Déjà Vu

Flashback, New York City, 1989-

In the busy bar of the newly opened O'Malley's, the customers keep flowing in. Noticing the crowds getting bigger, Adrianna goes behind the bar to help out. But she still makes sure she keeps an eye on a newly turned vampire she has took under her wing, Scott.

"Stop that."

Adrianna snaps her fingers in front of Scott, bringing him out of his daze, "Stop what?"

"Eyeing up the customers like they're all pieces of meat." Adrianna places a glass of bourbon in front of him, "The thirst is hard to control at first but in time it will get better."

Scott scoffs looking over to Adrianna unimpressed, "And while it's not great, you think it's a good idea to bring me to a bar full of people I keep imagining as starters, mains and desserts?"

Adrianna is about to quip something back to him until she sees a familiar face heading straight to the bar, "Finally! It's only took you two years to get back here."

"With good reason." Lola looks around the newly opened bar then back to Adrianna, stunned, "I'm only gone two years and you open up a bar?"

Adrianna shakes her head as she places a bottle of champagne onto the bar in front of Lola, "James opened a bar, I'm helping out."

"James O'Malley opened up a bar?" Lola exclaims in an amused manner, she glances around the busy bar, "Midlife crisis has came early for him, where is he?"

Adrianna gestures to the side of the bar, "He's round back." Lola nods as she takes the bottle, she begins to walk away until Adrianna speaks up again, "Wait! Lola, this is Scott." Adrianna gestures over to the young man still sitting beside the bar, "Scott Garcia." Lola frowns over to Adrianna confused, Adrianna's eyebrows shoot up, tilting her head in Scott's direction, "You know, Sal's younger brother."

Lola's brows knit together, growing even more confused, "Who?"

"We've met before." Scott straightens up in his seat. As Lola turns to face him, he clears his throat, attempting to not seem nervous, "You helped my dad open up his own bakery and I'd always make you coffee. Black, one sugar. The first time we met you were wearing a black jumpsuit, leather jacket and black boots that I think were Steve Madden..."

Lola glances between Scott and Adrianna, Adrianna is staring at Scott with her mouth agape, not knowing what to say. Scott sighs as he looks down at his drink, "And now you think I'm gay."

Lola laughs slightly before taking the bottle of champagne again, "I'm going to see James."

Adrianna plasters on a fake smile as she watches her best friend walk towards the backroom before hitting Scott against his shoulder, "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know!" Scott groans as he runs his hands through his hair, he rests his hand against his cheek as he watches Lola, "The words left my mouth before I even realised what I was saying."

Adrianna picks up on the lovestruck look Scott has on his face. She scoffs, pushing his elbow slightly, making his hand slip from his cheek, "Oh, no you don't. Stop it. I know that look, that look needs to stop. Lola is off limits."

Scott leans against the counter, still watching Lola at a distance who is being greeted by James, "I thought you said she was single?"

Adrianna hesitates for a moment, gaining Scott's attention. She picks up on this, brushing it off with a shrug, "She is." Adrianna begins to shift uncomfortably, Scott raises a brow noticing her change in posture, "It's complicated just don't even try, she will squish you like a bug."

Scott narrows his eyes at Adrianna, picking up his glass of bourbon before gesturing it in her direction, "Why are you suddenly acting weird?"

"We don't talk about it." Adrianna quickly snaps, she sighs, "Him. We don't talk about him."

James closes the door to the backroom as Lola takes a seat on the sofa, "So, what happened while you were in San Fransisco?"

Lola shrugs as she starts to remove the wrapping from the champagne  "I wasn't even there long. His brother, Elijah-" She is interrupted as the cork on the champagne pops itself as soon as the wrapping is removed, the champagne spills out of the bottle slightly.

"The one with the suits?" James asks as he takes a seat beside her, holding out two glasses.

Lola nods, beginning to pour the drink, "That's the one, he found me only a month after me and Damon got there so we've spent the last two years doing what we please around the country."

James watches Lola sitting beside him, trying to read her, "You were okay with that?"

"What do you mean?"

James shrugs, "I'm surprised you didn't want to stay in the same place just a little while longer in the hope that he finds you."

Lola scoffs then finishes her drink, "I don't want him to find me."

"You sure about that?"

"Yep, I'm sure." Lola brushes his assumption off, she stands up from the sofa grabbing a bottle of red wine from James' secret stash and a blood bag from the mini fridge and begins to make her speciality.

James chuckles slightly as he stands up from the sofa, "So, you don't think about him?"

Lola's expression grows more irritated as she clenches her jaw, "I dealt with it."

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Adrianna gasps dramatically, slamming her empty shot glass onto the table, "I was not singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody!"

Lola and Nate both start laughing at Adrianna's dramatic attitude, "Don't you even dare try to deny it!" Lola jests, "We all know how much you love that song, it's been your guilty pleasure since it came out!"

Nate shakes his head, his face squirming with disgust, "It's too long."

Adrianna rolls her eyes, "Don't start this again."

"It goes on forever!" Nate exclaims, "Six freaking minutes."

