Author's Note:

Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters; they originate from The Vampire Diaries.

I would love to thank Inge for the lovely cover and my beta for editing my work. This is the first fic that I have written so I hope you guys enjoy! Constructive criticism is always welcome

It is the year 1940 and Europe is at war. Germany has invaded and gained control of almost all the countries on mainland Europe. Britain is the last free country standing. In an attempt to break British confidence, the German Luftwaffe has been raiding strategic British airfields and ports. The goal of the Germans was to hit British war industries in order to make them too weak to fight, and surrender to German control. Little did British civilians know that the German tactic was about to change one night.

Prologue

Klaus, Britain, 1940

Klaus awoke to the booming sound of alarms going off yet again for the fourth night in a row. He grunted as he pushed his covers aside and walked sheepishly over to his dresser. He lazily dressed himself in a t-shirt and a pair of pants wondering if there was going to be an actual attack tonight or if this alarm was another precautionary action. Couldn't Klaus just get through one night of sleep without being interrupted by the bomb alarms. If Klaus can't fight in the war why should he be forced into underground bunkers where all he can do is sit and wait. His father would pass the hours reminding Klaus of his cowardice and his inability to protect his family and Britain. It was nights like tonight that made Klaus feel utterly alone and useless.

Shaking the thought from his head Klaus began to make his way to his family's underground cellar, but a hand stopped him and forced him to turn around.

"Niklaus, let's go outside and watch the attack from the roof! I want to see the airfields!" exclaimed an excited Henrik. "Please!"

The boy was practically bouncing up and down and giving Klaus those puppy dog eyes. Klaus would love nothing more than to be out there with the action but he had to be reasonable, at least for his brother's sake. "Father will have my head for this, Henrik. Besides its too dangerous, the Germans are unpredictable and what kind of person wants to watch our defense get destroyed any way?" Klaus asked as he turned away from his brother and once again started his journey toward the cellar. As much as he wanted to see the light show, Klaus knew his father would kill him if anything happened to Henrik.

"Please Nik. You promised you would take me to the airfields one day but every time I ask you say it's too dangerous." Henrik began to pout; ever since the war started his brother has given him nothing but broken promises. Henrik loved Klaus of course, but he was tired of being cooped up in the house with promises of adventure and action that never fall through.

"I said no." Klaus stated in a stern tone as he continued his pursuit toward safety. "Like I said, father would have my head." His father and the safety of his brother was the only thing keeping him from running outside.

Henrik quickly ran to catch up and stood in front of his brother. "Oh come on Nik, where is your sense of adventure! Our brothers are out fighting in the war. Both Elijah and Finn are a part of the British air force, what if we see their planes up in the sky."

"They wont…"

"What if they do." Henrik interrupted. "They may be called in as backup; you know the German raids never end well for us. We can never get planes off the ground because they are all being bombed, the only way to stop it is to send backup from another field. We are both stuck here. I know you want to be out there. We are just going to watch, it's not like we are running into the airfield saying 'HIT ME!'" Henrik threw his arms in the air jokingly and imitated being an open target.

Klaus couldn't help but laugh. His brother did have a good point; he wanted to be out there, fighting alongside his brothers, making sure they were okay. "Alright fine, but we are going to the streets – not the roof. If something goes wrong, or even looks like it is going wrong, I want to be able to make a quick getaway back to the cellar."

"But Nik…" Henrik protested with a childish whine.

"No not another word. You either accept this or we go into the cellar right this instant."

"Fine," said Henrik in a defeated tone.

As Henrik and Klaus made their way outside, they were met with an eerie silence. The attacks haven't started yet, but you could tell, everyone in Britain was holding their breath waiting in anticipation.

"It's a good thing we live on top of a hill so we can see the airfields!" Henrik exclaimed excitedly. Klaus just looked over at him and gave his thirteen year old brother a nervous smile. Something did not feel right.

He could feel it in the bottom of his gut.

It was then that they saw the German planes fly over them. Henrik was bouncing up and down with excitement along with a look of amazement on his face. He hoped that their airfield was prepared for the attack this time' he wanted them to fight back.

Henrik suddenly stopped what he was doing when he saw where the first bomb landed… at the edge of town, nowhere close to where the airfields were located.

