On that particular day, nearly a month into their stay in Brazil, Emma found herself lying in bed even though it was noon, nursing a headache that made her want to do nothing but sleep. Even though she wasn't actually tired. With a small groan, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, deciding it was time to go into the kitchen in search of the painkillers she'd stored away in one of the cabinets.

As she moved through the halls, it wasn't long before she overheard voices talking in the living room. Knowing Kol was out feeding, Emma didn't have to bother too much with guessing to know it was Elijah and Katherine.

"Klaus wants it. If you get it, you can use it to buy your freedom." Emma overheard Elijah's voice as she came closer to the living room, but the proximity also meant the end to the ongoing conversation as the two vampires became aware of her presence, forcing them to quiet down.

Emma didn't bother trying to solve the puzzles of whatever they'd been talking about or hiding. Instead, she bee-lined for the kitchen. "Sorry for the interruption, I'll be out of your hairs in a second." She sent the two a small smile, hoping to make it clear it wasn't her intention to snoop or poke her nose into their business.

"You look like hell." Katherine was the first to speak, easily noticing Emma's sickly appearance. Although the word choices she used probably weren't the best judging from the glare she received in response.

"You really do know how to flatter a woman, Kat." Emma shook her head at the brunette. Clearing her throat with a light cough, she pulled out the small bag where she kept all of her medicine, fishing through it in search of the pain killers she needed.

It wasn't long into their stay in Brazil that Emma realized she couldn't rely on the house having any kind of medicine or medical supplies. After all, vampires had no need for them so she made sure to keep up her own stash. Which is why she was sure the small bottle would be in there. And, was proven right on that once she finally managed to pull it out.

"Are you feeling unwell?" It was Elijah who took a politer approach as he and Katherine shared a somewhat concerned look between themselves once another cough pushed its way past Emma's lips, as soft as before, but enough to make them think twice about it.

"Just a headache, nothing to worry about." Emma said in a reassuring tone, restraining herself from cursing at the bottle which was protected as if it was housing Alcatraz prisoners. Eighteen years old and child protections were still the bane of her existence.

"Here." Emma hadn't even noticed Elijah walking over until he was taking the bottle from her hands and opening it for her.

"Maybe the faster solution would be some blood?" Katherine suggested as she listened to Emma let out another string of coughs. Leaning her elbows on the surface of the island, she watched as Emma nodded her head, starting to think the Pierce might have a good point.

"Yeah, you're probably-" Emma started to say the offer might be a better idea, however, another fit of coughs cut her off. Emma started to dig through her pockets, only to find them empty.

Luckily, Katherine had an easy time guessing what Emma was looking for, and in the blink of an eye she was gone and back again, having ran to Emma and Kol's bedroom where she assumed the inhaler had fallen out of Emma's pocket.

A mere heartbeat passed before she was by Emma's side, taking a moment to shake the inhaler before pushing it into her hands and allowing Emma to bring it to her lips. With a puff from the device, Emma's breaths stopped sounding more like wheezes and returned to normal, making both her and the vampire by her side let out a small breath of relief.

But not long after something else was being pushed her way. "Drink." Elijah's tone left no room for protest, not that Emma was planning on it anyways as she took the glass of blood from his hands. He remained close by her side as Emma let out another short cough before downing the liquid.

And just like that, whatever was going on passed.

With some vampire blood as well as medicine, for good measure, in her system, Emma had managed to get the rest she'd been craving earlier in the day. And by the time she woke up, the sun had disappeared from the sky outside. And Kol had returned at some point, something she became aware of even before she opened her eyes due to the feeling of his arms holding her close as she slept soundlessly.

Moving slightly, she looked up at him to find his worried eyes already focused on her. That look was enough to let her know that Elijah and Katherine must've told him what happened as soon as he returned.

"I'm fine." She spoke before he even had a chance to start.

"You promised you'd tell me if something is wrong?" Kol couldn't help but ask, feeling terrible for having left. If he'd known he would have stayed and he would have been there. Hell, he would have given her some blood even before it happened so that it never could have.

