second that," Freya glanced over the crowd.

"I say five seconds," Rebekah smirked. "What are the stakes?"

"Losers have to clean up the party," Caroline cooked an eyebrow, "without compulsion or vampire speed, or magic."

They all nodded in agreement except for Klaus who was too busy glaring at the punk who had dared to dance with his baby girl.

"Klaus, stop planning Landon's murder," Caroline rolled her eyes. "He's a phoenix; he'll just come back."

They had discovered Landon's supernatural species a few month's before. Hope had been taking an unauthorized driving excursion, not realizing Landon and Rafael were walking on the back road. Eve had screamed, but the warning was too late coming. Landon came back in flames and Hope triggered her curse; luckily he hadn't held a grudge and had even helped her through the moon.

"I'm not plotting his murder," Klaus growled, "just ways to keep him from kissing my baby girl at midnight."

"I'm pretty sure they've already kissed," Caroline exchanged a look with Hayley.

"They have been dating since Halloween," Hayley nodded.

"What?" Klaus' voice rose to a dangerous level.

Eve's head snapped toward the steps. She listened for a second and then tapped Landon and Hope's shoulders.

"You might want to run," she tilted her head to the steps. "Uncle Nik just found out you're dating."

"You didn't tell your dad?" Landon's dark brows drew together.

"My dad can be over protective," Hope swallowed.

"What's he gonna do?"

"Let's just say it's a good thing you're immortal," Eve smirked. "And that Aunt Caroline knows how to distract him."

They all watched as the blonde vampire whispered something in his ear. Nothing on earth would have made Eve use her vampire senses to listen in.

If he had eyes for anyone, or anything, else then he might have noticed his family staring at them. He would have seen the disappointment in Hayley's shoulders, the anticipation in Rebekah's stance, and the flash of Elijah's triumphant grin.

"7... 6... 5..."

He wouldn't have noticed Erik and Eve squabbling in that moment, not in the warmth radiating from her smile.

"4..." Elena tore her eyes away from the clocks to her husband. He was looking at her as if he had never seen anything so beautiful. "3..."

Hunger flashed in his eyes, and like the impulsive vampire he was, he acted.

The compound sped by in a blur of pretty silk and dark fabric.

"2..."

He pressed her to the closed door of their bedroom.

"1..."

Her voice cut off under his lips, and she lost herself in the passionate kiss.

Their breath mingled when he pulled back. She could taste his bourbon on her tongue.

"What was that about?" She peeked up through her lashes.

"What was what about?" He dragged a kiss over her smooth cheeks.

"You stole me from the dancefloor," she toyed with his jacket.

"I wanted to wish you a happy new year," he caught her ear between his teeth, "before you left me for my brother."

"How long will it be before you let me live that down?" Her heart fluttered, pumping heat through her veins.

"Maybe in a decade," he dragged his mouth back to hers, catching her lower lip between his teeth.

"I'm not going anywhere," she murmured, glancing up.

"You're not getting bored of me?" He teased

Elena took his right hand from her hip, dragging it toward her breast where he could feel her heart.

"Every time I meet your eyes, my heart turns over," she breathed. "That hasn't changed, but if you're worried then you could always persuade me."

"And how would I do that?" He arched an eyebrow.

"You could always help me celebrate the New Year," she bit her bottom lip. As she spoke she worked his jacket down his arms. "You know," she mused, "the only thing better than you in a tux is you out of a tux."

She tore off his bow tie and ripped open his shirt, raining buttons down on the hardwood. She set to work claiming every inch of skin she could reach with her teeth while he shed the remnants of his shirt.

He pushed her against the door, attacking her throat with kisses and blunt teeth, creating hickeys that would be gone in moments.

She reached for his belt and gasped when he spun her around. She grasped the back of his neck, tilting her head for his lips continued assault.

He grasped the zipper that was all but invisible against the nude material of her bodice, dragging it down; knuckles trailing over her spine.

Desire curled along, following his touch and gathering between her legs.

The dress pooled around her feet, leaving her in a strapless bra and underwear.

She twisted in his arms, caught the back of his neck.

