"If no one in the entire world cared about you, did you really exist at all?"

- Tessa Gray

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I snarled. Disdain rolled from my lips and anger stormed through my pale blue-green eyes as I glared at the witch in front of me. "Look at me, gap tooth, when I decide to talk to your sorry ass." I took a step towards her and she held her gaze with me, never wavering. "Where do you get the audacity to link me to you? I don't care if your sister died, I have a life to live and precautions to take, Sophie." My hand drifted to my stomach out of habit. It was smooth flat I had only began gaining even a few pounds, it was still so early on in my pregnancy and the last thing I needed was the stress of this bitch.

Her jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed at me, a dangerous glint shinning in them. "We have a plan. Klaus will get you back he will keep you safe and we will keep our part of the bargain as long as you keep yours. It's already taken hold. Elijah brought my sister to me, he will sway Klaus." She paused looking me over, "It's not like anyone told you to get knocked up by a psychotic, maniac who values little in the people around him." Anger boiled in me and I felt it stir the wind around me my midnight black hair whipping around my face and a true flicker of fear flashed through Sophie's eyes as she reached a gentle hand out to me. "Calm down, getting worked up isn't good for the baby.. I... I know what you are capable of you don't need to remind me." Sophie grumbled softly.

The air calmed down my wavy dark hair falling back down as I swallowed hard smoothing down my shirt. "Don't forget your place Sophie. You may have trapt me down here but had I needed to leave I would have. I do not follow ancestral magic this shit cementary means nothing to me." I turned on my heel walking through a small corridor and sitting down on the stone bench I had spent hours occupating just moments before my argument with Sophie. I knew I needed to calm down but it was hard as hell given the circumstances.

I'm Ashiara. A crazy name if ever there were one. I'm a witch with a nasty habit of biting off more than I can chew. Like that faithful night eight weeks ago when I decided that sleeping with the infamous original hybrid would be harmless. I was sorely mistaken and it seemed every waking second served as a reminder that I was mistaken. Niklaus wants nothing to do with me not much of a surprise there and I have Elijah his older brother fighting his very hardest to get me the hell out of here. Which has proven difficult since it seems Niklaus is either paranoid my pregnancy is a trick to draw him in and use him or he just doesn't want anything to do with me at all. A far cry from the man I slept with eight weeks ago. Given we weren't by any means pillow talk and romantic gestures but there was a moment, a flicker, a light. The point was there was something and it screamed tenderness and compassion. It just couldn't come out. Those blue gray eyes have haunted me since that night and they were haunting me now. A shiver ran up my back as I leaned down and laid on the bench a sigh escaping my lips.

How had all of this come to pass? Everything was going great before these witches. I had everything I ever could have wanted. A loving boyfriend, a family who adored me, friend I could rely on and as I lay here my heart racing I wondered briefly where they were now. I had always thought they would be the ones to find me not one of the Originals.

A tear slipped out of my eye and I hastily wiped it away. They were gone. My family and my friends had left me. If they wanted to find me they could have, they could have cast a tracking spell anything. The secret weapon these witches so feared had no control over me. I did not belong to the Quarter neither did I use their source of magic. None of my family did which meant they deliberately chose not to come to New Orleans and find me. Two more tears. Damn these hormones. I wiped them both away and took a trembling breath. Crying didn't change anything/ Even if I laid here and sobbed I would still be here alone praying that Elijah came through with convincing Niklaus to take me in. Hell at this point Santa fucking Clause could take me in I just wanted out of this place.

"Come on. We're going home." I jumped looking up to see Elijah looking down at me concern etched in his features. Then his words registered to me and I swung my legs around relief filling me as I launched into his arms hugging him.

"You will not regret this I promise." I choked out and Elijah stiffened under my grasp before relaxing and awkwardly squeezing my back.

"You are family now. I would have taken you back no matter what." He stated as if this were obvious fact and my doubt was insulting. He pulled back and smiled kindly for the briefest of moments. It was a small smile one that made me wonder if he did it often. Then a flash of Klaus' smile appeared in my mind and it was as if my heart melted around the edges before hardening again. I swallowed and nodded at Elijah not trusting my voice. Because if I speak I'm afraid my voice will break and all of my fears of being abandoned or for my unborn baby will rush into me again and if that happens I don't think I'll ever be able to mend myself back together.

"He's taking a long time." I looked over at Elijah worrying at my bottom lip. I had arrived at the old plantation styled home hours ago and while I wish to say it was beautiful and modern on the inside it was obvious this place had gone a long time without an owner and dust covered a hell of a lot of things. I popped my back and Elijah glanced up at me.

