APRIL 2013

"It sounds like it's been a good week."

"It has," MJ sat on a comfortable sofa, having just done a massive ramble, "It's been a good few, actually, like – "

Jordan was in a chair opposite her, smiling, iPad out, brown hair pinned back, listening to her talk.

"I had a bunch of stuff to do at work – I got assigned a bigger role in the new advertising campaign. Lent a hand to some friends. Promo for them..."

But,

"At work, I had a bit of a moment...went to the bathroom. Listened to 'The Dropping Anchor' walk-through."

"And it still works?" Jordan checked.

"Yep," MJ nodded enthusiastically, "I only did the Expansion Exercise twice this week."

"What did you focus on?"

"The first time, it was a pain in my stomach."

"Stomach or?"

"Yeah, just stomach this time. No spleen."

"And?"

"Everything still worked," MJ assured her, "Listening to the audio stuff, relaxed, accepted that it was there."

And that it could exist without raising her pulse.

"And fell back asleep."

"That's so good, MJ!"

At first, hearing congratulations about every small thing had made her feel super self-conscious. But it was actually really nice to have someone reminding her that the small things were worth being proud of. Jordan was always so proud of MJ for actually doing the things she'd told her to do; it was hard not to be proud of herself.

"And I have a date this afternoon," Her words were rushed out.

"Oh!" Jordan leant forward, "And?"

"Is this the type of stuff I'm meant to talk about with you?"

She nodded happily, "If it's what you wanna talk about?"

After practically two months of two sessions a week, this was the first time they'd had a week with only one. A slow transition to see how MJ coped.

"You did bring it up."

"Fair point," MJ wrung her hands together, "I think it's gonna go well..."

"Think?"

"Um...just, you know...I'm being dumb."

"Because you've ever been dumb?"

"Jor - &"

"MJ."

"I've already kissed him - and when he asked, I wasn't panicking, but now I'm worried because I've started to overthink, and I should probably back out, but it would be really trashy to - "

"Are you scared of the date going well?"

"Maybe?"

"Why?"

"...I don't trust myself in a relationship."

"Why?"

"Just..."

Jordan gave her a look, "MJ."

"I don't!"

"We've talked about commitment before," She softened the pushing tone, "You overcommit to make up for people never committing to you in the past."

A summary of how she could gaslight herself into accepting shit treatment from others due to constant abandonment issues.

"Are you scared of doing that ?"

"No," MJ settled a little, "He never makes me feel like that."

"This is someone you know well?"

"Yeah."

"So you trust him?"

"A lot," She really did, "It's more...I don't trust myself, in a relationship with him."

She was trying to word it right.

"Because I have a habit of tapping out of our relationship."

"Oh," Jordan shifted, "It's with an ex."

"Yeah."

"Is that a good relationship to return to?"

"Yeah!" She was sure of that, "I'm the issue."

"You're not an issue; you're a person."

"You know what I mean."

Jordan gave her a smile.

"Like, I don't think I can multitask a relationship and everything else."

"But do you want to be in the relationship?"

"Yeah."

"No hesitation," She noted.

"I really like him," MJ curled up a little, holding one of the couch pillows, "And every time we try, I end up in a state and have to press pause."

"I think I need context."

"We we're together when my step-dad died. Then he got really sick. Then all my friends died - just, whenever we get together, stuff around us goes to shit. He keeps his head, I lose mine - this isn't a mental abuse toxic thing."

"How many times have you tried?"

"Twice."

"Does he know why you break up with him?"

She nodded.

"And because he knows it's not him, he's still interested?"

"I guess."

"Then, MJ," Jordan's voice was naturally calming, "If he understands, and you think you're doing better, don't worry about a potential overwhelming moment that'll make you want to tap out. Just let yourself be happy."

"But it's unfair on him. If I get overwhelmed – "

"You have me," She reminded her, "Part of helping you is reminding you to do things that'll make you happy. You can't correct the past without encouraging the present."

"I just don't wanna do it all again."

"Then you won't," Jordan assured her, "In the past, you've given in to flight. Now, you want to be better, and you are creating mechanisms that'll allow you to do that."

MJ knew she didn't look convinced.

"Okay," Jordan shifted, "Let's look at your goals."

"Why?"

"Because you're looking at me like you don't think you've made enough progress to let yourself have a good thing - when, even if you haven't, everyone deserves good things."

It was so weird to think of anyone known as a Mikaelson as a good thing, but in MJ's life, Kol was.

"So," Jordan turned to a page in her notes, "First goal; your mood."

MJ nodded.

"Do you remember where you ranked yourself?"

MJ hadn't let herself write it down, "I know it was low?"

"Where do you think you are now?"

"Six...or, like, six and a bit?"

"And a bit?"

"I feel like if I say seven, I'm asking for something bad to happen."

"You were at a two, MJ," Jordan pointed out.

"Because you got me crying."

Jordan laughed, "Because you reached an incredibly low point in your life, actually."

"Eh."

"That's a massive increase, even if we only go with six."

MJ felt embarrassed.

Six just felt like a low number, and she wanted to say seven, but she was still having low mood swings during the day that she had to fight against, so she didn't really feel like she deserved a seven.

"You wanted to be at a five."

Her eyes went wide, "Seriously?"

"Yes," Jordan nodded, "You're beating your goal, even if it's just by one."

She felt her shoulders relax.

"Sleep?"

"I think I'm at a five right now."

"You were at a three, and you wanted to get to a six," Jordan paused, "Okay, we'll focus on that if mood is doing better...but, the point."

She looked up from the sheets.

"You are at a choice point; you have a date today."

MJ nodded.

"And you're worried."

"I wasn't worried until I started thinking about long-term."

"Then don't worry about the long-term. Focus on choice-point."

A very simple diagram to help keep things in perspective.

"Back out now because you panicked, or try the date out and see if that makes it better or worse – which of those two options gets you closer to your goals."

Goals like living a well-rounded life.

"Going on the date," MJ answered.

"And does that realisation make you feel better or worse?"

"Better."

"And you have your answer."

"Are you sure?"

"If it makes you panic, tap out - that's okay. But you should at least try - especially if you really like the guy."

~***~

MJ had a memory that had stuck with her through most of her relationship with Kol. Especially when he'd died. The night after she'd lost her mum's spirit, they'd walked through the forest, dived into the lake, and she'd looked into his head – but, funnily enough, the significant part of that wasn't the memories or the darkness. It had been the colour of his eyes.

She'd been looking in them, seen brown, then slowly noticed everything else.

The art kid in her had been having a field day, moonlight bringing out paler almost-yellow rings, the forest itself reminding her that brown could be vibrant – filled with life, growing everything around them. Bark on trees that had been around almost as long as he had. After years of living with brown eyes herself, seeing the idealisation towards every other colour, she'd finally understood how brown was actually the most beautiful.

MJ was trying not to think about his eyes when getting ready, a dumb smile permanently stuck on her face, Josh incredibly aware of it.

She hadn't mentioned the date to him, it felt cruel to rub her potential happiness in his face, though he'd probably worked it out given how he knew she was meeting Kol, and he knew it was just the two of them, no Cami for either of them to hide behind.

They were all acutely aware that Kol had been somewhat using Cami as a way to spend time with MJ without having to seem like he was pressuring her into restarting their relationship.

Cami had mentioned it to MJ a few times, hence the look they'd exchanged at The Record Shop – however, they had ended up hitting it off, so it wasn't like Cami was complaining. It was an odd friendship that shouldn't have been surprising given their personalities and interests aligning. Plus, they both knew that the pair of them talking agitated Klaus, and, as much as Cami liked Klaus, she was happy to have a way to annoy him the way he was driving everyone else insane.

Getting ready, MJ made a bit of a choice, pulling on the same red day dress she'd worn in New York.

Well, it wasn't complete the same. MJ had adjusted the hem slightly, then sewn a collection of flower outlines around the base, tracks of thread showing a bee's flight, light pinks and blues, baby green stems – things to take the dark colour and update it just slightly. Holding a needle, making her giddy again. And she was wearing a different jacket, a different necklace, her old black heeled books from Katherine, and a neat straw hat for the start of summer sun, gold ribbon wrapped around its base to add a little more colour. The ribbon matched the colour of the side bag she was bringing for her purse, keys, and phone.

Lastly, MJ let herself wear the charm bracelet.

She'd been wearing it every other day, so it wasn't like putting it on actually meant something significant...but still. Kol had bought them. Part of her brain was scolding her for wearing them on their first real date.

That part of her brain could shut up.

Kol had waited outside the building, the pair happily chatting as they headed to the place he'd picked for lunch near Lafayette Square, where the concert series took place.

As they walked, MJ caught Kol staring at her a few times, staring down specifically, a small smile on his lips at the sight of the red dress, a little low cut. MJ wouldn't have cared if that was the part he'd been staring at, but it was pretty nice to see that he wasn't – eyes focused on the way the skirt swayed, fingers gracing over the fabric a little before taking her hand and returning to her face.

