Get Me Through December

Y/N sighed into her peppermint mocha. Even her coffee had more holiday cheer than she had. She gripped the cup with both hands, trying to steal the warmth it offered.

"You're pouting," Rebekah commented.

Y/N rolled her eyes at her friend. "I'm not pouting."

Rebekah scoffed. "I'm a thousand years old, Y/N. I invented pouting..."

"I believe what my baby sister is trying to say is you look upset," Elijah stepped into the room, looking handsome as ever in his suit.

Y/N shrugged. "Just tired," she said.

"Well drink your coffee and suck up that caffeine because we have to decorate the tree still..." Rebekah said.

Elijah watched Y/N's face, her Y/E/C eyes lacked the spark he had come to admire.

"Actually," Y/N said with a sigh. "I think I'm going to call it a night."

Rebekah looked at her friend, her shoulders dropping as she jutted her bottom lip out. "Y/N," she whined.

"Now who's pouting?" Y/N asked with a raised eyebrow.

The blonde Original rolled her eyes. "Promise me you'll be here tomorrow for our Christmas movie marathon?"

Y/N gave a non-commital shrug. "See you around, Bex." She gave Elijah a sad smile. "Goodnight, Elijah," she said softly before walking out of compound.

Elijah watched her go, his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched as he wondered what had upset her.

*****

"Pass the popcorn," Kol didn't wait for a response, pulling the bowl out of Rebekah's hands. They were huddled on the couch, while Y/N sat on a smaller loveseat. Y/N rolled her eyes at the siblings bickering as Rebekah smacked Kol and swiped the bowl back.

The opening credits to the Grinch started and Y/N sighed. "You know, I think the Grinch had it right..." she muttered to no one in particular.

"You may not want to mention that in front of Niklaus," Elijah said as he entered the room, taking the empty seat next to Y/N.

She turned to look at him, her cheeks immediately turning pink at being so close to him. "Why?" She asked.

"The Grinch is actually based on a very old tale," Kol explained. "A man who hated happiness so much, he went in and massacred a small village on Christmas just for singing too loud..."

Y/N furrowed her brows. "I'm sorry, what?"

Elijah sighed. "Not one of Niklaus' finer moments..."

"I quite enjoy their interpretation. Though the Grinch is much more handsome than Nik," Rebekah laughed. "Other than that, and the lack of blood and gore, it's pretty accurate, wouldn't you agree?"

"Ahh, but my heart never grew three sizes after I massacred the lot..." Klaus stepped into the room, sitting on the arm of the loveseat on Y/N's other side.

Y/N chuckled. "I honestly don't know whether I should laugh or be horrified."

"Trust me," Klaus said. "If you had heard their singing, you would have done the same, love," he said, squeezing her shoulder lightly.

Elijah's jaw tightened and he cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should choose another film for the evening?" He suggested.

"No, it's tradition!" Rebekah shouted, turning the volume up.

Y/N stood and excused herself, saying she was just going to get a drink of water, but neither Klaus or Elijah missed the way her voice had shifted back to disinterest. Klaus followed, and Elijah tried to wait, but found he was unable to relax, and so he followed shortly after.