Ben

     ❝I should hope not.❞ Kol narrowed his eyes not caring about him.

“I just hope there wont be any trouble. This town does not need more trouble.”

     ❝Hmm, same old things. Nothing exciting.❞ She gave a simple nod about it as she half smiled. ❝What about you? Anything new? How is Jed.❞

“I suppose that is what comes with adulthood, is it not?” He smiled. “I am doing well, as is Jed. Nothing new with us, either. Just living our lives.”

It only made Jed smile to hear what his husband said. “Well if that’s the case you better hurry and kiss me to show just how amazing I am.” He grinned about it as his hand slipped at his waist. “I just want to be there for the pack and show them how much I care for them, that they have a dependable leader who will for for them and with them.”

“I suppose if I must.” He teased and leaned in to press his lips gently against Jed’s before pulling back slightly. “There, do you feel amazing or should I do it again?” He grinned. “My love, you have been there for them for decades now. If they cannot see how much you love and support them now then that says more about them than you.”

“Yeah, it’s just a lot of research I’m doing and grading. The highs and lows of being a Science professor and then working in a lab.” She laughed about it as she held her papers with her hand.

“Wow. You must be incredibly intelligent. What field of science do you work in?”

“It happens to the best of us, Ben.” Caroline smiled with a nod before hearing him ask about her and Stefan. “I’m going well. Stefan is well too I think. We actually got a divorce.”

“I am glad you’re doing well. I am sorry to hear about your divorce, though. Are you sure you are alright?”

“Well good for you, why don’t you take your hands back to your husband than?” She questioned as she half rolled her eyes.

He chuckled. “I suppose I should. For what it is worth, coming from a married gay man, you are a very beautiful woman.” He smiled over to her.

“Seriously, I said it’s fine.” Jayce spoke again as he put his hands in his pockets to just try and restrain himself from anything that could come out.

“Very well. Are you alright? You seem a bit on edge. If there’s anything I can do to help...”

❝ demi-god? i didn’t believe they existed. i heard of them over two thousand years ago, only thought they were a myth. doesn’t tell me much where that is located. could not anyone help you? ❞ not that he cared for the answer, but he started to think it was strange if someone walked pass him, why did they leave him there? ❝ no, i do not. how could i.. i have no clue who your husband is, or your friends. i do not care much who is with who, unless it’s about my children, but that is another thing ❞

“Yes, demi-god. I brought magic to the humans and so my father cursed me. I was eventually freed from the stone, but the monsters still came.” He took a deep breath. “Right, well. I promise I am one. I promise I’ve been around for over 5,000 years. Much like you do not care about people other than your children, I do not care if you believe me or not.” He gave the other a smile.

❝ mhm, doesn’t matter anymore. isn’t anything i want to start to discuss about, would be pointless and silly ❞ who started to fight about it? perhaps someone did, never leads anywhere ❝ yes, you can trust me with that. life isn’t always easy, is it? i wish it was ❞

“I agree, it is all water under the bridge as they say.” He smiled. “No it is not. It would be wonderful if it could be but then it wouldn’t be life.”

     Letting out a sigh, Hope shook her head and lightly smiled. ❝No.. It’s fine Ben, you can stay.❞

“Thank you.” He smiled at her. “So, what is going on with you?”

     ❝Do you have a problem?❞ Kol stated as he rose a brow. Sure people would assume the worst in what he was saying over the phone but nobody knew the context behind it.

“Should I have a problem?” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

Looking at one of the papers that the man held, she skimmed through her stack before looking to him, “Yeah! Thank you. I would of been lost without it.”

“Glad to be of assistance.” He smiled at her. “That is quite a lot of papers you have there.”

she smiled ❝ oh. it’s okay. no no, i should have paid more attention to my surrounding. i am the one who should apologize. if i’d seen you… ❞ she started, didn’t want him to feel bad ❝ i could have noticed. yes, i am fine, thank you for asking. my mind was just distracted, it’s been for a while lately ❞

He chuckled, it seemed they could go around in circles both trying to take the blame. “Perhaps we are both at fault. Apologies accepted on both ends?” He smiled. “I understand completely. My mind has not been as sharp lately.”

an eyebrow raised to the year ben mentioned ❝ oh, 5,000 years? “ silas thought he and qetsiyah were the first supernaturals in the world. how had he missed this? and all of these years. he hadn’t cared much about others, mostly about his family, they were the ones who meant more to him ❝ what are you, a god? ❞ he joked, but at the same time was serious “ cursed, immortal, then? sounds horrible. where exactly was this stone? ❞ he asked. never heard of this story, it sounded as it was something the man had dreamed.

“Yeah, uh, demi-god, actually, but close enough.” He smiled at the other. “Near the Caucasus Mountains.” He raised an eyebrow to the other. “You seem to be interrogating me. You don’t believe me? I assure you you can ask my husband or any number of former Salvatore School students, they can attest to my truthfulness.”

“You really know how to make a guy feel like a million dollars.” He smiled to his husband as he nodded his head. “I just want things to be easier on everyone. Be stronger, have somebody to listen to them when shit hits the wall. But nobody will be able to have the happiness that I have with you.”

“It is my sole purpose in life to make sure you know how amazing you are.” He smiled and brushed his thumb across Jed’s cheek. “You have the best of intentions and you do your best, but you can’t make life perfect for everyone. You are here for them and they know that. We are lucky and I am grateful everyday for what we have together, but it’s not your job to make sure everyone else has it too. That is too much pressure on yourself.”