Havana's heart ached as she left Klaus behind. As Damon drove, she gazed out the window, seeing only the enveloping darkness of the night. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she was too drained to cry. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded. With a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes, seeking refuge in sleep to escape the harshness of reality.

Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt stop. Havana's eyes fluttered open, her heart skipping a beat as she realized they had halted. Damon had shifted his attention to Elena, who was watching Havana through the rearview mirror. Havana's confusion deepened as she wondered why Elena hadn't stepped out of the car yet. She turned to her right and saw the imposing silhouette of the Mikaelson mansion, a place she had hoped to call 'home.' Standing by the entrance, bathed in the dim light of the porch, was the woman who had caused emotional distress to her tonight—Caroline Forbes.

"No no no. Damon, why are we here? Take me home now." Havana immediately whipped her head to Damon shaking her head furiously. "If you wanted violence tonight, you should've done it earlier at the ball when there were still people around to witness me punching Miss Mystic Falls in her award-winning smile."

"Havana, as much as I hate the Mikaelsons and believe you can do better than that lying, mama-killing, dagger-happy brother, this is your home," Damon explained, his tone was surprisingly of sincerity. He got out of the car and started walking around to her side.

Havana shot her cousin a look of confusion and exasperation, seeking some kind of explanation. Elena met her gaze, trying to reassure her.

"I know this situation is kind of weird, but I promise it'll make sense," Elena said, nodding earnestly. Despite her words, Havana remained bewildered, her mind racing to understand what was happening.

Damon opened the car door for her and extended his hand. Havana glanced at Elena, who nodded encouragingly, then at Caroline, whose face was pale and worried.

"I told you to trust me earlier. Do you trust me now?" Damon's blue eyes stared deeply at her waiting for a reply.

Taking a deep breath, Havana placed her hand in Damon's and stepped out of the car, bracing herself for whatever awaited her inside the Mikaelson mansion. The night air was thick with tension, and each step felt heavier than the last. Caroline's anxious eyes flickered between them, her expression mirroring the unease that churned in Havana's heart. They stopped in front of her.

"Havana I-"

"-will burn in your sleep if I find out anything that displeases me." Havana finished Caroline's sentence for her, her voice edged with bitterness. Caroline, however, ignored her interruption and continued speaking.

"...know that we don't have a perfect relationship and that's okay. No relationship is perfect, and that includes friendships as well. But I want you to know that I will never betray you like that. You're someone I consider a close friend, Havana." Caroline's voice was sincere, her eyes pleading for understanding.

"What's the big secret then? Why were you and Klaus whispering and giggling like schoolchildren, sneaking around during the entire ball? What were you two up to that was so secretive for me even to know?" Havana interrogated, folding her arms across her chest. Her tone was sharp, demanding answers.

"We were decorating," Caroline answered without hesitation.

Did I really hear what she just said? she immediately thought.

"You were what?" Havana furrowed her eyebrows.

"It's true," Elena confirmed, backing up her best friend's explanation. "I was supposed to decorate with Klaus tonight to add a feminine touch, but Caroline had to take over because Esther wanted to see me. I met with her in secret, but I'll tell you more about it later. Now's not the right time."

"Are you guys on some kind of vampire drugs or something? What the hell is going on?" Havana demanded, her frustration boiling over.

Her questions were ignored as her three friends shared a knowing, secretive look. Their subtle grins were just visible to the bewildered Havana. They continued walking with her towards the house entrance, where the main door swung open to reveal an impatient Rebekah standing inside.

"Finally, you show up! I thought this whole thing was going to be called off because of some ridiculous misunderstanding you caused. Seriously, Caroline, you had one job," Rebekah spat staring at the other blonde from head to toe in a judgemental manner.

Caroline scoffed as her face mirrored Rebekah's obvious distaste for her. The wound was still fresh from seeing her ex-boyfriend, Matt, as Rebekah's date earlier that evening.

"I'll take it from here doppel wench, less significant Salvatore, and wanna-be." Rebekah savagely acknowledged the three with a mocking smirk. She grabbed Havana's hand dragged her inside of the house and slammed the door in their faces before they could even muster a reply.

"Please tell me you're the one who can explain all this." Havana pleaded. She huffed in frustration at seeing Rebekah shake her head no. A subtle smile that was the same as the three's appeared on her lips.

Rebekah led Havana through the hallway before stopping in front of a big wooden door with intricate carvings whose design was from Klaus's sketch. It was the entrance of the gallery. The very same one that Klaus and Caroline disappeared to during the ball. Despite Havana being in charge of the interior of the whole house, Klaus specifically requested to take over the gallery. With that, she had not been inside ever since they moved in.

"Here," Rebekah said, pulling out powder and lipstick. "You'll want to look pretty for this. Trust me." She swiftly applied the makeup, refreshing Havana's features. With her face renewed and her red gown shimmering, Havana now glowed with an almost ethereal beauty. Rebekah took a step back admiring her best friend.

Havana slowly lifted her hand reaching for the door knob. With hesitant movements, she twisted it slowly, opening the door. Uncertainty lingered in her mind, unsure of what awaited her on the other side, particularly what Klaus had in store.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Havana stepped inside the room, the door slamming shut behind her with a resounding thud. The darkness enveloped her, leaving her disoriented in the pitch-black space. Just as she contemplated retreating to the illuminated hallway, a faint flicker of light appeared in the, drawing her attention.

As Havana's gaze drifted downward, she noticed two flickering candles at her feet. Before she could fully register their presence, a mesmerizing sight unfolded before her eyes. One by one, candles along a pathway began to ignite, casting a warm, golden glow that illuminated the entire room.

