#sell a house fast in New Orleans

[aheathen-conceivably]

sooo I'm not saying I forgot the arc buttt (😭 oops?)

to dumb it down, what exactly is the issue jo has with everyone else? I get the debt thing, and I don't want to sound like an ass either because she's right 😭 it's just been so long that i forgot most of what happened

(of course, I'll go reread it either way, but a small explanation for a lil neurodivergent darling would be much appreciated :') )

Hi hi, it’s been awhile so that’s understandable. I also tend to throw a lot of info at you all at once so sometimes you just need the threads separated 😜

And listen, Nonny darling, I did try and make it a small explanation. Only alas, the drama runs deep, so we must go under the cut for your regular installment of Ted Talk with a Heathen…

So in essence, we can see the cracks start to form in the 20s. Giorgio had proposed to her multiple times in their years together, including on the last night before he left for a farm he had bought without consulting her (mostly because he knew she would never agree to this vision he had for himself, and he seemingly chose to pursue it on his own). When he left, things ended between them, although she was still unsatisfied in New Orleans. This was mostly because for years she had success managing bands, but as the economic situation worsened, she lost her business and became aimless.

Fast forward to the 1929 economic crash when she and Antoine decided to sell their club for far less than it was previously worth. This left them in a tight economic position, really unable to buy housing on their own, so Antoine reached out to Gio without consulting Jo. He only told her after Gio had invited them out to live with him. Jo explores why she doesn’t want to go here and here, but chooses to do so anyway. Suffice to say that she does love Gio, but she would never have followed him out there without the interference of her family and their economic straits.

At the beginning of the 1930s we can see Josephine begin to split in two. Part of her wants to be with Gio, but a larger side of her immediately regrets her decision. From the moment she steps foot on the farm, she can feel her life and who she is begin to slip away from her. Not long after, Antoine learns that Giorgio actually has a massive loan on his farmhouse, and he’s brought his entire family aboard a sinking ship. However, there’s not much to do other than try and patch the holes and keep moving forward.

This is where it gets tricky, because Antoine’s past mistakes with Zelda mean that he decides not to keep secrets from her. Only the two of them decide not to tell Josephine about the loan, or that Gio purposefully omitted it from his original telegram. Of course, Gio directly asks them to, but they agree because they think he’s right. Josephine is incredibly stubborn and unwilling to accept help, believing that it makes her indebted to people. Coupled with this, they all think that when Josephine finds out she will see it as a way of controlling her, and there is nothing more likely to make her bolt.

Now this situation goes on for four years, all the while Jo is buried in the depths of her own depression and struggling with her sense of control and autonomy as she lives a life she never wanted and turned down on multiple occasions. The people she loves the most can see this. They attempt to help her and uplift her, all the while lying to her face. She says it best in her own internal monologue when she finds out:

Jo looked back toward Gio, the anger rising as the words she really wanted to cry out stayed trapped in her throat. You all let me think you were happy. That our life was perfect and I was the problem. You let me sink and disintegrate while you lied to my face! I stayed because I love you, and this is how you repay me!

Now I would also absolutely recommend that you read this and this as well, which explores Josephine’s mental state in the last post of the early 30s arc. This is where things begin to twist, and perhaps not in the way we (or Gio, Zelda, and Antoine) think. If you read those extras, you can see that while Jo is angry with them for lying to her, she’s also in some ways been freed by that very same lie. I’ll quote that second ask here:

Josephine isn’t stupid, and she certainly isn’t rash. This isn’t to say she can’t be, especially when backed into a corner, but it isn’t her nature. She’s cunning, calculated, and measured. Just like her mother. It’s only a matter of figuring out how to use that in her favor in a way that fits with the other parts of her nature, which are governed by a sense of perceived morality and loyalty for her family; OR if she can’t, and she’s backed too far into a corner first, then the rash side of her wins out despite everything she knows about the world and what running into it would mean.

By betraying her but also placing the burden of the loan on her shoulders, Jo has been given a new sense of purpose, which is what has been missing from her life this entire time. She’s sensed it back in New Orleans, and she’s hungry for it again. She wants to work for herself, to be her own person away from the home and the people she loves even while uplifting them in some way.

But in another way, their lie has also freed her from a restrictive sense of duty, of feeling like her choices must be made out of guilt or debt to others, as well as the horrifying fear that she was the only one who suffered in their seemingly bucolic little bubble. Now, she can do as she pleases with her choices and all of them, because they are indebted to her through their betrayal. At least in regard to the people she felt were steering her life before, she is the one in control now, and that’s what she’s wanted all along.

[swimmingsirenindierp]

full name: Evelyn Irena Allen age: 50 occupation: Romance Novelist zodiac sign: Virgo hometown: New Orleans Louisiana gender: Cisfemale sexuality: Bisexual/Polyamorous pronouns: She/Her face claim: Carla Gugino

Biography (tw: death, tw: cancer, tw: divorce)

Evelyn was born and raised in New Orleans. Her mother owned a crystal shop and her father gave ghost tours around the French Quarter. She would follow the tours and when she was old enough to lead them herself she did so. She was always a bookworm growing up. Her parents encouraged her love of books and when she got to school she began to write short stories and poems. She followed this passion to her adulthood.

Evelyn was always a romantic at heart. She loved grand sweeping romances and books filled with desires. She began to write her own stories, and while some might have cast them off as trashy, they made her a whole lot of money. Her best selling series was a fantasy romance featuring mermaids called The Abyss Chronicles. The series did so well it paid for her house and her car!

Evelyn's own romantic life was filled with a bit more tragedy. She met her husband on a book tour. They met in Maine when she was doing a signing at a local book store. His name was Matthew, and he was wonderful. He was actually the owner of the book store. It was love at first sight. He was divorced with two kids, and they welcomed her into their family with ease.

Matthew and Evelyn extended their family with a set of twins, a little boy and a little girl. She was happy and content. She would help him run the book shop and raise their children, and when inspiration stuck, another book came out. It was a lot of work, but it was a happy life, and she loved it.

That was until Matthew was sick, it was liver cancer, and he got sick so fast. There was not much that could be done, and when it was time to say goodbye to him, no one was ready. Evelyn had learned how to be strong, she had her children who needed her. She put on a brave face, and threw herself into her role, mom, business owner, writer...writer, writer?

Its been a dry spell for Evelyn since her husbands death. Five years to be exact. She is trying to develop her spark and desire again. But that is certainly easier said than done.

Personality

Evelyn is very nurturing and gentle. She always has a kind word and a listening ear. She is insightful and loves to learn new things whenever she can. Loving and romance are something she is always drawn to and loves to hear about, especially when there is a good story. Evelyn is heart broken though, she tries to be careful and tender with herself, knowing that pain is just part of the journey.

[datascraping001]

OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services

OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services

OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services: Unlock Real Estate Insights with DataScrapingServices.com. In the fast-paced world of real estate, access to accurate and timely information is crucial for staying ahead of the competition. OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services by Datascrapingservices.com provides businesses with powerful tools to extract real estate listings and property information from the popular OnTheMarket platform. Whether you're an agency, investor, or property manager, these services allow you to stay informed about market trends, optimize pricing strategies, and gain valuable insights.

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Scraping RealtyTrac Real Estate Listings

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Best OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services - Scrape Data from OnTheMarket Services in USA:

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Conclusion

OnTheMarket Data Scraping Services by  DataScrapingServices.com offers an invaluable solution for businesses looking to stay ahead in the real estate market. By harnessing the power of real-time data and automation, you can optimize your marketing, streamline operations, and make informed decisions that drive growth.