"Wow," Lola drawls out sarcastically, "Now I really feel sorry for Ade if you think six minutes is forever."

Nate glares at Lola, he throws a handful of peanut shells at her as a now mid-fifties James walks over to the trio's usual table with a half full bottle of tequila, "The way you kids go through tequila I may as well just keep the bottle here."

It was never in James' interest to become a vampire, he continued to have a close relationship with Lola and Adrianna and he didn't care about them being vampires. He was like a father figure to them both, despite them both being older than him and he was always there for them when needed.

"James!" Lola stands up from her seat, putting her arm around James before looking down at Adrianna with a smug grin, "What is Adrianna's guilty pleasure?"

"Where do I start?" James mumbles, "Well, you'd always make yourself tequila sunrises when you worked here but instead of using grenadine syrup, you'd use blood."

Nate laughs as he stands on the other side of James, pulling the same smug expression as Lola, "Ah, but what did she always do while she drank those cocktails?"

"Have Bohemian Rhapsody on repeat on the jukebox."

Lola laughs as she points over to Adrianna, "Case and point!"

Adrianna narrows her eyes over to James, "Don't you have a bar to tend to, O'Malley?"

James chuckles and walks back towards the bar as he shakes his head. Nate grabs the already empty bottle, "I'll get us another bottle."

Lola sits back down beside Adrianna who leans towards her, "Do you think it was a good idea to let Hayley leave the city when Katherine could be lurking around?"

Lola shakes her head after taking another shot, "Hayley will be fine. I've told her to keep me on speed dial if she notices anything weird."

"When does Klaus get here?"

"Tomorrow."

Adrianna shrugs as she looks down at her shot glass, trying to fight back a smile, "Well just give Nate and I notice when he does or with you being a witch now maybe you could spell your room."

Lola looks over to her confused, "What are you talking about?"

"You may not have vampire hearing anymore but we still do." Adrianna jokes, Lola sits back in her chair realising what Adrianna means, "If you are both anything like you were in the fifties then I need to be at least twenty miles away." Adrianna looks over to Lola who is sat staring at the wall with her brows knitting together as though she's in deep thought, "Why are you pulling that face?"

Lola jumps out of her thoughts, she clears her throat, continuing to look away from Adrianna, "No reason."

"You can't even remember the last time you had sex, can you?"

Lola scoffs, "Don't be ridiculous! I can remember, it was-" Lola's mouth gapes open as she furrows her brows in thought until her eyes widen, "Oh my god, I can't remember the last time I had sex."

"Uh oh, I'm calling it." Adrianna pulls her sleeve up slightly glancing at her watch, "Time of death; 11:42 acute sex drive disappearance."

"Oh my god." Lola groans as she runs her hands though her hair, "What's wrong with me?"

Adrianna shrugs, "Maybe it's because you're human." She playfully hits Lola's arm, "Maybe you're a born again virgin!"

Lola looks over to her friend, distraught, "Oh my god! I'm a born again virgin!" She looks at Adrianna confused who finishes the rest of the shots on the table, "Why are you drinking all the shots?"

Adrianna piles up all the empty shot glasses, "I'm taking a shot every time you say oh my god."

Lola glares at Adrianna until she sees Nate over her shoulder walking back towards them, "Hey, if Ade was a born again virgin would that put you off?"

Nate glances between the pair, not knowing what to say but Adrianna drags him down to his seat by his shirt, "Don't answer that."

Nate lifts his hands up, "Wasn't going to."

"Klaus isn't put off, no way." Lola mumbles as she pours another shot, "Something I can remember is the amount of times people have interrupted us." She narrows her eyes to Adrianna, pointing her shot glass at her, "Including you."

Adrianna cringes at herself, "Oh...was it the Pony thing?" Lola hums in agreement as she drinks a shot making Adrianna laugh, "Sorry. Maybe he just wants to be a gentleman about it. I mean you're human again."

Lola laughs in a half-surpressed manner, "Klaus Mikaelson is no gentleman, especially in bed. If I had a dollar for every piece of clothing he has ripped off me I'd be able to buy Dubai three times over."

Nate's face twists with disgust as he stands from the table, "Bad, bad images in my head."

"I'm hot, he's hot." Lola continues not even taking notice of Nate walking away, Adrianna nods in agreement, "We are hot people. He's seen me naked a million times!"

"But has he seen a born again virgin naked a million times?" Adrianna begins to laugh until she sees the death stare Lola is giving her, "Shutting up."

Lola sighs dramatically as she puts her sunglasses on despite it being night in the middle of the bar and she shrugs, "At least I can do magic now."

Adrianna takes hold of Lola's hand, smiling at her sincerely, "Your father would be so proud."

They both stare at each other blankly for a second until the pair burst out laughing and clink their shot glasses together.

They all stay for a couple more hours before they begin to walk back towards the apartment. Nate is walking ahead of them both and going to a pizza joint after Lola demanded he does so.