His hands slipped up her arms, bringing her closer. He slotted a knee between her thighs and claimed her lips in a soft kiss. It was slow and drugging, growing more urgent when she ground down.

She rolled her hips, riding his knee and humming in the back of her throat as the pleasure mounted. Between his kiss, his roving hands and her rolling hips she could have climaxed right there, but then he reached for his belt.

She sped across the room, shoving him down on the bed.

She shed her underthings and was on top of him before he could say anything, dragging her teeth and lips over his chest and down his stomach; deft fingers unfastened his belt.

She took her time undressing him and kissing every inch of skin hungrily. Finally, when their clothes were gone and every inch of her body hummed with anticipation, she straddled his hips.

She sank down, gasping as he filled her.

She took a moment to revel in the feeling and then planted her hand over his heart and moved, rolling her hips down to where he met her motions.

He flipped her over, pinning her body beneath him.

She hooked her legs around his hips, scratching her nails down his back as he moved faster.

Their harsh breath and the sound of skin on skin were the only sounds in the room.

He moved his lips from her neck to her breast and back to her mouth as he thrust.

Her fingers moved up to tangle in his short hair, and tugged gently when he showed again.

She felt her orgasm approaching in her trembling thighs. He sensed it too and snapped his hips faster.

His lips whispered over her cheeks. His right hand slid down her left arm. Entwining their fingers he held her hand down by her head.

She moaned in his mouth, but broke the kiss to arch her back as he whispered words of love on her skin.

Together they fell apart, collapsing against each other and catching their breath.

She threaded her finger through his hair. Her heel slid down over the back of his leg as he kissed the curve of her breast.

"Kol?" She toyed with his hair.

"Mhmm?" He lifted his head.

She caressed his face. "I love you, Kol," she kissed the corner of his mouth, "...so much." She kissed him again, pouring her emotions into it.

"You're just saying that because I made love to you," he smirked, sliding his hand down her silken belly.

"No," she caressed the back of his head. "I mean it Kol," she met his eyes. "I always mean it. I love every part of you, and nothing will ever make me stop."

She pushed him to lie on his back and hovered over him. "You're my darker half. Nobody is complete without a little darkness. You know that, right? You know I love you?"

"Of course I do," he tucked her hair behind her ear. "You're the light of my life, the light to my darkness, and I love you."

"You don't say it very often..." she chuckled.

"Yeah?" He smirked. He chuckled when she nodded. "Then allow me to say it now," he rolled her back over, whispering the words in her ear. "I love you, darling," he kissed her neck, "body," he kissed through the valley of her breasts, "and soul..." he dragged his lips down her stomach.

"I am yours, Elena," he looked up, catching her dark eyes, "and you're mine..."

"Always," she swore, letting her legs fall open.

"Forever," he hooked her thighs over his shoulders.

"I'm telling you I won," Rebekah gloated.

"The five second mark passed," Elijah shook his head, "so I won."

Caroline rolled her eyes and went back to stacking empty glasses.

"They disappeared before midnight," she crossed her arms.

"Technically that means neither of you won," Caroline surveyed the silver confetti, stuck between the stones on the floor.

"Unless we're following the 'Price is Right' rules," Hayley leaned on a broom handle, "you know, closest without going over?"

"Why would you say that?" Caroline groaned as the siblings started bickering.

"Kol's not here," she shrugged, "so there was a vacuum."

Eve and Hope stepped into the courtyard arm-in-arm followed by a yawning Erik, and the twins.

"What are they arguing about?" Eve watched her aunt and uncle.

"And where's the clean-up crew?" Lizzie's shoes dangled from her finger.

"They are arguing about what your parents are doing," Freya gave Erik a one armed hug. At eleven years old he towered over his five foot nothing sister and stood almost eye to eye with Freya. "And as for clean up, we all lost a bet."

"What bet?" Eve frowned. "And what are mom and dad doing?"

Upstairs Klaus carefully pulled the door shut so as not to disturb the couple on the bed before flashing downstairs.

"Your mother and father are sleeping, Eve," he paused at the bottom of the stairs.

"They're sleeping?" Disbelief coloured Rebekah's voice.