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[worldtopic6]

Sell Your House Fast in New Orleans with Bertucci Group: The Best Cash Offer Solution

If you're looking for a quick and hassle-free way to sell your house in New Orleans, Bertucci Group is your go-to solution. At bertucci-investments.com, we specialize in buying homes, condos, apartments, and even land AS IS, without the need for costly repairs or realtor commissions. Whether you're facing foreclosure, dealing with an inherited property, or simply need to sell your home fast, our team offers cash offers within 24 hours, making the process stress-free.

Why Bertucci Group is the Best Choice for Selling Your Home in New Orleans

At Bertucci Group, we understand how daunting it can be to sell a home the traditional way. From costly repairs to months of uncertainty, the selling process can be overwhelming. That's why we have designed a more convenient and reliable way for homeowners to sell their properties quickly:

No Realtor Fees or Commissions

Unlike traditional home sales where you pay hefty realtor commissions, at Bertucci Group, you keep 100% of the cash offer. We handle all the paperwork and ensure a smooth transaction, so you won’t have to worry about hidden fees.

Sell Your House AS IS

Whether your house needs minor repairs or a complete renovation, we buy properties in any condition. This means no need to invest time or money into repairs or updates. Simply sell your house as it stands, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Fast Cash Offers in 24 Hours or Less

Time is often of the essence when selling a home. That’s why we provide cash offers for your property within 24 hours. Once we evaluate your property, you’ll receive a competitive, no-obligation offer without any delays.

We Buy a Variety of Properties

From single-family homes to condos, apartments, and even land, Bertucci Group is ready to buy your property, no matter its type or condition. Whether you’re selling a run-down house or undeveloped land, we’ve got you covered.

No Closing Costs

At Bertucci Group, we cover all the closing costs. You won’t need to worry about any additional expenses—what we offer is what you get.

Our Simple and Stress-Free Process

Contact Us: Reach out via our website, bertucci-investments.com, or give us a call at (504) 920-4747 to start the process. Provide us with basic details about your property.

Receive a Cash Offer: Once we assess your property, we’ll present you with a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours.

Close on Your Terms: If you accept the offer, we can close on your timeline—whether you need to sell in a week or need more time to arrange your move.

Why We Are the Best at What We Do

Bertucci Group has earned a solid reputation for being one of the leading real estate investment companies in New Orleans. Here’s why we’re considered the best:

Local Expertise: As a New Orleans-based company, we understand the local market better than anyone. We know the unique challenges homeowners face here and can provide tailored solutions.

Customer-Centric Approach: We prioritize the needs of homeowners, ensuring transparency and fairness in every transaction. Our goal is to help you sell your property without the typical stress and complications.

Speed and Efficiency: Selling a house can take months, but not with us. We streamline the process and offer cash for your property within days, saving you time and energy.

Get Cash for Your Property Today!

Selling your house fast in New Orleans has never been easier. Whether you're looking to downsize, avoid foreclosure, or sell an inherited property, Bertucci Group is here to provide a quick, fair, and stress-free solution. Visit bertucci-investments.com to learn more or call us at (504) 920-4747 to get your cash offer today!

[world-wide-content]

We Buy Houses 9/8/2023

As families expand, the inevitable quest for a more spacious domicile arises. Yet, the urgency to swiftly conclude the sale of your current house can be overwhelming. Fear not, for Rex Property Group LLC in Jefferson, LA is here to assist. We proudly exclaim, "we buy houses," ensuring homeowners undergo a smooth transition. Recognized as a trusted home buyer in New Orleans, LA, our mission is to eliminate potential relocation stressors. Entrust us with the process from inception to completion, and we'll present a transparent, all-cash proposal minus any extraneous fees. Repair work? We have it under control. Give us the green light, accept our equitable offer, and watch us work our magic. Puzzled over how to sell my house fast? Join forces with us, paving the way to a roomier homier residence tailor-made for your growing loving family. Initiate communication with us and let's transform your housing dreams into reality!

[the-writer-posts]

Sell My House Fast 9/4/2023

As your family grows and your current home begins to feel cramped, moving to a larger place becomes more attractive. But here's the deal – to make this move, you need to sell your current home quickly, which can cause stress. Luckily for you, we buy houses in Jefferson, LA, who can help you make your current situation hassle-free. We’re a home buyer in New Orleans, LA, who understands that moving can be tough, so we're here to make it as stress-free as possible for you. Our team will handle everything from start to finish, offering you a fair all-cash deal without closing fees or extra costs. Plus, we'll take care of fixing any repairs ourselves. All you have to do is say yes to fair compensation and move on with your life. It is that easy! No more worrying about how to sell a house fast when you choose to work with Rex Property Group LLC in Jefferson, LA. Been searching for “how to sell my house fast?” Our simple process allows you to concentrate on moving into your new, roomier home that's just right for your expanding family, without the headaches of a complicated home sale. Contact us to start your journey toward becoming the proud owner of a spacious new home.

[the-writers-newsletter]

Sell My House For Cash 7/7/2023

If you have a property in New Orleans, LA, and are seeking assistance with challenging homeownership situations such as foreclosure, burdensome property ownership, succession, and more, Rex Property Group LLC is here to help. As a trusted home buyer, we are committed to providing mutually beneficial solutions that allow you to pursue your passions and interests.

Operating from Mandeville, our reputable real estate solutions company specializes in assisting homeowners like you. We buy houses regardless of the circumstances you may be facing. Whether you're dealing with foreclosure, struggling to sell your property, in need of immediate sale to avoid repairs, or any other reason demanding a fast sale, stop scouring the internet for answers on how to sell my house for cash.

Instead, take the first step today by reaching out to us via our phone numbers or leaving your contact information on our homepage. Trust that you're selecting the finest home buyers available in your area.

[wallpaperwalls]

Professional Sell Your House Fast In Harvey

Are you looking for Professional Sell Your House Fast In Harvey , New Orleans, Metairie, and LA? No fees, no commissions. We are a Professional Local Home Buyer. Call us at 504-264-1407.

[crescenthomebuyers]

Need To Sell My House in New Orleans? You have come to the right place!

Are you considering that I need to sell my house in New Orleans? Get in touch with us! We offer a fair cash offer for houses in any condition. If you want to sell your home fast, we are ready to make you a fair cash offer today! No repair is required, no commissions, and no closing costs. Above all, we assure you that our procedure is simple and that you will be treated fairly and kindly. To avail our services, please get in touch with us at (504)-910-7355.

[perrydowning]

One More Week in the Home the Downings Made

It’s strange to want to run as fast as I can away from New Orleans as well as feel such sadness at the prospect of leaving. But I know that sadness comes from looking back instead of forward. It would be terrifyingly easy to stay, stay, stay, in this place of mourning, leave all his things as he did, and live out my life slowly fading away. I am 100% the kind of drama queen to wander our home in a silk robe, touching everything, haunting my own house.

Though donating most of his clothing, selling the tools and materials of his projects unfinished or only ever dreamed of—letting go of any bit of it, really—is about as fun as you’d expect, it’s also revealed something surprising. That I need to move in a timely manner is saving me from myself.

It turns out I have far more agency in this than I thought possible. I feel myself choosing to fully embrace my grief, letting myself cry so hard I can’t breathe. Then washing my face and continuing the process of realizing I really don’t need 50 pairs of Mr. Downing’s mismatched socks to remember him. And it’s okay to give away his truly magnificent collection of shoes; someone should enjoy his rainbow wingtips. I can’t hug his shoes.

