Author's Note

Well… this has been a long time coming. I'm really happy with this story and I hope you all enjoy it as well. Happy Fourth of July! I hope you all have a wonderful day and I wish you all the best!

Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy!

-Page Break-

Isabella turned to Kol, she removed all the sadness from her face, covering it the best she could. The last thing she wanted was for Kol to see her like this. "Maybe it's time we call it an end."

Kol reared back her words. "Excuse me, darling?"

"I don't believe I stuttered," Isabella replied as she moved around her room she shared with Kol. "You and I have been together for centuries. We were human when you began to court me, maybe it's time for us to end our relationship. I know you far better than anyone else on the planet, Kol. I know you feel like a caged animal and you're just waiting for a chance to get out. I'm giving you that chance. I don't like this Kol, I don't like seeing you miserable with your life. I'm offering you a chance to leave, a chance to end our relationship and to start a new adventure on your own."

Isabella stepped forward and caressed Kol's cheek. "I will always love you, but I can see it in your eyes. You do not love me like you did before. You've grown tired of what we have, you've grown tired of me. You want to experience new things, experience something different from what you and I share. You want someone different and new. All I ever want for you is happiness, and as much as it hurts, you deserve to be happy even if it means not being with me. "

"I should've known you'd see right through me, my dear, Elle." Kol said as he took Bella's hand from his cheek and kissed the back of it. "I have grown tired of you and me, and you're right I do want something different. I do not wish to lose your friendship."

Isabella smiled at Kol. "Silly Kol," she said with a smile. "I will always be here for you, but its best that for now we get some time apart. I'll leave, I've been wanting to go back to the states for some time."

"Elle." Kol paused before she could leave. "Will you be okay?"

Isabella smiled, "I'll be okay as long your happy." Isabella kissed his cheek. "I prepared for this, I leave in a few minutes."

Kol chuckled, "You always are prepared."

"It's a habit," Isabella replied she grabbed her coat wrapping it around her shoulders. "We'll see each other again, Kol. It's only a matter of time."

Kol watched as she disappeared. He fell back onto his bed for a moment. Had he made the right choice? Of course he had gotten bored with his eternity, but his Elle was his eternity. He paused as he caught his thoughts. She wasn't his Elle any more. Kol felt the tightening in his chest as she disappeared further away. He glanced down at his hand as his wedding ring was still there. Perfectly glistening under the light of the room. Maybe this was for the best, he could get his impulsiveness out and return to his Elle.

Isabella rested her head in her hands as the pain finally reached her. She could only hold it back for so long. She loved Kol more than she loved anyone or anything else. It hurt her more than anything to know the one person she loved had grown tired of her. She knew this was the right thing to do, she couldn't continue to hold onto Kol if he no longer loved her. It was wrong for her to do so, as much as it hurt to think, maybe she just wasn't the one for him.

-Page Break-

Isabella reached Mystic Falls just as Katerina had. She had made a deal with the vampire, they stay out of each other's way and there wouldn't be a problem. Isabella glared at Katerina as she entered the Salvatore house. Isabella had become protective of Damon easily seeing how vulnerable the brother was. She took him under her wing, not keeping anything from him about who and what she was, she also made sure to include how manipulative Katerina could be.

"Isa," Damon said catching Bella's attention. "Let's head to the library to chat." Damon took Bella's hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. "Are you alright?" He asked as they walked towards the library.

"I'm fine, Damon. Thank you for caring, I simply dislike Katherine. Whatever she plans to do with your brother doesn't seem right by me." Bella replied she smiled at Damon. "Have you given any thought to my proposal?"

"I have," Damon replied he smirked at her questioning gaze. "If I were to agree, what would that mean?"

"It means you get all the perks of being a vampire. I can teach you how to do everything, and it adjusting to vampire life won't be hard with my teachings." Bella said, "I can give you eternal life Damon, a life so far beyond your wildest dreams."

"Why? I don't mean to question your intentions, I am merely curious as to why you're offering me this." Damon said, he opened the door for Bella and led her to a chair. He offered her a drink only to be turned down.

"I enjoy your company Damon, and as of recent, I've lost someone very important to me. I could use a good friend," Bella replied, "When you've lived as long as I have, you will understand that people change, and situations change. I've lost a good friendship, and I could use the company of a good man, Mr. Salvatore. I could use a friend, and I know you could use one as well. You're too good to live for just a few decades, you deserve to live for eternity."

Damon glanced at Bella, "Than I accept your offer."

Bella stood and smiled, "I'm so glad to hear you say that Damon!"

-Page Break-

Bella held Damon's hand as they both watched Stefan foolishly sacrifice his life for Katherine. "I'm sorry Damon, but if we don't leave now we will have to deal with these people. You're not old enough for that sort of fight, and I don't think killing off an entire town will be a wise decision."

Damon nodded, "Let's go then." He said as he looked at his brother's now lifeless body that lay on the floor.

Bella led Damon away, she had turned him less than a month ago, but she could tell he was taking the death of his brother hard. "Embrace the hurt Damon, it only makes you stronger." Bella whispered as she led Damon away. They ran back to her home, and gathered their things setting them in the back of her carriage. They got in and Bella reached over, and took Damon's hand in hers.

"I understand that it may be hard for you. I lost all my family as well, and it is something hard to go through. Just understand that I will be here for you if you need anything. If you wish to speak about what happened, come to me." Bella advised, she squeezed Damon's hand and as she was about to pull away his hold tightened. She smiled and relaxed against him she laid her head on his shoulder knowing for now he just needed to be close to someone.

"Tell me more about your family," Damon said as minutes passed in the silence. "You never mention them."

