"Oh," I whisper walking into my room seeing Erica sitting crisscrossed on her bed. The only light in the room is from her phone. Erica glances up as I turn on our bedroom light. She winces slightly before her eyes adjust. "I thought you'd be asleep by now," I mumble closing the door behind me.

"Since when do either of us go to bed at a reasonable hour?" She lightly jokes. I barely give her a half grin while I walk to the closet. "How was the dance?" She asks shifting on the mattress. 

"One to remember," I answer simply. I can feel her gaze following me as I change from my beautiful dance outfit to comfortable sleeping attire. I try to appear nonchalant but I can feel a pit in my stomach and my heart speeding in my chest. I pray she won't say anything but staying silent has never been Erica's style.

"So,-"

"I'm going to sleep," I tell her, slipping under the covers. I don't want to listen to her, not now at least. Today has had so many ups and downs that all I want to do is fall asleep. I ignore her long sigh, an obvious attempt to get me to cave and give her a chance to speak but I don't. Luckily, she doesn't try anything again and I'm able to fall into a dreamless sleep.

When I wake up my sister is already gone yet I'm not alone. I'm on my side when my eyes flutter open to see Kol on his back beside me. I notice his concentrated face zeroed in on his phone and wonder how much technology he's figured out so far.

"Good morning," Kol mutters, keeping his eyes locked on the screen. I smile stretching out like a feline. He glances at me as I release a quiet groan before relaxing. My eyes just catch his fond smile before he's looking away.

"When did you get here?" I whisper, my eyelids falling back down.

"Bout thirty minutes ago," Kol admits. "Just in time to prevent your sister from waking you up," I don't vocalize my question but send him a look. He reads it with a quick glance. "I'm assuming you two didn't make up over night and she wanted to try again this morning but I showed up. I told her very politely to let you sleep,"

"Politely, hmm?" I mumble, arching an eyebrow. Kol sends me a smirk that contradicts his statement. "Thank you for letting me sleep,"

"You're welcome, beautiful," Kol whispers, setting his phone down. My hooded eyes follow him as he shifts to face me.

"What happened with your mom? Did you find Rebekah?" I ask him.

"Esther's gone, you don't have to worry about her," He promises me. "As for my sister, she's as insufferable as always," He smirks. I roll my eyes yet shuffle closer to him. His arm slithers around my waist, pulling me to his chest.

"So, why'd you decide to come over this morning?" I wonder, snuggling into his chest.

"I wanted to see my favorite girl," He woos. I hum snuggling deeper in his embrace. He burrows his nose in my hair, inhaling my scent.

"Where's Elijah and Nik?" I mumble against his chest.

"Dealing with a small problem," He mumbles in response. My eyebrows pinch as I lift my head to meet his faze.

"Small problem?"

He hums, nodding wordlessly. I arch my eyebrows when he doesn't elaborate. He smirks kissing my forehead.

"It's just a little problem, don't worry about it,"

"I may have not known you all very long but I doubt anything involving you is considered small," I deadpan not believing his nonchalant attitude. "What's going on?" I ask, gently rubbing my hand over his shamefully clothed chest. 

"There's a new-ish hunter in town," He tells me.

"New-ish?"

"He's been a hunter but he is... a lot stronger than he used to be," Kol explains vaguely. "Like I said, it's nothing to concern yourself with. Elijah and Nik are handling it while I spend the day with you," He grins boyishly.

"So, you're here to make sure I don't get involved?"

"I'm here to make sure you don't get hurt," Kol says, placing a soft hand against my cheek. "A lot of people know who you are now, he could very easily target you and that's not acceptable," There's a hint of anger in his voice. My hand raises to cover his that's on my cheek. His eyes soften at my tough.

"I highly doubt that he could get through Nik, Elijah, and you to get to me," I whisper, having faith in the three of them. "I'm safe," Kol's hand slides over my ear and into my hair behind my head. My hand moves up his arm and around his back as he pulls me closer against him once more.

"We'll always keep you safe," He murmurs, into my hair.

"It's only one hunter, right?" I ask. "Nik and 'Lijah can handle it," I whisper.

"Don't worry," Kol comforts. "Many people smarter than this hunter, myself included, have tried to kill them before. They're still alive and they will continue to live as annoying as it may be," He grumbles rolling his eyes. I smile a bit.

"Tell me about magic," I quickly, request. I pull away from Kol's body enough to be able to see his face. His annoyance for his brothers is quickly replaced by his fascination and love for magic.

"I got my magic when I was a child, it was natural for me," Kol explains, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I used it to impress the ladies and wreck havoc on my siblings," I smile, a small laugh escaping my lips. "My mother preached about control but that was the last thing I wanted to do," He tells me. "I wanted to get strong, push my limits, see what I could achieve. I hate to boast," He lies. "But I was a pretty powerful warlock," 

"I would have loved to have seen it," I whisper. Kol's eyes come back to the present and pour into mine.