"And I plan on keeping that promise as much as I can, but sometimes these things aren't predictable." Emma explained with a wary look on her face, worrying that it might make him reluctant to leave again even when he needed to. "But that's rare. And I'm fine. So please don't worry too much."

"I'll always worry about you, darling." He said honestly, brushing some of her curls away from her face as he took in the small smile on her lips. Seeing it was enough to make his heart calm at least a little. "We can spend tomorrow at home, cosy and safe." He added on, already planning on just that.

Emma raised an eyebrow at him. It was usual for him to be protective, especially during the first twenty four hours after she's had some blood, but this time it came across as much more determined than usual. "I didn't expect you to be so determined to keep me mortal." She couldn't help but point it out too.

"I won't hide that I wish you'd turn, some day." Kol admitted something she knew quite well already. "But if you do ever choose it, it won't be anyone but me who does it."

The possessiveness in his voice had Emma letting out a loud laugh, knowing she shouldn't have expected anything less. "To think, we came from you planning to kill me, to you..."

"Wanting to kill you again?" Kol twisted the words into a joke, the smile on his face making Emma shake her head in amusement. However, her own words made her think back to the revelation and how it was yet another thing they never really talked about.

"You never did tell me what changed your mind? In regards to the former, I mean." She questioned curiously. She wasn't too surprised to find out that when they first met Kol had ideas about killing her to toy with his siblings most likely. But she never could gather what it was that made him give up on that plan.

"That night we had at the Grill." Kol said simply, making Emma raise an eyebrow at him.

"What, I'm that good in bed?" She questioned, and this time it was Kol who burst out laughing at the bluntness.

"No, that wasn't it. Although it certainly is a perk." He said confidently, leaning down to place a short kiss to her lips that had Emma letting out a quiet giggle. But she pulled away, eyes silently telling him to continue. "I've seen humans attempt many ways to gain my family's favour throughout the years. Some tried to buy it, some seduced my siblings into it. A rare few managed to do it through wit and intelligence as you did."

Listening to him speak, Emma easily caught on to the unsaid words that remained hidden in the tone of his voice. "But it wasn't any of that. That's not what changed your mind."

"No. It was after I was daggered." Kol said, making Emma's brows furrow, momentarily confused. "Klaus wasn't available, and you were left to deal with it alone. So you, a measly mortal," The description earned him a small glare and had him chuckling before he continued. "Tried to go up against two vampires and a trained vampire hunter... All just to help me. No one's ever done that for me before."

His own siblings usually all stood on the other side of the dagger. And then there was Emma, who had made it clear she knew who he was and how he could be, and yet when it came down to it, she fought for him, without even knowing that the rest of his siblings had gone down with him. She fought only for him even despite the odds which were certainly not in her favour. That was when he realized there was much more to this woman than he could even begin to imagine.

"I'll always be there to save your ass, Kol Mikaelson." Emma said, smiling up at him as she moved her arm, wrapping it around his shoulders to pull him in for another kiss.

This time it was him who pulled away, and not her. His eyes stared down at her with a mix of emotions that Emma couldn't quite read, but luckily they came out in his voice when he spoke again. "Always?"

She knew what the question meant. She knew what he was asking. Because their definitions of always were drastically different. And yet, Emma knew they didn't have to be. And the more she thought of it... The more she didn't want them to be.

She remembered her conversation with Katherine, and all the times she's thought about it since. And she knew the answer. She knew her mind had been made up a long time ago, and it just needed to make itself clear to her.

And so she answered the question.

"Always."

The smile which spread over his face, happy and full of joy, was hard to miss even if she did glimpse it for only a second before his lips were back on hers, conveying all he thought with one kiss. A kiss from which neither of them wanted to pull away this time. And yet, the universe had other plans.

"Seriously?" Emma questioned in annoyance as the sound of a ringtone spread through the air. It was an unwelcome interruption, and one she had all plans on ending as she reached into Kol's back pocket, pulling the phone out and going to blow off the call before she realized who it was from. "Oh."

Seeing the surprise on her face, Kol plucked the device out of her hand so he could see for himself. And it wasn't long before a pleased smile spread over his face and he accepted the call.

"Well look who's back from the land of the daggered."