Lola and Adrianna link each other's arms as they walk through the busy nightlife of New York, laughing and joking to themselves. Neither of them pay attention to anyone around them or walking in a straight line which is when Lola accidentally bumps into someone and quickly apologies in between laughs without looking at the person.

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Flashback, New York City, 1989 - cont...

Lola walks up the stairs to a town house in the middle of Brooklyn. She waits for a short moment after knocking to be greeted by a middle aged woman, "Can I help you?"

Lola musters up her best fake smile, "I think a friend of mine is here. Is there anyway you could just send him out for me?" She tries to put her foot through the threshold but is blocked, "Or invite me in?"

"I'm sorry, I can't do that." The woman glances behind the door then back to Lola, "My friends don't want any visitors."

Lola scoffs slightly as she shakes her head, "Of course they don't. What's your name?"

"Monica."

"Have you got any family, Monica?" Lola asks casually as she looks round where she's standing, "Any children? Siblings?"

"It's just me and my cats."

Lola crouches down and picks up a small rock that was within a flower pot beside the door, she stands up straight and looks over to Monica, confused, "So, who isn't letting me in here?" The woman opens her mouth to respond but unable to do so making Lola laugh slightly, "You don't even know them, do you? I thought as much."

Lola turns around briefly before turning back to face Monica and throws the stone directly into Monica's forehead, killing her instantly. Lola slowly steps through the threshold, smiling to herself, "I love it when that happens."

Upstairs in the town house, there's a man guarding a door in the hallway. Within the room there is another man standing on the other side of the door while Scott is chained up as a vampire hunter circles around him holding a stake, "You can't be the only vampire in this city. Who else?"

Scott rolls his eyes, "I've already told you it's just me."

The man grabs Scott by his throat, "And I've already told you that I don't believe you. You seriously telling me you were the only vampire who killed over 80 people in a matter of days?"

A large thud can be heard outside of the room then silence. The vampire hunter signals for the man to open the door and when he does the other man who was guarding the door is no longer there.

"I'm sorry..." The vampire hunter is startled by a new voice within the room, he turns around to see Lola leaning against the wall, wiping away blood from the corner of her mouth with an evil grin on her face, "Did I step on your moment?"

The hunter scoffs, "Lola Salvatore. I might have known you were one of the vampires in this city."

Lola's face squirms with disgust as she walks past him, looking at her friend chained up, "This is dramatic even for you, Felix."

The other man attempts to shoot a wooden stake at Lola but she turns around to face him, catching it instantly. She throws it with force at the man and is goes directly into his throat and he drops down dead. Lola turns to face Felix yet again with a smug grin on her face, "Shall I keep going, or...?"

Felix takes a step closer to Lola, his grip tightens on the wooden stake he's holding, "You're not scared, are you? Not yet anyway."

Lola scoffs as she looks over to one of the men she has just killed before looking back over to Felix, "I've just killed two of your guys without barely lifting a finger. I think we've realised that your melodramatic torture doesn't scare me." Felix pulls a gun out of his jacket and points it directly at Lola who isn't fazed by it at all and glances at the gun unimpressed, "Oh, hello."

"It would only take one of these wooden bullets to kill you."

"So shoot me." Lola shrugs, "Go ahead, I mean it would hit me if I stayed where I am right now but I'm faster than you. I could go left or right before your finger presses the trigger. Wanna see who's faster?"

They both stand still, neither of them even blinking waiting for the other to make a move first. Felix pulls the trigger but Lola vamp speeds towards him, missing the bullet. She bends his arm back, breaking it and he screams out in pain, dropping the gun. Lola twists his arm around, making his entire body twist around and she throws him onto the ground. She picks up the gun before Felix can grab it. She puts her foot against his chest, pushing down as he screams out in pain. Scott cringes as he can hear Felix's ribs breaking with Lola's strength. Lola points the gun towards Felix and shoots him in the head.

Scott looks down at Felix's dead body in amazement, "Wow."

Lola pulls the chains off him with ease, "You're welcome." She throws the gun onto his lap and walks out of the house.

Both Lola and Scott go back to her apartment building and go straight up to the roof where Scott sits on the edge and stares out into the city when Lola hands him a beer, "Here."

"Thanks." Scott takes a drink of the beer as Lola sits beside him, "Thank you for helping me yet again."

Lola shrugs, "You caught me on a day where I was bored so figured I'd help you out. You need to keep under the radar, Scott. Snatch, eat, erase, that's what we taught you."

Scott sighs as he runs his hand through his hair, "I know, I know."

Lola sympathises with Scott, it's been a lot harder for him than others to keep the thirst for blood under control. It's been six months since he became a vampire and usually by now people would have made even a fraction of strength to keep it under control but if anything Scott's thirst has got worse.

"I can get someone to talk to you about this, you know?" Lola offers, "Someone who battles with the same things you do."

"Who? Your brother who you haven't spoken to for over a hundred years?"

"We speak." Lola defends herself, she purses her lips, "Well, sorta. But there's this other vampire he spends his time with and she helped him through a lot of dark times."

Scott sighs, "I think you can't wait for someone to fly underneath you and save you. You have to save yourself."

