Before the Sun Sets

Bonus Chapter – Christmas part 5

Cordelia had been late to her mom's house, but she didn't feel too bad about it, especially since Maddie arrived almost an hour after she did. Fifty-two minutes after to be exact. And she couldn't stop blushing when her mom questioned her about why she was so late. Eventually her face gave them all the answer that they needed. Good thing Christian was no where around. When he did join them the four of them opened presents. As usual Janette had gone out for her girls. Maddie and Cordelia were very appreciative of it. Christian had gotten Janette a whole new jewelry set that she loved and Janette had paid for them to go on a cruise the upcoming spring.

After they had gifts, they had a small breakfast together. It was small considering Janette was working on the dinner that they would be having that night. Cordelia and Maddie both departed by two. They promised to be back between six thirty and seven.

Cordelia considering showing up late on purpose, just to piss off her mom, but then ruled against it. She couldn't wait to see her uncle John, aunt Shannon, Chris and Kyle. After they had found out that they were coming, Maddie and Cordelia had both went out and gotten them all Christmas gifts. Once she got back to Klaus' house Cordelia settled in with him and relaxed. He even watched the Grinch with her. They only got through half of it before a kiss turned into something serious. At five she stopped their constant love making to get ready. Klaus, who tried to distract her some more convinced her to let him join her in the shower. She had insisted she needed to take another one after all that they had been doing. Even though they showered together she made sure that it was quick and kept their sexual appetite to a minimum. Meaning she only gave him head before she rushed out of there. He could have easily caught her but he let her go.

Once Klaus came out and spotted her sitting on his bed, a towel around her hair, and another around her body, he smirked at her. She glanced up at him from her phone and shook her head.

"No." Cordelia said strongly.

"I didn't say anything," Klaus said back to her.

"But you're looking at me."

"I can't observe?"

"No you can't because the next thing you know I'll be naked."

"And is that a bad thing?"

She shook her head, "Yes. We can't be late."

"It's already almost five thirty."

"Not my fault," he shrugged.

She just smirked at him before turning back to her phone. Maddie was currently wondering what she would be wearing tonight.

Cordelia – I have no idea. Probably a skirt or a dress.

Maddie – So you're going fancy.

Cordelia – Yes.

Maddie – Hair?

Cordelia – Pin straight! Twin with me and wear the necklace mom got you and I'll wear mine.

For Christmas Janette had gotten the girls personalized monogramed necklaces. They both had gold ones.

Getting to her feet she made her way over to her dresser. Well technically it was Klaus' dresser but the minute she brought her stuff to his home over the summer it became hers. She was infiltrating his home one piece at a time. She quickly plugged in the blower dryer she had there and did her hair. The minute it was done she straightened it to the T. She hadn't cut it in a while, so it was pretty long, at her mid back. After doing her hair she applied some makeup and then turned around. Klaus was right behind her, watching her.

"You're beautiful."

She grinned, "You are sweet." She looked him over. Gone was his towel and here he was in dressed to the nine. He had on a white Henley shirt, jeans and boots. "You look good in white, you should wear it more often."

"You don't like me in black?" He questioned.

"I like it but it's nice to see you in this," she said lightly pulling the end of the shirt. Tilting his head down he stole a quick kiss from her. She opened her mouth in an O shape. "You're so bad."

"I can show you bad if you'd like."

"Tonight," she murmured. "Now I have to go and get dressed."

"Yes," he looked at her body which was being concealed by a towel. "I think that would be in everyone's best interest."

With a smirk on her face, she un did the knot at the top, letting the towel drop to the floor. She knew she was playing a dangerous game but that was what made it fun.

Klaus growled, "Why did you do that?"

"I like to tease you."

Before she could even think her back was pressed against the nearest wall.

"Do you know what happens when you tease?" Klaus questioned.

"What?"

"You-." His face scrunched up. Upon seeing his frown, she frowned as well.

"What's wrong?"

"Bloody hell," he said releasing his grip on her. "Get dressed."

He stormed towards the bedroom door to leave.

"KLAUS!" She yelled. "What's the matter?"

"OH NIKLAUS," a voice yelled.

"That's what's wrong!" Klaus snapped.

Cordelia chuckled. It was just like Kol to make an entrance.

"Almost late," Maddie said to her sister.

Cordelia rolled her eyes as she got out of Klaus' car, "You're one to talk. You just got here too."

"Yeah, but we've been outside for at least five minutes," she said gesturing to herself and Elijah.

Cordelia smirked, "You don't want to really be here anymore than I do. Should we ditch?"

"Mom will kill us. Besides I want to see Kyle and Chris."

"They'd ditch with us."