"I was born the youngest to a family of witches," Bella replied, "I was by far more powerful than my mother and my sister, so I was kept hidden from the outside world. My mother was beautiful, she had the most beautiful hair, and my father was a proud man. He was strong and all he ever wished to do with my family was to take care of them. My sister was a troubled girl. She was very carefree, and at the time, a lady could not act in such a manner. My sister soon became with child, and the father wanted nothing to do with the child or my sister, Tatia. My father was embarrassed and he felt my sister had disgraced our family, so he sent her off to live with my aunts in another town during her time with child. When she came back, her stomach was back to its original size and it seemed like nothing had ever happened. Though, it was hard for my sister to understand from her mistakes, and as soon as she returned to the village, she continued to romance the men in the town. In the end, my mother and father gave me away and my sister was killed."

"Where you ever married?" Damon asked, "I've seen you with a ring on your hand that looks very much like one of marriage."

Bella looked down at her hand, she had moved her wedding ring from one had to another. "I was married."

"What happened? What changed?" Damon asked.

"We married when we were human. He and I, we met one day in town by accident. I was out gathering something for my magic and he was doing the same for his mother. We accidently ran into each other, and he being the gentleman that he is helped me gathered my fallen supplies. He then walked me home after it had gotten dark. He came from a very wealthy family, so when he asked to court me, my parents were only too happy to agree. After a month of courting, he asked for my hand in marriage. His father and my father came to agreement, and Kol and I wed that winter. He was the first of his family to wed, and so his mother and father built us a home beside their own." Bella said she toyed with the ring.

"Eventually, we turned into vampires and there were problems within the family, so we ran. Kol and I, we stayed with his siblings at times, but we enjoyed being just the two of us together. We were each other's greatest friends, and best supporters. I know Kol better than anyone, so years ago, I saw the change in him. We had been together for centuries, and I knew he was beginning to feel bored. He had this look in his eyes that made him seem like a caged animal. He had grown tired of what the two of us had. He wanted something different, something new. Eventually, we came to an agreement, our romantic relationship was to come to an end. I left and came back to the states, it was on a whim I decided to visit my homeland. I was surprised to see Katerina here." Bella said knowing her descendant was a very manipulative girl.

"You just let each other go?" Damon asked, "How could you have done that so easily?"

"It wasn't with ease, Damon." Bella admitted. "I love him, I never grew tired of him, and it is a pain in my chest every day. But time begins to heal all wounds, and I would do anything to make Kol happy. The truth of it is, he wasn't happy with me anymore. I was no longer the thing that made him happy. It hurt to my very core to leave Kol, to know he was most likely going to be with other women, but to me it meant that he was happy. And as of right now, I'm happy as well, so breaking apart seemed to be a good decision for the both of us."

"Did you only become friends with me because I remind you of him?" Damon asked out of curiosity.

Bella laughed lightly. "Of course not, Damon. I became friends with you, because I saw a part of myself in you. You reminded me of what it feels like to be human, what if feels like to have a friend, someone I can trust. You're loyal Damon, and strong, you're the perfect friend."

Damon nodded, he leaned back as the carriage continued to go. "Where do we go now?" Damon asked.

"Wherever you wish to go." Bella replied with a smile. "The world is open, we can go anywhere."

-Page Break-

Bella moved quickly and pulled the vampire off of Stefan. She moved quicker than the other vampire could see and plunged her hand and into his chest and ripped out his heart, throwing it on the ground with disgust. She looked at Stefan and shook her head. "My lord..." She said as she carefully stepped forward, "I can't believe she changed you and just left you to survive on your own."

"Miss Isabella?" Stefan said his voice broken as he spoke to Bella the only familiar face he had seen in sometime.

"Just Bella, Stefan." Bella said, she shook her head as she looked at Stefan sad to see him in the state that he was in. She had left Damon as he had insisted to go fight in the war. He wrote her letters constantly, to tell her of his adventures. Bella held her hand out to Stefan. "Come. Let me take you back to my home. I'll helped you get cleaned up."

"You're a vampire as well?" Stefan asked as he took Bella's hand. Bella noticed the way he acted as if he were a lost child.

"One of the firsts," Bella replied with a smile. "Damon will be so glad to know you're one of us."

"Damon's a vampire as well?" Stefan asked, his voice hopeful at the chance of seeing his brother again.

"Of course he is," Bella said as she led Stefan back to her home careful not to be spotted by any of the town's people. "He's a few days older than you are. We thought you were dead, we had no idea Katherine had given you her blood."

"She said she'd wait for me," Stefan said his voice taking on a sadder tone.

"Its okay, Stefan. You're with me now, I'll teach you how to do things correctly being a vampire is hard, and with your emotional turmoil, it must be worst. I'll help you Stefan, I'll show you it's not hard to be a vampire." Bella said as she led Stefan inside her home. "We'll have to get you some clothes and maybe some other things soon. For now, you can use some of Damon's clothing."

"Damon where is he?" Stefan asked becoming eager to see his brother again relief flooding him as he knew his brother wasn't dead after all.

Bella smiled, "Your brother decided to go back into the war and fight. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how idiotically stubborn your brother can be. He writes weekly, in my next letter to him, I'll tell him I found you and that you're alive, well as alive as you can be for a vampire. He'll be happy to know you're okay. He mourned for you Stefan, and you have no idea how much he misses you."

Bella led Stefan to the spare bedroom, "There's a shower through there, get cleaned up. I'll have the maid bring you up some clothes. Meet me down stairs when you're done."

Stefan nodded and headed into the room. Bella handed the clothes to the maid and headed back down the stairs. Her mind slipped to Kol for a moment and she took in a deep breath. She missed him incredibly, but she wasn't ready to see him. She wasn't ready to know that she wasn't his anymore. She didn't want to find him and see women on his arm, the thought alone hurt more than she could imagine.