"So what was your excuse for earlier tonight?" Lola jests, "Were you going to break out of the chains yourself?"

Scott laughs as he nudges Lola slightly, "Well, like you said, you were bored. I thought I would liven your night up a bit. Those guys didn't even phase you in the slightest, did they?"

Lola scoffs, "Please, they were child's play."

Scott sits up straight, turning to face Lola, "Alright, answer me this. What's the craziest situation you've ever been in?"

Lola shakes her head as she laughs, "Too many to count." She pauses momentarily, a faint smile appears thinking back to previous times, "When I lived in New Orleans there was this creepy ass witch who had these twin boys follow him around everywhere. He used sacrificial magic."

"What do you mean sacrificial magic? People would offer things for him to channel?" Lola nods at Scott's assumption, "What would they offer?"

"Themselves." Lola sips her beer as Scott looks at her dumbfounded, "But, sometimes they wouldn't even offer themselves to him, he'd just do it without their blessing. I remember one time he disrupted a meeting saying he was a king in New Orleans and deserved to be part of the big meetings that would take place and you know what he did?"

Scott cringes, "Do I even wanna know?"

"He presented a warning and the warning was the head of the mayor of New Orleans."

Scott laughs in a shocked manner, "So, he was pretty much a psychotic bastard?"

Lola hums, "Mhm, one of many that lived in New Orleans at the time."

"Who did you live in New Orleans with?"

Lola's posture changes instantly, her back straightens and her face turns to stone as she looks away from Scott, looking down towards the nightlife of the city.

Scott softly places his hand on top of Lola's, "Sorry if I've just crossed the line or something."

Lola moves her hand out from under Scott's, she flashes a fake smile, "No, it's fine." She clears her throat, "It's just a really long story." She glances in Scott's direction, she can tell by his face he is intrigued to know more but doesn't dare pry, she sighs deeply, "I know Ade has told you about the guy I used to be with. His name is Klaus. Klaus Mikaelson."

Scott's eyes widen, "Wait, Klaus Mikaelson as in Klaus Mikaelson one of the originals? You knew him?"

"I knew them all." Lola shrugs, "Well, all but one who has been in a coffin for almost 900 years." Scott looks at Lola even more confused, she shakes her head, "Never mind. A lot happened between Klaus and I over the years I've known him. I haven't seen him since the late fifties when I left and I've basically been hiding from him ever since."

"What happened?"

"I said things, things that I didn't mean but they had to seem real. I did what I had to do to find one of my brothers."

He tries to read her face but can't figure out what the look on her face means. Possibly guilt or even regret. Scott clears his throat, "So, that's why you don't really stay in the same place for very long?"

Lola nods, "Yep. I don't want him to find me."

Scott narrows his eyes at Lola as he swings one leg over the ledge, his feet now on either side of the ledge, "You like the thrill of it, don't you? The thrill of being chased." Lola opens her mouth to snap something back but Scott moves closer to her, "You really intrigue me, Lola Salvatore." He moves her hair from her shoulder, Lola watches his hand as he does so. He runs the same hand through her hair, leaning closer to her, "Are you ever going to open up to me?"

Lola allows his lips to brush softly against hers before she pulls back slightly, "I'm not sleeping with you."

Scott bows his head as he sighs, his hand still tangled in Lola's hair, "Worth a shot."

Lola pats him on the cheek, "Come on, the sun is coming up." She swings her legs around and hops off the ledge, brushing her hands against her jeans, "Gotta decorate the apartment for Ade."

Scott follows as Lola walks back inside of the building, "I didn't know it was her birthday."

"It's not." Lola corrects him, "It's 35 years today since she became a vampire and whenever I'm with her on this date I like to make her celebrate it."

Scott stops walking as they reach the door leading to Lola and Adrianna's apartment, "You're actually nice sometimes."

Lola looks at him unamused, "Don't ever say anything like that again." Lola quietly opens the door and walks into the apartment. She grabs a rolled up poster that was hidden in one of the cupboards, she unrolls it and shows it to Scott, "What do you think?"

Scott frowns as he looks at the poster that reads,

"35 years of being fangtastic!"

He raises a brow at Lola, "Fangtastic?"

Lola shrugs, "I thought it was quite funny."

They both jump when they hear the door to Adrianna's bedroom open up. Lola quickly throws the poster behind the couch. Her and Scott turn back around, standing right next to each other so Adrianna can't see the poster behind them. Adrianna walks out with a beaming smile on her face but then looks over to Lola and Scott in shock when a young man follows her out of the bedroom.

"Good morning!" Lola exclaims with a huge fake grin on her face.

Scott raises his hand up slightly, awkwardly smiling, "Morning."

Adrianna takes hold of his hand, gesturing over to Lola and Scott, "Nate, these are my friends..."

Lola pushes Scott forward and he reaches his hand out to Nate, "I'm Scott, it's good to meet you man."

"Likewise." Nate looks over to Lola, he smiles at her and holds his hand out for her, "You must be Lola. I've heard a lot about you."

Lola smiles as she shakes his hand, "I've heard nothing about you."

