Chapter fifty

Sophia

It was time to face the rest of the family. Words could not explain their pain. I made a terrible mistake which afflicted them. When I entered the living room no one spoke a word. Not even Elijah. I thought he would understand my desperation, but he too was upset. "I'm sorry for what I did, and I know my excuse has no value, but I'm truly sorry for the pain I caused! I just wanted you all safe and free of any burdens."

Elijah shot me a sympathetic look. "You seem to forget that you are a Mikaelson. You are our family, and we will go above and beyond for you, in ways you could not think possible. It insults me you take my word lightly."

I frowned. "No, Elijah never. I truly am sorry. I wanted you all safe." He said nothing but retreated back to his corner by the bookshelf. Caroline and Bonnie were the first to let their guard down. In no time we were hugging and crying, expressing ourselves.

I understood their frustration and their anger was valid. I apologised from the bottom of my heart to each and every soul present. Freya walked out without giving me the opportunity. "She'll come around." Elijah promised as he finally put an arm around me and gave me a gentle squeeze. The door burst open, and Laura hurled herself into my arms.

"Don't ever do that again! I can't believe you left us even after we lost Theo!" Her tears splashed onto my shoulder, soaking me.

"I'm sorry." I murmured, stroking her velvety hair. She didn't want to let go, she just held onto me. Before facing my brothers for a second time I had Klaus left to face. The living room emptied leaving only my brothers, Kol and Klaus. He stood by the fireplace, his tensed back towards me. He sensed me approach but made no acknowledgement. He stood, and I hugged him, resting the side of my face on his back. I couldn't see his face and he couldn't see mine. Before I knew it, I was clinched in his arms, pressed to his chest, arms pinned to my side. His hold was mighty, it made me wonder how I could breathe and just as quickly, I was released.

Damon crossed the room and hugged me. Tight. Everything inside me having no choice but to seal back together. My big brother held me for so long that I knew from the hug, he had forgiven me. Pulling away, he snivelled. He hated showing that part of him, his vulnerable side. He preferred playing the cool, carefree Damon. After many years he still struggled to express his emotions. Just the way the hug mended me, it mended him. "Don't leave us again, bitsy. We can't be without you." He opened up his arm, making room for Stefan. I half laughed half let out a cry as we hugged.

Wiping at my face i minced my way to Kol. "I've got to go see Freya. I'll see you later." Standing on my tippy toes, I kissed him. He cradled my head on his shoulder as we hugged, running his fingers through my hair. Breathing in his scent felt like I was truly at home.

"Are you sure you're okay and there's nothing else?" He asked, peering into my eyes after we detached ourselves. I hugged him again so he couldn't see the lie on my face.

"I'm fine I promise. I'll see you in the room."

Stefan

Pouring a glass of bourbon, I offered it to Klaus, to which he accepted with a gentle nod of the head. He loved her. It was clear as day and it pained him. To be in love with a woman who was not his to claim. His brother's wife. The hug exposed it all. How he held her so tight in fear of losing her again, glad she was before his eyes. "I know you love her...that you're in love with her." I addressed. His lips tightened as he turned his head to me.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Very. It's okay that you love her. If it means you'll protect her and keep her safe, then I won't tell you to stop."

He chortled. "I'm very well aware of what you're implying, and not to worry I have no intention to steal my brother's girl. I can love her from afar." I threw my head back, suppressing my smile. I wondered what it meant for them. How would they navigate their friendship knowing his feelings for her? She loved him too, although she loved him differently. "I wish I never abandoned her that day...maybe she would have been mine." He continued. "In my days I've loved multiple times, been infatuated even," he chortled, amusing himself with his past. "But I've never truly been in love, that was until I met her...your sister." Mischief shone in his blue-green speckled eyes.

Placing my glass down, I took the seat beside the fire. "What makes you so sure she wouldn't have fallen for Kol? They met and she fell for him instantly. One way or the other they'll always find their way back to each other."

"I'll gladly let her be with him, if it meant she loved me for some time."

"What was that saying you once said?" I raised a brow, smirking at him. "A love like that never dies."

He settled back in the chair, head back and eyes heavenward, repeating it to himself.

We drank into the night. My friendship with him strengthened. It wasn't like how it was a century ago, it was better. Sophia, whether she cared to accept it or not, she came and she mended it.

Sophia

Freya was beyond consoling. I let her scream and shout at me. I let her cry and fall apart, and I let her pull herself back together. I took away her memories of Theo, her love for him and her memories of us. Wiping her cheeks, she faced me. "The real reason you did this is because you're dying! Rebekah told me. You had no right to take away my memories! You knew I was working day and night to find a solution!"

