chapter twenty-six,

of the grans staircase, surrounded by the wealth of the small town she called home. Her friends were at the food table, each making themselves a plate and talking amongst one another. "Did someone call for a birthday surprise?" The witch turned around, finding Damon standing behind her, a single rose in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" she asked with a smile, taking the rose from him.

"Grandma Mikaelson wants an audience with Elena. I'm making sure she doesn't come," he answered.

Some part of Marian was disappointed by his answer, hoping that he'd attended the ball for her instead. "Why does she want to see Elena?"

"Probably a sorry excuse for an apology." He reached into the back pocket of his trousers. "I almost forgot. Here." He lifted his hand, a golden ring in it. Her eyes widened; it was her wedding ring, a gold chain strung through it. "I heard you like keepsakes."

"Damon, I don't know what to say," the girl said happily, lifting her straightened hair so that he could put the necklace with the ring on it around her neck. She shivered as his cold fingers touched her neck.

"The day I asked you to marry me and you said yes, was the best day of my life." As he stood back, his eyes darting from the ring around her neck to her face, Marian noticed the rogue glimmer of sadness in his eyes. He quickly cleared his throat, looking to the side and gaining someone's attention as if he was suddenly trying to avoid her. "Hello Carol."

Marian smiled at Mrs Lockwood. "Hello," the woman said.

"Hi," Marian said shyly as they clinked glasses. She'd never really had much to do with the new Mayor of Mystic Falls; Tyler and her had never gotten along because of his rivalry with Jeremy.

"Hanging out with your new besties?" he quipped.

"I'm the mayor, Damon. When the oldest, deadliest, family of vampires moves into your town, you welcome them with a smile."

He hummed. "Well at least you know who you're borrowing that cup of sugar from."

"I'm trying to protect this town. They've assured me they want peace, and I've assured them that I'd enforce it." Marian nodded in agreement as she saw another figure joining their small conversation. Her father took Mrs. Lockwood's hand and placed a kiss on the top of it.

"Mayor Lockwood. We haven't formally met. Kol Mikaelson," he introduced. "I hope your lovely town embraces us just as much as we plan to embrace it."

Marian struggled to keep Damon from holding his hand out for him to shake but failed. No doubt one of the others had informed Kol that the man she'd been standing with was indeed the same Damon Salvatore she'd almost married without her father's approval. "Damon Salvatore. Have we met?"

Her father simply smirked, ignoring his hand. "I've met a lot of people. And you don't particularly stand out."

"Okay," Marian interrupted, clapping her hands together. "Time to go. Bye Mrs—Mayor Lockwood. Damon—" She said nothing, instead pushing her father away from them.

"What did I do this time, darling?" he asked innocently.

"Be nice," Marian warned. "These are my friends."

It didn't take long for her to spot Penny, Hannah and Jack standing to the side of the room, exchanging awkward glances with people they recognised.

"Hey!" Marian called to them. "Guys, this is my Dad—" she introduced.

"Kol Mikaelson," he interrupted, giving them a charming smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the people I've heard so much about." Penny raised her eyebrows at Marian, giving her a look that said 'we'll talk later'. The witch knew this was coming; she hadn't told them anything about finding her father.

"It's nice to meet you," Hannah said. "I'm Hannah." She extended her arm for him to shake before pointing to her boyfriend and friend who stood next to Marian. "This is Jack, and that's Penny."

Penny pulled Marian to the side, allowing Kol and her friends to continue as she spoke in a hushed tone to the witch. "You didn't tell me you found your dad," she said pointedly. "When did this happen?"

"It was a surprise," she lied easily. "Elijah found him and brought him here for my birthday."

Penny raised an eyebrow at her. "Annie, I've known you practically my whole life. I know when you're lying. You two seem way too close already to have only just met."

Marian gulped. "I'll tell you later?" she asked hopefully, hoping to be able to come up with a reasonable excuse before the end of the party.

Kol, sensing his daughters sudden discomfort, quickly interrupted their conversation. "Marian's told me a lot about you three," he announced. "She spent nearly three whole hours telling me stories of your many adventures."

Marian smirked, seeing Penny's cheeks reddened. "You didn't tell him about the second grade, did you?" she whispered into Marian's ear.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said cheekily. Penny glared at her.

"I hate you." Marian watched as her father smirked before it faltered, his head moving every-so-slightly to the side. Looking towards the staircase, she could see Elijah and the others assembling.

"Excuse me," Kol said to the group before retreating to stand with his siblings on the staircase. As Marian and her friends made their way towards it, she saw Elijah's questioning gaze, his head nodding towards the empty space beside him. She shook her head; Marian absolutely despised being the centre of attention.

"Don't you dare mention my birthday, or I'll kill you myself," she threatened softly, knowing well that her whole family had heard her. Kol gave her a prideful smile.

...

"Welcome, thank you for joining us," Elijah greeted the guests. "You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance."

"Your family is so beautiful," Hannah whispered, watching as the Mikaelson siblings stood tall on the staircase. Jack gave an unimpressed huff. "But no one's as beautiful as you, baby," she said quickly.

"Smooth," Marian laughed.

"So who's who?" Penny asked, nodding towards the staircase.

"Um, my dad's up the top. Next to him is Klaus—"

"—the asshole uncle?" Jack asked.

Marian tried not to laugh as she watched her uncle clench his jaw, Kol and Finn's serious expressions becoming amused. "Yep. And then there's Elijah, Rebekah and Finn."

"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz," said Elijah. "So, if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom."

"What is this, the eighteen-hundreds?" Penny scoffed, though Marian knew she secretly loved the idea of dancing like a lady of the past; she was a romantic in that way, much like Marian.

"The eighteen-hundreds is modern for them. I mean, have you heard the way Elijah speaks?" Marian laughed, turning to her best friend. She always liked making fun of her family when she knew they couldn't retaliate. "Be my partner?"

"I'm afraid that position's already taken," Kol said, walking up to the pair. Neither girl had realised that Hannah and Jack had already left. Penny looked at Marian in despair, not wanting to have to dance with someone she didn't know It was one of the reasons why the two were a perfect match; they stayed together because neither of them wanted to be left alone.

Elijah came up behind Penny, holding his hand towards her. "Miss. Miller," he said. "It would be an honour."

She looked back at Marian who was biting her lips, trying not to laugh. "Sure," Penny said hesitantly, taking his hand. The four made their way into the next room.

"Your friend is very strange," Kol mused, watching as Penny danced with his older brother, her cheeks a deep shade of red.

"She's just inexperienced with boys," Marian told him. "She thinks Elijah's beautiful."

"She must be inexperienced then, if she prefers him over me."

Marian grimaced. "Ew. Gross," she complained. "No."

Kol laughed, looking down at his daughter as the two danced. "You look stunning tonight, darling." Marian smiled happily at him, faltering when she saw a slight frown form on his face, his eyes staring at the ring Damon had given her. "Is that a wedding ring?"

Marian yelped as she was suddenly twirled around, groaning when she saw the smug smirk on her uncle's face as he danced with her.

"I must say, love. I didn't expect you to slip up this quickly." Marian glared at him.

"Asshole," she muttered.

"Ah yes. I heard what you said before and I'm deeply wounded," he said.

"Remind me why I care?" Marian challenged him, rolling her eyes.

"Because you are a witch, and you're capable of emotion," he told her before looking over her shoulder at something else. Marian smirked, knowing that he would be glancing over at Caroline.

"Well judging by the googly eyes you give Caroline Forbes, I'd say vampires are capable of emotion too." She grinned at the sight of his disgruntled face. "I'm just saying."

"I'd watch what you say to me, Marian, or I might just let slip that you've gotten back together with Damon Salvatore."

Marian's face fell. "Excuse me?"

Klaus smirked. "No man gives his ex-lover their wedding ring for no reason."

"Maybe he's just trying to move on," she reasoned.

"By giving the girl he never stopped loving a ring that would bind their soul forever? I don't think so." He looked to the side, his smirk deepening. "Oh look, you can ask him when you swap partners."

Marian looked around desperately to escape the situation. "Bekah! Swap places with me. Please?" she begged.

"And dance with my brother? No thanks," she answered sarcastically before looking at her panicked niece. "Oh for heaven's sake, Nik, go bother someone else. You're ruining her special night," she complained to her brother, giving him a pointed look. He hesitantly nodded, spotting Caroline leaving the hall. Marian stood with a frown, now being left alone.

"May I have this dance?" a voice asked from behind her. Marian turned, a smile growing on her face as Ambrose took her hands and put them on his shoulders, placing his on her waist.

"You're back," she said happily.

"Yeah, about that," he began, scrunching up his face with embarrassment. "I'm sorry I left. It was a dick thing to do, but—"

"But my uncle's an asshole who does things without thinking about other people?" she continued. "When'd you get back?"

"This morning," he answered. "When Klaus told me it was your birthday, I just had to come and wish you."

Marian bit her lip. "You came back just for me?"

"Well, I didn't want to miss the party, either," he added with a grin.

"And to think I'd just started to like you," she teased, shaking her head.

"Is that a wedding ring?" he asked suddenly, looking down at the necklace that hung around her neck. She had a sneaking suspicion he wasn't only looking at the necklace when he'd looked down. "Who's the unlucky guy?" He looked around, lowering his voice. "Was it Jeremy?"

"God, no," she answered.

"Don't tell me it was Damon Salvatore," he pressed. Marian widened her eyes in warning.

"Shut up!" she hissed. "If my dad finds out, the both of us are dead."

"Given the excessive glares Kol and Damon are giving each other, I'm guessing he already knows."

As the music came to an end, Marian and Ambrose let go of one another and smiled at each other for a moment. She was glad that he was back; he'd helped her get back on her feet when she'd felt like she'd lost it all. Marian turned around, staring in disbelief as she found both men glaring at each other. "Shit."

part ii:

tvd s3, e14, ""

wc: