50

We got inside and Elijah quickly called Kol over so they could do their toast. "If everyone could gather please." Elijah requested tapping his glass before he spoke of a tradition to start off with a dance. Kol walked down the stairs and came over to me. "May I have this dance, darling?" He questioned putting his hand out to me as a waiter collected our champagne glasses.

"You may." I replied grabbing his hand.

We walked to the floor and I saw Damon with Elena and my breath hitched.

"Calm down, love, they don't matter remember?" He asked and I turned to him. His smile was reassuring. "Now how about we show him what he's missing." I let out a soft chuckle and I nodded. We started the dance and the two rows faced each other. Damon looked at me and his eyebrows raised. I turned to Kol who was already looking and I smiled. Part of me was pleased to see him shocked.

We went on with the dance. "Stay close." Kol said as we moved and he held onto me. "He's watching." He smiled to me.

I shook my head. "You didn't have to do this for me." I looked at him. "Thank you." I smiled.

"I want you to enjoy yourself." He commented. "I may not know you but I know you most likely deserve to be happy just like the lot of us." He explained as I bit my lip lightly, still smiling. He twirled me and we switched partners.

"So you like my brother now? What, a day since I told you your boyfriend changed his mind?" Klaus spoke as I held onto him. Out of everyone there, why him.

"He's actually being nice to me, something I haven't experience in a while." I replied looking to me.

"And what, Tyler goes away for a while and you are trying to get with Caroline?" I asked curiously.

"What I do with her is not your business." He replied.

"And what I do with Kol is not yours." I retorted as he looked at me with a bit of agitation that I just beat him in that argument.

"Our petty problems aside, you do look good tonight." He changed the subject. "And where did you get the jewels?"

"A courtesy of Rebekah." I replied.

"My siblings all seemed to have taken a liking to you." He observed as we moved with the other dancers.

"It's because we all relate." I replied as he gave me a quick confused look. "We've all been stuck under your control one time or another."

"They act as if I did it to be mean. I did it so they'd be safe." He tried to explain himself.

"And me?" I asked.

"I took you in because you were lost." He replied as I furrowed my eyebrows. "It was only a matter of time before Damon decided to go with Elena. I know people were seeing the signs." He spoke as I thought. Caroline and Dad both were worried about our relationship. "And I could tell you were on the rocks about your relationship too." He continued. "You needed a way to get away from the inevitable. This way it was easier for you." In some ways he was right. Damon and I were never a perfect match we just really understood each other.

"So you're trying to tell me you took my deal because you wanted to help me?" I asked confused.

"I didn't want to see someone as strong as you crack because of something so small." He replied and I looked at him confused. I could understand where he was coming from but it didn't make it any less okay.

"So that's why you kept me from them at homecoming?" I asked curiously.

"I didn't want him to be able to fix things. It would make it harder. By then I already knew what he was feeling. It was a cycle I had been through before." He explained as I shook my head.

"What you did, what you're doing, it's not okay." I looked at him concerned. "But you are trying to do right by me in your own twisted way, I see that." I nodded to him and he sighed.

"Kol is right. You deserve to do as you please tonight. If you choose to talk to him go ahead, I won't stop you." He allowed as the dance ended. "If you'll excuse me." He nodded once as I looked to him while he walked away.

I looked back to see Kol walking to me with a smile. "How did it go?" He asked.

"I stopped paying attention." I replied with a small smile.

"Good." He nodded. "How about a celebratory drink, a real one." He asked as I nodded. We went to the back room and got blood bags. "I meant the real thing but I guess this works for now."

"I accidentally killed someone yesterday." I replied looking at him.

"Price of the lifestyle." He replied.

"Yeah but I'd rather just stay cautious for the time being." I replied.

"It was your first kill wasn't it?" He asked as I nodded slightly drinking from a bag.

"My anger got the best of me." I explained simply as I went to keep drinking.