Bella snapped her head towards the entrance of the living room as she saw Stefan there all cleaned up. "Take a seat Stefan." She said gesturing to the chair ahead of her. "Who was that vampire that was seconds away from killing you?"

"I don't know, I think I killed one of his preys and he wanted some sort of revenge." Stefan said he looked at Bella, "Does the thirst ever go away?"

"How often do you feed, Stefan?" Bella questioned as she knew by now his thirst shouldn't be taking so much control over him.

"A few times every day," Stefan replied, "I want to get the thirst to go down."

Bella shook her head, "You're only making it worst. You're feeding too much, your body is becoming rapidly addicted to the blood. You're going to need to cut back on the blood. A vampire needs blood, but not as much as you're consuming. You'll feed when I feed, the first few days will be rough, but you'll get used to it rather quickly."

"Why are you being so kind to me?" Stefan asked.

"I like you Stefan, had you not been so deep in Katherine's claws, we would've become friends sooner." Bella replied with a smile. "Don't mistake my kindness as something manipulative. I'm just trying to be kind, I can tell you're broken hearted, we're in the same boat."

Stefan smiled and nodded his head. "I guess it's obvious?"

"People with broken hearts can sense those who are suffering in the same way," Bella responded. "I don't like Katherine too much, but I do know that she did love you. It was manipulative, and cruel the way she left you, but know that for the time you were with her, she did love you."

"Not enough to stay with me," Stefan said.

"Katherine isn't the type of vampire to make bonds and stay in a single place, she's the type to use a person for her own safety. She's selfish and wouldn't sacrifice herself for another person. I know it hurts to hear it, but you're better off without her."

"It does hurt," Stefan agreed, "But it helps."

Bella smiled, "It hurts less with time, I promise."

"I hope so," Stefan replied.

-Page Break-

Bella smiled as she saw the carriage pull up to the front of the house. She took the hand Stefan offered, and let him lead her down the steps. It had been months since she found him, and she finally understood why Katerina was so in love with him. Stefan was quiet, intelligent and a pleasant person to be around. Bella removed her arm from Stefan's elbow. "You go first." She whispered as she stopped walking and gestured for Stefan to continue to walk.

Bella watched with a wide smile as the brothers hugged each other, each of them happy to see the other was alive and well. It was a beautiful sight to see two siblings come together. She titled her head at them and smiled as they talked animatedly with each other. She turned around ready to head back up the porch to give the boys some privacy. As she made it up the step she laughed as Damon picked her up twirling her in a circle. "Damon!" Bella pleaded with a smile. "Put me down!"

"As you wish," Damon said setting her down he smiled at Bella. "I've missed you greatly, Isabella."

Bella smiled, "I missed you as well. Why don't the three of us go inside and sit down and talk. The maid will get your bags, Damon." Bella smiled as both men took her hands and placed them in the crooks of their elbows leading her inside. "What gentlemen." She teased as they headed inside. Of course she missed Kol, but when she had her boys at her side, being without him didn't hurt as much. Each brother different in their own right and each holding a special place in her heart. At this moment they were the only true people she had left in her life, and that was not something she didn't take lightly. These were her boys, the two people she considered family, and she was glad they thought of her as family as well.

Bella smiled as Stefan and Damon laughed together, she sat drinking a cup of tea watching them joke around and reading her book. She smiled as Stefan moved the center piece to her table. He and Damon settled across from each other, as they were going to prepare to arm wrestle to see who was the strongest. "Now, boys, don't you dare break my table!" Bella warned as she glanced up at them.

Damon chuckled, "We make no promises."

"We'll be careful," Stefan promised with a smirk as he and Damon prepared themselves.

Bella saw Damon falter and knew he had given Stefan the win. She laughed with Stefan as he began to pick fun at Damon. Damon leaned back in his chair and let his brother have his fun. "Don't get too cocky, Stefan, it didn't really mean anything."

"It didn't mean anything because you lost," Stefan replied with a smirk. "Want to go again?"

Damon smirked, "Of course, I want to knock you off that high horse of yours."

-Page Break-

Bella felt tears roll down her cheeks as Damon left once again to fight in the war, this time Stefan at his side. She laughed lightly as Stefan ran up to her and wiped the tears off her cheek. "I know we haven't been friends for too long, Izzy, but you're a sister to me and Damon. Maybe not by blood, but by how it really counts. We'll come back to you, we're still your boys."

Damon walked up and looked at Bella. "We won't forget you, you're as much a Salvatore as we are." Damon looked to Stefan and they both nodded to each other. "We know you've been wanting a real last name, and we wanted you to know, we'd be honored if you took the Salvatore name. If you really became one of us."

"This way, you'll really be free from that former husband of yours," Stefan said.

Bella's eyes widened, "You want me to become a Salvatore?"

"You're already a Salvatore, it's up to you to make it official." Damon said with a smirk knowing Bella wasn't going to say no.

"You don't have to answer now, but know the offer stands, always." Stefan kissed Bella's cheek. "We'll come back soon. And we'll write as much as we can."

Damon kissed her cheek as well. "You're one of us now, and there's no getting rid of us now."

Bella laughed, "Just come back with all limbs attached." She ordered, she laughed as she pushed both boys towards the carriage. "If I don't get letters, I will come after you, do you understand?"

"Yes mam" both Stefan and Damon said as they saluted Bella. They said their goodbyes and got ready to leave for the war.

Bella sighed as she walked by herself back into the room. She wiped her eyes as she was alone again.