"I will admit slight defeat," Kol decided as they arrived at the restaurant, "New Orleans is nice to look at."

MJ grinned, "Ha – I'm converting you to a lover."

"I will never be a lover," He tapped her nose, "But I will say it's beautiful."

"L-o-v-e-r."

"Let's see if the music shows any good before labelling it."

It was pretty busy inside, other people sitting with the Wednesday At The Square leaflet, talking through the acts while waiting for food, the pair becoming one of many. Ordering quickly, light and fruity cider to complement the energy of late spring, waiting staff on the top of their game to get the highest turnaround they could, the season great for business. 

"You have the list memorised?" Kol assumed.

"You picked a good day to ask."

"I did do my research."

MJ took a bite of her food.

"Now that I've converted you into a jazz lover," He played on the earlier part of the conversation, "Figured it was the best bet to ask when it was one of those shows."

"We should go to the jazz hall," MJ shot up, "Yeah! Dancing to the orchestra would be so much fun."

Kol paused, "You've never been?"

She shook her head.

"Oh!" He pushed his chair back slightly, "I assumed you would've by now."

One of the places he was actually already familiar with.

"Mira! And you claim to be a local."

"I'm not sure how many locals actually go."

"We'll fix that soon."

"Can't wait," She went back to today, "The next show in the concerts is rock week."

"I'll probably like that as well."

"Did you actually like modern rock?" MJ had to ask, "Because I could never tell if you were only listening for me or not."

"I went in dubious," He admitted, "But 'the Billy Joel' was actually good."

"Yes!" She cheered, "And?"

"The other things on that dreaded 'get psyched' playlist."

Technically the playlist she'd made for her and Stefan.

"Was also good."

MJ was tapping the table excitedly, "You were looking at R&B stuff on your own."

"I was," He smiled slyly, "The recommendations I was sending you – pretty sure some of the artists branded themselves as psychedelic R&B and Contemporary Soul if we're being specific."

"Question," MJ considered it, "Can you explain the appeal of those psychedelic drinks you love?"

He pulled a face.

"No judgement!"

"You never judge, Mira," His smile became soft, "More, curious why you wish to know?"

"I don't know?" She shrugged, "Gets you talking about why you like things?"

She was always happy to have insight into his head.

"Plus, thinking about my family, you'd think I'd be pulled to drug stuff."

"I just like the experience," He summed up, "It's a rush."

"Normal drugs – isn't your favourite drink like Fete? That's like..."

"A hallucinogen?"

"Yep."

"It's fun to see what your mind can do when all inhibitions are stripped away."

That did sound pretty nice.

"But, that's double-sided," He admitted, "I've had less-than-pleasant experiences when I've drunk too much and unintentionally recreated the panic of being in a coffin."

Her eyes went wide, "Seriously?"

He nodded.

"You still drink it?"

"Can't let one or two bad experiences ruin the fun."

When MJ looked at him, she had to admit that she saw the world more clearly.

"A skill I have that I plan to share with you."

"Can't wait."

"Now," He pointed at her slightly, having finished his food, "Concert etiquette."

"What about it?"

"Dancing?"

"More like jumping," She admitted, "Depends on space too."

MJ loved how his nose looked when he pulled faces.

"There are seats nearer the front, then there's standing to listen to the music, singing along – that's what most people do – they'll do old jazz classics that you'll know, plus new stuff."

"Okay," He nodded, "And the stalls on the walk-in?"

MJ bit back a smile, "We can explore them beforehand, and if we get a little bored, it is three hours – "

"Bored! During Music!"

"If."

The stalls were both a bad idea and a good idea.

When they'd been at the food festival, MJ had been on best behaviour because she'd been working, and Kol had been on his best behaviour because he'd been watching her work, with Cami, and trying the food.

Music concerts did have food booths, but there was also face paint, glow stick jewellery – and the food itself was a lot more sugary – merch for the people performing on either end. The events were meant to be filled with the sounds of the cities, helping keep styles like jazz alive, meaning people who went often bought CDs and T-shirts to support the artists, and, unlike big festivals, they were decently priced rather than stupidly expensive.

MJ was still adapting to the fact money wasn't something she needed to watch.

Sure, she'd had Klaus's card for a while, but it had still been a constant voice in her head after years of not having parents. Regardless of Klaus, she didn't have to panic. She had her dad. MJ had told her dad not to worry about giving her any cash since she was an adult, but he'd just laughed and gotten Josh to find her bank details in the apartment, making monthly deposits like an allowance.

A decently big allowance that she'd tried to give back, her dad wasn't loaded, only to get shot down when he'd whipped out an excel spreadsheet. He'd itemised everything she shouldn't have had to pay for growing up.

Running around the stalls together, Kol and MJ were small children playing house. Glow-in-the-dark bracelets, him finally making the connection between her vein situation and the sticks, and other concert bands, buying sunglasses, stealing her hat to see if it suited him.

Everything suited him.

Then, they finally found a spot to watch the show, MJ talking him through the different types of lights across the stage, Kol nibbling away at the snacks he'd bought for them. MJ couldn't judge him for acting like an excitable kid during each song, watching how the musicians enjoyed what they were doing, freestyling solos, singers riffing, causing MJ to bounce, clapping her hands and cheering alongside him.

Inbetween the changeover between the first section and the second, Kol had retaken her hand, squeezing it each time he got excited.

"Happy?" She checked.

He leaned in closer, "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

They were surrounded by a huge crowd, lots of older couples happily dancing or sitting in the lawn chairs of the large square, regulars to the show, younger groups standing, cheering.

It was always nice to see a big mix.

"Just want to check it's not too much," MJ rested her head on his shoulder, his arms snaking around her waist, "If you're hungry..."

"I'd tell you," He rubbed his jaw over her temple, "You? Not too much?"

"I've missed concerts."

Tired feet, but happy smiles, mind on cloud nine, taking in the noise of life – not overwhelming, just there, as a wonderful reminder that she was free, living, and so happy to be alive.

"Thank you," She whispered, the trumpet playing kicking off the next part of the set.

His lips moved to her ear so she could hear him still, "You're so beautiful when you're happy."

"You make me happy."

"Good," He kissed under her ear, "Because I wasn't for a minute."

"Wasn't your fault."

"I know."

The feeling of his arms got a little tighter, pinching at the skirt.

"You're also beautiful when you wear red."

"It is my colour."

"It's my favourite."

"I thought you said you didn't want to be a vampire cliché?" She teased, "Changed your fave colour to gold."

"I'm not talking about blood," Kol started to sway with the melody, meaning she was too, "Red was the first colour I saw clearly."

MJ gave him a look as they moved.

"You, dancing in this dress," His hands pressed down, fingers clear against her hip bones, "First time I realised what colour was meant to look like."

MJ turned in his arms, pressing up on her feet again, kissing up his jaw, then his lips, biting gently to open his mouth, drifting away from the noise.

That was the other good thing about life now.

Noise was a sign of life.

So was quiet.

Peaceful quiet, where she was content, rather than barely holding on, waiting for things to shatter.

Then they pulled away.

"Ochre yellow, gold, and honey yellow," MJ put it simply, "My three favourites, all shades of yellow; then rose gold."

He laughed, "That's what you're thinking about when we kiss?"

"You think I can think when I'm kissing you?"

He grinned, pulling her back in.

"God," She mumbled against his lips, "Whenever I forget how tall you are."

Kol let her drop back to flat feet, laughing.

"That wasn't me telling you to stop!"

"Thank god," He leant down more for another one, "Because Camille told me there wasn't anything I could do to make your brain shut up."

MJ laughed back, "What?"

"It seems to make you upset," He reasoned, "Now that I know I can kiss it quiet, I'm not about to stop!"

The rest of the concert was a bit of a blur; the pair back to focusing on the music since MJ started to feel bad about being so PDA in front of so many people, until eventually, it turned dark, and it was time to go. Luckily, the food stalls were still open on the way out, Kol buying gin and tonic cans, despite his distrust of the beverage when it wasn't made in front of him, MJ in charge of picking the street food so they could eat and walk.

"Just thought I'd let you know," Kol mentioned as he munched, "Davina's talking to me again."

MJ perked up, "She is?"

"That record I got off Rhea was for her," He liked the reaction, "Since some witch from the Ninth Ward saw her talking to Alex and made some complaint."

"That would've been Kara," MJ groaned, "They can't expect her to just avoid everywhere owned by a vampire."

"Apparently, they can."

"I think the witches are dumb."

He laughed at the simple statement.

MJ lifted her can up, "They're comparing her to Jo."

"Marcel talked like she avoided all vamps."

"She did," MJ nodded, "Because she had other witches handling vampire business for her."

Ana Ruiz

"Not because she avoided them – how is she?"

"We're occasionally texting," Kol clarified, "I left the vinyl for her in the playhouse."

MJ let that information ease her heart a little.

It was small, but it was something.

"I usually have to initiate it, but it's something."

"Yeah," MJ squeezed his hand in hers, "Um...so..."

They'd finished the food, only having the drinks left, yet had been walking in a circle around a collection of streets.

"Where are we going?"

Kol looked away awkwardly.

"The Compound's closer. You don't have to walk me home."

"You know I'm going to."

"Except," MJ moved from a hand holding to wrapping her arms around his, "I'm crashing at Marcel's tonight."

He did a double-take, "Why?"

"Josh asked for the apartment for the night," She revealed, "He and Cami are having a catch-up."

"Oh," Kol gestured forward, "Stay with us."

They were on the road of The Compound.

"Eh," Her feet somewhat stilled, dawdling, "Um..."

"You know you can stay," Kol smiled at her awkward stance, "That's normal at this point."

"Like," She bobbed her head, "In the day, sure."

"You stay three nights a week."

"With Hope."

"Hm," His smirk made her laugh, "Don't want to stay the night with me?"

"We're one date in."

"Not having sex yet?"

"Our first time back on is not happening in the room by Hope's."

"Klaus would never let us live it down."

"He'd steal the daggers back to stop it from happening again."

Kol stuck his tongue out, "You wouldn't let him."

"True."

"Good," He let her loiter at the end of the road, "Second date then?"

"Should I plan?"

"Isn't that my..." His voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Job?"

"Okay 1900s; in 2013 I have an idea I think you'll like."

He smiled, "Okay then."

"Saturday?"

"Saturday."

While MJ headed to Marcel's, Kol wandered back into The Compound, a large smile on his face as he walked through the courtyard. Klaus sat at one of the tables, his feet up on another chair, reading and watching Freya eating in a different seat. Like the pair were in a mental pissing contest about how long they would mull in the quiet before feeling too awkward and talking to the other.

Klaus vamp-sped in his way, "Where have you been?"

"What would make you think I've been somewhere?"

The paint stripes across his cheeks and concert bracelets on his wrists were unmissable.

"The idea I venture outside my room? Preposterous!"

Klaus narrowed his eyes at the sarcasm.

"Soaking up the city," He leant over Freya to pick a piece of food off her plate, "Bye."

He headed to the stairs, Freya snickering at the dismissive attitude.

"I can smell Mira's perfume!" Klaus called after him.

"Salted caramel and almond," He dismissed, "I've been eating these confectionary pralines all afternoon."

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

His footsteps vanished into the rest of the house.

Door to his room shutting.

"Why does it matter if he was with MJ?"

"If they're back together, I need to know."

"Why?"

"I need to control it."

Freya rolled her eyes.

"He'll mess it up without me."

"Because you have such a great resume of relationships."

Klaus turned his glare on her at that jab.

"Careful, Niklaus," Freya had been in his head, "Kol is not blind to your split affections."

August 2005

"Pri was waking up," MJ mumbled as Beni and she rushed through the city, "She's gonna wake up, and the window is gonna be broken, and we're all gonna be gone, and – "

"We'll find him," Beni mumbled.

"He lost control!"

"He'll learn it."

"Vampires – " MJ caught herself.

Could she, of all people, really say all vampires were evil?

"Beni," She was shaking.

It was the middle of the night, meaning Aaryan had a good few hours to tear the city apart, super speed, super strength, no idea what was going on, and no control.

MJ started with the easy question, "Are you okay?"

She'd gotten off pretty easy.

Aaryan had been compelled to jump off a fire escape by some creepy vampire who clearly didn't care about peace in the city, and then he'd unintentionally fed on his friend and been batted back by low-level magic. Beni was the friend he'd fed on, wrist still bleeding as they hurried about the hot summer night, exhausted. Kitsune magic wasn't easy to perform. The emotional stuff was, and the mental infiltration, but actual magic? Spells to bat someone back?

He had to be drained.

"I'll be fine."

"Beni – "

He spun to grab her, steadying them both, "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure."

"Healing factor. It's slow," Beni winced, "But I'll be fine. We need to find him before he digs into someone who doesn't have one."

MJ was still just staring at him, clearly terrified.

"MiMi," He crouched down a little, "Let me get hurt."

"...What?"

"I have a tail," He reminded her, "Even if Aary goes too far, I'll wake up."

"Exactly. You have a tail. One. You die? You use it up, and you'll be mortal."

"And I'll deal with that. The only thing that matters right now is finding him."

She took a long breath, then nodded, "How do we do that?"

"Right now," He sniffed the air, "We're close."

She hadn't realised Beni had been following any kind of trail, kind of hoping he was taking her to one of the supernatural hubs he spent time at, so they could get anyone with a better understanding of how to catch a vampire to handle it.

They pushed past tourists and rushed over busy roads, Beni keeping a tight grip on her hand.

The night felt eerily familiar.

A vampire had ruined her life, murdered her mum, and Ryos had taken her hands, let her close her eyes, and handled everything. Then he'd left her. She didn't want Beni to leave her.

To think she was too useless to handle Aary.

She didn't want Aary to end up covered in blood.

He was her friend, he was her brain-buddy, and he was Pri's older brother – and MJ loved Pri.

Pri was why she could feel somewhat stable, and she didn't want Pri in any danger.

It was Aaryan!

He wasn't dangerous.

He was just new.

That was when the pair of them saw the blue flashing lights.

Beni had come to a slower pace, taking them through a series of back allies while following the supernatural tug in his gut. His sixth sense was ridiculously good, but MJ knew it wasn't just that. She knew Aaryan had been human and hadn't known about their powers, so he didn't know how to protect his mind from Beni's unintentional snooping.

As much as the Kitsune tried to keep his head in check, encouraging his friends to take mental blockers in their drinks, if he had a way to see Aaryan's thoughts, he could work out where he was.

There were flashing lights and police officers tapping up an area next to a bar.

It was the same alley they'd Selene in earlier, a little bit of blood still staining the ground.

The little splatter was nothing compared to what they could see through the bar window.

The glass was cracked, people trying to stop pedestrians from seeing in and panicking, and, for the most part, they were. It was New York. Crime was a pretty normal thing. It was only the people who tried to look a little too closely, people like MJ and Beni, who could see the mess.

Broken chairs, at least ten dead bodies, and blood painting everything.

The bodies weren't just drained of blood; they were dripping with it, body parts ripped off, bruised from the hold, and then lain on the floor. At first glance, they just looked dead, draped across the ground and waiting to be outlined in tap for one fun game of 'Whodunit?'

Except, it wasn't a game.

It was clearly a vampire, and since Beni had taken them there, it was clearly Aaryan.

And the bodies weren't just dead.

They'd been ripped apart, then somewhat placed back together again on the floor.

Like dolls.

MJ was frozen.

Marcel had been kind in comparison to the mess Aaryan had created.

"MiMi," Beni tugged her back before anyone could notice them, "This way."

"He did that."

"He did."

"But – "

"We find him; we help him."

Her breath caught in her throat, head shaking, eyes watering as she backed away.

Not all vampires were bad.

Not all vampires were bad.

It was Aary.

Aary, who'd turned late-night drinkers into Frankenstein's in the making, leaving families without members –

She turned towards the large tin bins in the alley, vomiting, Beni just catching her hair in time to keep it clear of food.

A break.

A breath in.

Her brain thinking about the plasticky looking skin beyond the glass.

Her mother's corpse, sapping her beauty away, leaving her with an open chest while MJ swayed, life force falling out of her in the hopes it'd be put back into her mother. Wake her up. Mend the mess and make it look living again.

More vomit came up until her stomach was empty.

Beni stroked her back and let her have a moment.

"I know it's complicated, MiMi," He spoke softly, "But he's our friend."

She whimpered, forcing her head to nod.

"You can go back to the witch house – I'll handle this."

"No."

No matter how many times she saw Marcel's face in the shadows, she couldn't leave him.

"Um," She pressed her hands into her cheeks, "Are all freshly turned vampires like that?"

"No."

"No?" MJ had been operating over the assumption that it was normal, that Aaryan could get better, "What do you – "

"Aaryan!" Beni took off fast, spotting a hunched over body in a hidden back path around the corner, "It's okay."

"It's – it's okay?"

His face was a mess.

Blood covered his chin, eyes wholly bloodshot and crazed – no whites, just red and blackness, making them look sunken in his face like a twisted version of the buttons in Coraline.

Despite everything, MJ didn't want to feel scared looking at him.

"Aary," She crept closer.

If Beni could get within an arm's reach despite almost being drained of blood earlier that night, MJ could too.

She could trust her friend.

"Put the fangs away."

"I can't," He was clawing at his mouth again, like he was trying to tug them out, revealing just how much blood was still in there, puddling around his teeth, sticking to the creases of his palms.

