Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or its characters. If I did, The Originals would never have happened, Kol would be alive and happily causing mayhem somewhere, and Klaus and Caroline would be travelling the world and sexing it up.

A/N: This scene is set before we meet Caroline in Uneasy Lies, when Klaus is seriously injured on his border mission with Enzo and loses most of his unit.

Title from Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars

His story begins on a beautiful autumn day, in a garden in the depths of the palace grounds in the capital city of Qirevia. Or so they say, the historians that chronicle his and Caroline's relationship with such loving detail.

But that isn't true. His story begins with a flash of lightning and the sound of gunshots. His story begins with a bullet that almost kills him, burying itself deep into his chest and prying through muscle and tissue and bone.

His story begins with a gasp and an exhale, in a bright, stark, hospital room. His story begins when he looks at his younger brother half brother a voice echoes in his head, societal conventions conditioning him even though he hasn't been around that world for years now.

Henrik shouldn't be here, he can't imagine why he is here. He certainly doesn't possess the clearance level to be here, and Henrik is supposed to be safely tucked away at a university campus in far off Serisa.

"I thought you were dead." Henrik says bluntly, upon discovering that he's awake. It seems to be a family trait with the Mikaelson's, every other one of his siblings possessing that same self depreciating sense of humour, that same bluntness and way of speaking that left no room for beating around the bush or hidden meanings behind their words.

He squeezes his eyes shut again, trying to block out the rest of the world and the memory of the thunder and the lightning and men dropping like pins around him, and Marcel, his best friend Marcel dying in his arms before the bullet took him and everything went black.

"Aren't I?"

Not even 24 hours later another sibling comes to visit, and it's not one that he was expecting. Rebekah maybe, if she could tear herself away from the palace long enough, even Kol, his erratic, brilliantly crazy, loving younger brother.

But neither of them would be aware of his current situation, neither of the two privy to the sort of work he does in the forces, the sort of border missions he's run in the past. The only person that even had inkling was his father, and that was only because he had been an ex special forces soldier himself.

But it was Elijah that showed up after soldiers had dragged Henrik from the room to reprimand him, and a part of him thinks that Elijah chose this particular time in the day for that very reason.

Elijah looks as put together as always, perfectly tailored designer suit, dress shoes squeaking against the linoleum of the floor as he drags a chair easily over to the side of his bed and sits, looking and seeming as if he had all the time in the world to be here, like he didn't have more pressing matters to attend to.

His eyes flick over his older brother, spots the tell tale signs of the holster that Elijah apparently wears everywhere. He would stop and question when that started occurring, but he and Elijah never really had much to do with each other these days. He'd heard whispers that Elijah had worked intelligence in the past, but he had no idea to what extent or whether he still did.

Elijah pours him a cup of water, and he reaches out for it gratefully, careful to not pull too much at the bandages that wrap around his chest and torso in a constricting embrace.

"Hello Niklaus." Elijah begins, leaning forward slightly. His tone is formal, slightly cautious as if he's not sure what to expect from this meeting. Elijah doesn't ask how he is, and for that he's sort of grateful. He can only imagine the string of colourful curse words and broken objects that would be strewn across the room.

"Elijah." He states warily in return, because he's not exactly sure what his errant sibling is doing here. They share a mother and that's really all they have in common, all they've ever needed to have in common.

He's quite sure that Elijah is here on official business, but in that infuriating way of his he knows that Elijah won't reveal anything until he's good and ready.

"I'm here on official and unofficial business." Elijah smiles, a blink and you miss it moment that stuns him into silence. He could count on one hand the number of times that he's associated with Elijah in the past couple of years, the amount of times he's smiled even less.

He presses a button to raise his bed to a sitting position, because he has a feeling that he's in for a long sort of conversation. He has to hide his wince, a fresh twinge of pain twisting in his chest beneath layers of bandage and cloth.

"In light of recent events, and taking into account your injuries, your superior officers have decided that an honourable discharge is in order. I'm sorry." Elijah allows as he opens the manila folder in front of him.

He delivers the news in a neutral tone, like he hadn't just shattered his entire world. The forces were all he had. He'd never gone to university, never had any interest in doing anything other than serving his Queen and country.

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. The news wasn't entirely unexpected, it would be a while before he was back to his full range of motion, let alone allowed to serve in the special forces again if ever.

"I'm not sure how up to date you're being kept on current events." Elijah continues lightly, like he hadn't just delivered the news that would change everything for him. "But five days ago the Queen was in a car accident. She died of her injuries in hospital."

He gapes at Elijah in shock. Whatever news he'd been expecting, it certainly hadn't been that. Queen Elizabeth Forbes had always seemed like one of those larger than life figures, destined to rule forever, to live forever. She would have only been in her forties at the time of her death.