"If you had met me and my brothers back then, you wouldn't have spared them a second look," He explains cockily. "The things I could do..." He whispers, slowly shaking his head. His hand slide under my shirt, his thumb caressing my hipbone. "You would have been impressed,"

"I'm sure I would have been," I nod. He sighs slowly through his nose. "You don't need magic to impress me, Kol," I whisper to him. "You make me feel comfortable whenever were together, making me laugh and feel loved, that impresses me," Kol smiles, staring into my eyes as if searching for a lie.

"I haven't even turned on all my charm yet, darling," Kol smirks. 

"And yet, you already have me in the palm of your hand," I tell him. Kol's eyes light up a bit. "Whether we met a thousand years ago or a thousand years in the future, you would have caught my eye. Magic or no magic," I tell him. "Just like you did at the Grill a few weeks ago,"

"You couldn't keep your eyes off of me," Kol recalls. I grin despite the bright blush on the cheeks. Kol chuckles pushing me on my back and hovering over me. The blush brightens even more as my eyes dart everywhere but his eyes. However, I couldn't avoid his gaze forever and when our eyes locked I knew it would be impossible to look away first.

His gaze was intense, as if he were trying to stare into my soul. My heart was hammering in my chest and I knew for a fact he could hear it. Hours could have flown by and I wouldn't have been none the wiser. I was completely entranced by him.

"I feel like I'm living a dream," I whisper, to him. "Like none of this is real and I'm going to wake up soon to a completely normal life,"

"Then I'll make sure no one wakes you up," He tells me. "I'm far too selfish to let you go. I certainly won't let anyone take you from me. If this is a dream, I'll stay in it with you forever,"

"Good because I don't want you to leave," I whisper, caressing the sides of his neck. 

"I'm not going anywhere, darling," He hushes, pressing his forehead against mine. My heart leaps to my throat when he moves closer. His nose brushes against mine and I forget how to breathe. I'm about to cave and tilt my head towards his when we both hear the front door slamming shut. Kol's eyes instantly turn towards the door to my room. "You're mother's home," He tells me.

"I should talk to her," I mutter. "I feel like she's been avoiding me," Kol's eyes turn back to me. I don't answer his curious gaze. Instead I kiss his cheek and slide out from under him. I go towards the door but before I can open it, Kol's spinning me around and pressing me against it.

"I'm going to need more than just a peck on the cheek, Precious," He whispers, pressing his body up against mine making it impossible to think straight.

"I-uhh.."

Kol smirks pinching my chin between his fingers. His breath fans my face as I wait in anticipation for him to do something. His thumb travels up to my lips and traces along them. His head lowers and my breath hitches. His eyes glance from my lips back to my eyes. I close my eyes waiting for him to do something. I can sense his lips getting closer to mine but then his head ducks into my neck where he places a soft kiss against my pulse sending a shiver down my spine.

"Tell your mother I said hello," He whispers, his lips brushing against my ear before he's moving away. When my eyes open, he's laying on my bed playing on his phone with an arrogant smirk on his lips.

"Tease," I grumble, turning towards the door.

"Takes one to know one, darling," He comments casually. I grin with a light blush before walking out of my room. I go down the hallway and towards the kitchen.

"Hey, mom," I say, hugging my arm. She glances towards me from the salad she was making. She offers me a small smile.

"Hi, Kat," She greets, picking up the knife to cut the lettuce. 

"How was work?" I ask, flinching when she slams the knife down. I stay silence as she sighs slowly. 

"Where's your sister?" She asks.

"I don't know," I answer, quietly. "She was gone when I woke up," I continue. 

"I'm going to be with your Aunt Louise tonight, I'll leave money for dinner," I nod wordlessly. "Do you need something?" She asks, glancing at me.

"No, just wanted to make sure you were alright," I whisper. She looks at me for a moment before smiling.

"Everything's fine," She assures me. I smile a bit.

"Good," I nod, running my fingers through my hair. "Tell Aunt Lou I said hi,"

"I will, sweetie," She smiles, nodding. I smile back before walking back to my room.

"Everything alright?" Kol asks when I close the door behind me.

"I don't know," I shrug. "Something's bothering her but maybe she'll feel better after a night with Aunt Lou," I tell him, climbing back into bed with him. "Wanna watch a movie?" Kol hums, holding me closer as I put on a movie on the laptop. 

At some point during the afternoon, Erica returns home in her work uniform. She's slightly surprised that I'm still in the room with Kol. We both share a look. She looks as if she's about to say something but then glances at Kol. A single look from him has her rethinking her life choices.

Kol whispers a question about the movie to regain my attention while continuing to give Erica a dead stare. I answer his question and go back to ignoring my sister. Erica huffs but doesn't say anything. She changes outfits and storms out of the room but I simply cuddle more into Kol.

"Will Nik and 'Lijah tell you if they need help or if they're solved the... little problem?" I ask lifting my head up at him.

"Why? Tired of me already?" He teases. I smirk finding a burst of courage. His eyes widen a bit when I straddle his lap.

"I could never get tired of you," I whisper, caressing his face with one hand and with my other, I rub his chest. Kol smirks, slithering his arms around my waist. "But I would like to leave the house," I tell him.

"You? Want to leave the house?" He asks, lifting his eyebrows. I smirk rolling my eyes.