"Freya, I am sorry, and I'll always be sorry, but you have to understand! I don't think there's a way to save me from this and I've accepted it."

"You!" She jabbed in a vicious manner, though I was certain she didn't mean to. "Accepted it, but I haven't, and I never will. Rebekah and I are searching for a way."

I opened my mouth to speak but changed my response. It was futile trying to argue with her and make her see sense. "There's no point in fighting over this right now."

Running her hand down her hair she expressed a long, spiritless sigh. "You're right."

I jerked my head in the direction of the door. It clicked open, revealing Kol. "Are you ladies finished? I'd like to spend some time with my wife." He stressed.

Gritting her teeth and glancing at me one last time, Freya unfolded her arms and smiled at her brother. "For now, we are." I hated it. Her being disappointed and furious with me. I didn't want that, but I had no other way of expressing to her how wrong she was and she shouldn't waste her time and efforts trying to save me. I already accepted my fate and sooner or later, she would have to. They all will.

Taking my hand, intertwining our fingers, he led me out the room and into ours. Stepping in felt euphoric. After what felt like eternity, I was back in the room we shared, in the room filled with a thousand memories. Every touch he savoured, he soaked in, I soaked in, letting the heat rise and spread throughout me. The kisses started off slow and deep, savouring each moment as we moved in a slow rhythm. Gradually it got deeper, intense as the pace picked up. Lips connected, hands in hair, he pushed me against the door and devoured me as I did him.

From my lips he made his way down to my neck, kissing every part of it, ensuring every part was touched. Sucking in the air, panting and moans slipping out as he worked away on my neck, pulling down the top to kiss and cherish my shoulders, and collar bone. His lips hovered over the mark left on my neck. Holding my breath, heart thundering in my chest so afraid it would deter him. "May I?" He sought permission to drink from me. I could see in his eyes how much he craved me and how badly he wanted to taste me.

Skimming my skin with his fangs, they finally sunk in, and I could feel him draw out the blood. Seconds later he staggered backwards, choking out the blood and gaging. "Kol?" I rushed to him, falling in front of him and holding his face. The dark veins popped out from under his bloodshot eyes. Wiping the blood away from his mouth using my sleeves, I let him hold onto my hand, gathering up his strength while panting heavily.

"Acid. Your blood is acid."

My words faltered as I gawked at him. "I-i don't understand-how...how is that possible?"

"The work of a witch!" He grumbled, climbing to his feet.

"We can fix it! We just have to find out what kind of spell it was and if it's reversible."

Taking a hold of my hands, gazing into my eyes, "darling, I don't care about that, and I assume it must look like that to you but it's okay."

I shook my head. "I'm obviously not going to let some twisted witch get in between us! Whether it is an issue or not, I'm going to be rid of it!"

"As you wish."

"And besides, I rather you drink from me than some next wench."

Guffawing, he pulled me in and held me close. "I love you."

For the next hour I lay flat on the ground like some test subject as Bonnie worked her magic. Freya was away with Rebekah, and I knew why. The family never questioned it or them. I expected them to, but it never occurred to them that it could be something consequential. Bonnie couldn't undo the spell; it could only be reversed by the witch that cast it. It wasn't a typical spell; it had been altered. I looked to Kol with a frown.

"It's okay." He didn't need to say it out loud because his face assured me. His eyes, as I got lost in them, they spoke volumes. At this stage, I wasn't all too sure why it bothered me and why it mattered to me as much as it did. Part of me always felt intimately closer when we blood shared-when he took from me. I knew he relished in that, blood was his fix and now it was gone. I don't know why, but I withdrew from him. He sensed it as always but keeping myself busy with the family, gave us no time to come together or even communicate as we should have.

Life felt bleak, I guess the supernatural drama added that flair to our lives, but we sat at the table and spent the morning playing games and drinking. I had a lot to make up for and they ensured I did just that. "You know, I did watch you guys and it never felt like I was away from you."

"You did?" Damon queried, shuffling the next pile of cards.

"I saw you all. I was glad to see you were with Klaus and everyone."

"Well, you've got heaps of making up to do!" Care huffed, blowing the hair out her face.