Adrianna clears her throat, she begins to guide Nate towards the front door, "I'll see you out."

When Adrianna walks back into the room after seeing Nate out, she's greeted with Scott and Lola who are bickering in a hushed tone. They stop immediately as they notice Adrianna's presence who is looking over to Lola unimpressed, "Did you have to be so...you?"

"You once told me that I should never hide who I am." Lola quips with a smug grin, "So, that's the guy who you healed with your blood."

Scott hands Lola a coffee, "They've been attached to the hip for months."

Lola looks over to Adrianna who has a dumbstruck grin on her face, "Oh my god. You're falling for him."

Adrianna scoffs, "I am not."

Lola laughs at her friends lie, "Oh, you so are."

"No! I'm not!"

Scott also picks up on the smile Adrianna can't seem to shake off, "You totally are."

Lola puts her coffee onto the table and walks towards the door, "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Adrianna questions as Lola ignores her, continuing to walk out, "Lola!"

Lola walks down the corridor to see Nate who is still waiting for the elevator. She smiles as she stands next to him, he smiles back, "Are the elevators usually this slow?"

"Sometimes."

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. They both enter the elevator and Nate presses the button for the lobby. They both stand in silence for a moment until Lola pushes Nate against the wall, her arm holding him against his neck.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Lola narrows her eyes at him, not letting go, "You and Adrianna, is it serious?"

"Well, I-"

"You using her?"

"No!" Nate exclaims, struggling in Lola's grip, "I-"

"You know who we are so maybe you're using her in the hope she turns you into one of us."

"It's not like that, I-"

Lola tightens her grip, "What?"

"I love her."

Lola loosens her grip slightly as she looks him up and down, "Really?"

"I really do. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact she saved my life or that she's a vampire. I don't care about that. I care about who she is underneath all of that." Nate begins in a calm manner, Lola steps away from him listening intently, "Adrianna talks about you a lot and when it was time that we were finally introduced I knew you would be hostile with me. Because you love and care for her as well. I know you want the best for her and I want that to."

The elevator dings as the doors opens to the ground floor, Nate smiles over to Lola before walking out of it, "It was nice to meet you, Lola. Sort of."

He remains standing in the lobby as Lola remains in the elevator until the doors to begin to close. She puts her hand out to stop them from closing, "Nate. Just know if you do anything, anything at all to hurt Adrianna, I'll kill you. During this elevator ride I've thought it out down to every last detail and once I'm done, there would be nothing left of you for people to find. No one would even know that you existed." Nate swallows harshly, remaining his straight posture. Lola moves back into the centre of the elevator, pressing the button for her floor. She has a fake smile plastered on her face as the doors begin to close, "It was wonderful to meet you."

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The morning after the trio were at the bar, Adrianna dragged Lola, with force, to a bridal shop. Lola is slouched on one of the sofas while Adrianna is in the changing room, "Do you think white is too much?"

"Well you're not exactly the traditional type." Lola taunts, she stands up from her seat, looking through the dresses on the rack, "But what other colour would you wear? Red? Maybe black."

"You're right." Adrianna hesitates for a moment, "I know you were always against marriage but have you never had a change of heart?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Lola moves away from the rack, standing near the changing room, "Although what would be the point when I'm human and Klaus is a hybrid?"

Adrianna pops her head out of the curtain making Lola jump, "So you've thought about it?"

Lola glares at her, "Are you ready yet?"

Adrianna smiles then opens the curtains fully and walks out in a stunning wedding dress. Lola eyes soften to see how beautiful and happy her closest friend looks in a strapless, satin, A-line dress with a sweetheart bodice, finished off with a high skirt slit within the flared A-line skirt.

Adrianna looks over to Lola, nervously, "Is it that bad?"

"No!" Lola exclaims, she clears her throat, "You just-" Lola smiles at her, "You look amazing, Ade."

Adrianna smiles from ear to ear, she twirls around in the dress and walks over to the floor length mirror, "Really?"

She looks at Lola through the mirror to see she slowly sits herself onto the edge of the sofa, hand against her chest like she is trying to calm down her breathing. Adrianna turns properly to face Lola which is when she sees Lola quickly wiping away stray tears.

"Have you had so much champagne that you're getting emotional?" Adrianna jests as she walks over to the sofa, Lola laughs slightly as she grabs a tissue and wipes away the tears. Adrianna sighs as she takes a seat beside Lola, "I know I look amazing in the dress but I also know you're not crying because of that."

"I think it's just finally hit me that I'm not going to be here forever." Lola's voice breaks as she speaks from the heart, she looks over to Adrianna with fresh tears pooling in her eyes, "What if I miss out on other big moments of your life?"

"You can't talk like that, Lo." Adrianna gives Lola's hand a reassuring squeeze as her other gently wipes away Lola's fallen tears, "You've still got a long time to be here for the big moments."

"A human lifetime isn't as long as it seems sometimes."

"Well have you given any thought about becoming a vampire again?"

"Cora said it may not work." Lola sits further back into the sofa and sighs, "What if I don't wake up and I'm dead for good this time?"

"But did Cora know about the vampires you were trying to look for a hundred years ago? They were all vampires but could siphon magic like you. What did they call themselves?"

"Heretics."

"Heretics." Adrianna echoes, she purses her lips, "Huh, cute name." She rests her hand against Lola's leg, looking over to her sincerely, "You should talk to Klaus about this." Lola takes a deep breath as she nods, putting her hand on top of Adrianna's.

Adrianna stands up from the sofa, "Okay, help me get out of this dress then we'll go for a drink at that little cute cafe in the park. Nate is going to meet us there."

Lola laughs to herself as she undos Adrianna's dress, "Last time I was there I stabbed Klaus in the hand with a fork."

"For some reason that doesn't even surprise me."

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Flashback, New York City, 1991 - cont...

It's been two years since Lola first met Scott, her and Adrianna went away briefly for a couple of months to the South of France. When they got back to their apartment there was a note slid under the door from James to meet at his bar as soon as they got back. The pair enter the empty bar, they look around confused to see all the chairs are up on the tables and there aren't any customers at all considering it's only 8 o'clock on a Friday evening.

"Why has James asked us to come here when it's not even open?" Lola questions as she looks around the bar confused, she looks down at the floor when she begins to walk across broken glass.

Adrianna shrugs, "I have no idea."

"O'Malley?" Lola calls out, "You better not have lured us here to kill us!" It's then James walks out of the back room with a sorrow look on his face. Lola frowns at him, "What's going on?"

"There was a fight." James starts, "A big one. At first we just thought they were drunken fools acting up but they were more than that. Vampire hunters. Scott tried to fight them off as much as he could but he didn't see the one behind him until it was too late."

Adrianna glances over to a shocked Lola before stepping closer to James, "What are you saying, James?"

"He's dead." James looks down at his feet, "Scott's dead. It all happened so fast there was nothing he could have done to save himself."

"You're lying." Lola mumbles, "I know you're lying. Scott!" Lola shouts out walking past James, she pushes the back room door open to see no one in there, "I'm gonna kick your ass, where are you?!"

Lola looks around frantic, not wanting to believe what James has just told them. She looks over to James as her anger begins to build up, "O'Malley, you better tell me the truth right now."

Adrianna stands between her and James, "Lola, stop."

"He's not dead, Ade." Lola says in a panic state but Adrianna remains quiet, letting the tears fall. Lola shakes her head, "He's not. You're gonna believe him?" Adrianna looks away from Lola, she puts her hand against her mouth to conceal her sobs as she walks away from her. Lola scoffs, "Fine."

Lola pushes past the pair storming out of the bar. This will have been the last time Lola was in New York until the day she was reunited with Klaus. Not wanting to live in a city where she'd feel nothing but guilt and regret for leaving Scott here on his own, knowing vampire hunters were lurking around.

-----------------------------------------------

"Tell me again why you're going back to the apartment?"

"Never you mind." Lola opens up the door to the apartment while on the phone to Adrianna, "I know you don't like surprises but you'll love this one. I'll see you in the park soon."

Lola hangs up the phone and walks fully into the apartment. She places her bag onto the table, her phone beside it. She walks over to the cupboard revealing a poster just like the one from 1989 but this time saying,

"57 years of being fangtastic!"

This continued on to be a reoccurring joke between her and Adrianna on the anniversary of Adrianna becoming a vampire.

However, unknown to Lola she isn't alone in the apartment.

A figure sits up on Lola's bed that has double doors looking straight into the living area, they continue to watch an oblivious Lola looking down at her makeshift poster.

"Nice place."

The voice makes Lola jump slightly, she looks over to where the voice came from in her bedroom when her eyes widen to see Scott standing there looking just like he did back in 1989. Lola steps back slightly, "No."

Scott steps out of the bedroom and into the living area, "Oh, yes."

Lola shakes her head in disbelief, "No." She looks over to the table, picking up the first thing she seen, a vase and aims it towards Scott.

Scott straightens up, pointing towards Lola, "No."

"No?" Lola mocks, she throws the vase at him, "Really?" She continues to throw anything she can from the table towards Scott who stays standing in the same spot but hiding his face from the objects being thrown.

"Stop!"

"Really?" Lola throws yet another vase at him, she looks over to him enraged, "You do not get to come here without an invitation anymore!"

"Okay, fine!" Scott raises his hands up from a moment before straightening his jacket, "Can I please come to see you?"

Lola exhales a shaky breath as she steps closer to Scott, showing no emotion at all on her face, "Ossox." Scott screams out in pain when Lola breaks his knee with magic. Lola watches him crouch down gripping hold of his knee and clicking it back into place. She exhales, "I'll think about it."

Scott begins to laugh through the pain, he limps towards the table Lola has walked back to, he leans against one of the chairs, "I've missed you. You look good. Word has spread about you dying but the coming back to life as a witch."

"Is that why you're here?" Lola retorts, hatred seeping through her words, "To see if it was true?"