His body was covered in glistening sweat, shivering like an addict.

"Dude," Beni walked slowly around him, "I'm gonna do something, and you've got to let it happen."

"I don't understand," He was panting, eyes pinned on MJ in front of him, "Why – why do you smell like that?"

Not a question she'd ever really been asked before.

"It's like," He took a long breath in through his nose, "Candy – I just want more – "

He lurched forward, but Beni grabbed the back of his collar, his own super strength able to hold him back.

"Let me feed!"

"If I do, you'll rip her to pieces."

Aaryan stopped squirming in his grip, tears forming over the dark lines on his cheeks, "I put them back!"

MJ stilled, trying to work out what the comment meant.

"I took the blood, but I tried to give it back!" He was sobbing, twisting as Beni got a tighter hold on him, "I didn't mean it, but when I tried them back, it didn't work, and then I tried – I wanted them to be asleep, but they're not asleep – they're – they're just – "

MJ had definitely never seen a vampire have a breakdown about murdering people before.

Her closest friend's brother, a senior in High School, had just murdered a room of people and was having a complete mental breakdown because of it.

Good sign?

If he was remorseful, he wasn't like Marcel, and MJ didn't want to be the person who demonised others the way witches demonised siphoners. She'd never be the one writing hateful graffiti on bus stops.

"You're gonna get through this," Beni moved his arms to Aayran's waists, wrestling him to his knees, "But you need to let me knock you out – I'm gonna need to snap your neck."

"No!" Aaryan shoved himself free.

Anger made him stronger, Beni flying into the nearest wall, head slamming back with a loud crack.

"I need blood."

"Aaryan!" MJ found her voice, "You need to let us help!"

"You can't help," He laughed at the sky, "Not when – I just wanna tear, into the thing, in your chest."

He wanted to kill her.

"Let us take you somewhere," Her words were slow, "Where you can't hurt anybody."

"I'm not hurting anyone!" He screeched, red eyes bulging, "I'm putting them back together."

MJ's eyes darted to Beni, slowly picking himself off the floor.

Aaryan looked too.

He shoved his thumb through Beni's throat in a flash, smashing his head back into the wall and cutting it open, the blood triggering him to drive his mouth into Beni's neck.

"No!" MJ lunged into them, hands out, energy rippling out of them.

Aaryan was in her grip, screaming, the red glow lasting two seconds and flooding her system, MJ flinching back at what had become the strange sense of magic in her veins. Staring at her hands in fear, only breaking out of the trance as she realised her friend wasn't attacking her.

There was a stillness in the nightmare.

"I did that."

"It's okay, Aary."

"Stop – stop saying that!" He hissed, "You two – you two – you couldn't – I – I'm hurting people – I killed them!"

"You did, but – "

"No buts!" He was crying even harder, "I killed them – all of them – and I've killed Beni – "

"He's not dead," MJ had to believe he was fine.

"I can't live like this," He shook his head, body trembling, crashing into the wall next to Beni's momentarily unresponsive form, "It hurts too much."

"We can get you help."

"I don't want help," He sunk to his knees, swallowing tears, blood from his mouth still dripping out, "I just – I want it all to stop – "

"Aary – "

"I don't wanna feel all...all... all – this."

MJ watched the breakdown take over his body, every part of him screeching into the night.

"Hunger," He pressed his palms into his eyes, "I shouldn't have to!"

Each word caused a lurch in his back.s

"I didn't – I don't – make it go – "

The noise caught.

He was still covering his eyes, MJ able to watch the way everything untensed. Kneeling in front of her, hands over his eyes, screaming mouth morphing a relaxed line

He slowly stood up.

His hands fell down.

The overwhelmed red had vanished, leaving the face she recognised...still covered in blood, but okay.

He blinked.

"Aary?"

Something was different.

"Aaryan?" MJ took a half step back, "What's going on?"

"What's going on is that I don't have to feel it," He spoke like in a trance, "There's..."

"What do you – "

"It just..."

"AARY – "

He was gone.

Her heart felt ready to beat out of her chest, hands still warm out in front of her.

She'd hurt him.

She'd siphoned him despite having gone so long without doing real magic.

She wasn't meant to siphon her friends.

Friends.

Beni.

She dropped to her knees, patting his body down for his phone while taking a pulse reading.

He was still alive.

He also had a point. Beni would be resurrected if Aaryan did manage to kill him. Except, if he used up his one tail, Beni would lose his Kitsune status, and if they were still tracking Aaryan, he needed that extra life. He deserved his supernatural heritage!

His neck was healing first, body knowing he needed to breathe, but MJ couldn't waste time.

They weren't going to save Aaryan on their own, and Beni was gonna be down for at least an hour, and the longer they waited the more damage Aaryan could do, and the harder they'd have to work to wake him up and fix whatever the hell MJ had just seen happen.

She pulled Beni's phone out, searching his contacts.

Any number of them could be supernatural since Beni befriended most people who came to town, but she didn't want a complete stranger. She needed someone with the information that could help while Beni was down for the count.

The werewolf from before.

"Beni?" His gruff voice answered, "It's like two – "

"His friend MiMi, actually," She sputtered, "And I'm incredibly sorry to wake you up, or interrupt you, or put you out of your way, but we're round the corner from where we left you this morning, and something's happened. Beni's healing, but he's unconscious."

The way her voice cracked, trying to pick the easiest word to sum up their situation.

"There's blood," She was trying not to cry again, "Police – "

He cleared his throat, "Do you need me to bring something?"

"If you could come collect him, that would be great."

"I'll be there in five."

"And do you have a way to contact that woman?" She may have pushed the tears away, but she still sounded nervous, "Selene Roux?"

Not just sounded – MJ was nervous.

She wasn't good at talking to strangers, even if the wolf seemed friendly enough, and she definitely wasn't good at talking to vampire strangers.

Which was what she was gonna have to do.

The silence was tense.

"Your friend got turned?"

"He tore a bar apart."

"I'll be there in three with an address."

APRIL 2013

"There are children everywhere," Kol commented, "MJ?"

They were standing outside of one of the arcades in the city, a stretched building highlighted by a brightly coloured sign on the front, bulb lights outlining it, the sound of games clear through the glass doors.

"There are," She nodded, "But, trust me?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"You like the phone games; well, welcome to where you'd play games pre-phones," She led the way through the push door, the noise getting louder, "If it's too much – "

"Mira," His arm was around her waist, "I'm adjusting wonderfully."

She smiled, "Just checking."

He kissed her temple gently.

"Now, let me show you why we're here."

"Games."

The arcade was filled with collections of machines, ranging from car racing to shooter ones that MJ had no interest in to simple stick controllers.

"Not just games," MJ had a day bag around her waist, despite the fact she'd popped by The Compound to grab him at three, "Joyous childhood memories."

Out of the bag came a seethrough zip-up bag filled with sweet chilli crisps, sour patch kids, chocolate-covered caramels, and sweet popcorn, all mixed together – something she'd created earlier.

"Your happy place," He smiled.

MJ stilled, "How'd you know that already?"

"..."

"Kol?"

"I have Caroline's phone number."

MJ blinked rapidly, "You do?"

He nodded.

"And?"

"I looked up what people were meant to do on dates in the modern era," He admitted, MJ biting back a smile, "Cinema trips. Ideas for what snacks to eat...I asked her."

"Well, yes," MJ opened the bag and ate a crisp, "This is my happy food mix. All my favourite flavours, even better together."

"The fizzy men," Kol's name for sour patch kids, "You bought them a lot at Christmas."

She nodded, leading him through the corridor of games, around the kids and parents.

"Can I ask why you love them so much?"

"I don't know," She admitted, "My dad would always buy me sour patch, so they were automatically my favourite, but...New York? Pri would eat everything, and she'd mix everything together too, which meant we all had to try her mixes."

He took one of the crisps, specs of sour sugar catching on it.

"Hey, um," MJ reached the machine she wanted to start with, "...Do you mind me talking about that stuff?"

"Why would I?"

"It just feels a bit trash to talk about the good things my parents did for me..."

Kol inspected the space, "My parental issues aren't half as big as my siblings."

MJ made a not convincing sound.

"Mira," He took another handful, getting a mix, "Is now really the moment we want to unpack parental-child relationships."

She opened her day bag again.

"You already know my feelings about them."

"I guess."

"If there's something else, I'll tell you."

She smiled.

"Now," He gestured about, "What is this?"

"This," She presented the layout, "Is EA's Sonic The Hedgehog Basketball."

Silence.

Kol couldn't help but laugh at the dramatic look on her face.

"We shall start here, then you can pick the next game; I educate you on the best things to play...and," She smiled, "If you manage to beat me at anything..."

He perked up.

"We'll see."

"Mira!"

"Let's play."