"The ripped clothing scattered around the room suggests not," he snorted. "Really sister, when have you known Kol and Elena to just slept?"

"They've done it before," Caroline rolled her eyes.

"On full moons," Klaus scoffed, "and the moon is not full."

Eve knew she was going to hate herself for asking, but she was pretty sure she had been born without a filter between her brain and mouth.

"What's so special about full moons?"

"Well, sweetheart," Klaus chuckled-he was more than a little drunk, "the last time they did more than sleep during one you got a little brother."

"I knew I'd regret that," Eve held out her hands. She tipped her head back to look up at her baby brother. "It's a shame they didn't sleep that night."

"Hey," Erik exclaimed. "Maybe they should have slept during your full moon."

The sound of raised voices jerked Kol awake. He blinked, disoriented, and lifted his head.

The familiar sound of his squab ling children reached him, and he rolled his eyes.

"Do you remember when she was excited to have a baby brother?" Rebekah whispered to Freya – she was the one that responded, at least.

"Yeah, but then he arrived and didn't do much for months."

He considered getting up, going downstairs and being the disciplinarian, but that was not how he wanted to start the New Year.

He pulled Elena closer, pressing her back to his chest. With one hand he moved her hair and placed a light kiss on her shoulder. Elena held his arm over her stomach, mumbling unintelligibly and wiggling impossibly close.

This, he decided, was how he wanted to begin 2030.

Caroline slid into the vacant chair with a loaded tray; Elena and Hayley surveyed the mixture of contents.

"Shots?" Elena cooked an eyebrow. She reached for a lime wedge as Caroline poured.

"When is the last time we did shots?" Hayley spun the salt shaker between her fingers.

"It's been a good decade or so," Sage smirked. "Last time we got Elena tequila drunk she went home and made Erik."

"To be fair," she held out her hands, "Kol was wasted that night as well."

"Weren't you on a blood high when you made Eve?"

"Best nights of my life," Elena smirked. "Although, now that I think about it that might have something to do with their chaotic personalities."

"Right," Caroline passed around the shots, "it has nothing at all to do with their paternal DNA."

Elena eyed the amber liquid with mounting suspicion. There was nothing overtly wrong with tequila, nor was there anything wrong with Caroline's grin, but Caroline's grin partnered with alcohol I was never good.

"What are you up to?"

"I'm not up to anything," she protested. "It's the first girl's night of the New Year and Rebekah and Freya are on dates. And I have a question that I have been dying to ask since New Year's Day. Well actually it's been years, but I've always refrained for Bekah and Freya."

Elena downed her shot so she could avoid the look; she knew Caroline was lying.

She had seen something.

"I got to know," she poured Elena a new shot.

Elena closed her eyes, mentally flashing back to the previous afternoon when Kol had her practically bent in half on the library floor. She really should have double checked the door locks.

"That did not look comfortable," she went on.

"What didn't?" Sage glanced between the women.

Elena flushed as Caroline described the position none of them had ever heard of.

"So your weight was on your hands?" Hayley took the way Elena started chugging from the bottle as a yes.

A pleasant burn began to spread through Elena's extremities.

She put down the empty bottle.

"Okay," she smiled, "I'm drunk enough now. And yes my weight was on my hands. They were on the floor and I was pretty much standing on my hands while he held my legs open…"

"And it didn't look comfortable," Caroline smirked.

"It felt so good I really didn't care," Elena shivered, biting her lip. "It's not a beginner move, but oh wow," she giggled, "did he get deep."

"That's the one thing I didn't see," Caroline poured a drink. "Let's talk size. Is it true what they say about tall guys?"

"6'l" isn't tall," Elena frowned.

"It's on the higher end of average," Sage supplied.

"And," Caroline and Hayley prompted.

Elena grinned, leaning in close and whispering. "The higher, higher end of average." She sat back. "I spilled, now it's your turn."

"Are we gonna compare and contrast?" Hayley bit into a lime. "Put it to a vote?"

"There is no point ladies," Elena smirked, "because I will win. He's the best in bed, and he knows like every position imaginable. I swear once a month we are trying something new, like when Caroline walked in."