-Page Break-

Klaus walked into town, needed to gather drinks for when he awakened the rest of his siblings. He had been surprised when he first came into this town to find that the two vampires that lived here weren't a problem to him. If anything they were more than helpful in capturing the doppelganger. He found it odd at first when they had willingly turned over Elena to him. He was even more surprised when they left a daggered Elijah on his doorstep claiming to want no trouble, and that the older brother had come to them to make a deal.

What surprised him the most of all, was how well they thought for vampires. They were rational and strong, something that reminded him of the sister he once had, the one he hadn't seen in decades, ever since his brother made the foolish mistake of letting her go. The Salvatore's were wise, and both had an attitude that made them tolerable to be around. Eventually it led to a sort of friendship between Klaus and the two brothers. .

Klaus entered the Grill and looked around, he spotted Damon at the bar and smirked. "I thought you weren't a day drinker." Klaus remarked as he stepped up beside Damon.

Damon smirked, "Only when there's something to celebrate."

"And what exactly is there to celebrate in this miserable little town. The only things these human do is partake in all the useless parades, festivals and that nonsense." Klaus said.

"Stefan and I's adopted sister is in town. We haven't seen her in some time, it's something for the both of us to celebrate. This is the first time in some years that the three of us have been together in this town." Damon replied. "Stefan should be here with her any minute."

Klaus looked curious, "I wasn't aware there was a third Salvatore."

"Well, she's not a Salvatore by blood she's the one that mentored Stefan and I when it came to vampire life. She's family." Damon said with a shrug, knowing very well that Klaus would recognize their Bella when she walked through the door. Damon gestured to the door as he heard her and Stefan coming closer. "There they are now, I believe you might know her actually."

Klaus followed Damon's line of sight and his eyes widened as he saw Isabella walk in. He walked behind Damon as they met Stefan and Bella at the door.

"Damon!" Bella said with glee as she hugged Damon. She stepped back and looked to Klaus, "Nik! I haven't seen you in so long!" She moved forward and embraced him in a hug as well happy to see the only one of Kol's siblings to ever truly accept her.

Klaus returned the gesture surprised to see Bella again, especially holding the company she had. To say he was sad when Kol admitted what had happened was an understatement. Bella had been a sister to him since the day she took the Mikaelson name. She was the only one who understood what it was like to lose Tatia, the only one who comforted him when it happened. "How have you been, sweet Bella."

"Just fine," Bella replied as she stepped back and looked to Klaus. "Why don't you come have a drink with us?" Bella led Klaus to a table and grinned as Damon set down a glass for them.

"Come on, Stef, let's go play some pool." Damon said beginning to lead his brother away.

Bella rolled her eyes, "Your subtlety is lacking, Damon."

Damon shrugged his shoulders as he left with Stefan. Bella poured herself a glass and did the same for Klaus. She looked around. "I assume you have some questions?"

Klaus chuckled, "Only a few." He joked as he grabbed the bottle that had been set on the table. "The first, concerning those two." He said gesturing to Damon and Stefan.

"We met not that long ago," Bella admitted. "It was right after Kol and me…" Bella trailed off, "I got to Damon before Katerina had him under her trance. Stefan on the other hand, I became close to after his turn. I helped them both, and they gave me a family in return."

"You have a family." Klaus argued.

Bella smiled, "I know, and don't think I didn't think of coming to find you, but I didn't want to face Kol yet. It was hard to know that he was with other women, I wasn't ready to really see it. By the time I was ready for it, I couldn't track you down. Than Stefan and Damon moved here, and they told me about Elena. I knew you'd arrive eventually, so I asked them to do whatever it takes to help you."

Klaus chuckled, "That would explain a few things about them. Speaking of my brother, I was under the impression you agreed to the separation."

Bella nodded, "I did." She admitted. "Kol grew tired of me, and I knew that he wouldn't leave me unless I made the first move. I love Kol, I will always love Kol, but he moved on. I'm attempting to do the same. With the help of those two, I've grown. I took the Salvatore name, I just needed to separate myself from Kol." Bella leaned forward to face Klaus. "You know as well as I do that all I've ever known is Kol. Being away from him, it hurts every day, but I'm independent now. I'm my own person, I have a family again." Bella smiled and reached forward and took Klaus's hand. "You've always been an older brother to me, but you know as well as I do that the rest of Kol's siblings never truly saw me as part of the family. Damon and Stefan they're brother's to me. That's why I changed Damon and helped Stefan, they helped me as much as I helped them."

Klaus smiled, a true smile as he saw the look on Bella's face. "I can see the change in you." He admitted. "It's a good look for you, sweet Bella." Klaus looked at the time. "I have to get going." He said, he reached over and wrote a few numbers on a piece of napkin. "For when you choose to talk again."

Bella smiled and took the napkin. "I'll call." She promised. She watched Klaus leave and then turned back to her boys.

"I call winner!" She challenge as she walked up to the table.

"That'll be me," Damon said as he sunk the last ball. He proudly smirked at Stefan. "Sorry lil bro, looks like you lose, again."

Bella smiled and took the stick from Stefan. "So, what happened to Elena?" She questioned the youngest Salvatore.

"Oh, Klaus has her compelled to do whatever he asks of her. The only thing so far that he's asked for is that she give him a few blood bags every month for his hybrids. He doesn't have many hybrids running loose in town though. From what we know they usually just stick to towns nearby or in the woods." Stefan replied.

"How did she survive again?" Bella asked as she watched Damon rack the balls she was curious as to what the doppelganger had done to stay alive.

"Her father gave his life for her," Stefan replied, "She's a lot nicer than Katherine is. Speaking of, she made an appearance not that long ago."