The basketball game was MJ's favourite, and once she'd moved back to the city, Sam and she had visited a few times to play, beating each other's records since he'd been playing since he was a kid too. It was meant for children. Kol got a bit addicted to the repetitive and rushed movement of the basketball throw, vampire abilities incredibly unhelpful for something so simple. And he ended up resorting to low tactics to try and distract her, something MJ just smirked during, able to talk and toss.

"Speaking of cinema," Kol watched her flicking technique, "What else do you count as a normal date?"

"You are aware – "

Nothing but net.

" – I'm only twenty – "

Another one in.

" – All my dates are – "

Another.

" – In the context of – "

And another.

" – High School."

And she'd beaten his score with time to spare.

"How!" His hands went out as she continued, "My aim is good!"

The timer buzzed, and MJ just laughed.

"The number of things I can throw – " Kol stopped before announcing his murder resume to the potential eavesdroppers around them.

"I've been doing this for years," MJ assured him sweetly, pressing closer to him as he pouted, "You have other games to win."

He glanced around, pointing firmly, "That one."

Ski ball.

"You're on," MJ collected the tickets they'd won, "Want any guidance?"

"No," He was marching towards it, "I'll figure it out, and I'll win."

"I'm sure."

Kol picked up the first small ball to test weight, "Regardless of trying to distract you – why does High School affect dates?"

"Because everything has context."

He made the first throw, landing it in one of the holes, smiling as the points tallied up.

"In High School, you do things like 'study dates.'"

He looked disgusted, another shot adding points.

"Which is often code for making out – "

"Less disappointed."

"Then," She teased, "Like, you watch movies, go to get lunch, or...bowling?"

"You sound disgusted by that suggestion," He was on a bit of a role, "What's wrong with bowling?"

"I love bowling," MJ clarified, "Just for dates?"

She gestured around.

"This is loud."

It was.

"Bowling is this times ten – so like, you go in groups, not on dates."

"And the cinema," He was puffing out his chest as he continued to score, "Watching movies."

"I love going to the cinema as like, an experience. But home is better," MJ admitted, "You can't talk in cinemas, and we both know that the pair of us can't shut up."

"Who wouldn't want to hear our opinions."

"People who don't agree with them?"

"We'd be educating them."

She laughed.

He ran out of time, "That looks like a good score."

"Hm."

Picking up the balls, MJ looked at the score, doing the maths in her head.

"When people are like," She wanted to give him hope, "Sixteen, they go to the movies to make out too. Which is just a bit weird now I'm older."

And MJ began.

They were both quiet, Kol watching her expression, recognising the edge in her eye and slightly confused why she didn't seem to be landing in the higher scoring holes.

Then, she started to.

MJ had watched the smug smile appear as Kol saw the clock ticking down, her score compared to his, only to switch into the highest scoring pot consistently, the technique down after growing up visiting places like that.

And Kol panicked.

Near the end of the clock, he vamp-sped closer, a hand slipping into the back pocket of her jeans and pinching.

MJ still landed the ball in the pot to score five points more than him.

His jaw dropped.

"Dude," She turned to face him, bodies close, "I'm a woman."

"I'm aware."

"You think I haven't had my ass grabbed while trying to do something that requires focus before?"

Mainly when she'd been a waitress.

His cheeky smile faltered, "...Sorry."

"You're my boyfriend," She waved a hand, "You're allowed."

"Boyfriend?"

"If you like the word?"

"I do," He pecked her lips, "Now give me the names of the people I need to murder for touching you."

"Appreciate the offer, but let's not think about things like that."

A quick push up to kiss him again, her own hand moving on top of his, putting pressure to get him to pinch again as they kissed.

"Mira," He mused, pulling back, "There are children present."

"None care about us."

Any kids nearby were all focused on their own games.

Continuing to try and find Kol a game he could win, MJ was jittery with excitement, watching how he tried to not vamp-speed while inspecting everything he thought looked fun. Both of them were quickly making their way through the snacks, racking up more and more tickets while slowly getting through every game; any doubts about the date idea were lost in the wind, given that they were both childish in nature.

Eventually, they were at the ice hockey table – the one game MJ couldn't actually plan how to win.

Luckily, by this point, Kol had somewhat forgotten her flirty promise, just cheering incredibly loudly when he won – definitely using boosted strength to get the puck to move abnormally fast.

"Cheat!"

"Doesn't matter!"

MJ laughed at the lack of denial.

"We need to play billiards," Kol decided, "I want to get a table at The Compound, but apparently, 'it's not safe for a baby.'"

"Does Klaus think Hope can fly?" MJ tried to think of a problem with it, "The chalk is the only thing she'd be able to choke on unless someone put her on the table."

"Thank you!"

Since he'd won, and since it had been a good few hours, nighttime, it was time to leave.

"We can get one," Kol decided, "And ban him from using it."

"I'm in."

They high-fived.

"Do we use these now?" Kol was eyeing the prize wall as they drifted closer to the edge, a bag full of tokens, "Do we have enough?"

"If we don't, you can hold on to tickets and come back later."

His keen eyes focused, "Let's do that."

She grinned, "You wanna come back?"

"I want to see if we can get the highest-priced item."

Responsible-MJ knew they could probably buy whatever the item was for a cheaper price, but...they had money now. She didn't need to think like that. She could just enjoy things. She could just enjoy – she needed to stop going straight to money spreadsheets –

"We can," She was sure, "And now this has been approved..."

Kol raised an eyebrow.

"They do make adult arcades."

He blinked slowly, lips battling between smug and confused.

"Not that type of adult!"

He laughed.

"Like, with booze and shit. Places that ban kids past a certain hour. Same with mini-golf," MJ's face lit up, "Oh my god, I have to talk you to the mini-golf bar – I've been looking for an excuse since I moved here."

"Can't wait."

Then, MJ wrapped their tickets up, stuffing them into the day bag, Kol offering her his arm as they headed into the night.

He blinked at the darkness, "I didn't realise we were in there that long."

"Why I picked that one," She admitted, "While the 'adult' places are cool, you can only really be in there for an hour or two. They get stuffy, and there are always queues - while I wanted us to take our time."

"It was a good time. Now I'm just peckish."

"I have blood in my bag."

"Of course you do," He chuckled, "But I'm craving something fresh."

"That's all good," MJ glanced around the busy street, "We can call it a night if you want to go feed?"

"...But what'll you eat?"

"I probably have food."

"Ah yes, Kol kept them walking down the street, "Your apartment."

"...Josh is at Cami's tonight..."

"Interesting."

"...We could grab takeout if you want to...you know...?"

He lifted his chin slightly, voice steady, "If I want to what, Mira?"

She slowed her steps slightly, taking in his profile, "Don't want to leave yet."

"I'm only ever going to leave because you want me to," He was trailing his fingers up from her hand to her elbow, "Delivery or buy while we walk?"

"Leftovers?"

He nodded, trying to suppress his smile.

The walk felt nervous, MJ trying to work out why she suddenly felt that when it was literally a second date with someone she'd already been with, in every possible way.

It was about halfway through when they'd stopped for him to get his kick.

Their rushed steps were interrupted when he'd bumped into someone, compelled them in a second, and moved to a shadowed corner while MJ checked her phone, acting as a makeshift guard. Trying not to turn around. Not to watch how he always moved with connection, effort to be in control and peace. Drinking, drinking, and definitely trying not to let her face flush at the memory of how easily she'd handed her own blood over to him. Everything just washing over her like a breeze, turning back time and erasing the heartbreak she'd lived with for almost two years now. 

Kol had raised an eyebrow upon his return, compelling the man on his way.

Taking a second before smirking at the pace of her heart and awkward throat clear.

As the door shut, MJ truly tried to not feel awkward, working out how she wanted the rest of the night to go. Part of her was applying mortal dating rules to the situation, thinking about how working through a set number of dates before moving to sex was a sensible call to make – but it was them. It was Kol. She'd had sex with him after knowing him about four days, and he was back in his body, and it wasn't like they'd gone through some traumatic break-up that needed to be countered.

They were there under the pretence of food...

Was it weird to let Kol drink her blood again? When it wasn't a stressful situation?

And, only their second date?

While MJ overthought, her feet had moved further into the apartment.

MJ forced herself to face him.

She'd been with him all afternoon, yet, somehow, Kol seemed more in focus than before. Brown eyes mesmerised her like the first time she'd truly looked at them, everything beautiful about soil and bark and chocolate pulling her closer. The mental comparison to the sly attitude wrapped in an attractive suit compared to the casual attire she'd quickly grown used to when spending time with the real him.

Details that it took time to notice.

Slightly more stubble than before – though MJ would take stubble over the god-awful haircut he'd returned from Greece with anyway.

As much as it hadn't suited him, it had still made her smile.

Kol cleared his throat.

MJ woke up, "Sorry."

"Stare all you like," He mused, "God knows I do it to you."

"Um," MJ felt her cheeks flushing again, "So...?"