I chuckled. "I know I do. So, what's the plan-" the alert from my phone put a stop to what we were doing. Picking it up, I read the message aloud. "Hey soph, mum is doing better than she was yesterday, but we won't be able to come back just yet. Harlow and Henry have updated us. Oh and Ben's dad has had no luck with locating the burial site-" placing the phone down I looked directly at Marcel. "You found the trunk under Athens, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you happen to see anything else? Did you leave things the way they were, or did you cover it back up again?"

He shared a glance with Elijah then back to me. "We resealed everything that was underground...there was a vault-tomb, but we couldn't enter that and didn't think it was necessary because we found what you needed."

Staring at them with a gaping jaw, wrinkles formed across his forehead. "I know where they are!"

Elijah leaned closer. "They'll never find it and even if they did, he won't be able to unseal it."

"Not unless they have your blood." Marcel added.

"Which he doesn't right?" Stefan probed. I glanced at each face, never too long at Kol's and pondered.

"No....not that I'm aware of, I mean I don't see why he should have it."

"Sophia," Bonnie began, her profile crumpled with alarm. "That doesn't sound reassuring."

"I'm sorry what I mean to say, I know he doesn't have my blood for a fact. We have nothing to worry about." Kol initiated eye contact and attempted to maintain my gaze but as soon as I realised what was happening, quickly I turned away and centred my focus on the nearly complete crossword Bonnie returned to.

Caroline and Stefan got started on cooking a late lunch. On the menu was chicken and mushroom pie with creamy homemade mash with a twist according to Stefan. There were sides of vegetables roasted and crispy salad. I couldn't sit and do nothing and be left with my tormenting thoughts, so I got up and minced my way to them. With a bright smile I pulled out a knife from the holder and the chopping board. The vegetables all vibrant were already laid out and ready to be chopped into bite size pieces. There were carrots, butternut squash, peppers, red onions, and courgettes. One by one I sliced and quartered them into cubes, all the while chatting and laughing with them both. "I need the seasonings!" I sang. Chuckling, Stefan rolled them to me one at a time. "You forgot the chilli flakes and cayenne pepper!"

"I didn't. If you had waited a second later, they would have rolled to you!"

"Well hurry up!"

"Since you said that, no, I'm not going to hurry up."

"Stefan?"

Holding his head high, suppressing his smiles he stirred the cream in with the seasoned chicken and mushrooms. "Nope," he shook his head left to right.

"Caroline, he's not giving them to me! He's being childish." Folding my arms, I shot him a haughty smile.

"Seriously," she scoffed. "Stefan, don't do that! We've got work to do!" Grabbing the spices from the rack she rolled them down and I picked them up triumphantly.

Thrusting my chin out, I grinned. "Don't mess with me next time."

Pausing what he was doing, setting down the wooden spoon, he gazed at me with complete admiration and his eyes sparkled as he gave me the broadest smiles. We've come a long way, Stefan and I and it wasn't easy but standing in the kitchen, preparing lunch together was the most wholesome moment ever. It felt like we were a proper family and there was nothing standing in our way, nothing to tear us apart and everything that transpired did not matter. On my final vegetable, looking up, my eyes rested on Kol with Bonnie reading through a book; Qetsiyah's I presumed. Sensing me his lips twitched and the softest of smiles formed.

It was hard to look him in the face and express to him the way I felt and i didn't mean to push him away, but it happened. I wondered how he felt about it, how he felt about being iced out and knowing I wasn't willing to speak on it. Yet still, as he glanced my way the love in his eyes was loud and clear. My heart sunk and I glared down at the chopping board, tears beginning to form and obscure my vision. Why wasn't that enough to console me? All of a sudden it became too overwhelming, and I needed to get fresh air.

Klaus swaggered back into the kitchen, in his dark denim jacket.  "Anyone fancy a thing? I'm off to Paul's as Sophia mentioned she was craving chocolate beignets." His eyes locked with mine and they twinkled.

"Is it okay if I accompany you? I need some air and since you're offering to buy them, I'd like to take full advantage." I flashed. Searching Kol's face for a hint of disapproval, it was blank. He said nothing but gave me a nod, allowing me the space.

•

It was colder than I expected it to be but thanks to Caroline and her constant smothering, I had my trench coat on. We walked for at least 10 minutes until we stood outside PAUL'S, the finest French patisserie in London. Seeing how crowded the entrance was, he instructed I stand outside by the window and not move a muscle. Seconds later he returned with boxes piled high in his hands. "Isn't that far too much?" I reached out offering a hand, but he didn't need it.

"Love, I do apologise if I'm intruding but I couldn't help notice there's a slight tension between you and my brother." He asked as we walked along the pavement. "Is everything alright?"