Though I worried I was rushing things by letting go of the majority of his objects, instead I’m so grateful I’m doing it. I mean, it’s completely soul-rending, but storing it to handle it later was never going to change that. Maybe that’s my current guiding principle: face it, Perry, take the body blows, because time won’t make it one bit easier. The only way out is through, as they say.

I’m letting go of nearly all of the furniture as I try not to think about how much we spent on brand new furnishings for our home only three years ago. Some items folks are purchasing, others are being donated. On the last day I’ll be in this house, Saturday, 9/17, we’ll have to throw away anything I can’t fit in the moving pod or dispense with. I can’t believe I’m hiring that hauling company from the show ‘Hoarders’.

One of my kitties is in a new home, another has a temporary placement, leaving me with Rey and Jot. I’m beginning to suspect that they might be road-trippin’ with me west, where I’ll continue to search for suitable caregivers. I’ve had them since they were kittens so all they’ve ever known is love and having appropriate staff. My heart cannot take the thought of them in cages, so even a no-kill shelter isn’t a possibility.

We’ll be driving along I-40, taking us through Albuquerque. The last time I drove this route back to California, the sunset there was the most vibrant I’ve ever seen. Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to get another glimpse.

Every day I find a reason to laugh, and every night I fall asleep to good—soothing—memories of our life together. I’m finding my way.

I’ll write another update once I’m safely back in Palo Alto, California. Take good care, my friends.

[theeangeleudaku]

🦋 Synopsis & Cast 🦋

Angèle Lianne Duplessis is all grown up & determined to let the whole entire world know it. Since shedding her clean cut, good girl image after being cut off by her parents & moving to Los Angeles, Angel, as she’s known to her new found tribe of friends & growing fan base, is strutting down the runway of success & unconventionality in her best pair of Louboutins. She’s on the cusp of truly having everything she’s ever wanted & all while being her free spirited, polyamorus self. Things change when a mysterious man named Erik Stevens comes crashing into her life. Is Erik just the man to show her that maybe she doesn’t have it all together? Is he the one to show her that maybe there’s something bigger she’s missing from her so-called perfect life?

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙:

Angel:

Angel is a 24 years old aspiring singer and actress. Born and raised in the city of New Orleans. Angéle, known to most people as Angel, moved to LA one month after her high school graduation and hit the ground running in pursuit of her dreams. While she grew up in a more conservative household, moving to LA allowed Angel the freedom to explore who she truly is: a free spirited, passionate woman with a love of edibles, tattoos, great, intimate connections, good vibes, great experiences, and the arts (music, film, fashion, etc). She also has a temper & leans left in politics. She’s very “namaste, but don’t try me, bitch.”

As for romance, Angel currently practices solo polyamory. What this means is she forms intimate connections with multiple people while maintaining a single lifestyle. This differs from typical non exclusive dating as she doesn’t date new people without the consent and knowledge of her other partners. She also does not date with the intention of eventually forming a committed relationship or having a primary partner. Her main focus is her career & anyone who wants some of her time better get with the program or get left behind.

Mateo Cruz:

Mateo is a 26 year old Mexican American & UCLA graduate. He was born in Mexico, but moved to South LA at the age of 9 with his parents & younger brother, Manny. He’s one of Angel’s best friends and og plug whom she met her very first year in LA. Mateo started off selling weed as a high schooler to bring extra money into the house which would lead him to eventually opening his own dispensary after graduating college with a degree in business management, then two, then 15 across california, colorado, & massachusetts. The two of them have also been dating on and off for the past 3 years & are each other’s first loves. He’s accepting of the fact that Angel is solo polyamorous with no plans for a committed relationship anytime soon. He’s also supportive of her career & hooked her up with her main collaborator & bestie, Blaire Jones.

Blaire Jones:

Blaire is a 24 year old musical extraordinaire from Brooklyn, New York who moved to LA at the age of 21 after graduating from Berklee School of Music. She & Angel met through a mutual friend (Mateo) & became fast friends & collaborators both. Blaire plays 7 instruments & has been said to be the future producer of the decade. She plans to punch any barriers in her way as a female producer down with her bare fists. How did Mateo & Blaire meet? She was a regular at Mateo’s dispensary in Central LA that he hooked up with a few times before she decided he was better as strictly the homie because he’s a little hoe.

Rei Aoki:

28 year old Rei Aoki, a Japanese American from Manhattan, is thee fashionista. Angel & she connected on instagram and became close friends after Angel hired her to style her for a photoshoot 3 years ago. With a passion for fashion, an eye for upcoming trends, & a great sense of humor, it isn’t of any wonder that Angel and Rei are close. She’s already styled big names like Beyoncé & Tessa Thompson, but will always keep her bestie as a client. That’s loyalty, baby! She has dreams of one day creating a fashion label of her own that fuses street style and japanese culture.

Cairo Smith:

31 year old Cairo Smith is a socialite, model, & actor from Houston,Texas. Over the past 3 years, Cairo has risen to fame after getting caught at the club with Zendaya, then on a dinner date with Selena Gomez 6 months later, then in a rumored cheating scandal between him & Rihanna 2 months after that. His notoriety landed him a gig in an Ocean’s 12 reboot and the rest is history. He’s basically the black Pete Davidson, known for bagging A list celeb women & getting a come up while doing it. He has no shame in fucking his way to relevancy.

What started off as a raya date when Angel was about 22 & Cairo was 29, turned into a friendship, then turned into a fwb situation because apparently Angel likes fucking her male friends from time to time. The two are particularly close & it’s through this friendship that Angel finally gets her big break.

Tyla Duplessis:

Tyla is Angel’s 20 year old younger sister. She always knew she’d follow in the footsteps of their supermodel mom, Ayan Duplessis from a very young age. She and Angel share an incredibly close bond, which is why it surprised neither of their parents when Tyla moved to LA to live in the same high rise as her big sister once she turned 18. Tyla enjoys hiking, surfing, and abusing adderall to stay supermodel thin.

Ayan & Noah Duplessis:

Parents of Angéle & Tyla Duplessis. The two of them have been married for over 30 years & chose to raise their children in the city of New Orleans, away from the spotlight & where Noah Duplessis was born & raised, after successful careers as a model & rock & roll singer respectively.

Erik Stevens:

Erik Stevens is a mysterious 31 year old MIT graduate turned navy seal, turned black ops operative, turned arms dealer that was born and raised in Oakland,CA. He’s also in a serious relationship with Nola Reign, a close friend (lowkey a lil more than that) of Angel’s. Between his charm, his African god like looks, & his big dick energy, it isn’t of any wonder that Angel finds herself getting a little caught up in him.

Nola Reign:

Hennessy Aurelié Baptise, also known as Nola Reign, is a 25 year old child prodigy from the beautiful city of New Orleans. A Harvard & MIT graduate. Nola and Angel meet as a result of Nola attending a concert and becoming completely smitten with Angel & viceversa. The two form an instant connection and become fast friends once realizing they have so much in common (a love of the arts, born and raised in New Orleans, creole heritage etc.)

She and Erik are in a serious relationship.

[thoughtsafter3am]

Nine People You Want to Know Better

I was tagged by @theestuaryandthesea and I completely forgot to do this because I can be a bit of a space cadet in the summer but then @megsandherbooks tagged me too, so here I am (after writing myself a reminder 😂)… finally.