"Got close to staking her, but in the end, we handed her over to Klaus. We figured, best punishment was to have her be tortured by the person she feared the most." Damon replied. He looked to Bella and smirked. "Ready to lose, Izzy?"

"Damon, understand that when I set my mind to something, I always win." Bella replied she looked to Stefan. "I bet you it won't take more than a few minutes."

"Take him down a peg, Izzy." Stefan said as he smirked at Damon knowing if there was anyone who could beat Damon it was her.

Bella smiled, "With great pleasure."

-Page Break-

Bella walked to the door rubbing her eyes as both Stefan and Damon refused to get up to answer the door. She answered the door and was startled to see Klaus there. "Something wrong, Nik?"

"Not at all, Bella." Klaus said with a smirk. "I know its short notice, but I'm throwing a ball this evening. It's to prove to the mayor I can be civil. I thought you and the two Salvatore's would like to attend."

Bella smiled and took the invitation. "I'd love to attend. It's been so long since I attended a proper ball. They went out of style far too early." She looked at Klaus and grinned. "The three of us would love to attend."

"I'll see you there, Bella." Klaus said, "Don't forget to bring your dates."

Bella laughed, "They're hard to forget. I'll see you tonight, Nik."

Klaus nodded, he probably should've mentioned to either Kol or Bella that the other was going to be there, but he thought the surprise was better than anything else.

Bella closed the door holding the invitation in hand. She wondered if she had any dresses still tucked away up stairs. She looked at the time, she still had plenty of time to drop by a store to get one. "STEFAN!" She shouted, "I NEED A DRESS! COME WITH ME TO BUY ONE!" Bella paused before an answer was given. "PLEASE!"

Stefan groaned from the top of the stairs. "Why do you need a dress?"

"There's a ball, and the three of us are invited. I haven't been to a ball in so long, I want to do this right. Say you'll go with me, the both of you? Please?!" Bella said.

"We'll go." Damon shouted from his room. "I'll gather the suits, you and Stefanie can go get your dress. Just let me sleep!"

Bella smiled, "We leave in ten minutes, Stefan!" Bella said with a grin.

-Page Break-

Bella twirled around in her dress. It was tight at the top, but loosened at the bottom. She twirled once more as she enjoyed being in a ruffled gown. "I miss these dresses sometimes." She said as she heard Damon coming down the dress. His black suit matched her navy dress as did Stefan's matching suit.

Damon smiled, "You look beautiful."

"You look quite dashing yourself," Bella said as she stepped forward fixing Damon's bow tie. She turned to Stefan as he too came down the stairs. She looked at him and smiled. The one difference between their suits was that Stefan was wearing a tie. "You look handsome, Stefan."

"And you look gorgeous Izzy." Stefan said, he took her hand and twirled her around knowing she loved the sound of it. "You ready to go, Izzy?"

"Of course I am!" Bella exclaimed, "Let's get going!"

Bella stood outside of the Klaus's home, she walked up the steps with Damon and Stefan. She paused as she could feel a nervous pain in her chest. She smiled as Stefan and Damon both stood at different sides of her. They each took a hand and placed it in the crook of their elbow. She smiled as the memory of so many decades ago flooded her mind. "This brings back memories."

"Good ones I hope," Damon said.

"Only good ones." Bella replied with a smile as the three of them walked in sync into the Mikaelson home. The doors to the house opened and they entered together. Bella smiled at the music, "How I miss attending balls."

Damon smiled, "I'll go get you a drink." Damon stated.

Stefan and Bella nodded and they both moved to talk to the other guests. Bella and Stefan headed towards the corner of the room as they spotted the Mayor.

Kol moved to stand at the top of the steps beside Klaus and Rebekah. "What are you two staring at?" He asked as he saw his two siblings zeroed in on one spot of the room. He followed their line of sight and froze as he saw his Elle. A smile twitched at his lips as he saw her laugh. He frowned though as he saw her hand was rested on the crook of another man's elbow, and by the way she stood next to him, he could tell they were close. "Who the bloody hell, is that with my Elle?" He growled.

"His name is Stefan," Klaus said with a smirk, hiding the fact that their relationship was not romantic. "She lives with him in town at the Salvatore mansion."

Rebekah looked at Bella, "I don't understand why you're angry, brother I thought you both mutually ended your relationship."

Kol turned and glared at his sister, "For the sake of not causing a scene in front of these humans, shut your trap sister, because if you say another word I'll rip your throat out."

Kol's eyes went back to his Elle, he turned to his brother. "She's a Mikaelson, she should be living here."

"She's not a Mikaelson. She's a Salvatore now." Klaus said patting his brother on the back. "She let go of the Mikaelson name not that long ago and took the Salvatore name." Klaus left before his brother could ask any more questions. He wanted his brother to realize the mistake he had made by letting Bella go, but most of all he wanted the two of them to realize they were the first pair of mates in the vampire species.

Bella's eyes widened as she caught sight of Kol and the rest of the Mikaelson siblings on the stairs. She met his gaze and took in a deep breath not catching a word Elijah had said. She tore her eyes away from Kol as Stefan whispered down to her.

"Izzy, it's a waltz, would you like to dance?" Stefan said, he stepped away and offered up his hand.

Bella grinned, Damon was good at many things, but dancing was always something Stefan won at. She stuck her hand in his. "Why of course, lead the way."

Bella smiled as the dance started and she began to move effortlessly with Stefan. "Why don't we do this more often?" She questioned as they glided across the dance floor.

"Because we don't get the opportunity to waltz anymore." Stefan replied he smiled at Bella. "If you wish, we can convert Damon's room into our personal dancing room."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Stefan." Bella teased. "If you're serious, we can begin reconstruction tomorrow."

