AN: So I know I'm a shit person for being so glacial with this story. Anyone still interested probably thinks I've abandoned it. I haven't, it's always in the back of my mind, it's just taken this long for the muse to strike again. All I can say is I'm sorry and I hope you enjoy this next chapter...

"Niklaus," Elijah addresses his devious and scheming little brother, "it's not very sporting of you, using Kol's bloodlust against him like that."

"Well perhaps not," Niklaus answers from where he's lounging on the sofa, twirling a wooden stake in his hand and looking like the proverbial cat that got the cream, "but I can't stand idly by and witness the degradation any longer."

The stake is the one with the mark of The Five Niklaus left on the hunter for Kol to find.

As always, the hybrid is the very picture of loveliness, stretched out like an offering from the gods of pleasure, every part of him begging to be adored, calling out to be touched, caressed, kissed. Everything from his golden curls, to his sculpted body, and of course those sinful lips. As usual Elijah is caught between the roles of chiding big brother and smitten lover. He knows which role he prefers but loyalty to his family is ingrained in his character, he can control himself. He can.

The whole episode hadn't been planned, but one of The Five showing up on their doorstep was a fortunate coincidence Niklaus was happy to use to his advantage. If Elijah is completely honest with himself, he is rather in awe of Niklaus' cunning and resourcefulness but wonders if it must be used to Kol's disadvantage. Surely Niklaus' skills could be put to better use elsewhere?

"What do you hope to achieve? Wasn't the witch enough? The fact that he hasn't lost control completely and killed the boy yet must tell you something about the strength of their bond. If you want Jeremy dead, why not just kill him?"

"I don't think our little brother would take too kindly to me killing his human playmate. Besides, I don't particularly want the boy dead, I just don't want Kol to be stuck in that unhealthy relationship. He's changed, and not for the better. Did you see him with those children?" Niklaus' disgust is apparent in the way he wrinkles up his nose, which incidentally is rather cute, but Elijah doesn't share his revulsion.

"Yes. I thought it was rather sweet."

"Exactly. Kol might be a lot of things but sweet isn't one of them. Hopefully this curse will make the Gilbert boy see that and he'll move on when Kol starts to lose his mind."

"He's happy. Can't you just let them be?"

"Is he though? You saw how much he enjoyed todays little session. I think the boy is holding him back."

Though Elijah doesn't agree with Niklaus' sentiments he knows better that to try to dissuade his brother from a course of action he's set upon pursuing, and in reality the damage is already done.

"You're not worried Kol will be driven to suicide?"

"No. That at least I didn't lie about. What would he possibly have to feel guilty about? You don't rack up a body count like Kol's if you have any qualms about killing. I'm sure he'll be fine. Somewhere out there a potential hunter is bound to be awakened and restore him to his version of sane and by that time Jeremy will be long gone. Now, are you done with your inquisition?"

"I suppose so..." Elijah sighs, it doesn't look like he's going to get any of the answers he wants.

"Good," Niklaus says, clamping his hand around Elijah's wrist and pulling him down on top of him, "because how am I supposed to resist things when they just fall into my lap?"

Elijah laughs softly as he arranges himself more comfortably on top of his brother.

"You really are wicked," he appreciates, gazing hungrily down at the exquisite piece of forbidden fruit pinned beneath him.

Niklaus slides a hand behind his head and stretches up to kiss him, it's forceful and messy and perfect before he pulls away, letting Elijah's bottom lip drag between his teeth.

"If you're lucky," Niklaus purrs, "I might just show you how wicked I can be..."

xxx

"Niklaus is amazing, isn't he?" the fanatic beside Kol gushes.

"He's powerful if that's what you mean."

Further discussions with one Professor Atticus Shane have resulted in Kol being stuck in a car with him on the way to Whitmore College. How he always ends up at Nick's beck and call Kol has no idea, though this time it probably has to do with Nick having a point about waiting to see what effect the curse will have. Better to kill the professor than Jeremy. Anyway, the professor claims to know a witch, one that can produce a daylight ring for Matt, and Nick's using this as a test. To see if the professor really is as connected as he claims and if he can be trusted. Kol also suspects Nick was sick of answering questions about his abilities now the curse has been lifted. Kol's driving, and every thirty seconds or so he can feel eyes boring into the side of his head and knows the man's giving him that loopy grin. This guy is seriously damaged. Kol tries to ignore him as he thinks over the events of the past few hours. Something about Nick's insistence that they kill the hunter doesn't sit quite right. And there's something else. Kol's not denying that he enjoyed the afternoon's activities but it didn't give him quite the same thrill it used to. He'd thought it did but upon reflection he thinks that maybe he enjoyed it because of the memory of what it used to give him, not what he actually felt. Was that because of Jeremy? Because he feels guilty for running off and leaving him for his own selfishness reason? Or does it run deeper than that? Does he not need the gratification torture used to provide anymore? Is he fulfilled in other ways that matter more? He has no reference for any of this, and no one he can talk to that won't laugh at him. Except maybe...

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes! Anything!"

Kol shoots the over enthusiastic fool a scowl and he takes the hint to simmer down before Kol goes on.

"Do you think love changes people?"

"Yes."

"You seem certain about that."

"I know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you and your family."

"That's not quite what I'm talking about. I mean if you're in love. Does being in love make you different?"

"Are you in love?" Kol doesn't answer that, preferring instead to glare out the windshield and pretend he never started this stupid conversation.

"Oh my God," Shane says excitably, "you are! With who? Is she a vampire? You have to tell me..."

"Actually, I don't have to do anything, but since you asked, he's not." Shane's eyes grow impossibly wider.

"You're... I didn't- I mean," he babbles, finally settling on another question. "How did I miss that?"

Kol supresses a smile. If he thinks that's surprising, just wait 'til he finds out about Nick and Elijah...

"We only met a couple of hours ago," Kol points out.

"Yeah, but I've been studying you for years. There was nothing in the texts. Who is he?"

"I'm done talking about this," Kol says, a wave of protectiveness for Jeremy washing over him. This man is a stranger, a certifiable lunatic really, he's not about to out Jeremy to him. Shane listens in sorts. He drops the particular subject and starts on a new line of questioning.

"Where have you been for the last century? I've got no reports from anywhere."

"Asleep."

"The whole time? You can do that?"

"In a way," Kol says evasively. Again he's not about to tell this person about a weapon that can be used against him.

"What about Finn? He can't have been asleep for nine hundred years?"

"He was."

"Was? He's awake now?" Shane asks, his enthusiasm building again with the potential to meet another Original.

"No. He's dead."

"Dead? But how?"

"You ask too many questions. Now shut up." Kol switches the radio on. Through the speakers comes the pregame commentary for tonight's ball game. Kol feels terrible he's not there but if all this leads to Kol getting himself under control, it's worth missing one game... isn't it?

"You're a baseball fan?" Atticus asks, apparently unable to help himself.

Kol shoots him an annoyed look and turns the volume up. Didn't he just tell the idiot to shut up? The commentators are singing Jeremy's praises, and rightly so.

"That new hitter for the Braves is pretty great, isn't he? What's his name...? Gilbert something...?"

"Stop talking," Kol commands, and amazingly Atticus does sink back in his seat and appear to be done for the moment but now it's Kol who can't help himself.

"And for future reference, it's Jeremy Gilbert."

Atticus' eyes light up at being spoken to first but he does keep his mouth shut and Kol has just one more thing to add.

"And yeah, he is pretty damn great."