Favorite Color: Not to be a basic white girl, but I love sea foam green.

Currently Reading: For fun, Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik but I’m also reading Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality by Julia Shaw for my dissertation prep. I also have a bunch of articles open on my laptop right now that are in various states of being read too.

Last Song: “Don’t Tell Anyone” by Semler is the last song, but I often listen to podcasts more than music now. I just started It’s Locked: A Nancy Drew Podcast about the Nancy Drew computer games that were a fundamental part of my childhood and I love it.

Last Series: The last series I finished was a throwback to Food Court Wars which made me nostalgic for when malls were not dead. The last episode of I watched was Selling the Big Easy and it made me want to go back to New Orleans ASAP.

Last Movie: To be fully transparent and honest, I do have to admit I watched (most) of Purple Hearts on Netflix because I love a rom com but I had to fast forward the singing. That is my big pet peeve in movies and I just couldn’t take that on top of the not even thinly veiled military propaganda. Was this somehow on the list of movies partially funded by the Pentagon because it sure felt like it? A former host of a podcast I listened to live tweeted her reaction as a former military lawyer and it made the whole thing so much better. One of her tweets said the movie needed to fast forward to show the audience where the male lead was on January 6th and I was like “yeah, that tracks.” He 100% had capitol mob vibes.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Sweet before spicy before savory. I love sweet things and my dental bill wishes I did not.

Currently Working On: Dissertation prep and course planning for the fall semester. I also really like to make miniature houses and I just finished one so I need to start a new one! I just finished this one:

Tagging anyone who feels inclined or wants to take this as a way to let people know a little bit about themselves!

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 21

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

Pairing: DamonxOc, TylerxOc, ElijahxOc then KlausxOc endgame.

The feel of Damon’s lips on her cheek pulled her from yet another repeat dream of Elijah and Hannah. Katie decided to play with Damon and pretended to still be asleep as he kept kissing her in an attempt to wake her up. He kissed her other cheek then her chin, her neck, her chest and when she pressed a kiss to her stomach, just below her belly button she couldn’t help but laugh. He did it again knowing it tickled her. “Okay, okay, I’m awake.” She laughed as she reached down and hooked her hand under his chin, pulling him up to kiss him on the lips. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He echoed back then reached over and grabbed her phone. “You got a message from Elijah last night.” He handed it to her to see Elijah’s name on the screen with a message under it.

She opened the message, “Lunch at the Mystic Grill, 12:00. Come alone.” She read out loud then clicked her phone off and tossed it aside. “That gives me five hours to hide away in bed with you.” she said as she rolled over onto her side to look at him.”

“As much as I would love that, don’t you have work?” he asked and Katie turned her eyes to the sheets they were laying on.

“Yeah…no. I quit.” She answered. “It’s just another part of my old life that I can’t fit myself back into. There’s too much vampire crap going on for me to actually make it through a full shift.”

“I won’t argue with that decision.” He told her as he rolled them over and laid to the side of her as he brushed her hair to the side, admiring her. “But if you quit your job what are you going to do about paying your bills.”

“Compel the repo. man when he comes to repossess my car? Sell my house and all the bad memories it holds? I don’t know, but I’d rather quit than be flaky.” Katie answered and Damon looked at her with a face that said he wanted to say something, but didn’t know if he should. “Whatever you’re thinking, say it.”

“I can’t see you making this decision a few months ago.” He said exactly what she thought he was going to say.

“I wasn’t a vampire stuck in the middle of vampire problems a few months ago. Now my soul is tied to an original vampire’s, Elena is possibly going to be sacrificed and has no interest in stopping it and I have to go meet with said vampire that my soul is tied to and talk about who the hell knows what because the topic of he and I is going to be off limits.” She said as she rolled them over and started kissing his face randomly.  “Do you see time for waiting on tables and serving you bourbon in there anywhere, because I don’t.”

“Okay, you’ve made your point. I won’t talk you into going back to work as long as you go to school.” He told her making her roll her eyes.

“I’ve worked practically my whole life to go to college and make something of myself. That part of me hasn’t changed. I’ll go to school, make the best grades I can and when I slip, that’s what compulsion is for.” She said.

He rolled them back over and looked at her with warning eyes. “Damon.” She drawled. “I’m kidding. I’m not going compel my teachers…again.” She added with a smile. “Now can you please take my mind off all of this until I have to shower and meet Elijah?”

Damon laughed and pressed his lips to hers.

TVDTVDTVD

At twelve sharp Katie walked into the grill and over to the table where she saw Elijah waiting for her. As soon as she sat down a waitress walked over to take their order. Katie simply ordered fries, something that could be eaten quickly or slowly depending on how fast she wanted the conversation to be over. Elijah didn’t order anything and already had a glass of water sitting in front of him. “Can I start the conversation?” Katie asked as the waitress walked away.

“Yes, of course.” He told her with a pleased smile.

“I have some…ground rules.” Elijah smirked and waved for her to talk. “I don’t know what you had planned for us to talk about today, but we aren’t going to talk about my past life as Hannah, us or you and Hannah. Everything else is fine.”

“Understood.” Elijah told her with a nod. “So what do you do for fun?” he asked as the waitress walked over with their drinks.

Deciding to let him lead the conversation for now she answered the question. “Before Katherine snapped my neck I…” she tried to think of the things she considered fun. “wrote poetry, hung out with my friends and was attempting and failing to teach myself to play guitar.” She answered then grabbed her coke and took a drink. “Now…nothing.”

“I know you’re in school.” She said remembering the history paper on her desk. “Any extracurricular activities?”

“Cheerleading, track and softball, but our coach was…” she was going to say murdered, but looked around the restaurant and changed her mind, “attacked by an animal. So all sports got canceled for the year.” She answered getting an odd look from him.

“You don’t come across as the kind of girl who would enjoy cheerleading.” He said with a look that said he was intrigued.

“Yeah, I know. My grandfather pushed me into it. Plus it’s actually kind of fun pretending to be super peppy.” Katie said as she crossed her arms over her chest. “What about you? Ever go to college?”

“Unfortunately no.” he answered then took a drink of his water. Getting tired of the small talk, Katie looked down at her hands as she thought about asking him what she really wanted to know. “If you have a question, just ask. You do not have to be nervous around me.”

“You saw my parents when you were in my head…” she started, putting her hands in her lap under the table so he wouldn’t see her fidgeting. “Do you know them? Did they ever succeed in getting into your inner circle or whatever they were talking about?”

“No. I’ve never seen them before. They went to New Orleans. My family has not resided there since 1919. They were probably given outdated information.” He told her.

Katie bit the inside of her lip as she looked down at the table with a frown. “Right, well.” Katie sighed and scratched the back of her neck uncomfortable. “Maybe one of these days I’ll find my father myself and as him what he’s still doing there since he obviously isn’t keeping you and you’re brother from me.”

“You have yet to call my brother by his name.” Elijah pointed out. “You don’t know it do you?” he asked and she shook her head no. “It’s Niklaus.”

“Niklaus as in Klaus?” Katie asked. “The oldest vampire in the history of time?”

“I am older than him, but yes.” Elijah answered.

“Wow, okay.” Katie blinked. “So do you have any more siblings who might want to kill me?” she asked then placed her elbows on the table and motioned for him to bring it on with her hands. “Hit me with some family history.” She placed her arms on the table and leaned in clearly interested.

He smiled a little, pleasantly surprised with her playfulness. “My father was a wealthy land owner in a village in eastern Europe. My mother bore seven children.” He started.