"You're terrible," Maddie said to her sister with a laugh.

"Can't blame me."

Rebekah, who had arrived at Klaus' house shortly after Kol spoke up, "What's so terrible about being here?"

Maddie and Cordelia turned to her, "You'll see."

"Let's get this over with," Cordelia noted taking the lead and walking to the door. The minute she pushed it open she could smell her moms cooking. She was immediately met by Lucy who came to her feet. She went off to the side and bent down.

"Hi Lucy," she said petting her. "I miss you so much."

"Oh wonderful," Janette said coming into sight. She quickly rushed to give hugs to all of the originals. "I'm so glad that you could all make it, Merry Christmas."

Taking the lead Elijah spoke first, "Thank you for having us Janette. Merry Christmas to you as well."

"It's been so long Klaus, how are you?" Janette asked.

"I'm wonderful, how are you?"

"Good," Janette grinned. "I don't suppose you can keep my daughter in line tonight?"

Cordelia just snorted. Klaus gave Janette his best smile, "I'll try my best."

"That's all I can ask. Ooh, I want you all to meet my mom and her husband George."

Maddie groaned, "If you didn't invite her here it wouldn't be an issue."

"Here I am thinking I'm going to have trouble with Cordelia tonight and it's you."

"Oh," Cordelia cut in, "you will most definitely have trouble from me tonight."

Janette just shook her head, "Is it not enough that you both practically moved out of my house so you wouldn't have to see her and now you can't even be civil for a meal."

"I'll tell you what," Cordelia began, "I'll be civil." She then retracted her statement, "Or at least I will try. No promises about a comment here or there but nothing to bad."

Elijah, Klaus, Kol and Rebekah stood watching the scene. They were used to their own family drama so this was different for them. It was especially interesting to see both girls arguing with their mother. Of course, they had been around to see them be sarcastic with her but right now it was something completely different.

"You will?" Janette said.

Maddie looked at her sister, disbelievingly, "You will?"

"Sure."

"And what's the catch?" Janette questioned. She knew her daughter to well.

"When I leave here tonight, I'm leaving with my dog."

"No."

"Then I won't be civil."

"What else do you want?"

"My fucking dog."

"Watch your mouth?"

"Why, we're all adults."

"So feisty," Kol muttered. She saw him turn to Klaus from the corner of his eye. "You sure you don't want me to take her off of your hands."

While Klaus kept himself together in the moment she was more than sure that Kol would be paying for that comment later.

"You aren't taking Lucy."

"Why not? I don't want your mother tainting her."

Janette looked like she was ready to explode in the moment, especially when Maddie laughed. She turned to her youngest daughter, "This isn't funny!"

"No funny is John's face when he finds out she's here."

Janette opened her mouth but before she could say anything the sound of feet approaching reached everyone's ears. Sure enough, Emma came into the foyer, with George following behind her.

"Is he ever not following behind her like a little bitch?" Cordelia asked her sister.

She didn't bother whispering it because her mom turned to glare at her so fast and someone had to stifle a laugh. She was pretty sure it was Kol but she turned and saw a smirk playing on the edge of Klaus' lips. Oh, those lips. She couldn't wait to kiss them later.

"Cordelia!" Janette snapped.

"Mom!" She snapped back.

Janette turned back to face her mom with a smile on her face. Anyone who paid attention could see that the smile was obviously forced. But as usual Emma was oblivious and stuck in her own world.

"Oh, who are all of these people?" Emma questioned coming to a stop.

"Oh, well this is Elijah, Maddie's boyfriend, this is Klaus and he's Cordelia's boyfriend, and then this is Kol and Rebekah, their siblings."

"Oh, how nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Elijah said being pleasant. He went up and shook Emma and George's hand.

Maddie looked at his back slightly annoyed but she knew deep down he was always polite and proper and this was no exception.

Once he was in his spot Janette spoke, "This is my mother Emma. And this is George," she pointed to him, "her husband."

"You mean her bitch," Cordelia muttered.

She hadn't even realized until that point that Klaus had moved to take a stand by her, "Maybe we should relax a little love," he murmured in her ear.

"Maybe we shouldn't," she commented back, not even bothering to look at him.

"That dog is disgusting." Emma noted. "He refuses to be good for me and Janette, he peed on my floor today."

"She," Cordelia corrected. She then leaned down to pet Lucy who was still by her feet, "You are such a good girl. I promise to give you treats before I leave."

"You should train her better!" Said Emma. "No one likes a disgusting dog."

"You're disgusting." Cordelia snapped back.

"If I were you," Emma began, "I would get rid of her."

"How about we get rid of you?" Cordelia fired back.