"Henrik lets go," Klaus stated in a firm tone as he grabbed onto Henriks arm and began to pull him away.

Henrik tried to protest, trying his best to struggle out from his brother's protective grasp. "No Nik stop, maybe they just dropped the bomb too early, there is no way anyone would bomb a city full of people."

"HENRIK, I SAID WE ARE GOING," Klaus shouted at the smaller boy. It was then that Klaus and Henrik noticed a group of German planes hovering above them, circling their town. As if in slow motion Klaus saw the planes begin to drop what seemed like a dozen bombs all at once. "RUN" Klaus hollered as they began to run towards the cellar, explosions beginning to go off all around them. Buildings began to explode while creating pockets of fire that began to heat up the town. Klaus and Henrik were running for their lives as well as trying to dodge the falling rubble. Klaus couldn't believe they were bombing a city full of people! It was then that he heard a scream come from behind him.

"Klaus!" Henrik cried out in pain. Klaus turned around to see his brother on the ground with his legs trapped under rubble that came from their fallen house due to the impact of an explosion. Klaus immediately ran over and tried to lift the beam that was crushing his brother's leg, but it wouldn't budge. He had to do something quick as he heard more planes approaching. He tried with all his might to lift the beam one more time, but just as the last time it wouldn't move. "Nik you need to get out of here I'll be fine," Henrik said as he looked up to his brother with pain and fear in his eyes.

"No...I am not leaving you! Do you hear me," Klaus stated as he continually tried to lift the beam off of his brother, using all his strength possible to budge the piece of wood just a little bit farther than before.

"Nik, they are coming, it is no use. Save yourself." His voice was strained as he coughed weakly.

"NO! I AM NOT LEAVING YOU DO YOU HEAR ME!" Klaus screamed, tears now rolling down his face. Why couldn't he move this stupid beam! An explosion to the left of them shook Klaus off his feet and landed him on his back a couple feet away from Henrik.

It was then that Henrik noticed the unsteadiness of the rubble that loomed above him. He saw his brother slowly make his way back toward him as he recovered from the blow. He would not let his brother die along with him. Too many in his family were already off at war, who knows if they were to come back. The Mikaelson family would not lose another son if Henrik could prevent it.

As Klaus reached Henrik, he went straight for the beam in an attempt to move it once again. "Nik," Henrik whispered.

"NO!" Klaus protested.

"I Love you," Henrik exclaimed as he pushed Klaus with all his might out of the way, as the rubble came tumbling down on top of him.

"Henrik!" Klaus cried out as he frantically ran toward the pile of rubble, moving all the debris off of his brother. Struggling, Klaus eventually dug deep enough and located his brothers' frail body. After noticing the he gash on Henrik's forehead, Klaus looked down into his brother's now closed eyes. Klaus realized he would never see their light again. A light that is rare to find within people; strong willed and optimistic. Henrik always put others needs before his own.

"Henrik," Klaus cried as he began to stroke his brothers face, "I'm sorry I failed you as a brother."

Tears rolled down Klaus' face as he cradled Henrik's head in his arms. Klaus did not care or pay any attention as to what was happening around him. He forgot about the war, the bombs and the Germans. Nothing mattered, his brother was gone and never coming back.

It was then that he felt two strong sturdy arms pull him up from the street. "Niklaus, let's go. Henrik is gone, we are not safe out here. Henrik would want us to be safe."

Mikael stared in disbelief as he saw his youngest son immersed in the rubble unmoving. As much as he wanted to grieve in the moment he had to get his other son to safety. He would deal with Klaus then.

Klaus recognized the sound of his father's voice and realized what he had done. He had killed Henrik, it was his fault they were out on the streets and not in the cellar. Klaus couldn't help but drop to the floor as sobs shook his body.

"Come on boy," said Mikael. "It's not safe out here."

Klaus didn't know how Mikael managed to drag him into the cellar, but once he was safe Klaus dropped to the floor allowing himself to feel the loss of his brother. Klaus was unaware of his family around him. He never thought it possible but Klaus felt so much more alone than before.

"What have I done," Klaus muttered as he slowly drifted into unconsciousness for what seemed like hours.