Adeline apologized to Stefan for kissing him, but he didn't mind. He knew she was only doing what she thought was the best decision at the moment, not to mention she was drunk. They only danced for a little bit, just until Klaus got so tired of being at the bar he practically dragged them out.

It was past midnight when they returned to the penthouse suite in Chicago. Adeline was still drunk as she stumbled across the marble floors to her room. She didn't even bother changing her clothes—she couldn't. She flipped down on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

Klaus would never admit it to Adeline or anyone for that matter but there was a few nights since he left town with Stefan and Addy that he couldn't sleep— so he would silently slip into her room and just watch her sleep. He wouldn't do it for long, just for a minute but there was something he found peaceful about the way she looked when she slept.

The Hybrid walked quietly down the hall and crept the door open to her room. She was sprawled in the middle of the bed— passed out. She didn't have a cover over her, and he knew she was so drunk she probably just crashed— so he picked a blanket up off the edge of the bed and laid it over her.

"What is she to you brother?" Rebekah asked, slipping into the room.

"What?" Klaus questioned, caught off guard by his sisters intrusion.

"The girl— what is she to you? Why is she here?" She asked.

Klaus didn't like Rebekah questioning him, he didn't like anyone who questioned him. That's how it had always been, he did what he did and didn't want any blow back or questions about it.

"Don't question me." He snapped quietly.

He didn't want Adeline to wake up because he knew a whole other line of questions would follow from her. "She's nothing." He added.

"If she's nothing, why were you so mad when she kissed Stefan?" Rebekah scoffed.

"No Rebekah, why were you so mad she kissed Stefan? Why don't you asked yourself that, dear sister." He scolded. "Now let's go."

Klaus gave Rebekah a shove out of the room and took one last look at the sleeping blonde before shutting the door.

*****

Adeline expected to wake up back in the bed she had slept in the night before but that was not the case. She was on a hard, cold floor and it was dark. It didn't take long for her to realize it felt like she was moving, like she was in a car or a truck.

She looked beside her and Stefan was laying there. He looked like he was still asleep but she was to afraid and confused not to wake him.

"Stefan." She whispered, giving his arm a shake but he didn't move. She started to worry, thinking maybe he was dead but then she remembered his skin would be greyed.

Adeline sat in the back of the truck with her legs tucked up against her chest. She was trembling and nervous about where they were going. She didn't know what was wrong with Stefan on top of everything else.

The silence was broken when the Salvatore beside her suddenly gasped for air and shot up off the floor.

"Stefan! Oh, thank God." She sighed with relief. "What's happening?"

"I don't know— last thing I remember was Klaus snapping my neck." Stefan answered. They sat in silence for awhile, listening to the sound of the truck driving down the road. That was until the it came to a halt and they heard footsteps walking around. When the door slid open and the light leaked in, they both knew exactly where they were by the talk clock tower in-front of them.

They were home, Mystic Falls.

"Welcome home!" Klaus smirked. "Let's get to the bottom of some things, shall we?"

*****

Pure chaos was what took place as soon as they returned home. Stefans humanity was off now, thanks to Klaus but at least Elena was safe. All along Klaus thought the reason for his hybrids failing was because she was alive, when instead her blood was the key.

The return to Mystic falls had been full of drama but one thing Adeline was thankful for was being back with her father. She had missed her dad and he missed her. Sleeping in her own room again felt different, especially since she had been sleeping in such elaborate rooms the past few weeks.

"Addy!" Her dad called from downstairs. "Bonnie is here!"

"Send her up dad!" Adeline shouted.

Bonnie walked into her best friends room with a smile and a large bag.

"What's the bag for?" Addy questioned.

"It is so you and I can get ready for the founders ball at the Lockwoods." Bonnie replied with confidence.

Adeline had completely forgot about the founders ball. She had bigger things she was worrying about, like helping Damon and Elena get Stefans humanity back on. It was proving to be a lot more difficult then they anticipated.

"I don't know if I'm in the mood to go to that this year Bonnie." Adeline sighed.

"I am not taking no for an answer." Bonnie insisted. "It's tradition Addy. Not to mention, it's a chance to dress up."

"I don't even have a date— I mean your going with Jer, Matt is going with Elena since Stefan is currently unavailable, and Tyler is going with Caroline." She huffed.

"You don't need a date! We will all be there to hangout with you." Bonnie smiled and she could tell her friend meant it. She wished it made her feel better but it didn't. "Wait— what about Damon?"

"Absolutely not." Adeline quickly responded. It wasn't because she didn't like Damon, he was a friend but she didn't want involved in the mess and drama that was Damon Salvatore right now.

It took a little more convincing but Bonnie was finally able to talk her friend into going to the ball. Adeline was adamant on Bonnie not trying to set her up with a date— she was fine with going alone.

The girls tried on dress after dress, trying to find the perfect one. Finally, Adeline stepped out in a long red lace gown. It was large and elegant, just the kind of dress you were expected to wear to a founders ball. The dress cinched in the perfect place on Adelines waist, showing off her slim figure. The red color popped against her blonde hair and complimented her blue eyes.