In the newfound light, Havana's breath caught in her throat as she beheld the breathtaking scene before her. The floor of the gallery was carpeted with hundreds upon hundreds of rose petals, their colors ranging from vibrant red to delicate pink. It was as if the room had been transformed into a sea of blossoms, each petal shimmering in the soft light. But the enchantment didn't stop there. As Havana glanced upward, she noticed that the ceiling seemed to be raining rose petals as well, a magical cascade that added to the surreal beauty of the moment.

Havana's mouth fell open in awe as she took in the paintings that adorned the walls of the room. Each one was a masterpiece, depicting either her likeness or scenes that held significance to her and Klaus. As she moved along the gallery, her eyes widened in surprise and wonder. There were many self-portraits of herself, some of which she had never laid eyes on before. They seemed to tell Havana and Klaus's love story in chronological order. From their first meeting in Bali to their travels together to Havana and beyond, each painting captured a magical moment they had shared.

Havana reached the end of the gallery, where the paintings seemed to conclude their tale. But her gaze fell upon a single painting that stood out among the rest. She couldn't shake the feeling that this particular piece was signified that it was not the end, but rather the key to the next chapter of their story. It was covered in a black cloth, a mysterious shroud that piqued her curiosity and drew her closer.

Suddenly, Klaus emerged from behind the painting. His face bore the same loving gaze that Havana would wake up in the mornings, a look that melted her heart and made her feel at home.

"I am deeply sorry for all the unnecessary stress that I have caused you tonight, my love. Please believe me when I say your friends and I decided to put our differences aside for one night to help me do this for you." Klaus's voice was soft and tender, a tone he reserved only for her.

Havana had finally reached him, her eyes welling with tears as she took in everything in the gallery dedicated to her. Yet, she remained silent, speechless from such a grand gesture.

"I truly hope what happened will not ruin this very special night," Klaus said, taking her hands and giving them a soft squeeze.

Havana shook her head 'no,' still bewildered by it all. "Nik, this is too beautiful. You didn't have to do this. Why did you?" She curiously asked wondering why he had gone all out in this and had even kept it a surprise for her. It was not their anniversary or any special date that was of significance to them.

Klaus only smiled proudly showing off his dimples confidently prepared to answer her question. 

"Nobody has ever loved me the way you do, Havana," he began, his words resonating with a vulnerability he rarely showed. "No one has ever accepted me with all my imperfections and sins, yet you embrace every part of me without hesitation. Your love has been my anchor through the storms of my past, guiding me towards the light even in my darkest moments."

He paused, overcome with emotion, before continuing, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have loved me harder and more fiercely than I ever thought possible. You have shown me the true meaning of unconditional love, and for that, I am eternally grateful."

"I have promised to show you the wonders of the world and the beauty that lies in every corner. Even if we did start our travels together, I promise you my dear that our adventures together are far from over. For I also promise you the greatest adventure for us to embark on the journey of forever. I will love you for as long as the stars continue to shine and the world continues to turn."

With a deep breath, Klaus dropped to one knee, his heart laid bare before her. "Havana, my love, my little dove will you do me the honor of spending the rest of eternity with me?"

Klaus opened the ring box, which he had kept hidden in his pocket, revealing a stunning, large diamond ring. Its brilliance outshone even the original engagement ring, which now rested as a promise ring around Havana's neck. The diamond sparkled and glowed, its facets catching the light from the room and casting prisms of color across the gallery. There was a visible engraving from inside of the ring of an infinity symbol. 

"Always and Forever," Havana whispered loud enough for Klaus to hear as she recognized the iconic Mikaelson symbol of family.

"Always and Forever, darling." He repeated after her patiently awaiting her answer.

Havana's eyes flicked from the ring to his face, her vision blurring as tears began to fall. Suddenly, a radiant grin spread across her face, and she started nodding enthusiastically.  She dropped to her knees to reach his height and wrapped him in a warm, bone-crushing hug, holding him tightly as their tears mingled, sealing their promise to each other.

"Yes. Yes. Yes," she whispered into his ear, her voice filled with joy and emotion. She kissed the sides of his face over and over. "I will marry you Niklaus Mikaelson."

They finally parted yet remained locked in each other's embrace. Both wore joyous smiles on their faces while they sat on the floor facing each other.

"Thank God you said 'yes'. I thought I was going to compel you again." Klaus joked while taking out the ring from the box.

Havana excitedly extended her hand to his, her fingers trembling with anticipation. With a tender smile, Klaus slipped the ring onto her finger with ease, the diamond catching the light and sparkling brilliantly. Their eyes met, and in that moment, the weight of their promises and the depth of their love felt more tangible than ever.

"I love you Nik."

"I love you too little dove."

Klaus's hand gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped. He leaned in slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, giving her all the time in the world to close the distance. When their lips finally met, it was as if the world around them melted away. The kiss was tender at first, a soft melding of lips that spoke of promises and devotion. But soon, it deepened, becoming more urgent and passionate, as if they were trying to pour all their emotions into this one moment.

Havana's hands slid up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer, her fingers tangling in his hair. Klaus responded by tightening his embrace, his arms encircling her waist, drawing her even nearer. The kiss was a dance of love and longing, each movement a testament to their unbreakable bond.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and with hearts racing, their foreheads rested against each other, their breaths mingling in the space between them. The world around them was silent, save for the pounding of their hearts, as they reveled in the afterglow of their shared affection.

In their blissful ignorance, a looming revelation lurked in the shadows that would soon separate the two lovers. But for now, in this fleeting moment of pure happiness, they held each other close, their hearts entwined in an embrace that shielded them from the trials yet to come.