"I don't know what is with you but you are so disrespectful. No wonder you're boyfriend, what was his name, Nathan, left you."

There was a moment of silence, but Cordelia didn't let it last. In fact, she recovered quickly, "You would know all about people leaving, isn't George your fourth husband?"

Maddie had to bite back a laugh. In fact, she had to turn around and face the door considering she couldn't stop smirking.

"I'm going to find my dad," Cordelia announced. She was already walking out of the foyer when she turned back to her mother. "By the way mom, you can forget what I said about being civil."

Janette shook her head, "I need a glass of wine."

"I need a shot," Maddie noted.

"You aren't twenty-one yet," Emma said looking at her youngest grandchild.

"Make that two," Maddie noted walking out.

Janette turned back towards the originals who were just watching the scene in front of them, "Drink anyone?"

"Ready to run for the hills yet?"

After leaving the foyer Cordelia went to search for her father. He had been hiding out in the basement. He had put a couch and tv down there and was currently watching football highlights. In the time she had been down there, she had missed the arrival of her aunt, uncle and cousins. From what Maddie told her it had been quite a show seeing them react to Emma. Apparently, Emma had shared her dislike for Shannon before even saying hello but Cordelia expected nothing less. She eventually wandered back upstairs and then dragged Klaus off to her bedroom.

"Not quite. I do have to say though this will be one interesting dinner."

"That's one way you can put it."

The two were currently laying next to one another on Cordelia's bed, staring at the ceiling. She felt bad about not saying much to Chris and Kyle, but they were off trying to convince their parents to stay. Especially since they had traveled all the way there from New Hampshire. She was sure they would have time to catch up later on.

"Did it bother you, what she said about Nathan?" Klaus asked quietly.

Cordelia frowned turned her face towards him, "I didn't appreciate it, not going to lie, but it didn't bother in the way that you might think. I more so am annoyed because no one told her that but my mom. And my mom knows I can't stand her so her passing on my business to her pisses me off. But in general, I don't want Nathan." She moved her hand to touch his. "The man I want is right next to me."

Klaus moved his face to look at her and smiled.

Moving her head over she brushed her lips over his, "That's all you get until we get back to your house."

Klaus just let out a laugh, pulling her to him.

"She kills me!" Maddie seethed in her room. Elijah sat on her bed and watched her pace. "Literally, kills me."

"Considering you're standing here breathing and talking to me, I doubt that."

She glared at her boyfriend, "This is not funny! Everything would have been fine had my mom not invited her here."

"You don't think everyone is a bit harsh towards her?"

"Harsh! Did you not hear what she said to my aunt!"

"Yes, I heard, but if she is always like that why not simply ignore her? You are all allowing yourselves to get worked up over nothing."

She stood and just stood in front of him. He took her hands in his and pulled her to him. "Just ignore her."

"I wish it were that easy."

He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them gently, "Your mother just wants to have a nice family dinner. Shouldn't you try and give her that?"

"Did she convince you to guilt trip me?" He only smirked and she shook her head. "I make no promises."

The tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Janette had finally gotten everyone to sit down for dinner but it was so tense. All that could be heard was the sound of forks hitting plates. Janette and Christian were both sitting at heads of the table. On one side was John, Shannon, Kyle, Chris, Emma and George and on the other side was Rebekah, Kol, Maddie, Cordelia, Klaus and Elijah. Lucy was planted by Cordelia's feet. It amused Klaus to no end the way that dog followed her around.

"How's school boys?" Janette asked looking back and forth between Chris and Kyle.

"Good," they said together.

Such a twin thing, Cordelia thought to herself.

"Where do you go again Kyle?" She asked. "I forgot."

"Notre Dame, football."

She nodded before turning to Chris, "Are you still wrestling?"

"Yeah at Iowa."

"Wrestling is so dangerous," Emma said. Everyone looked at her except George. This had been one of the first things she said. "You shouldn't be doing it."

"Don't worry about what my kids are doing." Shannon snapped.

"I'm just saying." Emma shrugged. "What kind of grandmother would I be if I didn't voice my concerns."

"A bearable one," muttered John.

"What kind of grandmother are you now?" Questioned Cordelia. She completely ignored the look her mom gave her.

"You grew up to be so rude!" Emma said to her. She then turned back to Shannon. "And football is dangerous too. Why would you let them play these ridiculous sports? They should be focused on school, like Maddison."

"My lacrosse season starts as soon as I get back," Maddie said.

"Because my children wanted to play sports and we support them!" Shannon snapped. "That's why they do that. And they both made the Dean's list in their first year of school so there is no need for you to worry about them academically or at all. John and I have that handled."

"Everyone acts so uptight when I speak up." Emma noted.

