Since some of the most crowded parties around the city weren't really to some of their tastes (most notably Elijah and Emma's), the group of four had ended up vacating the crowded streets of Rio de Janeiro and compelling their way into a private party on the beach which was smaller in number of people and more relaxed compared to some others.

Emma found herself with her now bare feet planted into the warm sand while she sat on the ground, Kol's arms wrapped around her shoulders while Elijah and Katherine occupied a pair of chairs they managed to snag from an oblivious couple. Although, at the moment, Katherine's was empty as the brunette had announced she was going to grab a bite, obvious code since she never actually went to any of the catering stands set up on the beach.

Laughing at something Elijah had said, Emma thought nothing as the sound of glass breaking came from somewhere behind them. However, the look on Elijah's face as his eyes turned to Kol had her realizing what happened and her own head turned in his direction.

"It would seem Katherine had a good idea." Kol didn't bother hiding that the smell of blood somewhere in the crowd did seem somewhat appetising.

"Go on, do what you need. I'll be right here waiting for you." She said, about to shuffle out of his arms and release him, but they only pulled her in closer.

"Maybe I don't want to leave." He revealed, making Emma laugh before her hand was placed on his chest, gently pushing him away as she spoke again.

"Go get something to eat and then once you're done you can bring me another one of those pomegranate drinks on your way back." She suggested with a hopeful smile on her face. She knew requesting something for herself would make him get a move on, and she could see that he wanted to go and get something, well, someone, to drink.

"Anything for you, darling." And his words only confirmed it, making Emma let out a small laugh as he stepped away from her. For a couple of moments, she watched him disappear in the crowd, unaware of the pair of eyes still observing her.

Only when she turned to Elijah did she realize he'd been watching her, and she didn't have to ask what was on his mind before he spoke. "I've heard about what happened in Mystic Falls. I'm sorry for your loss, Emma." He said, knowing that the time alone would be the perfect time to have a conversation with the woman.

"Thank you, Elijah." Emma said quietly, a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes spreading over her face. However, as she thought about his words, she thought of how he might now too. "I take it Klaus told you?" She questioned soon after.

While Emma had been told it was Rebekah who was handling all the affairs of cleaning up the mess which they left behind, Emma and Kol were both suspicious of the fact that it was really her. The lack of communication from the blonde, paired with the state in which she'd been the night before Emma and Kol left made them suspect that the blonde may have been daggered by Klaus at some point shortly after they left.

"He did." Elijah didn't bother to hide the fact.

"Still mad at me then?" Emma asked curiously. Just as Elijah thought a conversation with her would be a good way to discover more information, Emma thought the same of him. Especially since he was her best source on Klaus at the moment.

"Give my brother time, let all the pieces fall into place and he'll understand soon enough." His words had Emma fixing him with an analytical look, as if trying to catch anything off in his expression or body language.

"And you? You already understand?" She asked, voice somewhat hesitant, making it clear he was more than alert as their conversation went on. The moment the two couples ran into each other, they hadn't let the tension take over, but it couldn't be entirely ignored, still somewhat hanging in the air with all the un-discussed topics between them.

"You are in no danger from me, Emma. I give you my word on that." Elijah said honestly, knowing her intention was to see where she stood with him and what it entailed for her and Kol's stay in Brazil. "I know it was never your intent to harm my family, and I cannot fault you for keeping some things to yourself. This is a hard world to navigate."

Elijah couldn't fault Emma for the way she handled things, not when he suspected he'd have done it the same way were he in her shoes. They both knew how his brother could get, and Emma had become quite good at handling him and knowing how to be around him when it came to certain things.

The last of Elijah's words had Emma's head turning back in the direction in which Kol left for just a moment before she looked back at the older Mikaelson again. "I have a good guide."

"He's different when he's with you." Elijah started to direct the conversation towards the other topic he wanted to discuss. He wanted to know how she'd done it most of all. But at first, all he gained in response was a confused look. "Once you left Mystic Falls, I expected it would be easy to keep track of you considering the trail Kol often leaves in his wake. And yet, I must admit, I never even glanced in the direction of the Bahamas."

The information Elijah shared did leave Emma somewhat surprised. She had never actively looked or paid attention to whatever Kol may have been doing in the times he went to feed.

"There was no signs of it. It's good that you managed to convince him to change his ways." Elijah added on, subtly trying to drag out the conversation. And the words seemed to be enough to gain a verbal reaction this time, but not the one he was expecting.

"I haven't." She said simply, and this time it was Elijah's turn to be surprised. Something Emma caught with ease, prompting her to continue and explain in more detail. And she wasn't about to hold back, either. Not when she thought it was about time that someone said what she was thinking to the rest of the Mikaelsons. "From early on, every time I heard a story about all the bad things he did, I started to connect the dots. Everyone around him believed it to be a lack of control, so much so that he too was convinced."

"You don't think that's what causes his acting out?" Elijah couldn't hold back the dubious tone from his voice. He couldn't understand what she was saying. A lack of control was at least exactly that, out of Kol's control. And so, Elijah couldn't understand why any other option would make Emma so confident in sticking by his side. Other reasons behind his brothers actions made it seem even worse than it already was.

"It's a need for power, a need for control not over his hunger, but over life. Things that were ripped from him every time that dagger was stabbed into his chest." The accusatory tone in Emma's voice was hard to miss. "And a need for attention. For centuries, you, Rebekah and Klaus did everything together, as a family, one that he himself felt excluded from. One that he yearned to be a part of so much so that even bad attention from the three of you became something he needed."

"Always and forever." Elijah mumbled, more to himself than to Emma as his eyes turned towards the dark horizon of the ocean spreading out in front of them. It was clear that Emma's words were having some kind of an effect, making him think and perhaps even realize the wrong steps he'd taken in the past. At least she hoped they'd do that.

"He acted out because he wanted attention, so I never gave it attention." Elijah wanted to know how she'd done it, so she would tell him. "I knew about the bodies piling up in Denver when he was there, but I never mentioned it. And by the time he came back to Mystic Falls, numbers started to decrease. I didn't force him to change Elijah, I would never force him to change. It's his own choice if he wants to."

Elijah looked like he wanted to say something else, but Emma never got a chance to discover what it was as their conversation was suddenly interrupted once Katherine plopped back down in her seat with a smile, which could best be described as amused, playing on her lips.

And it wasn't long after that Emma felt an arm wrap around her shoulders once again, Kol settling down in the sand next to her again. With a smile and a quiet thanks, Emma took the cup he was handing her. However, once she smiled up at him she noticed the odd look on his face.

"What is it?" She asked him curiously, unable to decipher the meaning of the expression this time. However, while she'd been expecting him to say something in response, she was surprised as he kissed her instead. Not that she minded. It only made the smile on her face widen more once they pulled apart.

After that, the conversation between the four continued on, with Emma and Katherine being the first ones to start it back up between themselves. And as much as he tried not to, for a short time Kol remained uncharacteristically quiet.

What Emma didn't know was what had been going through his mind. The way he continued to think back to the moments before he and Katherine rejoined her and his brother. To what he'd overheard her telling his brother, and to what Katherine's response to it all had been.

"She really does love you, doesn't she?"

Kol couldn't be sure whether the Pierce's words were just another taunt intended to mess with his mind as he knew her capable from all the stories he'd heard in the past. But they still made him think. Not about Emma and what she may feel for him, but instead about himself. About the ways Emma made him feel. And about that odd little word he'd never had to think about before. He couldn't help but wonder...

Did he love her?