Stefan laughed, "We'd have Damon to deal with."

"We can handle him." Bella said she smiled as Stefan twirled her and she was with a new partner. Only this time she gasped back slightly as she was in the familiar arms of Kol. "Kol." She stated as she met his eyes.

"You look lovely, darling," Kol said smirking as he picked up on her startled heart rate. "Did you think you could go all evening without speaking to me?"

Bella smiled. "Of course not," She answered truthfully. "I didn't know you were going to be here, Nik didn't specify that part when he gave me the invitation this morning."

"Would have come if you knew ahead of time?" Kol asked as his arm wrapped around her waist more tightly bringing her in impossibly closer.

"I'm not avoiding you, Kol." Bella responded. "I would've attended if I knew you were going to be here. I have no reason to hide away from you."

"Of course not," Kol replied bitterly as he thought back to the Salvatore with his hands on her. "I see you brought a date."

"His name is Stefan," Bella replied with a smile. She frowned at Kol's frown. "Is something wrong, Kol? You look like you're about to murder a town. You usually don't get this upset unless you're provoked. Did one of your siblings do something?"

Kol smirked as he saw Bella's worried face. This was something he had missed. No one cared for him like she did. There was no one who knew his moods better than Elle. "No, darling Elle, there's nothing wrong."

Bella smiled, "Don't kill the town's people." Bella said with a grin. "It'd be a shame if this town were to go to ashes."

"I make no promises I can't keep," Kol replied as he twirled Bella around enjoying the small laugh he got from her as he did so. He pulled her back to him as the dance was coming to an end, he enjoyed the last few moments of their closeness before the song ended and she stepped back from him.

"Thank you for the dance, Kol." Bella said she stepped forward and kissed Kol on the cheek lingering longer than she should have. "It was good to see you again, but I should return to my date." She smiled at Kol before she walked back over to Stefan.

Bella looked at Stefan and shook her head signaling she wasn't ready to speak about it. "Where's your brother?"

"Talking up Rebekah," Stefan whispered to Bella a smirk on his face. "He's messing with the wrong girl."

"But he can only learn from his mistakes." Bella replied she glanced at Kol and shook her head as he was flirting with a teenage girl. "How much longer until we can politely leave."

"You don't have to stay," Klaus said, "You danced and mingled, I'd say your duties for the night are taken care of."

Bella smiled at Klaus. "You look dashing." She complimented.

Klaus smirked, "I always look dashing, Bella. You yourself look gorgeous, I'd say you've given my brother regrets."

"Please tell me this isn't an attempt to get Kol and I back together." Bella whispered so no one would hear but Klaus and Stefan.

"He misses you, he knows he made a mistake. He needs a push in that direction." Klaus said.

Bella shook her head. "You seem to only think of what your brother wants." Bella replied, she took Stefan's hand. "We'll be leaving, Nik."

Stefan and Bella walked out. "We're just leaving Damon?"

Bella nodded, "I can't sit in a car I want to run." Bella stepped out of her heels, and blurred off. Stefan followed after he sent Damon a message.

Stefan arrived back at the home to see Bella pacing in her room. "So what happened?" Stefan questioned as he walked closer.

"Kol is the one for me," Bella said, "He's always been the one. I'm just… I thought I was okay. I really did. I thought he and I could just be friends, but I can't do it. I can't live with the hope that he comes to the conclusion that I'm the one for him. And if he does come to that conclusion, I can't be with him knowing that a hundred years from now he'll get bored with me again."

Bella looked to Stefan with tears in her eyes. "I want someone who will love me forever, and when I say forever I mean forever. I don't want someone who gets tired of me. Tonight, I saw him and everything became brighter and more vivid, like I had just seen the world for the first time. It was beautiful, but I can't do it. I can't get my hopes up that we'll be together again only for him to change his mind."

Bella wiped the tears from her eyes. "His mom hates me, his siblings barely like me, I'm just not the one for him. I'm not enough."

Stefan stepped closer and wrapped Bella in his arms letting her cry into his chest. He shook his head as he could feel her heart breaking. He could practically hear it shattering to pieces. "That was his mother? The older woman there?"

"Yes, that was Esther, and by the looks of it, she didn't seem too pleased to have me there." Bella responded, she stepped back. "I'm going to change into my pajamas and drink until I go to sleep."

Stefan smiled, "I'll join you no one should drink alone."

Bella chuckled, and nodded. "Thank you, Stefan."

Rebekah walked through the house trying to find Damon's room again. She had gone into the kitchen to get them a bottle of wine to drink. She pushed a door open hoping it was Damon's room. She looked upon the bed as Stefan lay on the bed, Bella curled to his side with her head on his chest. She closed the door with a smirk as she could later use this against her brother. She continued through the rooms until she finally found Damon's.

-Page Break-

Kol smirked as Rebekah entered the room. "There's our girl." Kol said standing to block his sister from entering. "Out all night! What a scandal!"

Rebekah smirked, "I was out all night I was with the eldest Salvatore." She saw Kol's face twitch. "Do you know what I saw? I saw Bella curled up with Stefan, and how they looked cozy. It was quite adorable to be honest. And this morning as I was coming home, I ran into her again. She was in the living room, sitting so closely to Stefan, I doubt a hair could get between them. She offered me some clothing so I didn't have to head home in my dress. And I asked her about Stefan, and you should've just seen how she talked about him. It's clearly love."

Kol growled and grabbed his sister by the throat. "Don't you dare say another word, sister."

Klaus stood immediately and pulled Kol away from Rebekah before Kol got too angry. "Let's head out to get a drink." Klaus pushed his brother towards the door before turning back to Rebekah with a glare.

