54; Preparations

LILLY

I woke up early this morning, since I had a lot to do. Nik was already up along with the others, so I took a quick shower before getting into some of my lazy clothes, since I was gonna be getting ready for the ball all day.

Once I was ready I made my way downstairs grabbing myself a bloodbag from the kitchen before joining the others in the parlour.

Bekah was having her nails done, while the others sat around doing their own thing. As soon as I walked in everyone snapped their heads towards me. "Well there she is. Did my brother keep you up all night, darling" Kol smirked at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Someone sounds jealous" I smirked, while the others laughed, except Kol who glared at me.

"Touché" He mumbled, as I sat down next to Nik. "So is everyone ready for the ball?" I asked looking at everyone.

"We're having someone come over to fit us for our tux soon" Nik smiled at me as he noticed what I was wearing. "You always have to have some sort of heel, don't you love" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. Now I have to go out. I'll be back soon" I smiled at him kissing his cheek.

"Mum!" Phoebe called me, stopping me before I walked out of the room. "Yes?" I asked turning to look at her. "Can I come with you?" She asked, with a smile on her face.

I nodded smiling. "Sure" She smiled before quickly grabbing her shoes. "Be back soon" I called once she was ready.

We both jumped into my car before I sped off to the B&B. "Are you taking him to get a tux first?" She asked once we were away from the mansion.

"No. I'm gonna pick him up now, and then take him back to the mansion for him to get ready with his siblings" I smiled at her.

As soon as we pulled up outside the B&B we made our way into the room Henrik was staying in. "Rise and shine. We have a big day ahead of us" I called as I walked in.

"I'm already up" He called as he laid on the bed, cleaned up and dressed in proper clothes.

"That's what I like to hear. Now, you're brothers are getting fitted for their tux's at home. So up you get. You have some siblings to bond with"

As soon as I finished talking he was already up with his shoes and jacket on. "Let's go then" He smiled widely at me.

"Here" Phoebe passed him a bloodbag. "Thank you" He smiled at her.

We all made our way into my car before I drove back to the mansion. Henrik was like a child on Christmas day, constantly bouncing in his seat.

"Okay. You really need to calm down" I told him as he bounced in his seat. I know he's Fourteen, but geez, it's like the kid had ten energy drinks.

"You stay with Phoebe, until I tell you both to come in" I told him before I drove down the driveway to the mansion.

"Got it" He nodded with a huge smile on his face, I chuckled shaking my head. Life sure is gonna be fun with Henrik around.

I opened the main door to the mansion, making sure nobody was around, before I opened the door wider, letting Phoebe and Henrik in.

I could hear the family in the living room, so I made Henrik and Phoebe stay outside the door, as I walked in, making everyone look towards me, as I closed the door behind me.

"You were quick, love. Where you been?" Nik asked looking at me.

I smiled at him. "I've been working on a surprise for you all since last night" They all snapped their heads towards me confused.

"What sort of surprise?" Elijah asked. "You can come in" I spoke, knowing they would both hear me.

Phoebe walked in first, and came and stood next to me with a wide smile on her face, before Henrik walked in.

"Brother's. Sister" He smirked at them with that famous Mikaelson smirk, while the others just stared at him not knowing what to do.

Henrik flicked his eyes over towards me, raising his eyebrows. "They do this all the time right?" He chuckled.

I laughed. "I think this is the first time I've ever seen them speechless" I told him sending him a wink.

"Henrik?" Bekah whispered staring at him with tears in her eyes. In fact all of them had tears in their eyes. Even Nik, who let his guard down around his siblings.

He was truly vulnerable in front of them for the first time.

I know that he's carried Henrik's death on his shoulders, blaming himself, so this was truly hard for him.

Bekah rushed over to Henrik and pulled him into a hug while she sobbed her heart out. I think that's all the others needed, since Kol rushed over next pulling his brother and sister into his arms, with tears in his eyes.

Elijah and Finn was behind him, joining the group hug. I looked over to Nik who was still shocked, stood in his spot. But he didn't move.

Henrik pulled away from his other siblings before looking at Nik. "Do I not get a welcome back from the dead hug from my big brother?" Henrik asked him, making Nik take in a shaky breath. "H-Henrik" Nik whispered, still not believing that he was really here.

It breaks my heart seeing him like this.

Henrik smiled at him, but before he could say anything, Nik grabbed him giving him a hug, with tears in his eyes.

It was the first time I had ever seen them all so happy with eachother, and it brought tears to my own eyes.

Coming back to reality, I felt Phoebe grab my hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Come on" I whispered before we both went to walk away, but was stopped by Henrik.

"Lilly" He called making me turn around to look at him. "Yes?" I asked, but instead of answering he rushed over to me and pulled me into a hug, and for a young boy and someone who just came back from the dead he had some strength behind him.

Pulling away from the hug, I looked at him confused. "I never really thanked you. For everything" He smiled widely at me.

I smiled and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it kid" I smiled at him, before turning to walk away with Phoebe, but we were once again stopped.

"Where are you both going?" Nik asked looking at me and Phoebe. "We're going to spend some mother and daughter time together. I need to go get my dress and get my nails and hair done. And I'm going to treat Phoebe too" I smiled at him.

Nik smiled at me before he sped over to me pulling me into a hug, whispering "Thank you" into my ear, just as everyone else joined the hug so it was one big massive hug.

Once everyone pulled away Nik pressed his lips against mine before stepping away. "Hurry back" He smiled. "Will do" I winked before I grabbed Phoebe's hand and we made our way back out to my car.

We went to get our nails done first, I had mine black and red to go with my dress while Phoebe had hers blue and black.

"Thank you" I thanked the woman before we left heading to the hairdresser to get the ends chopped off of our hair, before we headed off to the shop to retrieve my dress.

"If you see my dress you can't tell Nik" I warned her. "I promise" She nodded smiling at me.

"Come on then" I smiled as we stepped into the shop.

I walked straight up to a saleswoman, who was reading through a magazine. "Excuse me. I've come to pick up a dress. It's Lilly Marie Mikaelson"

She nodded walking into a small room before walking back out with my dress that was on a hanger and in a garment bag.

"Thank you" I smiled at her before carrying it out with Phoebe behind me. "So I'm not going to get to see you in it before the ball?" Phoebe asked as we walked towards the car.

"Nope. So when's your friend coming?" I asked her, changing the subject as I put my dress into the car, making sure that it wouldn't crease.

"Tonight, at the ball" She smiled at me, before getting in the car, turning to look at me, as I got in myself. "Do you think the others have got everything ready?"

"Well I hope so. The ball starts in Four hours" I smiled at her, concentrating on the road.

It was a silent car ride home, both of us relaxed and content. It was nice to know she was able to be herself around me, and I'm slowly getting there. It's just going to take some time to get used to being a mother.

As I parked my car outside, we both jumped out the car as I grabbed my dress from the back seat, before following Phoebe inside.

I was about to walk straight upstairs to start getting ready, but I was stopped by Kol. "Lilly. Tell me how handsome I am" Kol smirked at me holding his arms out.

I looked over at them all, noticing that Bekah was missing and Nik, Kol, Elijah, Finn and Henrik was all still trying on their tux's.

I smirked at him. "Now that would be a lie. I have to say Nik looks handsome though" I retorted making Nik smile and wink at me.

"Is that your dress?" Nik asked looking at the garment bag I held in my arms. "Yes. And no, you can't see it" I smirked at him before walking up the stairs, into mine and Nik's room.

I locked the door behind me, along with a spell, so nobody could come in. Nik will have to get ready in a different room.

I ran myself a nice bubble bath, lighting some candles before pouring myself a glass of wine, for me to have while I was relaxing.

I grabbed my bra and pantie set before walking into the bathroom and stripping down and getting into the bath.

I could hear Kol bickering with Bekah like usual. I could hear pages turning, so either Elijah or Finn was reading. I could hear Phoebe moving around in her room. I could hear Henrik laughing and I could hear the strokes of a paintbrush against a canvas.

It was nice to just relax and not think about anything. To not have any supernatural events going off.

I could just lay here and relax before getting ready to enjoy myself for the night.

The only thing I had to worry about is if Nik liked my dress. I hope so because it'll be too late for me to change it.

After drinking my glass of wine I got all cleaned up before stepping out and drying myself off, putting my bra and panties on.

I sat down at the dressing table and plugged in the hair dryer, drying my hair off. Once it was all dried, I plugged in the curlers to curl all of my hair before putting into a fancy up-do.

Once my hair was finished, I realized that there was only an hour left until the ball began, making me quickly apply some foundation.

For my eyes I did a black and red smoky effect, adding some blusher to my cheeks and some red lipstick.

I grabbed my jewellery box pulling out a ruby and diamond necklace and earring set, with a Lapis Lazuli ankle bracelet.

I didn't want the blue to ruin my outfit, so if it was on my ankle nobody would see it.

I walked over to my closet and grabbed my Jimmy Choo crystal sandals, before I walked over to my dress.

I took it out of the garment bag taking it off of the hanger, laying it down on the bed. I couldn't wait to put it on.

As I stepped into my dress, I could hear the guests arriving, making me realize I was running late, since Elijah wanted us all there to greet the guests, but they all know better than to disturb me.

Once I was in the dress I put my shoes on before checking myself in the mirror.

I looked good, in fact I looked amazing.

I applied some more lipstick, before I made my way out of the room and towards the staircase.

Time to make an entrance.