“So were you born a vampire or…?” Katie asked a little confused.

“How my family became vampires is a very long story for another time. I was born human as were my siblings. What you heard of my brother is true for all of us. We are the oldest vampires in the world, the original family and from us all vampires were created.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to be saying wow a lot during this conversation.” Katie said as the waitress finally walked over with her fries and set them down in front of her.

“My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth.” As he spoke, Katie munched on her fries. “Klaus was not my father’s son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus was from a different blood line.” Katie’s brows rose. “Let me guess, you are thinking…Wow?” he asked with a small smirk.

Katie laughed a little as she swallowed her food. “Actually I was thinking…Ooh scandalous.” She said like an interested interviewer then smiled as she picked up a fry. “Please continue the story.”

“When my father discovered this about Klaus he hunted down and he killed my mother’s lover and his Entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day.” He paused to give Katie time to put the pieces together.

“Vampires and werewolves.” Katie said out loud. “Klaus is part werewolf…part vampire?”

“A hybrid, yes.” He answered and Katie put down the fry she was about to eat. “A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore the witches, servants of nature, saw to it that my brother’s werewolf side would become dormant.”

When Katie saw Damon and Elena walk into the grill she frowned. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” Elijah nodded so Katie stood up and headed over to them. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Better question is why are you here with Elijah.” Elena said with a confused look at Katie.

“I’ll explain later.” Katie told her then looked at Damon for answers.

“We just need to talk to John.” He said with a point at John where he stood near Alaric and Jenna who were sitting at a table. She hadn’t even noticed that they were at the grill. Katie frowned and looked back at Damon. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep my ears and eyes to myself.” He told her then leaned into her as he said, “My lips, however…” he smiled right before he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him as he kissed her.

Elena cleared her throat reminding them they were in a public place. So the broke the kiss and let go of each other. “So much for no PDA for a couple weeks.” Katie said making Damon roll his eyes with a smile. “I’ll see you later.” She told him then walked back over to Elijah. “Sorry about that.” She sighed as she sat down across from him. “So Klaus has a dormant werewolf gene.” She prompted him to continue.

“I would like some fresh air. Care to take a walk with me?” he asked not liking the fact that Damon was now at the grill and most likely wasn’t keeping his ears to himself.

Katie looked down at her cold fries and watered down coke. “Sure.” She stood up and pulled cash out of her pocket.

“I have already covered the bill.” He spoke up as he stood from the chair.

“But all you had was water.” she argued with a point at the glass of water on the table.

“A gentleman never allows the lady to pay.” He argued back making Katie smile. “Shall we?” he asked motioning for her to go first.

She put the money back into her pocket and they went outside, him opening the door for her like the gentleman he was. “Thank you.” she told him with a polite smile as she stepped outside. Realizing that they were out in the sun she turned her eyes to his hands.

“Trying to see if I wear a daylight ring?” He asked as he held up his hand for her to see the lapis lazuli ring on his right hand. He then dropped it and held his arm out for her to take as they walked.

“I thought nothing could kill you.” she said as she took his offered arm, slipping hers though it. Touching him even over the layers of his nice suit caused the feelings she always had when near him to stir in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t help looking up at him to see if he felt it too.

He gave her a small smile that told her he did. “That’s not entirely true.” He told her as they slowly walked down the sidewalk. “The witches won’t allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have weaknesses in order to maintain the balance.” Katie looked across her shoulder at him curiously. “So while the sun will not kill me it still burns.”

“What about fire?” Katie asked then glanced ahead of them.

“It hurts, but it will not kill me nor will a werewolf bite.” He answered. “I hope you will forgive me for not telling you what will kill me.”

Katie looked up at him. “If you didn’t already know what would kill me I wouldn’t tell you either, no offense.” They walked quietly for a minute as Katie thought about what all he had told her. “So if the sun won’t kill you, why does Klaus want the sun and moon curse broken?”

“Ah, the curse of the sun and the moon.” He said as he looked around them with a smile.

“Why do you say it like that?” she asked looking across her shoulder at his handsome face.

“Because it’s not real.” He told her straight out making Katie give him a tilt of her head with furrowed brows. “Klaus and I planted that story in Roman scrolls, African carvings, Aztec sketches and any other culture or continent we felt like.”

“Why?” Katie asked as she placed her other hand on his arm.

“The easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelganger or to get your hands on some long, lost moon stone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout for it.” he answered making her stare at him.

“So what do you need the moon stone and Elena for if not to break the sun and moon curse?” she asked not taking her eyes off of him as they walked. The smile he gave her suggested she already knew the answer to that question. “Oh my god.” Katie gasped and stopped walking and let go of Elijah’s arm. “He wants to unlock his werewolf gene.”

“Yes. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He’d build his own race, endangering not just vampires, but everyone.” Elijah told her as he walked around her to stand face to face with her.

“Do you plan on letting him do that?” Katie asked with wide, scared eyes. “I mean, you already admitted to helping him plant the sun and moon story all over the world.”

“I helped him because I loved him. That’s changed, now he must die.” He told her and she just stared at him. “I promise you, I will not let him hurt you.” He told her as he slid his hand over her cheek.

Hating the way skin to skin contact with him made her feel she grabbed his wrist and took his hand off of her. “Can I ask how you’re planning on killing him?” she asked as she looped her arm back through his so that they were now walking back to the grill, facing the setting sun.

“I’m sorry. I can not reveal that information to you.” he told her sounding genuinely sorry.

“Understandable.” She told him with a hard faced nod.

“You are mad at me.” He observed as he reached over and placed his hand over hers on his arm.

“I’m not mad.” She couldn’t help looking up into his eyes as they walked. “I’m grateful you have willingly told me everything that you have.”

“Willingly?” he asked a little amused that she thought she could pull it out of him another way.

“Yeah…” she drawled as she looked down at the ground and kicked a rock sending it skipping down the sidewalk. “Damon suggested that I flirt with you to get you to open up.” She admitted as she scratched the back of her neck uncomfortably then looked across her shoulder at him to see him giving her an amused smile. “I don’t think he understands how…drawn, to you I already feel.”

“That is the first time you have admitted to feeling something for me.” He pointed out making her keep looking at him as they strolled along the sidewalk.

“It’s not like I can keep ignoring the fact that every time you touch me I…” she trailed off with a shake of her head. “But it’s not real.” She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince, her or him. “It’s just a spell put on us by Fiona.”

“We are breaking your rules.” He pointed out with a smirk.

“Right.” She took in a deep breath and let it out. “Change of subject.” She sighed as she looked over at him, taking in his hair and eyes. “I liked your hair better in the 1830’s.”

“You are flirting with me.” He observed and she looked down at the ground then up at him through her lashes. “Well, I like your hair better now.” She blushed a little and turned her eyes to the ground. “The wild curls were a bit…problematic.” His words caused images to flash through her minds eye and she stopped walking causing him to stop and turn to see a confused look on her face as the images kept flashing. “What’s the matter?”

“A memory.” She answered as she closed her eye to see the images better.

Hannah was laughing as she hovered over him, her nose brushing his as she pressed her lips to his, her hair covering both of their faces. He rolled them over with lightening speed then sat them up. “That hair of yours while beautiful can be quite…” he paused and reached over the side of the bed, pulling the lacing out of her dress before he sat back up, “problematic.” He was clearly annoyed but she just giggled as he brushed her hair back and tied it away from her face with the lace. “Now, where were we?” he asked and she leaned in brushing his nose with hers, teasing him by lightly brushing her lips across his. Needing more he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into him kissing her hungrily as he rolled them over and sank into her.