"Eventually you'll learn to accept it." He replied. "Like I said, comes with the lifestyle." He talked as if it was nothing and honestly after 1000 years I'm sure you'd think it was nothing.

"I'm going to go out and get the real stuff." He said finishing his bag. "I'll come find you later." He nodded to me and he seemed very impatient. I let him go and when I finished up I walked out and bumped into Stefan.

"Hey." I looked up to him.

"I thought I saw you dancing." He commented and I was confused that it wasn't more... excited or worried or anything really.

"Yeah Klaus gave me today." I nodded crossing my arms.

"Ugh I know how much it sucks to be under his rule." He shook his head with a small click of his tongue.

"Are you okay?" I asked confused.

"Fine why?" He asked with a shrug.

"You seem-" I started but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Emotionless." He stated as he nodded once. "Yeah that happened."

"Cuz of Elena?" I asked.

"Because of Klaus actually. I just decided to keep it off." He explained and I crossed my arms looking down. "You want to know what's going on don't you?" He asked as I nodded looking up to him.

"Damon loves her. She loves him, but I don't know if she's okay with that." He explained.

"Love huh?" I asked with a sigh. "And what they just forgot I existed?"

"No they wanted to find you. I think they bonded because they constantly worried about you together." He looked up in thought. "It's kind of your fault."

"Just my luck." I shook my head and let out a soft chuckle.

"Well it also kinda screwed me over too so..." Stefan sassily replied.

"Well you aren't supposed to care about it right?" I asked with a squint.

"Yeah." He let out a scoff. "It's just now they are teamed up against me." He replied.

"I know the feeling." I replied looking to him.

All the sudden Esther started another toast. A waiter gave both Stefan and I pink colored champagne. She thanked us for being her and toasted to it. I drank the champagne and so did Stefan.

"Stefan?" I asked as he hummed in reply. "How did you get free?" I questioned.

"I had to save Klaus' life in order to get mine back." He replied as I nodded. "It sounds easier than it is and because of it I ruined the plan to kill him." He explained.

"Do you think I'll ever get out?" I asked.

"I don't know but then again it's not really my problem." He replied. "Have a good night." He sighed before walking away. That was definitely the worst pep talk ever. I felt downgraded more than anything.

I walked around in search of Kol. I needed some uplifting and he was the best one there that could do that for me right now. I heard grunting and I headed outside. It was stage only place I hadn't looked. I saw Damon on top of Kol and then I heard a snap.

"Holy shit." I muttered as Stefan ran out.

"Damon! Are you crazy?" Stefan breathed.

"Maybe a little. Far be it for me to cause a problem." He looked at Elena and walked off.

"Emma?" Elena asked looking at me. I turned to her and went to Kol.

"Wake up." I hit his face lightly. "Damn it." I sighed.

"Emma can we at least-" Elena tried as I stood up.

"I have to go find Elijah so he can take care of this." I replied walking inside. As soon as I got in Elijah was there. "Kol." Was all I got out before he nodded.

"I'll take care of it." He nodded walking over to his brother.

"Emma." Elena called again and I looked at her.

"What?" I asked agitated. She didn't understand that I didn't want to talk.

"What-what's been going on? Are you okay?" She asked looking at me.

"I'm fine." I replied but it was far from the truth. "I just didn't expect my sister to get with my boyfriend when I sacrificed myself for the both of you." I replied.

"That's not what happened." She shook her head.

"Yeah I was watching you two tonight." I scoffed lightly. "I'm not ignorant Elena. Now I'm stuck as Klaus' slave for the rest of probably ever and you two went and stabbed me in the back anyway." I replied as she started tearing up.

"I didn't mean for it to happen." She tried to explain and I could feel my eyes filling with tears too.

"Save it, please." I put my hand up. "Just tell my dad and Jeremy I love them. You owe me at least that right?" I asked before following Elijah in.

"A little harsh don't you think?" Elijah asked as he took Kol to a room.

"I'm a slave for the rest of my life. I wouldn't be surprised if they already forgot I existed. She deserved a lecture." I replied as he put him down on a bed.

