"Wake up. Come on."

"No." She groaned out. Astraea felt like she was being lifted and felt arms under her legs and head.

"You can't sleep out in the woods, star."

"Yeah. I can." She said still keeping her eyes closed she didn't want to see him.

"No. You can't. Father asked me to get you he doesn't want you out here alone." Seeing her cheeks with tear marks and red nose he felt terrible. He held her close to him stepping over branches to get to their home.

"Fine." She gave in and cuddled into his chest feeling very tired and overwhelmed.

He looked down at the love of his life who cuddled into his chest and he felt better knowing she was comfortable in his arms.

He walked her to her room and she didn't let go of his shirt so he laid in bed with her. She rested her head against his chest moving closer to his body heat. He pulled the blanket over them and kissed her forehead.

"I will work this stupid marriage out. I'm to young and don't want this either." He told her lightly even though she was half unconscious. "Goodnight, star." He kissed her forehead again and closed his eyes.

•••

When she woke up she felt arms around her waist. She looked up to see Kol peacefully sleeping with her in his arms. She smiled and moved to kiss his cheek.

"Good morning, love." He said keeping his eyes closed.

"Good morning, dimples." She grinned giggling.

He finally opened his eyes to meet her light chocolate brown eyes. He moved around in his arms. "I need to go pee. Stay here." She told him and went to the bathroom.

When she came back she jumped into his arms and snuggled in. "Don't leave me."

"Never." He replied.

"Promise?" She asked sticking her pinkie out.

"Promise." He put his out and the kissed there hands. She put her head on his chest listening to his breathing and his heart. She felt calm and happy with him. This was what she liked, she never wanted to lose this.

Before they woke up, Elijah talks to Mikael about this marriage.

"Father I think it's not wise to force Kol to marry this girl."

"Why is that?" He asked raising a brow. He didn't understand how this interested Elijah in the slightest.

"Because Astraea and Kol like each other, they just won't admit it. You can walk into her room right now and I guarantee you they are sleeping together." Elijah explained.

"Is that so?"

"Yes father do you wish to see?"

The two men got up and moved to their little girls room to see them sleeping peacefully snuggled together. Mikael was happy his daughter liked someone he was beginning to worry. Elijah wanted his sister happy and he knew kol could give her that.

That walked back away from the young love birds to continue talking.

"See?"

"I would have to talk to her parents about a different deal but for now this is how it will be. She will not suffer long." Mikael told his third eldest.

Elijah nodded accepting that answer. "Thank you father. Kol means a lot to Raea."

"And don't tell them this till the deal is done."

•••

After they had finally decided to get up Kol had to go to the girl and spend time with her. Astraea was heartbroken to see him with another girl because of course he only ever showed affection to her but being so young it is not hard to feel hurt.

She spent her day with Bekah and Rik playing tag and picking fruits to eat, while Kol took his girl to a river. The younger siblings helped take the brunettes mind off him which she was glad because she could not wallow in sadness the whole day.

After running through some mud they trudged back home. They were all covered in wet dirt as Henrik called it. So they shouted for Esther.

"Oh, dear heavens what have you kids done?" She asked wide eyed.

Giggling Astraea and Rebekah looked at the ground. "Sorry, Mrs. Mikaelson we got carried away in the mud. Can you please get us some dry clothes while we wash off in the river?" Astraea asked kindly.

"Yes, hurry I will have them here and some cloth when you return."

They ran off to the river but they heard Esther scoff with a smile "kids." She mumbled which made them laugh.

They got to the river the eldest diving in first. Bekah then handed Henrik over to her then hopped in herself. They washed all the dirt away but something caught the older girls eyes. She saw something she would probably regret going in the mud for, Kol kissing the girl he is to marry.

She of course knew that they would be together like this but it still pained her to see. She wiped the tear off which looked like water anyway and grabbed the littlest Mikaelson. "Come on Bex." She grabbed her hand and walked out the river.

Soaking wet and heartbroken Astraea went home with a tired Henrik in her arms and Rebekah holding her hand.

"We're back." Bex yelled.

Esther came out with cloth and clothes. "Here ring out your clothes then dry up." They did as told and dried what could be dried.

"Here is your clothes go on and change." Astraea grabbed hers and walked in with drips of water falling. She changed into a red dress and laid down in bed getting warmer.

"Hey Star." She heard but didn't move to see Kol.

"I'd like to rest right now. Please leave." She said monotonously.

"Ok, rest well." He goes to kiss her temple but she moves away not feeling it to be touched by him.

He furrowed his brows not understanding what he did wrong but knew she didn't want to talk so left it.

She sighed out heavily and looked at the ceiling following the creases of the wood not moving her head. She couldn't think, she didn't want to it would only hurt if she did.

"Hello, love." She looked at the person knowing it was Nik.

"Hello, Nik." She said smiling weakly. "Come sit." She patted the spot next to her sitting up slightly.

He walked over to her bed plopping down. "What's wrong you have been staring at the ceiling for awhile now."

"Watching me, are you?" She asker with a smirk.

"Maybe, maybe not." He shrugged. Niklaus a free spirit someone who she liked a lot he played with her when no one could he made her laugh and the flirting was fun.

"Well I was bored and have nothing to do." She said leaning her head on his shoulder sighing once again.

"I have ideas." He said with a mischievous look.

"Oh, yeah?"

He smiled at the 16 year old looking into her warm brown eyes then to her lips. This wasn't the first time Nik wanted to kiss her but the closeness of right now made it unbearable. He lifted her chin with his finger and kissed her lightly.

She fully turned to him wrapping her arms around his neck grabbing his hair as she kissed him harder. This was what was gonna help her get over what Kol did. May not be the brightest idea but it was in the moment.

He laid her softly back down continuing to kiss her as she allowed him until they needed to breathe.

"Wow." She said breathlessly.

And of course to her misfortune Kol had seen his brother kissing his best friend and major crush. You see unlike Astraea, Kol was being kissed by the girl he pulled away as quick as he could because he did not wish to be kissed by anyone other then Astraea. But she let Nik kiss her. And she fully went for it.

Maybe this was it. This was the end of the romance that never got a chance to blossom.