While she was standing on the sidewalk with her eyes closed Elijah watched as her facial expression changed as if she was experiencing with the vision she was seeing. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, lust was in her eyes. “What did you see?”

Instead of answering him Katie zipped out of sight desperate to get away from him before what she was feeling won the battle that she was losing in such close proximity to Elijah. He looked around making sure no one was looking before he chased after her, finding her leaning against the back of one of the stores with her hands on her head that was leaned back against the bricks of the building, breathing hard.

He walked silently over to her and took her hands from her head, making her eyes snap open. In a flash she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into her pressing her lips to his in a hungry kiss. He gripped her hips and picked her up, causing her to wrap her legs around him as he pressed her back into the building. As if her hands were not her own she started unbuttoning his shirt as he kissed her neck. But when the lust driven fog that had clouded her brain began to clear she forced herself to take her hands from him, slamming them back into the bricks, cracking one of them. “Stop…” the word sounded pained. He too was foggy headed and her word didn’t make it though. “Elijah…please…stop.” He stopped kissing her neck, but didn’t let her go. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” She panted, resting her head on his strong shoulder.

“What did you see?” he whispered in her ear then back up so she could drop her legs from around him.

“We were in bed.” She started as she took a step back and started buttoning his shirt. “My hair was in both of our faces, getting on your nerves. I thought your aggravation was funny.” It was obvious to both of them that she was only buttoning his shirt out of the need to touch him. “You tied it back from my face and we started kissing and…” she breathed hard just from talking about it as she buttoned the last button, under his tie.

“I remember.” He told her as she made herself step back and take her hands off of him. “Please, let me give you your memories.” He almost begged, the desperation in his voice surprising her.

“I’ve told you why I don’t want that.” She argued. “No.”

“Perhaps they don’t have to come from me.” He started as he cupped her face in his hand. “A witch once put a dam in your mind it could be possible for one to completely unlock all of your past memories, not just the ones of us, but…”

“No, Elijah.” Katie insisted. “I’m sorry, we obviously loved each other…a lot, but I love Damon. I’ve made that clear from the beginning and it’s still true now despite my mixed signals today.” Part of her wanted to throw herself at him again and another part wanted to run to Damon. “If I have fulfilled my part of yesterday’s agreement I would very much like to go home now.” She looked around them just now realizing that it had gotten dark outside.

When she looked back at him she brought her hand up to grab the wrist of his hand that was still on her face. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers like she had done to tease him in her memory. When she didn’t kiss him back he pulled away and took his hand from her face. “You can go.”

She sped away from him to the back of the grill where she walked around it and to her car. She was getting inside when her phone started ringing. “Your timing is incredible.” She answered Damon.

“The blond werewolf has your blond friend.” He told her angrily. “Where are you?”

“Getting into my car about to go home.” She told him. “Where are you?” she asked right before he walked out of the grill and headed her way.

“I’m driving.” He told her as he walked around to the driver’s side and held his hand out for her keys. So she gave them to him and headed to the passenger side. “Tyler knows about us. Jules told him that we killed Mason. To make a long story short Stefan has Tyler and Jules has Caroline.”

“Awesome.” Katie sighed as she put on her seatbelt. “So where are you going?” she asked.

“A clearing near wickery falls.” He answered as he started driving.

TVDTVDTVD

“Tyler is free to make his own decisions as soon as you release Caroline." They heard Stefan say as they walked up to where he and Tyler stood outside of a camper that Jules stood in front of.

"My brother the peace maker." Damon said as the walked up making Stefan and Tyler look at them.

"Katie?" Tyler asked looking at her across his shoulder as she moved to stand beside him and Damon.

"Hi." She told him quietly with a quick, awkward wave.

"Since Stefan got here before me I'm going to let him try it his way before I resort my way...which is a little bloodier." Katie shook her head at him then looked at Jules. "So give us Caroline."

"Let go of Tyler." Jules argued.

"Give us Caroline. Without a full moon it’s not an even fight and you know it." Damon pointed out. "We will take you."

"I’m not so sure about that tough guy." Jules replied then whistled making more werewolves step out of the shadows. Most were carrying wooden stakes or other weapons and one had a tank of gas and a flame thrower. "Let’s try this again. Give us Tyler."

Katie, Damon and Stefan all exchanged looks before Damon looked at Tyler. "You heard her." He jerked his head at Jules. "Get over there."

Tyler walked over and stood next to Jules before a guy standing closer to the camper asked. "Which one of you killed Mason?"

"Um...that'd be me." Damon answered not surprising anyone.

"Boys! Make sure that one suffers." The guy pointed at Damon with a stake.

The three of them looked around. "We can take them." Damon encouraged.

"I don’t know about that." Stefan countered.

"Yeah...I think I'm with Stefan on this one." Katie said looking around at all the werewolves.

"Well then." Damon headed straight for Jules kicking off the fighting.

"Shit." Katie scoffed having no clue how to kill a werewolf or fight in general.

Stefan grabbed the guy who was now attempting to use the flame thrower and used him to hold off two werewolves. So seeing that they were distracted, Katie rushed over and broke one of their necks and when the second one made a move for her Stefan burned him with the flamethrower, distracting him enough for Katie to break his neck too.

When a wolf came at her she freaked and jumped high, avoiding his grappling move then landed right behind him and snapped his neck. One rushed up behind her and staked her between her shoulder blades causing her back to arch as she screamed out in pain. She fell on her stomach on the dirt and attempted to reach back to pull it out, but the wolf that stabbed her stepped on it, pushing it further in. She screamed, digging her nails into the dirt.

Damon tried to make a run for Katie, but Jules shot him in the shoulder making him fall to the ground. When Caroline came out of the camper Jules rushed to her and pinned her to the side of it, holding the gun to her head. Katie watched from the ground as Tyler stood in the doorway looking at Caroline with scared eyes. “Tyler, do something!” she yelled and the guy stepped on the stake again making her scream.

Tyler was about to take a step out of the camper when all of the wolves besides him grabbed their heads in pain and fell to the ground. Katie was pushing herself from the ground when Damon came over and pulled the stake from her back then helped her up and wrapped his arm around her side. “Elijah made a promise to Elena. I’m here to see it’s upheld.” The witch that knocked the wolves out spoke and Katie looked up to see that it was Luka’s dad. “You need to go.” Damon, Katie, Stefan and Caroline all walked over to him. “Get out of here, now.”

Katie looked back at Tyler then let Damon help her walk away. When he got into the drivers seat she looked over at him. “How’s your shoulder?” she asked with a nod to the bullet hole.

“Healed.” He answered. “How’s your back?”

“Healing.” She answered as she rolled her shoulders. “I’ve only had one blood bag today.” Damon reached over and cupped her face in his hand, looking at her with worried eyes. “I’m fine.” She took it off of her face and kissed his palm. “Let’s go home, a blood bag, a shower and your bed is calling my name.” he gave her a smile and started the car.

TVDTVDTVD

Water poured over them from the shower head above them as Damon ran his hands over her sudsy skin. “Not gonna lie, seeing you break someone’s neck tonight was kind of hot.” Damon told her, his lusty voice in her ear before he kissed it.

She smiled and slid her arms over his that hugged her from behind. “It’s kind of my only move.” She told him as she turned in his arms, wrapping hers around his waist. “I’ve been thinking about asking Alaric to teach me how to fight.”

“I can teach you how to fight.” He said as he started kissing her neck.

“I think we both know that if you tried to teach me we’d just end up in bed.” She told him with a smirk.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He said as he moved to kissing the other side of her neck. Katie pulled away from him to rinse the soap from her skin then step out of the shower. He could tell something was as off as soon as she walked away from him. “So what did you and Elijah talk about?” he asked as he finished showering without her.

“A lot.” She answered. “Mostly him and Klaus and the sun and moon curse.” She answered as she dried off.

“You know I can tell when you’re keeping something from me right?” he asked as he turned off the shower and stepped out. Katie looked at him with guilty eyes as she wrapped her towel around herself. “What is it?” he wrapped a towel around his hips as he walked over to her.

“I think you and I have both severely underestimated how much my tie to Elijah…the bond we share…affects me.” She said as she walked around him and into his room. He didn’t like how she was avoiding his touch. “I had a new memory…a vision…come to me when I was around him today and it was…” she could think of a thousand different words to describe it, but none that she wanted to say to Damon. “Like the dream I had in your car.” She said instead. Damon just stared at her, his jaw a little slack. “I…god this is hard to say to you…” she sighed as she headed to her clothes that she had laid on his bed.

“You love him…don’t you?” he asked not moving from where he stood in the archway of his bathroom.

“No.” she answered as she pulled on a pair of lace panties. “Right now, when I’m not around him…no.” she grabbed her bra and put it on while thinking of the right thing to say without lying to him. “But when I’m near him…it feels like I do. And when I had that vision today…it was like dirty cupid shot me with an arrow and all I could think about was jumping his bones.” She pulled on a tank top.

Damon walked over to his dresser and grabbed a pair of boxers. “So what did you do?”

“I ran.” She answered as she pulled on a pair of cheer shorts then sat down on the bed. “But he didn’t know what was wrong so he followed me.” She watched him put on his boxers then turned to look at her with glaring, pissed off eyes.

“Just say it Katie.” He told her as he walked over to her. “I can see it written all over your face so just…say it.” his harsh tone caused her eyes to water.

“I lost control and I kissed him.” she admitted in a shaky voice as a tear slipped. “I made a mistake.”

Damon whooshed out of the room, slamming the door behind him and Katie flinched as a picture crashed to the floor, shattering the glass. Refusing to break down for the millionth time since she turned, she headed to the parlor where she knew alcohol would be in stock. She was staring at the decanter, playing with the rim of it as she debated getting drunk when Stefan walked in. “Are you okay?” he asked seeing the tear that betrayed her.

She quickly wiped it away and looked up at him and his worried eyes. “No.” she answered letting her eyes fall back to the decanters in front of her.

Stefan walked over and took her hand off of the bottle then dropped it. “I have a healthier alternative.”

“Yeah?” she asked not looking at him. “What’s that?” she asked not really interested.

“Girls night at Caroline’s.” he said making Katie look up at him, confused considering she hadn’t heard from her friends. “Both of you have had a hard night, Caroline more so. I think you could all use it.” Katie stared at him, a little shocked that Stefan was suggesting a slumber party. “I thought you, Elena and Bonnie could surprise her.”

“That…” Katie sighed looking around as if she might find Damon, “sounds like the best thing I’ve heard all day.” Her reply made Stefan smile. “I’ll go change and pack a bag then meet you guys there.”

Katie went to her room, tore a piece of paper out of a spiral notebook and scribbled down a note for Damon. She taped it to his door then grabbed her things and headed out.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie, Elena and Bonnie stood on Caroline’s front porch, each holding their pillows and overnight bags like a bunch of preteens, as Stefan knocked on the door. Caroline answered wearing a robe with her wet hair tied up in a bun. “Hey.” She greeted Stefan since the girls were standing were Caroline could see them. “What’s going on?”

“I was a bit worried about you after everything you went through tonight.” Stefan told her with his hands in his pockets.

“I’m fine.” Caroline replied with a smile.

“Good, but just in case, I…uh, brought some back up.” He told her with a point over his shoulder as the girls stepped into view, Elena first.

“We’re gonna slumber it.” she told her as she stepped inside.

“We haven’t done it in ages.” Bonnie told her as she walked inside.

“It’s long over due.” Katie chipped in as the three of them hugged Caroline who started crying.

TVDTVDTVD

The girls sat around on Caroline’s bed surrounded by junk food with bowls of ice cream in their laps. The three girls giggled and laughed, letting lose, but Katie just stared down at the strawberry ice cream that she swirled around with her spoon. “Hey!” Caroline said as she snapped her fingers in Katie’s face getting her attention. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing, just distracted…I guess.” She said as she picked up a potato chip and dipped it in the melted ice cream.

“Well, talk about it.” Caroline told her and Katie shook her head no.

“Come on, that’s what tonight is all about.” Elena pressed.

“Y’all are happy and laughing, I…don’t want to squash the mood.” Katie brushed them off then ate the chip.

“Katie…” Bonnie sighed making Katie look up at her. “Talk to us.”

“Tonight is all about making Caroline feel better.” Katie tried again, but her friends all dead panned at her. “Fine…I…” Katie sighed. “Dear lord where do I start.”

“Try the beginning.” Bonnie told her making Katie smile.

“Okay…” Katie scratched at her head. “Well, after Damon healed me from the car wreck and before I turned I…found out that I was three weeks pregnant.”

“What?” “Oh my god.” “Oh, no.” Bonnie, Caroline and Elena said at the same time.

“Does Tyler know?” Caroline asked.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t know that I lost it because of Katherine.” Katie answered then looked up from the bowl of ice cream to Caroline. “You were right when you said that my relationship was doomed from the moment Katherine killed us. I know I should’ve tried to make things work with him, I should have been there for him, but…just looking at him reminds me of the family I could have had, the child I could have given a better life than the one I had.”

“Hey, at least you’re happy with Damon.” Elena attempted to make her feel better, but all it did was make her feel worse.

“Yeah,” Katie attempted to smile but it looked pained, “but just like last time we were together there is someone else in the picture making things complicated.”

“Who is Damon going after now?” Bonnie asked with a frown.

“It’s not Damon…it’s me. I’m screwing things up.” She answered as she leaned to the side and sat her bowl on the floor, no longer interested in it.

“What?” all three of them asked together.

Katie took a deep breath in an attempt to hold it together. “This is going to sound crazy, but my soul was linked to Elijah’s in the 1830’s by a witch names Fiona.”

“That doesn’t just sound crazy it is crazy. You weren’t alive then.” Elena told her with a shake of her head.

“Ever heard of reincarnation?” Katie asked then told them about how she came to be linked to Elijah.

“So do you love Elijah?” Caroline asked curiously.

“No. I love Damon with every bone in my body.” Katie answered then grabbed a chip out of the bag in front of Caroline and tossed it into her mouth. “But when I’m around Elijah it’s like…how I feel about Damon completely disappears and gets replaced by Elijah.” She answered staring down at the bed. “When I’m around him I have to fight as hard as I possibly can to not hug him or kiss him…its torture.”

“You went to him yesterday didn’t you?” Elena asked making Katie look up at her. “You said you were going to do what you could to find a cure for Rose.”

Katie nodded. “I promised him that if he told me if there was a cure that I would have lunch with him today.”

“Did you?” Bonnie asked.

“Yep.” Katie answered popping the p at the end of the word.

“That’s why you were with him at the grill today.” Elena realized and Katie nodded.

“Damon suggested that I flirt with him to get him to confide in me. I couldn’t do that so I was just…friendly with him. I was holding his arm as we walked down the sidewalk and he made some comment about how he liked my hair better than Hannah’s and a word he used triggered a past memory…a vision almost. I’ll spare you the details, but when it was over…I ended up making out with him behind a store.”

“Whoa.” Bonnie said making Katie look up at her.

“Ew.” Elena added.

“Is he a good kisser?” Caroline asked getting scolded by Elena and Bonnie, but for the first time that night Katie started laughing. “What?” Caroline asked.

“Nothing.” Katie shook her head and stopped laughing but still smiled. “Becoming a vampire has changed you…but it hasn’t changed you that much.” Caroline smiled and shook her head at Katie. “Yes, he is a very good kisser.” She answered. “But that’s not the point. I told Damon what happened and he got pissed and just…took off. I don’t know where he went, but I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid.”

Elena pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Stefan. “Hey, is Damon there?” she asked and Katie could hear Stefan on the other end of the line. “No, I don’t want to talk to him. I was just making sure he wasn’t off doing something stupid to get back at Katie.” She once again heard Stefan’s reply. “Yeah, we’re binging on calories, she’s fine.”

“Okay, no more boy talk unless they’re famous.” Bonnie told Elena and Katie as she urged Elena to hang up the phone. Elena told Stefan goodnight.

“Damon is at the boarding house. Stefan said he’s been in the library, drinking since he got home.” Katie sighed in relief. “Now, what Bonnie said, no more boy talk.”

“Why don’t we watch a movie?” Bonnie suggested.

“Oh, what about the notebook?” Caroline asked perking up.

“No.” all three girls answered at the same time then started laughing.

[kinglivv]

Playbook

Whittaker!Master X Reader

Summary: The reader is a secret agent, sent to recover a computer the Master has stolen and is subsequently selling. But she doesn't plan on the Master being hot. She also doesn't plan on things going quite as wrong as they do.

Warnings: Gunfire

A/N: This is loosely based off of an episode of NCIS New Orleans. Also sorry for such a long few days with no fic - my phone broke which had this fic on it, but now I've got it back and am able to post it!

It's the middle of New Orleans carnival, and the bar is hot and heaving. Music plays, and people wearing masks and feathers fill it, drinking and nodding along to the band in the corner.

You're positioned strategically at the bar. You can see the reflection of what's behind you in the wine bottles lining the shelves, and you're drinking from a mysterious brown bottle, so no one can see how much you've drank. You're feeling strangely relaxed for such a high profile mission - it's not often you go undercover. Your hair's loose and curled, your red dress flattering your every curve and your make-up perfect to the millimetre. You definitely look the part.

"Head's up L/N, target approaching." Your boss's voice comes through your earpiece, and glancing up at the wine bottles, you see your mark.

The Master.

She's even more striking in real life. She had certainly looked beautiful on the computer screen during your briefing, but in person she was ethereal. White suit, blonde curls, and self-assured smirk on her face. She looked utterly out of place during carnival week, but she owned it.

"Lisa Shaw?" She asks cooly as she appears next to you.

You nod.

Lisa Shaw was in fact dead. Murdered two days ago - she was who the Master was supposed to be meeting, but the Master had no idea what Lisa Shaw actually looked like, so you had seized the opportunity and taken her place. You and your team were hoping tonight you would capture the universe's most illusive criminal.

"Master," You greet her, glancing up and down, eyes raking over her form. "Sit down, have a drink."

"Not so fast," She replies, and before you know it there's a click of a safety catch and a gun's pressed to your side, covered from the view of others by her blazer.

"The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before," She says in Gallifreyan. It's a password you realise, so she knows you are who you say you are. And you don't know it. "The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air."

"And the clouds perish'd." You take a stab in the dark and reply with the only Gallifreyan phrase you knew. "Darkness had no need of aid from them— she was the Universe."

"That's beautiful," She switches back to English. "I've never heard that version of it before. What does it mean?"

"It means you're not the only one who came armed," You reply coldly, and all of sudden the gun that was strapped to your thigh is in your hand, mussel pressed up against her stomach, mirroring her position.

"Well, well, well," She grins, and there's a sparkle in her eye. "Didn't expect a pretty thing like you to be so... feisty."

"Oh, I'm full of surprises."

"In that case, how about we take this upstairs?"

You hear your boss in your ear, telling you to agree. You nod your head, and both guns are withdrawn. The Master eyes drift downwards, shamelessly watching you reholster your weapon to your thigh. Usually you would roll your eyes, call the person out on it... but you liked this. Liked her, you realise. Not good.

You follow her to the elevator which leads to the pent house, and you marvel at the size of it. She wanders over to the kitchen island, placing her gun down on the pristine marble surface.

"No weapons." She instructs, and you sigh, removing your own gun and placing it next to hers. "The knife too," She adds, and you fight the urge to roll your eyes, removing the blade from your other leg.

"Some wine?" She asks, reaching for the cabinet.

"Skip the verbal foreplay, Master. Where's the playbook?" You demand.

"Ooh, straight to the fun bit?" She teases, before she reaches under the countertop and pulls out a black briefcase. With two clicks, it's open and your staring at the laptop inside.

"This is it?"

"Yep,"

The playbook. A computer containing the hardrive with all of the USA's counter-terrorism plans, which the Master had stolen and was now selling. Little did she know, you were here to recover it.

Gingerly, you reach out, opening it. She lets you, but watches warily. The screen comes to life, but it's voice password encrypted.

"It only responds to my voice." She tell you.

"How much for it?"

"I thought we already agreed on a price?"

Shit. You'd slipped up. How where you to know that she and Lisa had already chosen one? You open your mouth to try play it off, but the Master laughs a cold, mean laugh.

"It's fine. I know you don't know the price."

You stare at her confused.

"Just like I know Lisa Shaw is dead,"

Your blood runs cold - you know the game's up. Might as well try gain some useful information before your enevitable execution.

"How do you know? You didn't even know her."

"Darling," She says, drawing the word out, her face inches from yours. "I was the one who killed her."

As her words wash over you, your reflexes kick in and your hand flies up, about to try take a well aimed punch, but she's ready for it. Deflecting it, seconds later she's got you pressed up against the counter, her hands pinning down yours and her body stopping you from moving.

She fiddles with the ends of your hair, a smug smile on her face.

"What are you going to do then?" You snarl. "Kill me?"

"Oh no, darling," She chuckles, nose brushing against yours. You have to stop yourself from instinctively leaning in and capturing her lips. "I think I'll take you with me."

She does kiss you then, although its quick and lasts barely a millisecond. All the same, you know exactly what the message is behind it. You're mine now.

Suddenly the lights go out, and everything goes black. For a fleeting second, all you can feel is the Master, her body against yours, her breath fanning against your face. Then there's a crash, and the door slams open, you boss bursting in, gun in hand.

There's a flash, and the defeaning noise of bullets being fired. You feel the Master grabbing you, tugging you across the room. You cry out as you feel a bullet, clearly not intended for you, lodge itself in your arm, but the Master ignores it and instead drags you to the fridge. Pulling open the massive door, you're pulled inside and it slams behind you. And then there is silence.

"Told you I'd take you."

Taglist: @truthbehindthemysteries @queerconfusionthings @xenteaart @actuallyanita @ateliefloresdaprimavera @persephonehemingway

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