After everything, she'd somehow gotten more awkward - god, at the Mikaelson Ball, she'd literally just mounted him in his own bed, just to tease him. 

Now she was tongue-tied thinking about how pretty his eyes were.

"You're fully furnished now," He noted, "I like this one better than the last."

It was so much bigger, and MJ had kept several things he'd organised when she'd moved. The main bookshelf on the bottom floor still rainbow – Josh letting it be since he liked the aesthetic. He'd put up neon light signs on one of the walls, looking like they'd been taken right out of a bar, and they matched the brightness the book order started. Though there were still things around the room that Kol didn't quite understand, distracting him until his eyes landed on her.

The curiosity drifted away.

"Not The Abattoir."

It was too casual.

Too lived in.

Despite homing multiple people, The Abattoir felt cold. Maybe it was the iron bars or the open roof in the central courtyard. MJ loved the place, but it wasn't her home – it wasn't somewhere she pictured when thinking about living...well, she didn't know. The Abattoir suited living forever, but living her mortal passions? Hosting work parties, or indulging in a soap, just didn't fit, while her new home did.

"Not The Abattoir indeed."

"MJ," Kol's hands came up cautiously like he was scared to cup her face, "I just want to say – "

She stepped forward, making contact herself, thumbs stroking her cheeks.

Kol was staring down at her softly.

"Wanna take this upstairs?" She prompted at his sudden quiet, "Or the couch? Or – "

"Mira!" He gasped, "Are you implying you didn't invite me here for food?"

"Not saying you're not getting something to eat out of it."

His laugh was music to her ears, especially given the mischievous smirk on his face.

"Upstairs?"

"Upstairs."

His hands pulled her forward, bringing their lips together firmly, taking in the relief from having their bodies pressed against each other, her left hand grabbing at his shirt to hold him close. The right moved straight to his head, running into the hair behind his ear, nails flicking against the roots, his gripping onto the fabric of her jeans, eyes instantly shut, mouth open and moving in sync, head-turning.

She loved making the first move.

It was how quickly his body responded – like he'd been waiting an eternity for it, ever rising to the challenge of how much she put into it, matching and testing for more. Love. Passion. Pure fun they could have with each other's bodies, even with clothes on.

However, MJ would be lying if she pretended there wasn't something different about how their faces met.

There was something unnaturally cautious about it. Kol's movements filled with softness and delicacy, kept things far more controlled and simple than usual as he let himself run the palms of his hands down her body, reaching the place he'd already grabbed that day, just caressing it.

"Up," Kol mumbled, "Mir – "

She was jumping, legs clamping around his waist, arms wrapped gently under her thighs to carry her up the stairs, hand still, focused on her lips, and them alone.

It was routine he clearly knew well, only stumbling when she bit his lip, earning a laugh and a break in the swift steps, shoulders pressed into the wall so he could bite right back.

"You'd think a thousand years would give you the ability to multi-task."

"Is that a challenge?"

Getting into the bedroom, MJ felt her heart ramping up, broken kisses starting on his mouth, trailing across Kol's jaw then down his throat, fire in her veins, so much more comfortable now that it was his body was she working with. Skin to skin, hot and cold, balancing as she yanked his top over his head and shoved him beneath her, determined to leave marks over his skin, even if they'd be healed by the time the sun rose.

The only pause was when Kol swapped their positions, determined to be on top, head up, just out of reach, desire pouring out from his eyes as he took her face in.

"Hey," She whispered, cutely.

"I really hope you never get tired of me telling you how beautiful you are," His hand brushed her hair back quickly, nails then starting over her cheek, skin responding instantly, forcing MJ to focus on her breathing, "I could just look at you forever."

The goosebumps summoned had her head lifting back, pressing into the pillow.

"And most of the clothes aren't even off yet," She teased, "Wanna fix that?"

Kol let his body move down, her knee coming up to squeeze against his side as he kissed her, fingers tugging at the hem of her shirt, the other still in her hair.

"I..." He whispered, rolling hips against hers to get her groaning, "You know that I didn't care when we weren't having sex."

"Mmm – "

"I didn't," He began to leave his own love bites, "Tell me everything you want me to do now we are."

"You know what you're doing, Kol."

He looked up at her, brown eyes lusting, "Tell me, Mira."

She let herself process the words.

"Eat me out of the sofa, fuck me in the bathroom, then run through everything else you love in the bed."

He grinned.

~***~

MJ wasn't sure what she woke up to, but it was pretty nice. She was wrapped up in her blanket, cool and relaxed; the windows opened, despite being closed the night before. The sound of the oven grill was clear, music coming from the record player.

She sat up properly to rest against the headboard.

The spot next to her was empty; Kol the obvious source of noise.

"Don't move!" He yelled the moment her feet touched the floor, "Put your pretty little head back on that pillow – and close your eyes."

"Why?"

Calling down the stairs was one way to have a conversation.

"Because," He paused to do something, noise going up, "I'm not ready yet."

"What are you doing?"

Silence.

"Kol!"

Still nothing.

MJ pulled the blanket with her, heading to the stairs and creeping down.

Kol was looking directly at the stairs, able to hear her coming.

She stopped at the bottom, taking in the sight of Kol cooking, sweatpants on, chest right there for her to look at. MJ let the blanket drop from her neck to her shoulders, the only thing covering her own naked body.

"I feel like that's a fire hazard waiting to happen."

Kol turned the frying pan, "Because I'm so hot?"

"Because you have a track record of setting fire to modern kitchens."

He grinned back at her, "I told you to stay in bed."

"You stopped responding," She walked closer, "I got worried."

"I'm just cooking."

MJ raised an eyebrow, the sound of the duvet following her steps, again, letting it slip down further to show her cleavage.

He blinked, eyes jumping about.

"Kol?"

"...I was planning breakfast in bed."

She smiled, "You don't have to."

"...It was on a list of things to do for your partner..."

"What list?"

"One I've created based on studious research."

"You don't need to do anything for me," She rested against the kitchen island, "You complete and total nerd."

"I enjoy doing things for you."

"But - "

"Mira," He gave her a soft look, "That was the first time since..."

"Two years."

"Worth it."

She couldn't stop her heart from warming.

"Now, let me do something in return."

"You did," MJ sighed in contentment, "You did many wonderful things."

"And I will continue to do them."

"Forever," She said carefully, "I said that I'd stop tapping out once we were back on."

Hence talking to her therapist about it. MJ had needed someone to tell her it was okay to commit, determined to never pull out on Kol again.

"No more pauses or breakups on my end."

It felt weird to say, at only twenty.

"I'm all yours."

"No objections here," He tipped eggs onto a plate before turning the grill off to add bacon, "Now go to the sofa so I can pretend you let me do this properly."

She laughed, heading to the oversized reading poof chair, moving the blanket so it was less an outfit, more just there.

"I know you love to cook," He was following behind her with a tray, "But I like to think I'm of a decent calibre."

"No doubt," She patted the chair as he placed it on the coffee table, pulling it closer, "Sit with me."

He happily slid over the large arm, MJ shifting up, so her legs were over his lap, then pulled the tray up onto them, merging with the blanket as a buffer from the hot food and her bare skin.

Kol's fingers trailed up her thigh, "Like it?"

MJ scanned the mass amount of things on the large tray; coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit, a pain au chocolate that he must've popped out to get from a bakery, and eggs, bacon, and toast.

"Kol..."

"Overboard," He admitted, "I didn't want to get it wrong."

MJ's lips were back on him, pulling the thigh hand up to her boob, squeezing with him, basking in the chuckle he released as she moaned.

"I love that reaction," He moved his head up to kiss her nose, second hand joining the first, massaging firmly, "What are you gonna do when you see the sink?"

They both stopped, settling back against the chair arms.

"What's in the sink?"

"..."

"Kol?"

"There are three different types of flowers," He had popped out, "Going overboard will be the bare minimum until I get the bearings of what a boyfriend is meant to do."

She loved him.

"Because I really don't know what I'm doing," He seemed embarrassed, "But I'm trying."

Correction.

MJ loved him so much.

"Nu-uh," She teased, "This is our norm from now on."

Another lean forward to brush her nose over his in appreciation.

"Breakfast in bed on Sundays, stupid amounts of food and flowers, and as little clothes as possible."

He smiled.

"Not every Sunday, but...eh. We'll figure it out."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I'm slightly kidding," MJ assured him, "As long as you're here. I'm happy."

"And I can't wait to be here," He pecked her lips across the tray, "Every Sunday..."

Another quick kiss.

"Occasionally accompanied by vast amounts of food."

A final one before they finally started to eat, MJ summoning cutlery since it was the one thing he'd forgotten, Kol grumbling that it was because she'd woken up ahead of schedule, only for her to cut him off with another longing kiss, pulling his lip down greedily.

"Mira," He was drinking from the juice while she had coffee, "Last night?"

Her giddy smile was a little embarrassing, "Yes."

"It was?"

"Do you want to list of compliments?"

He grinned, "I mean..."

"Kol," She spoke dramatically, "You may have been dead for a bit, but you are still – "

"Was it different?"

She faltered at the directness of the question, "In what way?"

He was looking at his glass.

"Kol?"

"Slower?"

"I mean, yeah?" MJ had to admit, "You were way more gentle than before – the vampirism worrying you?"

"Just..." He shook his head, "That was a deliberate choice."

MJ may have led everything that had happened by moaning wants into his ear, but he'd been the one in control. Because he always was. Keeping speed, showing her things she'd never even thought to try based on what type of touch she was craving.

"If you're still ready to go," She was done with her food anyway, "I'm still naked for a reason."

"You smile, and I'm ready to go."

"You smile and make me feel all warm inside," MJ pushed the tray back, only needing the coffee mug in her hand, "Which is basically the same thing."

Kol moved the tray to the coffee table, both of them still wrapped in the sheet, him in sweats, her covered by it, and it alone.

"And you're pretty warm yourself when – "

"Mira," Kol was smiling at the dirty joke she'd been about to make, but his eyes weren't blinking.

"Hey," She leant forward, fingers just touching the curve of his jaw, "What's up?"

"I want to tell you something."

The phrase added a layer of static to the air.

"I've been trying to for a while," Kol didn't let himself look away, "Failing miserably."

"Okay."

A long breath in.

His mouth opened.

Kol was left, head turning left to right, words failing.

Nothing.

Lips shut, a flash of sadness across his face that clawed at MJ's heart, using the hand she still had on his face to bring there's together.

No kiss.

Just foreheads together.

"I wanted last night to be different," Quiet words, eyes closed, "Though it might say it..."

He'd been extra delicate for a reason.

"Alas," His smile was bitter, "Words failing me once again."

When he was usually so well-spoken.

"Kol Mikaelson," MJ loved the sound of his name, "I know."

Seeing him stare at her had butterflies in her stomach.

"You don't have to tell me. I know."

There were many a time MJ had panicked or doubted how he felt about her.

Actually, hearing him trying to say it?

Looking like he'd failed when it didn't happen?

"And I love you too."

He shook his head, "Sorry."

"Don't apologise."

"I should be able to say it."

"Your entire family has such a screwed up relationship with love."

"Mira – "

"You'll get there," MJ kissed him chastely, leaning back so their eyes could open, and he could see her smile, "And even if you don't. It's okay – because I know."

He managed a still nervous nod.

"Does that mean those questions..." She felt her lips curling up, "You were asking if I thought you'd made love to me?"

His eyes darted away in embarrassment.

"When you get there, I'll tell."

That got his attention back.

"Kidding," MJ let herself snuggle into him with her mug, "You're always good."

Before he could make a follow-up remark, a phone started ringing.

Kol's phone.

"Do you mind?" He asked.

She waved her hand, summoning it from wherever his jacket had been discarded.

Elijah's ID.

Kol declined.

MJ gave him a look.

"It's probably nothing."

"I know you literally have your ringer off," She pointed out, "You got me to show you how to make expectations in your settings."

It rang again.

Still Elijah.

"Fine," Kol caved, "Best to check that no one's dead."

He answered.

"Where are you?" Elijah asked before Kol could say anything.

"Lovely way to say hello."

MJ shifted back from him, the sound of the blanket moving with her.

"Kol," Elijah didn't sound amused, "Where are you?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because I am expected to eat with my niece at The Compound, and I'd rather not be alone with the wretched mess that is my other brother," He spoke blankly, "I require your company."

MJ rolled her eyes, opting to get up from his lap, not interested in the argument.

"Retched mess?" Klaus's chirpy voice, "He's the one clearly entertaining himself with god knows who while claiming to be in love with someone."

Both Kol and MJ tensed at the callout.

"See what you're leaving me with," Elijah glowered.

"I've already eaten," Kol dismissed, "And I'm hanging up – "

"Please tell me he's wrong," Elijah sounded less-than-impressed, "I can hear the human heartbeat, and the duvet."

"Why does it matter?" Kol's lack of admission made MJ confused, "What I do to 'entertain myself' – as he so wonderfully put it, is neither of your business."

"It is if it's going to break Mira's heart."

"Says the man who snapped her neck with no remorse."

"Kol – "

"We'll be there in fifteen," MJ spoke up.

There was the clattering of something on the other end, and she had a feeling it was Klaus.

Kol hung up.

"You didn't tell them we were back on?" She wasn't necessarily offended.

"Darling, you've witnessed how family relations are turned into familial affairs."

She slumped a little, "And we've been over this – "

"Not accusing you of anything!" He instantly rephrased, "More, Klaus will try to micromanage; to Elijah, it changes you from ally to potential pawn, etcetera."

MJ blinked.

Yeah, that made a lot of sense.

"And Rebekah will instantly go overboard, citing the want for a sister."

And MJ laughed.

"And considering I can't even say I – "

Strained noise.

"- You."

There was something about how Kol glared at the wall at his own way of phrasing it that made it clear he'd hoped he could've tricked his mind into just blurting it out.

"I was hoping to keep them in the dark for as long as possible."

"It's a second date; we shouldn't be saying those three magic words," MJ assured him, "And that's a good plan in theory. But it ignores how Klaus would've started stalking us the second he noticed us hanging out alone."

He had to give her that.

"Or that Cami would've told him. Because I told her, and she definitely wanted to tell him."

"Cami wouldn't – "

"So she could ease him into accepting that he would have to share me, forcing him to realise that it was okay to share me. That it didn't mean I valued him any less."

Kol tried not to laugh at Cami's pre-planning.

"Anyway," MJ motioned between them, "Fifteen minutes to get dressed."

Kol let his eyes trail over her.

"I'm having a shower," She let it drop at the bottom of the stairs, "You joining?"

"God," He was pulling down his sweats, "You're perfect."

"No 'love-making' experiment this time," She teased, "You have fifteen minutes."

"Fast and rough – glorious."

MAY 2013

After his trip to hang out at Cami's apartment, Josh started going outside again.

He was still avoiding the city, but he saw Marcel, and he was helping MJ.

MJ and he would go to the Bayou, and in the shack land that used to be the pack's home base, several teenagers were making do. The tents that had filled the area when MJ had first returned to the city were back, creating makeshift covers for all the people who had elder siblings affected by the spell, most of which didn't have parents to look after them.

MJ was managing that part.

Her days were becoming incredibly long, to say the least. She knew what it was like to be alone as a teenager, with no idea how you were meant to survive. So, she was running a bit of a wolf den.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she'd wake up stupidly earlier to give herself time to get down to The Bayou, two days' worth of breakfast foods in arms and cash for the weekends. Most of them were in school, which meant they'd have food during the day, and then the few remaining adults who hadn't triggered their curse, floating around like Eve the previous year, would take the non-breakfast food MJ had brought that morning and sort out dinner.

Sam's mum had revealed herself, racked with guilt about escaping the curse, the rest of the family followed shortly after.

Once they broke up for summer, it would get worse.

They'd have more time to think about their missing loved ones, need more food, and have wolf tempers and energy levels. MJ was just happy to see that a lot of them were planning on getting summer jobs; wolf pride not particularly like having to rely on her and Josh popping down to keep them going.

The good thing was that some time had gone into fixing up the shacks, so they were stable enough to live in. After a few weeks of people working together, no one had to sleep in the rain or in the tents.

When MJ couldn't make it, Josh still would, spending his day with Aiden's brother.

The two had met during the relationship, and they could somewhat mourn together while making sure the kid still had a stable adult in his life.

MJ kept reminding Josh that it was okay if it got too much. She'd keep an eye on him – Sam's mum would keep an eye on him, but Josh was fixated on it. He was going to be there for the kid. Even if it was the only thing he was doing to prove that he was still alive.

Though her work hours were flexible, MJ did have things to do during the day. It was a pattern of having morning meetings, afternoons completely free, nights booked with events. Though, sometimes she'd have Sunday nights off to go down to The Bayou and check-in, slowly accepted by the remaining un-triggered wolves, despite their initial hesitation because of her connection to Klaus.

"So," Josh started as they moved food around the table, "Davina has asked me to not ask her about anything magical, and she won't meet me in public."

"But she will meet you?"

He smiled tiredly, "Yep."

"Thank god," MJ stretched her shoulder back, "That's you and Kol."

"She's talking to Kol?"

"Occasionally texting," She clarified, "And only when she's stumped and unable to ask the elders for help."

"So she's using him this time."

MJ smiled, "Pretty much."

"He okay with that?"

"It gets him back in his playhouse."

And he was slowly stealing back some of his old toys with each visit.

"He usually needs to see what she's panicking about – and once he's there, he gets her to talk about other things...until she gets annoyed at him for acting like they can be friends."

"Sounds great."

"Kol's dealing with it," MJ waved a hand, "When you see her, do not mention the Crescent Curse or me."

"Can I mention Sam?"

MJ shrugged.

"God," Josh rubbed his face, "When he's back on two feet, she's gonna hate that she didn't help."

"I will defend D on this one," MJ spoke reluctantly, "She's being careful. Trying to be The Regent the witches want her to be."

"It sucks ass."

"Agreed," MJ nodded, knowing the worse part, "If Josephine was doing this, it would be the witches making a deal. Helping furry friends. 'Strengthening our bond with the city.'"

Josh couldn't not smile at the phrasing.

"But, because she got voted in for threatening to burn enemies, they'll see her helping as weakness."

"Witches be crazy."

"You can say that again."

They lifted drinks and tapped them together.

"Josh!" A friendly and young female voice yelled, "MJ!"

Alice was skidding down the hill.

She was four, turning five in October, and a little off-balance, but she was tiny and excitable. Her dad was behind her, talking with Sam's mum as they came to join the mini barbecue MJ and Josh were running for the Bayou livers. While they handled the food, the younger kids ran about, set up campfires, and listened.

They'd eat, their families would know they were there, and those who'd been through the curse before could watch from the trees.

The occasional howl was oddly comforting.

"Hey Ali," Josh bent down to grin at her, "How are you today?"

"Tired," She frowned, "But helpful."

"I'm not letting you near the food," MJ said bluntly, smiling at the child.

"MJ!" She complained.

MJ gave Josh a wink, stepping around him to pick her up, "Nope. I want it to be edible."

"Be nice," Ryan scolded her, knowing MJ was just teasing, "She's learning."

"And I will happily teach her once she stops claiming sugar and salt are the same things."

"They are, though," Alice complained.

"Mmm," Josh scrunched up his nose, "Not quite."

"They're white and small and edible," She poked MJ from her position by her shoulder, "They're the same thing."

Josh and MJ laughed while her dad sighed, "Please don't make a drugs joke."

"I was thinking snow," MJ countered.

Josh grinned, "I was thinking glue."

They both stared at him.

"Sweetie," Sam's mum patted Josh on the shoulder, "No."

"Not saying I ever ate it!"

Since Josh was heavily leaning on her, he'd gotten to know MJ's family incredibly well, and Alice already knew Sam's. They were people who didn't come with the baggage the rest of their friends did, so they were somewhat easier to be around. They knew his boyfriend had died, and they let him not talk about it.

They were just easier for him that summer.

"MJ – " Kol halted.

He was standing near the edge of The Bayou, carrying several share bags of crisps she'd left at her apartment.

Kol was another person Josh had gotten used to seeing.

He was openly at their apartment on Sunday mornings, usually snuck in and out the rest of the time. MJ wanted to be sensitive about being happy, no matter how many times Josh told her it was fine for him to be around.

His eyes saw the child in MJ's arm, the guy standing next to her, and what he looked like, and then he bee-lined to deliver the crisps, looking at Josh, almost like he wanted help.

"Dad," MJ looked to Ryan, "Meet Kol."

"Hi," His charming smile was there as he dropped the crisps onto the table, holding out his hand.

Ryan narrowed his eyes, staring at the hand, "The Original Vampire boyfriend."

"That would be me," Kol dropped the hand, "Nice to meet you."

Silence.

"...I'll – "

"I'm just messing with you," Ryan held his own hand out that time, "Ryan Jung. Nice to meet you too."

He shook it cautiously, "Kol Mikaelson."

"What are you drinking?" He motioned to the table, "The wine's all cheap; I have soju, but there's something stronger somewhere, and you look like you need it."

Kol's laugh was strained, causing MJ to snort, sharing a look with Josh.

"MJ," Alice stage-whispered, meaning all of them could hear them, "Am I supposed to be nice to him?"

MJ whispered back, "Yes."

"I'll be nice if he does the fang-thing."

"Alice," Ryan tapped her shoulder.

"Josh does!"

To say Kol was confused would be understating it, looking to Josh for a clue, but he deliberately shrugged innocently.

"And Sam would if I asked."

"You've known Sam your entire life, and Josh is putting up with us."

"Nah," Josh continued laying food out, "I'm happy to show her."

A quick hiss, black eyes and fangs that had her giggling, right back to human, like it was nothing.

"But she can't just ask strangers to vampire out for her."

"It's okay," Kol put a hand up, "If she really wants to see it?"

Alice put on a sweet and big smile, "Yes, please."

The moment the black veins started to appear, she beamed and clapped again

"Okay," MJ grabbed her sister's hand and gently spun, "You've met Kol; grab food, then a table."

"Nooooooo."

"Yeeessssss," MJ put her down.

"Come on, Ali," Mati chuckled, holding out her hand.

"MJ," Alice pouted, "Pleeeasssseee."

"I'll be over in a second," She promised, handing her a paper plate.

"You better," Her tiny finger was pointed at her, "I want time with my sister."

"You grab food, and I'll give you two magic tricks at the table."

"I thought we banned magic at the dinner table," Ryan tutted.

"You banned fire magic at the dinner table," MJ defended.

"Yeah, baba," Alice mimicked her expression, "You only banned fire magic."

"Yeah, yeah," He smiled fondly, "Grab your food."

Alice finally headed off with Sam's mum, happily chatting to her.

"Anyway," Ryan looked back to Kol, "This run-in wasn't planned. We can pretend it didn't happen if you want a re-do some other time."

Kol looked at her, "If you want that?"

"Are you gonna stay for the barbecue?"

He'd come purely because she's forgotten things, "Pretty sure the wolves won't want me here."

"They want me, so they'll deal."

"You sure?"

"I want you here."

Kol smiled, "Okay."

He went back to Ryan.

"If you're fine with me invading your family time?"

"Serena and JJ aren't coming, so it might be good to do first introductions now."

"You called me an Original Vampire."

"New family policy is honesty and transparency," Ryan put an arm around MJ's shoulder, "And if you are in her life, that rule applies to you too."

Kol bobbed his head, eyes constantly darting.

"Oooo," Ryan teased, "You look nervous."

Kol sent MJ a panicked look.

"Good," He picked up his plate, "What type of interrogation should this be?"

MJ looked up at her dad affectionately, "You're not going to interrogate him."

"But it would be so much fun to interrogate him."

She laughed.

"Tiny human scaring Original Vampire – please let me add that to my resume."

"You're rolling with the situation incredibly well," Kol noted.

"My daughter thought I was dead for eight years," Ryan spoke easily, "I'm not missing out on another minute."

"Full disclosure," Kol felt himself about to say something he'd probably regret mentioning, "Ana does not like me."

Something that surprised him?

Mentioning MJ's mother didn't create a bad reaction.

Ryan just looked concerned for him.

MJ gave him a look, "You never gave me the details of your chat with her."

Josh took his plate and crept away, leaving them to talk.

"She talked about how much she wanted to kill me," His nose twitched, "Choked me with magic, pointed out all the reasons someone else was a better match for MJ...then gave me some advice?"

"If there's one thing to take away from this entire situation," Ryan poured drinks, "Is that Ana is a liar."

Kol didn't know what to say to that, especially since he didn't sound resentful.

"As someone who could read her very well – even if I didn't know the supernatural details," He handed a cup of cheap wine to Kol, "Something I know for sure? She loved her kids."

MJ smiled to herself.

"She loved anything and everything that made them happy."

Even if she and Ryos didn't get along, that much was true.

"If you make MJ happy, whatever she says is bullshit. Most of the words out of her mouth were."

"She'll have been trying to hide that she liked you."

Kol didn't quite believe that, given Ana's brutally honest tone.

Not yet anyway.

But Ryan had known his girlfriend better than people gave him credit for.

"And I'll like you too," He opened his soju, "Don't blow it."

Kol started to relax a little.

"My wife will want to talk to you about your opinions on the architecture you've lived through, but she's been asking to meet you for a few weeks recently, so she'll probably love anything you say – regardless of if it's true."

"You're telling me how to make a good first impression?"

"Well, you'll have to come to dinner sometime this week now we've actually met."

"True," MJ stepped closer to Kol, "Alice will be asking now she's met you."

"Do you want to let down the four-year-old, Kol?" Ryan swished his drink ominously, "You really gonna crush her dreams like that?"

"No?"

"Right answer."

MJ was laughing again, letting Kol's arm snake around her waist, needing his sense of solace.

"Fair warning, we've been making a lot of jokes about the fact that you're white," He admitted, MJ shaking her head at him, "Everything's going to be flavoured properly. If it's too spicy, no judgement, just try not to react too dramatically."

"He's not that white," MJ defended, talking about energy, not ethnicity.

"He's from the oldest white family in existence. Yes, he is."

"I've lived across the world," Kol chuckled, "I will be able to eat whatever you throw my way."

"That sounds like a challenge."