"Adeline..." Bonnie gasped. Her jaw was practically laying on the floor as she stared at her best friend.

Addy turned and looked at herself in the mirror, running her hands up and down the smooth material. She felt beautiful— this dress made her feel beautiful.

"I don't even know where this dress came from from." Adeline admitted.

"I do..." her father said as he walked in the bedroom with the two girls. His eyes were glossing over— they filled with tears. He placed his hand over his mouth for a moment, like he was trying to stop himself from sobbing but he just stared at his beautiful daughter.

"Dad—" she turned to face him. "What is it?"

"You look so much like her Addy." He choked.

Adeline was starting to put the pieces together now and her eyes started to well up.

"Dad is this—" she started.

"It's was your mother's." He finished.

It was inevitable now, the tears spilled out of her eyes and traced lines down her cheek. She should have known it was her mother's, she always had such beautiful taste.

"I don't have to wear it." She wept. "I'm sorry— I didn't know it was hers."

"Adeline, don't be ridiculous." Her father smiled through his tears, stepping forward to close the gap between his daughter and him. "I want you to wear it, you need to wear it."

"Dad—" she wept, shaking her head.

"Your mother would want you to wear it." He insisted. "You look beautiful, you are beautiful Addy. Please wear the dress, make your mother and I proud."

Addy looked over at Bonnie who also had tears streaming down her cheek, watching her best friend and dad. She gave her a slow nod letting her silently know she agreed with her father, that Adeline needed to wear that dress.

"Okay." Adeline breathed, turning back to her Dad. "I'll wear the dress."

The smile spread across her Dads face and he wrapped his arms around his little girl, pulling her tightly against his chest. He gently placed a kiss on her forehead, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to force the tears away.

"She loved you so much... and so do I." He whispered.

"I know Dad— I love you more."

"Not possible." He smiled.

"Okay enough of this crying you two!" Bonnie interrupted with a smile. "We need to fix our makeup now."

Bonnie began helping Adeline repair the mascara runs and the blotches in the foundation. She fixed her hair, securing it on a low updo with curled pieces hanging down by her face.

"Beautiful." she smiled, standing behind her friend as they stared at the finished look in the mirror.

"Thank you Bonnie." Adeline spun around and hugged her friend. "Now you need to go. Jeremy will be at your house to get you soon. I'll meet you guys there."

"Okay, I'll see you soon?"

"Yes Bon, I'll see you soon." She smiled.

*****

Adeline took a deep breath as she stood outside the Lockwood Estate. She had been to plenty of these founders balls before but this time she felt different. She felt nervous but deep in the pit of her stomach she felt more confident then she had before and she believed that was because of her moms dress.

"Okay— I can do this." She whispered to herself before she nodding at the doormen to open the doors.

The double doors swung open and the chatter slowly faded to a low volume. Heads turned, whispers flowed and almost all eyes in the room landed on the girl in the red dress.

Klaus was standing off to the side holding a champagne glass in his hand— chatting with some people on the founders council when she walked through the door. He was trying to infiltrate the council, get information from them as he thought about sticking around Mystic Falls for awhile. He didn't fear them, he had no reason too, he couldn't be killed but still he wanted to know everything about the one horse town.

He was listening to a story being told by Mrs. Lockwood, pretending to be interested until he laid eyes on Adeline. All his attention shifted on the girl, who stood alone in the doorway, in his favorite color, the color of blood, red.

Since Stefan no longer held on to his humanity, and only had Klaus to blame for that— he decided to play some games with the original. He saw the way Klaus looked at Adeline in the woods the night of the ritual, in Washington, in Chicago and the way he was looking at her now. He sprung into action, approaching Adeline and holding his arm out to her.

"Join me?" He grinned, glancing over at Klaus who was watching with gritted teeth. He knew it, Stefan knew it all along. Mainly because he looked at Elena this way long before he was willing to admit to himself how he felt about the human girl. He could spot that look on anyone.

"Umm— sure." Adeline reluctantly agreed. She didn't know what Stefan was up to, but she knew this wasn't out of the kindness of his heart. At the moment, he didn't have a heart.

The music shifted and people began migrating on to the dance floor.

"Dance with me." Stefan ordered, not making it a question. He pulled her out into the middle of the floor and lead the way as they danced with the rest of the party.

"So— are you doing okay?" Adeline asked, trying to break through the awkward tension.

"Can we skip the small talk and blah blah blah about saving my humanity?" Stefan scoffed. "It would be doing us both a favor."

"You're the one who asked me to dance Stefan, if you didn't want to talk you shouldn't have done that." Addy rolled her eyes.

"I asked you to dance to get under Klaus's skin." Stefan replied bluntly.

"What?" Adeline asked. She was confused why Stefan thought that this would even remotely bother Klaus. He was heartless, even worse then Stefan without humanity. "Why would this bother him?"

"It just would." he smirked. "Don't worry about it."

"Stefan, tell me." she pleaded.

She wanted to know what he meant, she almost felt desperate to know but Stefan wasn't going to cave.

"Thanks for the dance Addy." Stefan smirked, and walked away— leaving her with no answers and a mind full of curiosity.

Adeline grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the trays the waiters were walking around with and took a sip. She would need to take the edge off, at least a little to get through this night. She had never been much of a drinker, but times were changing and things were more difficult then they use to be.

"Alright blondie— I have to hand it to you." Damon said, walking up beside Adeline. "It's a pretty dress."

"Damon Salvatore— are you complementing me right now?" Addy mocked. That was the kind of friendship the two shared— they were always poking fun and messing with each other.

"I might be." he smiled.

Adeline laughed and shook her head. She stood next to Damon, people watching. Her eyes landed on an expensive suit— she could tell it was the most expensive one in the room and of course the one wearing it was Klaus Mikaelson. He was smiling, it looked like he was flirting which is something Adeline wasn't use to seeing. Her eyes followed his gaze and realized it was Caroline he was flirting with.

"Damon— where's Tyler?" She questioned.

"Lockwood? Hell if I know. It's not my job to keep that dog on a leash." he scoffed.

Adeline pressed her champagne glass to her lips and topped off the whole glass. She then reached over and quickly snagged two additional glasses and tossed the first one back with ease.

"Woah okay alcoholic Barbie— you might want to pace yourself." Damon stared at his friend as she took the third glass and finished it completely.

She wasn't sure what is was that made her want to get drunk. It was a mixture of missing her mom and being in this dress, losing Jenna, leaving her father to roam around the with vampires, Elena constantly being in danger, it seemed like the problems never ended, there was always something going on.

Adeline wanted an escape— a release. She hardly felt like she had anyone to talk to; she knew she had lots of friends who loved her and cared. She had Bonnie, Elena and Caroline but they all had so many of there own problems to deal with, she didn't want to burden them with hers.

The room spun beneath her feet, it felt like everything was moving. She decided the best thing for her would be fresh air, so she headed towards the doors grabbing a fourth glass of champagne on the way out.

"Leaving so soon?" Klaus called out, walking up beside the girl.

"What do you want Klaus?" she groaned, taking another sip of the bubbly drink.

"Do I always have to want something?" he smirked.

"Yes— you're pure evilness." she slurred.

"I'm sorry, did you just say evilness?" He questioned.

"I guess I did." Adeline laughed. It was now clear to Klaus that the girl was drunk.

"You've been drinking more than you can handle—clearly." He huffed.

"Good observation— dad." She mocked.

Klaus shook his head and laughed under his breath. He could go back and forth bantering with the girl all night long but he knew it would be useless. He didn't say anything for a moment, he just stood next to her in silence while she took a few more sips of her drink.

"It's a lovely dress." he finally said.

Adeline looked over at Klaus with glossy eyes. She had heard several times tonight how beautiful her dress was, but never once was she able to bring herself to tell anyone it was her moms. The only person that knew was Bonnie, and that was only because she was there when she found out.

"It was my moms." she breathed. It could have been the alcohol that gave her the courage to say that, and Klaus may not be the right person to open up to but in the moment , it felt right.

"Was?" Klaus questioned cautiously; he had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed.

"Was." she repeated. "She died— two years ago."

"I'm sorry Adeline." Klaus said and meant it. He didn't wish that kind of loss on her— the loss of a parent. His relationship with his parents was never good, it had always been complicated but he could tell by the look in her eyes, her mother meant everything to her.

"Fuck cancer, am I right?" She scoffed, raising her glass towards the sky before taking another swig.

"Why don't you take it easy the rest of the night?" Klaus suggested, and grabbed the glass out of her hand. "It's not going to help anyways."

"Yeah? Then what is?" she shrugged, with tears rising in her eyes. "Please Klaus tell me— in your thousand years have you discovered what heals pain?"

"Time." He answered honestly.

"But it hurts now— it hurts so bad all the time." She choked.

There was no going back now, the alcohol had lowered all her guards and she was wearing her truth on her sleeve whether she wanted to or not.

For once Klaus wanted to say something— anything to make her feel better but this wasn't something he was good at. He wasn't a comforting guy, he never had been. He didn't deal with others emotions, he ignored them.

"I know it hurts now— but it won't always be this way..." he started. "It won't stay this bad... time makes it easier."

"Well then fuck cancer and fuck time too." she slurred.

He could tell she was way beyond the point of return for the night. There was no way he was letting her go back into the party this way.

"Come on Adeline— I'll take you home." he offered.

"I can't — I can't let my dad see me like this." she choked. "I can't."

"Okay— then he won't." He assured her.

They began walking, side by side down the sidewalk that was dimly lit by street lights and the moon. Adeline continued to trip over her own feet, and moved at a snails pace. At the rate this was going, they wouldn't even make it to Klaus's car by morning and it wasn't far.

"That's enough of this." Klaus said as he lifted her feet off the ground and secured her in his arms.

"Wait — what are you doing?" she questioned.

"Carrying you since you took upon yourself to drink more than you can handle." He grinned.

And so he did— he carried Adeline in his arms.