"Finn's traditional – you probably wouldn't find him very exciting," Sage hummed. "Sometimes I can talk him into something new, but it's always explosive."

"You want some suggestions? I can start you off easy," Elena giggled with Sage.

"I don't think Finn would go for the uh..."

"St. Valentine's Day," she supplied.

"Seriously?"

"Unless Kol was pulling my leg," her eyes twinkled.

"From where I was standing it looked like he was pulling both."

"All about the leverage," Elena raised her glass in salute. There was a round of laughter before she turned to Hayley.

"What about Elijah? Is he boring? Does he strike anyone else as boring?"

There was a chorus of 'yes'.

"I don't know," she pursed her lips, "Elijah might surprise you."

"I don't think I'm capable of being surprised anymore," Elena rested her cheek on her palm. Nobody mentioned it, but they all knew she had aimed for her chin.

"Hayley is the only one of us that can compare and contrast between brothers," Sage crossed her arms on the table.

Hayley tipped her shot glass back and forth ignoring the expectant looks from her sisters as she formulated the words.

"Well," she hummed, "with Klaus I went in with certain expectations, I expected the sex was going to be wild and a little rough; he met all of them, and he's got a definite alpha male thing going on. Elijah, on the other hand..." Hayley's eyes sparkled as she leaned in close. "With the amount of experience they're all gonna be good, but you expect quiet and boring with him."

"Are you telling us he's not?"

"Are my ears bleeding?" Eve pointed. "I think they're bleeding."

"They look fine to me," Landon stirred his milkshake with a straw.

Hope sipped her smoothie, squinting at the dangling flakes of snow – her Christmas present.

"All I see are two perfectly spelled snowflake earrings," she tilted her head. "What's going on Evie?"

Eve hesitated before jerking her chin. "Our moms are here, and they're talking"

"About what?"

"Something Aunt Caroline said was uncomfortable," Erik dropped into the empty space by Eve.

"They're talking graphically about sex," she watched her baby brother turn green. "I shouldn't have to listen to the visual details of how my parents go at it." She closed her eyes and shuddered. "And I really didn't need to know that Hope was conceived on the dining room table."

Landon choked and Hope spewed. Strawberry smoothie sprayed the table.

"Eww," she shuddered. "Why would you tell me that? I didn't wanna know that!"

"You think I did?" She pressed her hands to her chest. Her eyes snapped to the left. "What are you doing here, Erik? Don't you have friends to hang out with?"

"They're not back from winter break yet," he stole her untouched smoothie, "and everyone went out."

"Awe," she patted the top of his head, "is the poor ickle baby scared to be home alone?"

"Cut it out," he trembled.

Eve froze, the smirk on her face melting away to be replaced with a concerned frown.

"What's wrong?"

"Can't you feel it?" His eyes flickered between them.

"We weren't born with your sixth sense," Hope glanced at Landon, reaching for his hand under the table. "What do you feel?"

Erik jiggled his foot, a nervous habit he had picked up from his mother, and looked around.

Everything seemed normal. There was nothing out of the ordinary, and yet his heart pumped cold blood and his hair stood up on his neck.

"Something is coming," he chewed his bottom lip. "Something bad."

Eve couldn't resist the quip, partly because she wanted to be right.

"Is it puberty?"

"Your turn," Elena grinned, once they had their laughter under control.

Caroline's eyes bulged. "You already heard about Klaus."

"From someone whose frame of reference is a one night stand from over eighteen years ago; you've seen much better than Hayley."

"Yeah," Hayley slurred, "spill it Care bear! You've got way more sushi... jus hi... suicy details than me."

"You're hampered," Elena giggled. "Completely shloshed... so-loshed..." she frowned, but didn't stop shaking, "hampered?"

"I believe the words you seek are 'hammered' and 'sloshed'," a smooth voice spoke over their heads.

"That's the one," Elena declared. She jumped to her feet and promptly stumbled over her heels. Large hands caught her around the waist before she could fall flat on the table.

"Hands off my wife," Kol gave a pointed look down.

"Then you'd best collect her, brother. If I let go she will fall."

"My legs work just find."

