chapter 26 - party blues

                                    

                                          

Tori had gone to the grill after leaving Klaus, taking a detour from her home, not ready to face her brothers. She knew they'd probably be arguing again, as she had gotten a message from Damon and Elena saying he almost drove her off the bridge to try and manipulate Klaus. She just wanted a second to herself without any Klaus, but she couldn't escape him even when he wasn't there as all she could think about was the birthday her and Klaus had just talked about.

flashback - New Orleans - 1870
Victoria had been a vampire for a little under a year and her birthday was coming up soon, a day that she was dreading. She didn't see the point in celebrating, she was dead. She was never going to age again, she was forever stuck. But Rebekah had insisted upon celebrations (she just wanted an excuse to throw a party). 
As she watched her blonde best friend order about all the hired workers to hang up decorations, she sighed in despair. She really wasn't looking forward to this party but Bex had gone to all the effort and she felt guilty being all mopey. She saw Klaus enter the compound, immediately making a beeline for her and she smiled, despite her horrible mood. 
"Hey." 
"Hey. Rebekah not letting up on the party?" He asked knowingly. She grimaced as she shook her head. He just laughed pitifully. "She can be a bit of pain can't she?"
"A bit?" Tori asked sarcastically, to which they both chuckled at. 
"I heard you, you know." Rebekah shouted from across the room. 
"We know." Tori shouted back, grabbing Klaus' arm as they both walked up the stairs to his room. She didn't know how to describe what her and Klaus exactly were. They kissed, they slept together, and she loved it. But they hadn't put a label it. She supposed they were together, she knew he would never try anything with anyone else and neither would she. So despite the little confusion she had regarding them, she was happy with how they were. They were together, basically. Which is all she ever really wanted.
As they got into his room, she immediately flopped onto the bed, ignoring Klaus laughing at her expense as she snuggled into his sheets. Waking up in these were so much more comforting than her own. 
"I don't know why she insists upon celebrating every year." She sighed, sitting up to look at him, pouring them both a drink. "I hate my birthday. Always have. I hate it even more now that i'm dead." 
"You're looking at this in all the wrong ways, love, it's a matter of perspective." He replied, slowly sitting in front of her, Tori immediately leaning in close to him. He pushed back a strand of her hair, letting his hand rest on her face. "You are not bound anymore, by trivial human conventions. You're free. You are a vampire with the rest of eternity to do as you please."
"It's the eternity part i'm not too keen about." She had slowly gotten used to the idea of living forever, but every now and then, when her grief was at an all time high, she couldn't stand the thought. It physically pained her. 
"Think about it as less of a burden, more of a chance. Most humans live their lives unable to do everything they wished, bound by the matter of aging. You have forever to do as you wish." His eyes were entrancing, she could only stare as he spoke. "There is a whole world out there waiting for you, a world full of great cities, art, music, genuine beauty. You can experience all of it. See everything the world has to offer. Eternity does not have to be so dreadful, it can be quite beautiful." It was times like these she was reminded of his true age, how long he had lived. He was certainly wise, and the way he spoke, was so certain, so sure, she couldn't help but believe in all he had to say. 
"I suppose it can be." She smiled, leaning forward to capture his lips. Everyday she fell in love with him, more and more. It was different from when she was human, she certainly loved him then, but now with all the heightened emotions, it was like he consumed her. She lived and breathed Klaus.