"I just want to go from one house to another," I say shrugging my shoulders.

"Oh? Really?" He whispers lift his eyebrows. I hum. "I think we can do that," My smile broadens as we climb out of the bed. With my mom getting ready in the room, Kol easily takes me out the front door. 

"My sister took the car," I comment. Kol smirks bending down. I watch him wrap his arms just under my ass and lift me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

"We don't need a car," He says, holding me tightly.

"Don't you drop me," I say sternly. 

"Wouldn't dream of it, darling," He whispers, winking at me. I grin burying head in his neck. "I've got you," He says, tightening his arms before speeding me to the mansion. When we arrived, he set me down at the front door. "See, didn't drop you,"

"I don't think I'll ever get used to going that fast," I laughed, my heart racing with adrenaline. Kol grins, cupping the sides of my face.

"Adorable," He whispers kissing my nose. I roll my eyes and gently slap his chest. 

"Kat," I turn my head and see Elijah. I instantly smile at him.

"'Lijah," I whisper before quickly hugging him. Elijah smiles, wrapping his arms around me as well. "Did you get rid of the hunter?" I ask, lifting my head.

"We're working on it," Elijah says pulling me inside. "We're almost done. Kol, why don't you take her upstairs. Niklaus and I will join you in a bit,"

"Come on, darling," Kol says wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Ok," I whisper, letting him lead me up to the upper level. "Is Nik here too?" I ask and Kol nods.

"They're handling something," He explains vaguely.

"Do I want to know?" I ask and Kol shakes his head. I sigh getting an uneasy feeling in my stomach but I don't question anything else.

"They'll be done shortly and we'll get some dinner, sound good, darling?" Kol asks and I nod falling onto the bed in his room.

"So, comfy," I whisper closing my eyes. "We should have spent the day on this instead of mine," I gasp quietly when I open my eyes to see him hovering over me.

"Well, I'll make it up to you and we'll spend the night," Kol smirks. I smile wrapping my arms around his neck again. His head lowers to mine before tensing.

"Something wrong?" I whisper, as his head turns toward the door. He sits back on his ankles, his eyes narrowing. "Kol?" I ask sitting up, glancing towards the door as well before gasping and looking to my arm.

"What's wrong?" He asks. I don't answer him but pull my sleeve up.

"Something happened," I whisper, seeing the tree on my arm begin to wither. "Nik," I realize, lifting my head. "Something's wrong with Nik," I practically leap off the bed but I don't get far.

"You're not going anywhere," Kol whispers in my ear.

"Nik's hurt," I snipped.

"Whoever is strong enough to hurt Nik is strong enough to rip you apart," Kol growls. "You go down there now and what is going to happen? What are you going to do? Hmm? What's your plan?" I sigh, my shoulders deflating. Kol turns me toward him.

"Can you hear anything?" I ask him. He listens.

"Stay here," Kol says, moving to the door but I grab his wrist. He looks at my hand before looking back into my eyes. He steps back to me and gently kisses my forehead. "Trust me. Stay here," With that, he walks out of the door.

I walk toward the door but don't leave the room. I press my ear against it desperately hoping to something. When my attempt becomes futile, I begin to pace the room. Several times I march to the door as if I were to leave but I stop myself. 

Kol's right. What could I do? I'm just a human. I don't have magic, I'm not super strong nor super fast. I would only distract them, not help them. I desperately wanted to help, to be strong enough to look after my mates like they look after me but I can't. The best thing I can do is to stay here, out of the way, and let them handle whatever is happening.

Eventually, Kol does return to me. My relief is short lived upon seeing the look on his face.

"Elijah is alright," He begins. "His neck is broke but he'll be up in a few minutes," He assures me.

"Good," I whisper. "And Nik?"

"He's not here," Kol tells me.

"What do you mean he's not here?" I ask slowly.

"I mean, someone has taken him," Kol says. I slowly sit down on the bed.

"Please explain this in a way I can understand," I plead with him. "Nik is one of the most indestructible persons I know. How can someone just take him?" I ask.

"They've figured out how to immobilize him," Kol tells me. "I don't know exactly how, I didn't see the spell or his body but I do know who has him,"

"Who?"

"The Salvatore's,"

"And where are they taking him?"

"I'm not sure,"

Sighing, I put my face in my hands. Kol sighs as well and kneels in front of me. I slowly peek at him through my fingers. He gently grabs my wrists and pulls my hands away from my face.

"We'll get him back, I promise," Kol tells me.

"Will you?" I whisper. "You've mentioned before your dislike for him,"

"Yes, he isn't my favorite person but you are," He tells me. "You're important to me and he's important to you. Therefore, I will get him back because I know you won't be happy until he's returned to you," I smile a bit. "Besides, the only people who are allowed to hurt this family are those who are already in it," He winks at me. "No one else has that privilege unless they wish death. The Salvatore's seem to not value their lives nor the lives of their loved ones with they way they've been acting,"

"I don't like talking about death or anything related to it," I tell him. "But please bring him back, no matter what," Kol begins to smirk deviously.

"Oh, darling," He chuckles darkly. "I'll bring him back to you, don't worry,"