"I seen you last night." Scott admits as he pulls out the chair he was leaning on and taking a seat, "But you were too drunk you didn't even notice you bumped into me. I just want to explain everything."

Lola scoffs as she throws the poster onto the table then glares over to Scott, "And you think I'm going to listen to you after everything you did? We thought you were dead, Scott!"

"I thought you wanted this Klaus guy dead and from what I've heard you're both living as Bonnie and Clyde again." Scott stands up from his seat, "Even after everything that happened between you both."

"If I killed everyone who betrayed me there wouldn't be anyone left." Lola remarks with a wry expression.

Scott shrugs, "Well, there would be one person. How is Adrianna?" Lola grits her teeth as she continues to glare at Scott making him sigh, "Look, I had no choice but to let you both think I was dead. Believe it or not I was doing it to protect you both."

"Protect us?" Lola repeats in a more vicious manner, "Why would we need protection because of a new and arrogant vampire?"

"Because that new and arrogant vampire is a ripper!" Scott exclaims, "It's took over 20 years but I've finally been able to keep my thirst under control." He steps closer to Lola, his expression softens, "Just give me five minutes to tell you why I left and then you can tell me to go to hell, break my knee again with your mind or the good old classic stab me with a fork."

Lola hesitates for a moment before looking away from Scott and looking towards the sofa where she gestures for Scott to sit which he does, he looks around the same apartment they had in 1989, "This place hasn't changed a bit."

Before Lola can say anything else, they both hear the door being unlocked. Lola rushes over to the front door, opening it wider as it begins to open from the other side, Adrianna falls into the apartment slightly not expecting the force Lola used to open it, "You're back!"

"You were taking forever and I was getting worried." Adrianna says in an anxious tone, she walks past Lola but comes to a halt when she notices Scott standing in the living room, "Oh my god-"

Scott stands up from the sofa, smiling awkwardly at Adrianna, "Hey, Ade."

Lola stand in between them both, looking at Adrianna, panicked, "This was not the surprise I had in mind."

Adrianna ignores Lola and walks past her, heading straight towards Scott, "What are you doing here? We thought you were dead."

"That's what I wanted you all to think." He glances over to Lola then back to Adrianna, "I was just saying to Lola I will explain everything if you let-" Scott is interrupt when Adrianna harshly slaps him across the face with all the force she had. He puts his hand against his already red cheek, looking over to Adrianna stunned before laughing dryly, "I deserve that."

"You deserve a lot more than that." Adrianna snaps as she stands closer to Scott, allowing the anger to run through her, "I had to tell Sal, and your entire family that you were dead! What did you have to do for James to agree to telling us you were dead?!"

Scott looks over to Lola, "It was for you."

Lola gives both Adrianna and Scott a confused glance, "Me?"

Scott sighs before gesturing for the pair to sit on the couch, "For both of you, but mainly you, Lo." He also sits on the couch, facing them both, "Look, I was a new vampire and a ripper which is not a good mixture. You know from past experience what rippers are like, we're ruthless, we see everyone as prey and don't even think twice before we kill them. You both know that, you were both always covering up my tracks or getting me out of messy situations." He bows his head staring at his hands formed into fists, "I went really dark, I had really dark thoughts. I'd dream about taking off my daylight ring and ending it all and that comforted me."

Adrianna moves closer to him on the sofa, "We weren't going to let you go through all of that on your own, Scott."

"I know you weren't but that wasn't fair on either of you. What I was doing was growing more and more attention, vampire hunters kept coming to the city. Some that you've already had to deal with in the past." He looks in Lola's direction, guilt covering his face, "You were hiding from this Klaus guy and I knew if I stayed in this city and word kept spreading about this ripper in New York, he'd have came here and found you. People knew that I was linked to the both of you so wouldn't have took long for it to get back to him. But then when I heard that you were back with him and that you were here in New York I wanted to come and explain it all to you both."

Lola folds her arms against her chest, leaning forward, "So, you thought instead of just saying you want to leave the city you decided to let us think you were dead?"

"If I just said I needed to leave, you both would have either came with me or would have convinced me to stay."

Adrianna watches Lola as she stands up from the sofa and begins to pace. Adrianna turns her attention back to Scott, "How could you put your family through this?"

"Being a ripper doesn't divide your family from prey. I couldn't control myself around them and I would have hated myself even more than I already did if I hurt any of them." Scott runs his shaky hands through his hair before glancing at the pair as his eyes begin to go glossy, "How are they?"

Adrianna glances over to Lola who has stopped pacing and nods over to Adrianna to explain, "Your father passed away a few years ago and your mother passed only a few months after."

Scott sighs heavily, bowing his head and burying his face into the palm of his hands and the guilt and regret take over. Lola sits on the edge of the coffee table in front of him, "But Sal is still running the bakery." Scott raises his head to see Lola smiling over to him, "He's married, got three kids. Two girls and a boy. His nephew helps him run the bakery. They're happy."

"What are their names?"

"The girls are called Louisa and Sofia, twins." Adrianna explains, "Sal's nephew, your nephew, is called Sal."

Scott lets out a stiff chuckle, "Let me guess, his son is also called Sal?"

Adrianna smiles as she looks over to Lola, Scott follows her and also looks to Lola who takes hold of his hand, "He's called Scott."

Scott gently squeezes Lola's hand, in fear is he doesn't he will completely break down. Lola places her other hand on top of their joined ones, "You should go and see your brother."

"What am I even supposed to say to him?" Scott retorts, "Surprise! I didn't actually die!"

"You'll know what to say when you see him." Adrianna assures him, "We can go with you if you want."

Lola and Adrianna both walks into Sal's bakery that is just about to close. Hearing the bell chime as the door opened, Sal walks out with a warm smile on his face, "Ah, my two favourite customers! Back so soon?" He laughs slightly, "Were the brownies that good?"

"The brownies had pot in them." Lola remarks, she smirks over to him, "But you knew that, didn't you?"

"I may have had an idea that it was in there." Sal places a hand on both of their cheeks, "I just wanted you girls to enjoy yourselves and relax after the lives you have both lived."

"We just wanted to come by and say hello again." Adrianna clears her throat, "But there is someone else who wanted to come and say hello."

Lola and Adrianna both move away from the door to show an anxious Scott walking into the bakery. Sal steps back slightly in shock, the colour completely drains from his face as though he's looking at a ghost. Scott remains as stiff as a statue, not daring to move.

Sal slowly walks closer to Scott, he stays standing in front of him not moving for a moment before pulling Scott in a hug, "You came back."

Scott hugs Sal back, allowing the tears to fall now that he is finally reunited with his brother, "I'm so sorry."

Sal pulls away from the hug, his eyes are warm and full of joy as he puts his hands on either side of Scott's face, "Deep down I had this feeling you were never really gone."

Lola clears her throat as her and Adrianna step closer to the door, "We'll go and give you some time to catch up."

"Thank you." Sal breathes out. He takes hold of both Lola and Adrianna's hands, glancing between the pair as tears fall down his face, "Thank you both." They both smile back at him and Adrianna opens the front door, they both look over to Scott who gives them a reassured nod, mentally thanking them before they leave the bakery.

It's a comfortable silence between the pair as they walk down the streets of Manhattan, Adrianna not realising Lola is deep in thought about other things. But she is soon brought out of them as Adrianna checks her watch, "Our reservations are in 20 minutes, shall we just go straight there and meet Nate there?"

"I'm gonna give them a miss if that's okay." Lola takes hold of Adrianna's hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze, "Today has been a lot."

Adrianna nods and hugs Lola, "I'll see you back home."

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Lola sits on the floor of her bedroom watching the sunset over the skyline, trying to figure out how she is going to tell Klaus what's been playing on her mind ever since her first talk with Adrianna. It's then she remembers something else she did after her talk, she actually did write a letter aiming towards her father.

Lola walks over to the dressing table in the room and opens the drawer to reveal the enclosed letter. She walks back over and sits in the same spot she has been for the last hour or so and stares down at the letter trying to think what she will do with it.

Should she read it out loud? Or should she just bury it at her father's grave? The same two questions run through her mind for so long she doesn't realise it is completely nighttime outside and also doesn't hear the front door opening.

She catches a figure in the corner of her eye standing in the door way, she looks over and her eyes soften when she sees Klaus standing there with a warm smile on his face.

Lola stands up and rushes over to him, pulling straight in a warm embrace, "I've missed you so much."

Klaus buries his face into the nape of her neck, taking in her intoxicating scent, "Not as much as I've missed you, love."

"I've been trying to think of how to say all of this to you but I wanted to apologise." Lola begins as they both break apart, Klaus looks over to her confused as she guides him to sit on the edge of the bed, "I feel like I've been selfish lately, with everything that's happened about me dying then coming back as a human who is also a witch. I know you will deny it but deep down I know you want me to become a vampire again and after thinking about it there is a part of me that would be happy to become one again." She sighs, "But there is just doubt and worry that I may not be able to become one again and we've never properly spoken about this. This is your life now too."

Klaus stays quiet for a moment, not expecting this confession from Lola. He smiles softly at her as he cups her cheek, "It is also my life but if there is even a fraction of you that has doubts about becoming a vampire again I won't let you do it. I'm not going to allow you to change your life for what you think I want."

Lola holds onto his hand against her cheek, "What do you want?"

"You." Klaus removes his hand from her cheek, keeping hold of her hand as he moves closer to her, "No matter if you're a witch or a vampire. I just want you. We're going to go through all of this together, no matter what. No more running, remember?"

Lola smiles as she remembers the promise they made to each other the night of the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, "Just give me a year. Just one year. Then we will talk about this again."

"One year."

***

A/N: Ahhh and that's the end of the New York chapters, I absolutely LOVED writing them honestly!! I hope you all enjoyed them!! I didn't expect for this chapter to be this long but I just kept getting carried away🤭

So now Lola and Klaus will be going back to Mystic Falls and you know what that
means...👀

Thank you so much for still continuing to read my story, it means the world to me! Holly xx