"I have to go talk to my mother. Stay here with him will you?" Elijah asked as I nodded. He walked out and I pulled a chair up. I took off my shoes and held them watching him as I waited.

He opened his eyes and sat up. As he took deep breaths he looked at me. "That ex of yours is surely a piece of shit." He replied wiping his face as he looked at me.

"Tell me about it." I smiled. "What exactly made him attack you?"

"I was trying to eat and he got upset." He replied.

"Who?" I questioned. It obviously had to be someone of importance.

"Matt Donovan." He replied as I raised my eyebrows.

"Makes sense. He's really nice." I explained looking to him. "I'm glad you didn't get to him."

"Who left you on babysitting duty?" He asked changing the subject.

"Elijah left you in here and I said I'd stay." I explained. "But I don't think I need to babysit you. You're a big boy you can take care of yourself, just wanted to make sure you're okay."

He nodded. "Perk of being a vampire. I heal."

"A great perk if I say so myself." I replied siting criss-cross. "I also wanted to thank you. Except for the emotional and violent night, I had a really great time because of you."

"Emotional?" He questioned as he stood up and took off his jacket.

"I talked to my sister. It didn't end well, and I didn't expect it too." I replied sadly.

"Is she the only one left of your family?" He questioned as I stood up and leaned against the wall facing him.

"No. There's my brother and... my dad." I replied. "I haven't had the chance to talk to him yet." I looked down. "I miss him the most."

"I'm sorry he took you from your life." He looked at me putting his jacket on a hanger.

"I'm starting to not hate it as much as I used to." I replied looking to him and it was true. After Klaus' speech about why he did it I started to think it was easier this way. Maybe I just did it because it was easier but it was something. "I'm done dwelling in the past and tonight was great."

He smiled looking to me. "Look at you moving on. I'd say I deserve a pat on the back what do you think?" He asked looking at me with a smile.

"You do." I smiled back. "Thank you, really. I haven't been happy talking to someone in two months." I explained. "You really are great."

"Well not only do I agree, but I think you are too." He smiled standing up and walking to me as I chuckled lightly.

"You are a bit full of yourself aren't you?" I asked looking at him.

"Well I'm proud of who I am. Is that so bad?" He questioned.

"No it's amusing though." I crossed my arms lightly.

"And you. You're definitely witty which is something I find amusing." He replied standing in front of me.

"Oh trust me, sometimes I fail on comebacks." I shook my head. "Being around Klaus has upped my game a little bit." I smiled proudly up at him.

"You know, I'm glad Klaus took you." He stayed as I furrowed my eyebrows. "If he didn't I wouldn't have ever met you, and you are quite fun, darling." He complimented as he got a bit closer. I stood up straight.

"Well as fun as it was to hang out with you, I definitely wish he didn't take me." I replied looking to him.

"Fair enough I mean I'd choose freedom too." He replied. "At least you get to live. I laid dead in a box."

"Sounds calmer than doing his bidding." I claimed as he nodded.

"Anything is better than being in a box, trust me." He said almost in a whisper.

"I believe you." I nodded in agreement.

"I had to sleep. I missed out on a lot. Apparently the music got a lot better. Not to mention I wasn't able to be near people which I quite enjoy." He explained with a small smirk. I hummed in response. "Not just for food, but for company."

"Not all people are good company." I replied putting some stray hair behind my ear.

"But that's what makes it more interesting." He retorted. "The unexpectedness of what will happen next." He looked at me and his eyes were going to my lips.

"People are surprising." I spoke quietly. I looked at his lips but I couldn't. It was too soon. I reached up and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow." I looked at him and moved my hand from his cheek as he looked at me in slight surprise. "Thank you for a wonderful night." I added before walking out and to my room.

I wanted to move on from the past, but something about it was making me scared for my future. It was like I knew it would happen again if I tried to be with someone and I didn't want that pain. I hated that pain. This way was just easier.