Klaus led Kol into the Grill knowing very well there was a chance Bella would at some point in the day end up there. "She's not married to Stefan." Klaus said to his brother.

"I don't care." Kol replied downing another drink. He signaled the bartender to pour him another. "I came here for the drinks not to speak." Kol growled as the two Salvatore's entered. "I'm leaving."

Kol growled louder as Damon pushed him back. "You're not going anywhere."

Klaus put an arm on his brother's shoulder to hold him back. "I suggest you tread carefully here." Klaus said looking at Damon.

Stefan's eyes went dark. "We want to know where Bella is, we're not going to play these games."

"Why would we know where Bella is?" Klaus asked.

"Because it was your brother that kidnapped her and then demanded we fix your problems for you." Damon replied with a growl. "Here's the thing, we get it, you're the first of our kind, but we will figure out how to kill you. There are a lot of vampires out there that would do anything for our Izzy. We'll build an army if that's what it takes to get our Izzy back, and if we have to dig up white oak stakes we will."

"We don't want to get involved in your family business," Stefan said, "We just want our sister back. Your brother took her and threatened to kill her if we didn't stop your mother. We know you two know where she is, we want Isabella back."

Kol's eyes turned dark as he looked at the two Salvatore's. "You're lying." Kol claimed his brother wouldn't be so stupid.

Stefan pulled out his phone, and pressed play instantly the sound of Bella's screams could be heard. Kol took the phone and saw his Elle being tortured by a witch. The video cut off just as Bella screamed again. Kol cracked the phone in his grip, he snarled before throwing it onto the floor and blurring away.

"Great, now we have more problems to deal with." Klaus said, he looked to the two Salvatore's. "My brother and Isabella might've taken a break from each other, but they are mates. You just unleashed a very primal Kol. We'll be lucky if any of the town's people survive until morning. Follow me, my brother will find Isabella, we need to get to Elijah."

"No. we don't care about your family, we only care about Bella." Stefan said.

"That's great, but if I know my mother, and I think I do, she's probably come up with a plan to kill myself and my siblings. If Kol dies, Bella will follow, if you wish to keep your sister alive, I suggest you help me keep my siblings alive as well." Klaus said he nodded to the Salvatore's and watched as they followed after him.

He knew exactly where his mother would be, and walked with the Salvatore's there. "I will stall my mother, try and find anything you can to stop her before she does anything stupid. I'll deal with my family." Klaus watched the two Salvatores disappeared he walked up to Elijah and shook his head. "Kol is going to kill you."

"I thought he was over the girl," Elijah responded as he stared down his mother.

"You can't get over your mate, Elijah." Klaus said, he smirked. "He's going to get his revenge, and when it happens, I'm going to prevent Rebekah from stepping in, so you get exactly what you deserve. Bella had no part of this." Klaus turned to his mother and Finn rolling his eyes at his eldest brother always had to be the sacrificial lamb.

Kol ran following the primal pulling in his chest. He thought that connection to his Elle had disappeared, but tonight it was as strong than ever. He reached the catacombs and heard Bella's screaming. He snarled as he heard her shouts of pain. He entered moving quickly he saw his sister standing just feet away from where his Elle was on the ground. Bella's back arched in pain as a witch he had never seen before hurt his Elle. Kol pushed his sister up against the wall his hand at her neck. "What are you doing?" He snarled his eyes ready to kill his sister.

"I thought you would be happy," Rebekah choked out, "After all… she's done."

Kol growled louder. "I will deal with you later." He promised he snapped his sister's neck and moved towards the witch, her powers turned to him, but he was far too lost to feel the effects. He snapped her neck and went to get to his Elle only to be blocked by some sort of shield. He growled as he saw her twitch from the side effects of the magic. He kneeled down, "Come on, Elle. You have to walk towards me. You have to get out, I can't come and get you."

He watched as she tried to stand, but fell back onto her back with a cry of pain. He watched as she crawled towards him. He waited until her hand was out of the protective shield before he pulled her out. He pulled her to his chest and cradled her. He felt her body twitch from the side effects of the magic. "My darling, Elle. What did they do to you?" He kissed her forehead as she began to twitch uncontrollably. He picked her up and began to walk with her.

"My home." She muttered as she didn't want to go to the Mikaelson home.

Kol nodded, "I'll take you anywhere you wish to go, darling." Kol blurred to the Salvatore house after Bella had told him where to find it. He entered and lay Bella down on the couch. She screamed out as her back hit the couch. "What's wrong, Elle?"

"My back." Bella said as she turned over. "Get it out of my back." She lifted her shirt and Bella winced as her shirt hit the stake of white oak that was in her back.

Kol winced as he saw the piece of stake in her back. Broken off at the perfect point so it fit her skin perfectly. "This may hurt." He whispered as he kneeled down to be level with Bella.

Bella nodded, "please, Kol! It already hurts, just get it out."

Kol nodded and reached into the wound taking out the stake. He tossed it to the ground and watched as the wound still didn't heal. "This is going to hurt worst." He warned as he went back into the wound and dug out several small segments of wood that had broken off and got left behind. The wound finally closed and he heard Bella sigh in relief. She buried her head in a pillow. "Do you want me to get you some blood?" Kol questioned.

Bella shook her head, "No." She sat up. "Where are Damon and Stefan?"

"Elijah forced them to help him in exchange for your safety." Kol replied he watched as Bella's eyes lit up with anger.

"He's using them." She said through gritted teeth. She stood heading for the door only to be stopped by Kol. "Let go of me."

"No, you're still weak, I don't know what you think you're going to do." Kol said as his hold tightened on her hand.