"Hint hint, don't speak at all." This comment came from Maddie. Chris and Kyle quickly shot her grins from across the table which she returned. Elijah put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it gently. In return, she squeezed his thigh.

Not bothering to hide what she was doing, Cordelia slightly stood to reach across the table and grab the bottle of wine. She filled her class not caring who was watching. She met eye contact with her dad and just winked. Christian shook his head but he wasn't worried. Some wine wouldn't hurt her and it wasn't like she was driving. Besides she had already drunk half a glass of her water.

"Underage drinking," Emma noted shaking her head. "So ridiculous."

"Wine isn't going to kill her mom," Janette said.

"You don't think she consumes too much alcohol?" Emma questioned. "From what I've seen she drinks an awful lot."

"I am not even Facebook friends with you!" Cordelia snapped. "So, I don't know what you mean by seeing this and that. And even if I did, I do not care. I am going to continue enjoying my alcoholic beverages whether you like it or not."

Emma stared at her. Cordelia stared back. It was like a face off and it was just a matter of who would break first. It surely wasn't Cordelia.

"You know," Emma began, "back in my day us girls would have been shamed for dressing like that." She made eye contact with Cordelia who sat across from her. "That skirt you have on doesn't even reach your knee caps. It isn't proper for girls."

"Would you prefer me to have on a skirt that goes to my ankles?"

"Yes."

She snorted, "Yeah, that is most definitely not happening."

"And that shirt," Emma said eyes going wide. "Why is your body exposed like that? It's cold outside you should have something covering those shoulders." She then turned to Maddie. "You to missy." Turning to look at her daughter Emma scolded, "You shouldn't let them parade around like that."

"Maybe if you exposed some skin you wouldn't have gotten married three times."

Maddie, who was in the middle of drinking, quickly coughed and ended up spitting some of it out. She quickly grabbed her napkin and covered her face trying to hide her laughs. It was useless. Especially when Kyle and Chris blatantly laughed aloud. The originals just watched the scene unfold in front of them.

"You would be lucky if a man married you. Especially with the way you act."

Cordelia clapped her hands together. Emma jumped back a little startled, "Wake up! This isn't the fucking seventeen hundreds and if you need to live your life dependent on a man you need a serious reality check."

"Preach," Shannon spoke holding up her glass.

"Are you not dependent on my son?" Questioned Emma to her daughter in law.

Shannon groaned, "No Emma. I'm not."

"Really? Because the last time I checked you didn't work."

Shannon let out an annoyed sound, "Yes Emma, when my kids were born, I chose to be a stay at home mom until they went to school. Once they were in kindergarten I went back to work. If you actually took the time to listen when people talked you would know that."

"She doesn't listen to anyone," Cordelia noted. "She probably needs a hearing aid."

"If you were my child-," Emma started.

"Well she isn't your child." Said Christian. He had kept quiet and now he had heard enough. In fact, he had heard enough the minute she walked into his house but he had tried to keep

"The only thing my daughter did right in this marriage was marry a wealthy man," Emma announced.

Christian spoke up, "Oh so you admit that you love something about me?"

"I would have preferred she married someone else but I'm not going to sit here and say you're bank account doesn't make up for your lack of," she paused, "everything."

"Is that why you married George?" Asked Maddie. "Because of what's in his bank account?"

Emma didn't answer. Instead just took a large gulp of wine. That told everyone everything that they needed to know.

"Do you ever talk?!" Cordelia questioned in a loud voice to George. She was borderline yelling. "Or do you just sit there?"

"Don't yell at my husband."

"If you want yelling, I can show you yelling."

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Snapped Janette. "Can you all just shut up and we get through this dinner."

"You invited them." Stated Christian.

"Dumb ass idea," John noted.

"Don't start."

"You all act like I'm terrible."

"You are," said Cordelia, Christian, Maddie, John, Shannon, Chris and Kyle together.

It was quiet for a moment before Kol finally decided to speak up.

"Well," Kol said leaning back in his chair, "I think they have just as much family drama as we do."

That got a laugh from everyone except Emma and George.

Cordelia held up her glass, "You got that right."

Thank you all so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed this little short story.

I am hoping, hoping, to have my Klaus/OC story posted sometime by summer, but we shall see. I have two that I've kind of brainstormed and I've been working on them for a while. Until my spring semester starts, I'm hoping to start laying down some actual chapters and a get a plot together. Right now, I just have chapters here and there. No matter, something should be posted from me in 2019. Whether its my Mackenzie Mikaelson re write, my fifty shades story, a Jacob/OC, or Klaus, I have been brainstorming and writing a lot for different things just have to put it all together.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Stay safe.