"You should really sit down, Niklaus will come home. There's no need to worry I assure you." I found no comfort in Elijah's words as I sat down beside him. I felt like I was always on some emotional roller coaster, apparently being pregnant did that to you. I leaned into Elijah's side and glanced over at the door just as it opened. It seemed every time I saw Klaus he was more beautiful than the last. I looked at his tousled dark dirty blonde hair and his blue gray eyes. They were guarded at the moment as he strode in with ease. He glanced into the pallor and his eyes fell on me and Elijah a brief storm brewed in them but as I pulled away from Elijah they ebbed. I looked up into those eyes curiously cocking my head to the side a silence descended upon us.

"You seem to be already making yourself at home." He commented after clearing his throat.

"No, I-" I took a deep breath shaking my head and stood up still standing so much smaller than Klaus. "I know this is your home. I planned on going back to Shreveport to my parents." I had to get out of New Orleans. I wasn't even three months pregnant yet and already things were going left.

"I'm afraid that's not possible. If your that far from Sophie things could go... Wrong." Klaus interjected a faint smirk on his face. My brows knit together as I shook my head.

"I have a family I can't just stay here." I replied trying to remain calm. I had just gotten out of an old musty prison I didn't do it just to upgrade to a slightly better one.

"Your family haven't come for you yet it seems. So they can wait a little longer." Klaus replied diplomatically and I felt it like a stab in the heart. He was right my family hadn't even cared enough to show up but yet here I am ready to run back to them.

"Niklaus! Show her some compassion. You needn't be so ruthless with your words sometimes." Elijah scolded but I shrugged him off. Klaus had a point. I felt a lump rise in my throat as I shook my head.
"Klaus is right. They haven't made any moves to come find me, they must not be that worried." I said softly walking over to the large bay windows and looking out at the woods that loomed on the right side of the house. I crawled into the window seat and sat leaning against the window. "I'll find somewhere-" I began.

"You will stay. That baby is our family which essentially means you are as well." Klaus inserted sitting down at the edge of the window seat. His hand covered my knee and I stared down at it. "We will keep you safe Ashiara."

"Ash. I always go by Ash." I smiled absently and looked back outside to the forest. "I will stay." I said just to feel control because quiet frankly Klaus had an ego that smothered anything else. It was easy to feel like I was just being dragged along. "But after I'm unlinked to Sophie, I have to go home." I lift my eyes from Klaus' hand to his eyes as if that will make him understand. "It's true they haven't shown up or apparently made an attempt to reach out but their still my family. I at least deserve answers."

"Ash, they never came for you. The answers you get may not be the ones you seek." Klaus said after some moments of thought. He squeezed my knee gently. "Take it from me, when your family betrays you it hurts worse than anything else. Perhaps you should consider just calling them or waiting it out. If they care they will come." I wanted to tell him that waiting was just as bad, because if they never called or reached out at all it would break me. I pursed my lips and nodded slightly as if just to put the subject to rest. I looked up to see Klaus staring at me intensely and I followed his eyes to see he was staring at my right hand which was gently tracing lines over my stomach. I hadn't even noticed I was doing it. It was happening more and more often as if on instinct.

His hand reached out almost touching my stomach before he pulled back and stood abruptly. "Well the witches of the Quarter have made tonight a very trying night. You should go to bed." I opened my mouth to object but Klaus glared over at me. "Its not up for debate go to sleep Ash." He disappeared in the next moment before I could reply and a swoosh of air left my lips as I looked up at baffled by Niklaus constant range of changing emotions.

"He'll come around." Elijah spoke from behind me and I shrieked jumping up and Elijah chuckled. "I didn't mean to frighten you." He assured me placing a hand on the small of my back as he led me up the stairs. "Klaus will come around, he's battling his own demons right now but he'll come around. Regardless I will be here Ash and I will always protect you." He vowed.

The difference between the two brothers were astounding and I nodded my eyes feeling very heavy suddenly as I yawned. "It's a lot to take in." I said softly leaning into Elijah and he scooped me into his arms before opening a door and laying me down on a large fluffy bed that I sunk into comfortably. Elijah turned on his heel and I reached out grabbing his hand.

"Thank you Elijah." I mumbled. "For being there and saving me when the people I trusted most had left me alone."

So thoughts? I'd love a review, follow, and favorite I have a lot planned for this story quiet honestly.

All rights and characters belong to The Originals except for my personal OC's

-xoxo Cayla