"I'm going to go drive a stake through your brother," Bella replied, she got her hand loose from Kol's hand. "He's using my family for his own needs."

Kol sighed, "Yes because your new husband is the most important thing to you, correct?"

Bella froze, "What are you talking about? New husband?" Her eyes widened in realization. "You think I'm married to Stefan?"

"From what Nik told me, that is the assumption I made. Why else would you take his name?" Kol responded with anger.

Bella laughed, "It's none of your business, but I took his name because I wanted a change. I am not romantically involved with either Damon or Stefan." Bella ran her hand through her hair, she tried to remember where she had hidden the white oak stakes. She ignored Kol and headed up to her bedroom. She heard his following footsteps.

"Then why are you so close to him? From what I hear, you were asleep in bed together and incredibly cozy on the couch." Kol replied.

Bella laughed bitterly. "Why does it matter, Kol?" she asked as she entered her room. She headed over to the side of her bed and kneeled down un-taping a stake from the bed and sticking it in her boot making sure to hide it from Kol's sight. "Last I remember, we ended our relationship. What gives you the right to move on, but not me? What allows you to sleep with other women and not allow me to pursue a romantic relationship with someone?"

Kol laughed, "You think I slept with other women?" He asked he shook his head. "I didn't touch another woman, Elle. Did you really think I would ever do that? No one on this planet can live up to you. Not one woman has ever taken my attention away from you. We might've been apart, but I have always been loyal to you. It's more than I can say for you."

Bella scoffed and stood, "Think before you accuse, Kol. The only company I have ever kept is Stefan and Damon, and neither one of them has been more than a brother to me." Bella shook her head and went to walk past Kol. She pushed him back as he stopped her. "Don't do that!"

"Elle," Kol said moving to block her exit. "Stay here, with me. This may very well be the last night I have left, and I would like to spend it with you." He stepped forward and ran his hand through her hair resting his hand on her neck. "I didn't grow tired of you." Kol admitted. "I did want change, but I didn't realize my boredom had nothing to do with you until you left. I was more of a wreck after you left than what I thought I would be. I looked for you, but you were always a master at hiding. I don't want anyone but you, I never have wanted anyone but you. All I really wanted back then was something to do, and I wanted to do it with you. I'm tired of not being with you, Elle."

Bella took a step back. "What if you get tired of me again? I meant what I said Kol, I will always love you, but I won't risk having to see you grow bored of me again."

Kol shook his head, "Did you not hear what I said, darling?" He stepped closer so he was toe to toe with Bella. "I didn't grow tired of you. I could never get tired of you. I grew bored with the life we lived. I grew bored with just killing, and travelling. I wanted more, and I will admit, our separation made me realize that I wanted more with you. If I live past this night, I want to be with you again. Say you'll be with me again, and I promise I will never leave your side again."

Bella took in a breath. She nodded her head. "Never leave my side again." She stated as she moved impossibly closer.

Kol smirked as his hand tangled in Bella's hair, "Never again." He replied he leaned down and attached his lips to hers. He sighed into the kiss as it had been too long since he had felt this at peace. He smiled as her hands went to his neck and brought him closer. If he had to die now, he would be okay with it, because in the end he got his Elle back.

He sighed as Bella pulled back. "Don't tell me you changed your mind so quickly, darling."

Bella shook her head with a smile. "As much as I would like to continue, I meant what I said, I'm going to drive a stake through Elijah's heart. He deserves it."

Kol smirked, "I would've been surprised if you forgot about your revenge." Kol took her hand and kissed it. "Let's go."

Bella smiled as she found Stefan and Damon about to launch at Elijah. She reached into her boot and broke off a piece of a stake. She released Kol's hand and snuck up behind Elijah. She stabbed the wood through his back and made sure it went deep. She stepped back and glared at Elijah as he turned around to glare at her. "You threaten my family again, I'll make sure the next stake goes through your heart." Bella walked forward and gave both Stefan and Damon a hug. "Thank you." She whispered to her boys. She looked to Klaus.

"It's only fair." She said as she looked to Klaus. "He and Rebekah did the same to me. They deserve this and so much more."

Klaus nodded, "I'm glad to see you're okay." He nodded at Kol and disappeared.

Bella turned to Damon and Stefan. "Who did you kill?" Bella asked with a smirk.

"A few witches," Damon replied with a simple shrug.

"It was the only way to stop Esther from getting the power to kill Finn." Stefan said with a smile. "It really wasn't that hard."

Damon looked to Kol and then turned back to Bella. "Right, Stefan and I will be heading out of town for a few days. Call it regaining out strengths. We won't be in the house."

Stefan laughed at his brother's obvious attempt to hint at Bella that they would be out of the house for whatever she and Kol wanted to do. "We'll still be nearby in case you need anything."

Bella smiled, "Way to be subtle you two. I really had hoped I had taught you better than that."

Damon shrugged, "You did, but it's so rare when we get to embarrass you, so we had to take this opportunity." Damon stepped forward and wrapped Bella in a hug. "Call if you need anything. We'll be back in a few days, Isa."

Stefan nodded and pushed his brother out of the way and hugged Bella. "Call every day, we might kill each other if you don't, Izzy."

Bella smiled widely. "I will, now get the hell out of here."

Damon and Stefan both nodded and blurred away. Bella smiled as she felt Kol's arms wrap around her waist. "Come on, let's go back home." Bella said as began to walk.

Kol stopped her and turned her around to face him. He leaned down and kissed her, wrapping one arm around her waist his other hand going into her hair. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers and took in a deep breath.

"I love you, Kol." Bella said as she closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of finally being back in his arms again.

"I will always love you, Elle." Kol said he took in a deep breath and kissed her again softly. This was where he was meant to be.