Consequences of expression

3

Kol looked up at me with the biggest smile.

"Come, darling, lets get inside before it gets dark. I must build a fire for us." He said, pulling me running into the direction of the house. When we reached the house, he stopped suddenly and I ran straight into him. I started laughing and he helped me up, putting his arms around me. Before he let me go, he started tickling me. I was laughing so hard I almost snorted, and he was laughing as well. It was starting to get dark outside.

He finished tickling me, and was hunched over me on the floor when it got dark. In an instant, the fire lit, and all the candles lit as well. I had almost forgot that he was a witch. His face was so close to mine and I couldn't help myself. I leaned up and kissed him. I felt a spark instantly as soon as our lips met. It felt so... right.

After about a minute, we broke apart to breathe. I had never felt anything so exhilarating in my life. I also couldn't believe I just kissed Kol. He helped me up and walked me over to the large bed, his bed.

"I brought over some of Rebekah's dresses for you, until we can get you some from the city. I will be in the next room if you need me for anything. Goodnight, darling." He said before he kissed me again and left the room.

I looked through the pile of dresses and none of them seemed to be easy to sleep in. I looked in the trunk they were sitting on, and found one of Kol's cotton button up shirts. It felt so comfortable that I couldn't help myself. It came almost down to my knees. Surely if anyone else from this time period saw me, they would think the worst of me, but no one else would see me like this.

I fell asleep easily. Time travel must have taken much of my energy. However, in the middle of the night I had a terrible nightmare about the night Jeremy and I killed Kol. I watched him burn repeatedly until I opened my eyes. I couldn't believe I had been such a monster. There was no way I could go back to sleep after that, so I decided to make myself some tea. I walked out of the bedroom and passed by the guest room, where Kol was sleeping. The door was opened a little and I decided to peer inside, just to take a peek. When I did, I felt relieved that he was alive. He looked so peaceful sleeping. He was only wearing pants and I could see his toned muscles and tanned skin. He was beautiful. As I turned to leave I heard him shuffle.

"Elena, whats the matter, darling?" He asked sleepily. I hadn't wanted to wake him up.

"Just a bad dream." I replied. I wasn't going to say I was standing there watching him sleep. The candles in the room lit, dimly enough to see the whole room, but not bright enough to hurt.

"Come sit." He said, patting the bed beside him. I walked over and sat next to him. "I see you found my trunk of clothing." He said, laughing. I had forgotten that I wore his shirt to bed.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to be comfortable, and sleeping in dresses is a little difficult." I said, blushing.

"You can wear my clothes anytime you wish, darling, as long as no one else see's you. They might get the wrong impression." I laughed. "Aren't you cold?"

"A little, but I can't sleep now." I said, truthfully. "I got up to make some tea."

"Well then, let's go get you some tea." He said, getting up. I followed him into the kitchen area and he put a pot of water into the fire to boil. He then began crushing some dried herbs into two cups. Once the water was boiling, he poured it into both cups and stirred them.

"This tea is amazing." I said truthfully. It was the best tea I had ever had.

"It will help you sleep easier." He said, walking me over to the fire. He laid a blanket out on the ground with some pillows and I sat down as he laid another blanket over me. He came over and sat next to me. I motioned for him to get under the blankets and he did, scooting closer to me. I watched the fire as we talked about little things for about an hour. The last thing I remembered was laying on his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat, putting me to sleep. I have never had such a relaxed sleep until then.

"Elena, darling, time to wake up." Kol said from under me. I had slept on his chest. "Mother is coming over today to show you chores. I must go hunting." He said as I opened my eyes, not wanting to be awake yet. "You may want to change before she gets here, no matter how much I enjoy it, she will not."

I laughed. "So you enjoy seeing me in your clothes?" I asked teasingly.

"More than you know. I also enjoy waking up to you sleeping like an angel on my chest." He said, almost blushing. I suppose it would be quite scandalous in this time if any found out I slept with him (even just sleeping).

"I will be sure to keep that in mind." I said as I disappeared into his room to change. I put on a deep red dress and walked out to ask his help to tie it.

"That color looks beautiful on you." He whispered in my ear as he finished tying the back. I felt chills creeping up my spine as his voice sounded. He walked into his room and got his shirt. The one I had slept in. "Don't worry, darling, I have more shirts you can borrow. This one now smells of you. Vanilla and lily." He said as he buttoned it up, then put his boots on.

"Mother should be here at any time. I will have to leave soon, but I will be back before dinner. I want you to have this." It was a beautiful ruby pendant necklace. "I've spelled it. It will let me know you are safe and alert me if you are in any danger." He said as he clasped it together around my neck.

"Thank you." I replied, hugging him as if I had known him forever. I felt so comfortable with him, and I couldn't explain why. He looked down at me and slowly placed a soft kiss on my lips. We pulled apart as we heard a knock on the door. He walked over and opened the door, letting his mother and Rebekah inside.

"Good morning." I said as they walked inside.

"Good morning! Oh, that dress looks amazing on you." Rebekah said as she came over to hug me.

"You better go, Kol, your brothers are waiting for you by the falls." Esther said. He nodded, smiling at me as he left.

"He is very taken with you. I have never seen him act like this around someone. For him to give you that pendant means a great deal." Esther said as she grabbed a basket of clothes from inside and motioned us to come outside.

"Today you will be helping Rebekah wash clothes down by the river. Tomorrow we will show you how to sew." Esther said as we began to walk down to the river. When we got to the river, she showed me what to do then left. I was doing Kol's clothes.

"So, my brother seems happier than I have ever seen him, just the last couple days." Rebekah said as we dipped the clothes into the river and began washing them on the washboards. "Is he really courting you or was that just a show for father?"

"He is really courting me. I honestly couldn't be any happier." I said, smiling up at her.

"You might become my sister, I have always wanted a sister!" Rebekah said excitedly.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, he only started courting me yesterday." I said laughing.

"I overheard father talking last night. He said he wants Kol to be married on the summer solstice. If he hadn't started courting you, father would have chosen a wife for him. Father is supposed to tell him today while they hunt." I knew Mikael had wanted Kol to be married soon. I just hadn't thought that soon.

I really honestly didn't want to go back to 2013. My life there is filled with nothing but danger, drama, and death. Here, I was actually happy. I didn't want to go back to the place where I had murdered Kol. And if that meant doing things I wasn't accustomed to then I would adjust. As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans.