It was the night of homecoming when Elena realized she had changed entirely. She had stabbed Rebecca in the back, after pretending to be her friend, to succeed with her plan. She had actually enjoyed Rebecca's company. The problem with Rebecca had never been her character, but her family. It didn't help that Damon had totally agreed with her plan. As he asked her to sit the night out, she was relieved as it meant that she didn't have to participate in the attempt to kill Klaus. Truth be told, all she had ever wanted was to live in peace. It wasn't too much to ask. All she wanted was to have a normal life again. The only reason she went along with the plan was that Klaus threatened everyone she ever cared about.

So when they found out that they couldn't kill an Original without also killing their entire bloodline and Alaric trying to kill the entire vampire race, Elena made a decision. One night, while everybody was preoccupied, she went to see Klaus. It didn't take her long to find him; it was a full moon and he was sitting on a bench, drenched in blood. She tried not to be affected by the smell that came from him when she sat down next to him. He didn't even look up; he just sat there, staring at the night. For a while, Elena just sat there with him, trying to see what he was staring at.

"Are.., are you alright?" Elena's voice was shaking. He still scared every cell in her body

"Klaus?" But he didn't answer. Nothing, he didn't even move. Elena chose a more direct approach. Slightly, and very slowly, she moved her arm, so that she was able to touch his hand. Elena put her hand on his, always anticipating a reaction from him. And the reaction came, but not the way she expected. Klaus took her hand and squeezed it lightly, not too hard. And then, finally, he looked at her.

She tried again: "Is everything okay?"

He looked down at her hand, and as if he suddenly realized who he was sitting here with, he took her hand and placed it gently back in her lab. "I'm fine."

"Well, you don't look like it." "And why would you care?"
"It's what you do. But I assume not a lot of people have asked you that question in the entire time of your existence." "You assume correctly. What do you want, Elena?"

"I wanted to talk to you without anyone trying to stop me."

"And what is there that you and I could possibly talk about?"

"A deal."

"Of course. I've heard of the doppelgänger's negotiation tactics. Just ask my brother."

"Which one exactly?" "You know too well which one. You know he fancies you right?"
"Elijah is not of importance here." "He values your pure heart. You look like Tatia and of course Katerina and you could think it's your beauty that he fancies, but you are so different from all of them. You care from the bottom of your heart. Even when you think it's a lost cause, you never stop fighting. Why is that?"
"It's just the way I am. I think nothing and no one is ever fully lost."

"What about me?"

"Do you really care about my opinion?"
"Interestingly enough, I do."
"There's always a path for redemption. For some it is shorter, for some it is longer, but it's always there."
"My family would disagree." "Why do you say that?"
"They only tolerate me as they have to."

"Klaus, you daggered most of them and left them in caskets for at least five decades. You have to give them time." "I've never done well with patience."
"And yet, time is all you have." "There are a few advantages to immortality."

"Do you want to work things out with your family?"
"Sometimes I ask myself if it is all worth it." "What do you mean?"
"I mean, being the most feared person on the planet. Being all powerful and all that."

"So do you think it's worth it?"
"Everything comes with a price. Loneliness and I are good acquaintances."

"You don't have to be all evil to be all powerful, Klaus. You don't have to push away your family."

"Yet, it is the only way I know."

"Try a new approach."

"Every time I tried to be different, I got betrayed." "I'm sorry." Klaus looked at her for a second, evaluating her face.

"There it is, that pure heart of yours that my brother can't get out of his head. You truly mean that don't you?"
"Of course I do. I understand that your upbringing wasn't the best Klaus. You lost your brother at an early age and found out that your father wasn't your father shortly after that. He hated you for what you were and made it his life mission to destroy you and your siblings. Nobody deserves that." Klaus didn't hold her gaze, instead he looked at the moon again.

"You said something about a deal."

"Right. I figured something out the night Esther turned Alaric. I haven't told anyone yet but Alaric's life is tied to mine. If I die, so will he. I want to save my friends and if the only way to do that, is to die, then I'm ready. I've always known, at least ever since vampires came into my life, that I wouldn't have a long and normal life."

"You're willing to give up your life?"
"I am. But I knew from the start that you wouldn't let me do that unless you have enough blood for your hybrids. So, a few months ago I started taking my own blood. I've filled about four bags now and you can drain about four or five more out of me before I die. From the amount of blood Tyler drank when you first turned him, I assume this will get you a very long way. I want you to take my life, Klaus, but you will get to do it your way. I will simply fall asleep and at the same time, Alaric will seize to be a problem for all my friends as well as your family."

"This is quite a plan you've come up with."

"What do you say?"
"I have to agree with my brother; doppelgängers do know how to negotiate."
"Do you agree, Klaus?"
"I don't know. I will need time to think about it."

"Okay, I understand that. You know where to find me when you made your decision. Please don't tell anyone about this. My friends wouldn't understand and try to stop me."

"What about those boyfriends of yours?"

"I am with neither Stefan nor Damon at this moment." "You know what I mean."
"They will be fine. Their bond is strong."

"What about you. Do you not want a family? Children?"
"Look at Tatia and Katherine. Tatia had a child and no husband and was murdered to become the human sacrifice to turn your family. Katherine doesn't even know her child. I'm sure I would face some form of the same fate as the two of them. It's better if my bloodline ends with me. No more doppelgängers to push around." "You are willing to sacrifice everything. Sometimes, I envy you."

"For what?" "For all the compassion and love you feel and that your friends feel for you."

"Your family loves you too Klaus. You all just have no talent at showing it."

"I would love to believe you."
"Then do." Klaus smirked at her and then rose from the bench.

"It was brave of you to come here tonight. You didn't know it, but I just turned back and I could have easily mistaken you for another animal and killed you. You gave me quite a lot to think about. I will let you know what I have decided."

"Thank you, Klaus. You're not that bad to be around when you're not trying to kill everyone I love."

"I dare say that was a compliment, Miss Gilbert."

"You just might. Goodnight, Klaus. I'm glad this is only animal blood."

She turned around and made her way back to her house. After the events of this night, she couldn't say how Klaus would decide. And Elena wondered: If she had known Klaus in his time, could she have liked him?