"It's fine-we're fine it's just," I huffed. "It's just with everything going on, it's become stressful and quite tedious to know there have been measures set out to keep Kol and me apart and it's-I hate it."

"Are you worried?"

Uncrossing my arms, I turned my head to him, staring at him agape. "Why would I be?"

"Come on love," he zeroed in on me, pupils dilated. "No need to hide from me. Are you worried he will grow tiresome of you and one morning he will vanish?"

I turned my gaze downward. He was right. I was afraid of Kol feeling like our marriage was a chore and he wasn't getting nothing out of it. "Yes." It came out quiet, but he heard me. Passing a bench, he lowered the boxes down and turned my body to him, his hands holding my forearms.

"Kol is no picnic, but I'll tell you what I know about my brother, Sophia. He's the happy homicidal maniac, foolish in some sense, an insolent sod, and an idiot at best! I would love to stand here and tell you how you and he will not stand to see the end of time together but, I cannot. My brother has never loved or been in love for as long as I've known him-and believe me, that is a very long time, minus the rare occasions I did keep him daggered in a coffin," he chuckled to himself. "He is utterly devoted to you. He loves you more than we thought he was capable of...he will not leave you high and dry, he would rather die than be without you."

"I-"

He didn't give me a moment to finish. "What do you think he was doing with Bonnie? This very moment as we speak, my brother is working tirelessly to find a way to extend your life so you both get your always and forever. My brother is many things I can't deny, but when he loves it is real. He's only ever loved his family, only ever put us first despite our constant bickering," stepping in closer and gently squeezing my arms, he peered into both my watery eyes. "Do not be afraid. If by chance he does leave you, then, I'll find multiple, creative ways to terrorise him." With his lopsided grin, his features lit up.

Wrapping my arms around him, I rested my head on his chest. "Thank you, Klaus. It means a lot coming from you."

"We best get going, lunch is ready, and Caroline is certainly not impressed." His eyes lingered on for a few seconds after we pulled away. Clearing his throat and picking up the boxes, we set off for home.

"Does Kol know how much you love him?" I asked on a cheery note.

"I adore my little brother, he's aware but don't tell him just how much I do. I'm afraid, it'll get to his head and then I'll have to deal with his pig headedness."

•

It felt like old times, the family gathered around the table, eating, and chatting as we always did. Rebekah and Freya were still away, it felt slightly quiet without them, but the company was great and so was the food. Stefan praised me for devouring my entire plate and even going in for a few more spoonful of mash. He didn't tell me what the twist was no matter how much I pleaded with him; my brother refused.

A bitter taste in my mouth took over. Gulping down water was useless. "Do we have breadsticks?" I asked out the blue. They stared, unblinking. "Simple question? Breadsticks?"

Caroline scratched her head. "No... it's not something anyone eats."

"Oh...I've been munching on them for some time."

"Stef and I can get some for you, if you'd like?" Damon offered.

I smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you." My brothers abandoned their seats and left to buy me breadsticks in bulk, no doubt. It was getting darker, and my body craved sleep. Dragging myself up the stairs I floundered into the bedroom. His arms wove around my waist, steadying me. His touch, his arms were my asylum. I was safe and warm. Nothing mattered. Nothing terrified me. With him, breathing was effortless. Getting out of my day clothes I slipped into my night dress. My back pressed against his hard body, his fingers ran up and down my arms, in a slow manner. He inhaled me in, savouring the feeling of me. Closing my eyes, I let myself melt. His fingers burning through me, caressing every nerve in me. My heartbeat steady. His heartbeat steady.

Taking a hand he whirled me around, till we came face to face, noses brushing. His breath on me. My breath on him. Cupping my face, he gazed into my eyes. Beautiful and sweet. Our lips met and we found warmth. Our lips remained connected, deep, and passionate. "Darling, this is what I care about most, not your blood." He whispered in my ear, pulling away. "I can never grow tired of you. All I want is you."

Taking his hand, I guided him to our bed. Slipping in, sinking back into the sheets he positioned himself over me. Holding my arms above me, he spread my fingers and our hands intertwined as he kissed me slowly. From my lips, down to my neck, to my shoulders. It wasn't rough. It wasn't rushed. We savoured each moment. Melting into one another.

Sliding the dress up with his hands, still connected with kisses, my legs spread open. I could feel his full length as he entered with ease. Our hands found each other again. He admired every part of me, kissed every inch of me, not a single area left untouched. So full of care. Just like that, i was complete.