"When they're on the floor," Caroline muttered.

Sage choked on her drink.

Finn gave her a napkin.

"What was that sweetheart?" Klaus tilted his head.

"Noshing," Elena giggled. She threw her arms around Kol's neck, nearly hitting Elijah in the face.

"You're pretty."

"No, no, darling," he chuckled, wrapping her in his arms, "you're pretty. I am devilishly handsome."

"I would have said that she's beautiful and you're conceited," Finn smirked.

"She's taken," Kol turned his head. Her clumsy fingers ran through his hair. "What exactly have you ladies been up to? Aside from the blatant intoxication of my wife, I mean."

"Nothing," Caroline denied

Elena lost interest in the conversation and turned her full attention on her husband, namely by moulding herself to his lean body and kissing his neck.

"Elena," Elijah cleared his throat.

She ran her hand down Kol's spine.

"This is a new level of intoxica..." Kol broke off with a startled yelp when she pinched his behind.

"Okay..." He grabbed her arms and held them behind her back.

"Kinky," Caroline's comment sent all four girls into a fit of laughter.

Elena wiggled free and dropped back into her seat.

"What is going on here?" Klaus' eyes narrowed.

"Nothing," Hayley waved her shot glass around. "We were in the middle of a very serious conversation so you can just go."

"Are you sure you don't want them to weigh in?"

"This has nothing to do with them," Caroline scoffed.

"Technically it has everything to do with them," Sage dried her hands.

"Wonderful," Klaus shook his head, "they're talking about us. Well, what is it this time?"

"Isn't it obvious, Nik?" Kol smirked. He could still hear Caroline's stumbled apology. "They are comparing notes to decide which of us is the superior lover?" He bent to whisper in his wife's ear. "What's the verdict, my darling?"

Caroline attempted to kick her friend under the table, but couldn't find her own foot.

Elena giggled, oblivious to the way Finn shook his head. Deaf to Elijah's long suffering sigh. And blind to Klaus' reddening face.

"We haven't voted yet. Caroline needs more tequila before we can hear about Klaus and make an informed decision."

Caroline swayed dangerously in her chair and opened her mouth, waving her hand around.

"Unlike you, I don't require further intoxication."

She took a deep breath.

Klaus grabbed her around the waist and ran.

"Spoil sport," Elena pouted. Her eyes landed on Elijah when he righted the vacated chair. A few drinks earlier and she might have tried to stop the laughter that bent her in two.

"Darling," Kol glanced at his brother, "what's so funny?"

"Nothing," she wheezed, "your brother just has an alter ego."

Elijah's eyes darted to Hayley's flushed cheeks.

"Do I want to know what you told them?"

She flushed deeper in response, pressing her mouth into a line.

Elena wiped tears from her eyes.

"So," Kol cleared his throat, "when will we receive the poll results?"

"When Caroline gets back."

"I'm pretty sure she is facing Niki's wrath for humiliating him in public," he tugged on Elena's ear.

"Kinky," she waggled her eyebrows. That set Sage and Hayley off again.

Elena poured herself a shot – unsure if it was her sixth or six hundredth – and stared at the liquid thoughtfully before turning to Sage.

"Do you think Hayley will be facing Elijah's wrath?"

Elijah sputtered as the trio broke out in another fit of giggles, and came to a decision that girl's night was over.

Hayley flashed a grin as she was pulled to her feet.

"And then there were two," Elena sang.

"And I was so hoping for the results," Kol rolled his eyes. He picked Elena up and set her on her feet.

"Come on, darling. It's time you were in bed."

"Sounds good," she purred.

Eve sank into her booth as dad led mom from Rousseau's. She yanked her hair forward and covered her bright face so she wouldn't have to look at the world's most embarrassing parents. She doubted she would be able to meet their eyes before Valentine's Day. The second she thought of the holiday she heard her mom's extremely graphic description all over again.

"Someone put me out of my misery," she groaned.

"Want me to put you to sleep?" Hope sipped her smoothie.

"This is so unfair," she sat up, leaning over the table. "We had to hear intimate details about mom and dad, but you get off with a tiny tidbit about your conception because Uncle Nik dragged Aunt Caroline out of here like a bloody caveman."

"That reminds me..." Hope flipped over her phone and started typing.

"What are you doing?" Landon's eyes flickered over her face.

"Texting my dad 'thank you', with a heart emoji."

Eve surged up onto her feet. "Look at my poor baby brother; he's traumatized!"

Hope exchanged a look with Landon.

"You alright, Erik?" He tilted his head.

"Am I gonna be as good as that?" He tilted his head, more to annoy his sister than anything.

"Shut up, Rik!"

"Only if he did a good job while conceiving you, you little turnip," Hope gave him a sympathetic look. "He was drunk though, so probably not. You'll be a little turnip forever."

"Hope... Eve?" Finn approached the booth. "Erik? How long have you been here?"

"Too long," Eve groaned.

"Oops." Sage giggled.

She slammed him into the rough brick of the alley; red dusted his jacket. Her long fingers worked the fine powder from his hair.

"Darling," he held her hips, "what has gotten in to you tonight."

Blunt teeth caught his bottom lip and tugged.

"Tequila," she plunged her tongue into his mouth, sliding it over his. His answering groan rumbled through her chest.

He sank into her kiss, more than happy to be where he was, and drunk enough that he didn't care about her hastily selected venue; he never tired of kissing her. A few drinks more and he would have taken her right there against the bricks and finished the demolition she began.

He wasn't that drunk.

She took heavy breaths, drunk on alcohol, drunk on his proximity. She transferred her kisses to his cheeks, his jaw, and that one spot on his throat.

Her teeth grazed his carotid.

His knees buckled.

"Darling," he groaned.

She freed his shirt from his jeans, reaching for his belt; it took every ounce of his limited self control to grab her hands.

"It's a full moon."

He felt her pout against his collarbone. Her voice emerged in a whine.

"When's it over?"

"I'm not sure," he chuckled. Her arousal tickled his senses. "Why don't we go home and I'll worship you like the goddess you are."

"And what goddess is that?" She squealed as he lifted her into his arms.

"Aphrodite, of course," the look he gave her sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

"Does that make you Hephaestus?"

"How can you mess up sloshed, but have no problem with Hephaestus?" He shook his head. "And no, if I am any god I'm Ares."

"But," an adorable gasp escaped her lips, "they weren't married. If you're Ares then where's my hushband."

"Oh please," he carried her to the end of the alley. "They were wed in all but name."

"I suppose," she huffed, tossing her head back.

The teasing smile dropped.

"Kol," he could hear the frown in her voice, "did you bite the moon?"

"Did I what?" He stepped out onto the street.

His breath caught.

Her skin was bathed in red.

He followed her gaze up.

A full moon loomed above them, and as they watched it was overtaken with red. When the very last of white was gone chaos reigned.

Hurricane force winds blew through the streets.

The earth shook.

Lights blew out.

Water bubbled up from the sewers.

People screamed.

Metal screeched.

New Orleans bathed in blood.

It seemed to stop as fast as it began.

Elena watched the red drain from the moon and wrapped her arms around Kol's neck.

"That's not good, is it?"

"No, my love," he turned his head, meeting her eyes. "It's not."

A lone woman sat calmly amidst the running civilians; her pale eyes trained on the young couple across the street.

"I was hoping for more of a reaction."

"No, no, Stavros," she smiled, slow and cruel. "Slow terror is perfect." She cocked her head to the side, listening in on a conversation behind them.

"Call the other Harvest witches..." She caught sight of a short woman around thirty with curly black hair. "Tell them to meet me in the cemetery."

She watched the witch go and grinned.

"My brilliant day just got better."

Erik crawled out from under the table and glared at his older sister as she picked some broken glass out of her hair.

"I told you so."

"It was just an earthquake Erik," she sighed and slung her arm around his shoulders. "Davina and Monique probably had an argument."

"What about the wind?"

"Abigail probably joined the fray," Hope walked backwards through the door. Water soaked through her shoe. She shook her foot.

"Cassie too?" Erik gave them both a disbelieving look.

Hope exchanged a glance with Eve.

"Obviously."