"That would mean that her daughter Caroline…" He trails off, looking towards Elijah for help. He'd never been one to frequent court, and although he was aware of the existence of Elizabeth Forbes' heir he'd never cared enough to find out more about the girl.

"Caroline is the Queen now. She signed the document of succession in parliament yesterday. There was also an attempt made on her life."

"How unfortunate." He voices dryly, because assassination attempts were sort of a thing when it came to high profile figures in society. Why should a Queen apparent be anything different?

Elijah stares at him significantly, waiting for him to catch on to what he's trying to say. And then finally the other shoe drops, and he shakes his head emphatically.

"Absolutely not." He delivers in a flat voice as Elijah visibly rolls his eyes. "What makes you think that I'd want to babysit a spoilt royal brat?"

Elijah flinches at his delivery, sniffing at him through his nose.

"On the contrary, Caroline is a very capable and intelligent young woman, and you'll find her very different from her mother. You don't have to give me an answer yet. But think on it, and if you're interested I can arrange a meeting."

He pauses for a moment for gazing at Elijah, trying to fathom what his motivations could possibly be.

"Why me?"

Elijah looks uncomfortable for a moment, shifting in his chair before leaning forward.

"Because funnily enough, I trust you enough to keep her safe."

Three days later he emerges blinking into another bright autumn day. He's got a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, dog tags at his neck, and aviators over his eyes. His body is stitched back together but his mind isn't quite there yet, troubled thoughts still chasing around his mind in circles like thunderclouds that won't go away.

It's with a sort of clinical precision that he sounds out the surnames of those that didn't survive, one after the other like a mantra, something he can't ever forget or forgive.

His eyes sweep over the secure parking lot they're in, the military base on the northern border one that exists only to those with a clearance level high enough to know about it. It's something he's trained to do, probably something he'll always do. Check for danger, check for exits, and always sit with his back against the wall.

He's not surprised to see his father waiting for him, arms crossed over his chest and that gaze always so calm and knowing. The men standing guard at the entrance of the base are looking at Thomas Windsor with barely concealed awe, despite him not having anything to do with the military for a good 10 or so years now.

His father doesn't make any move to hug him, or to show any signs of affection. They've never needed actions to convey just how much they love and care for each other, and it's something that he's grateful for right now as Thomas takes the bag from him and deposits it into the back of the SUV carefully.

His father waits until he's climbed into the passenger's side and closed the door before putting his foot to the accelerator and getting the hell out of there.

The drive is silent for the most part as he rests his temple wearily against the cool glass of the window. It'll be a long one, about three and a half hours until he's back at the ancient seat of the Windsor's at Chatswood.

He hasn't been there for almost 2 years now, always living on one base or another along the border as he did his duty to his country. Home is a completely foreign concept to him.

It's an hour later, when his father finally decides to break the comfortable silence.

"I've heard that you've been offered a job. Guarding the Queen." He clarifies as he glances at his father in surprise.

"How did you know about that?"

The older many smiles wryly.

"Elijah mentioned it to me on his way out. I think it's a rather unique opportunity you know. He left me his business card, to give to you if you showed interest in the position."

"It sounds like the most boring job in the world." He grumbles as Thomas shoots him a sharp glance.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of you know. What happened to your unit was wrong, but there is life after the forces. Even if it might seem like there isn't."

He winces when he slumps further in his seat, twinges of pain lancing through his body at an alarming rate. Making a mental note to not repeat that movement he sits up once more.

"Just promise me you'll think on it okay?"

Time ceases to hold any meaning, in those cool autumn days following his arrival back at Chatsworth. The household staff, the two or three that remained with Thomas on the estate at a permanent basis said nothing to him of his return, instead treating him as cordially as they ever had.

He wanders around the estate like a ghost, book in hand and a restless mind. Nothing seems to capture his attention for longer than a few minutes. The book that he'd once held such pleasure in could no longer draw his concentration.

He paints. He paints restlessly, furiously, covering canvas after canvas with angry streaks of black and red and grey.

He can't sleep properly. They'd given him a handful of drugs to take each week for PTSD, said that it would get better with time but he'd flushed them down the toilet as soon as he'd been left alone.

Some nights he regrets it, when his mind can't help but replay the events of that pitch black, storming night, the hiss of bullets flying past his head, the crack and roll of thunder shaking the earth beneath his feet.

Loud sounds get him as well, and that's when things get real dark, real quick. The sound of a car backfiring has him pressed against the wall shaking like a leaf in a storm, and it's only his father's gentle voice that can bring him back to earth again.

Another time the shattering sound of glass against stone in the kitchen has him ducking for cover, crouching behind the table in the dining room with his cheek pressed into his knee as he squeezes his eyes shut against the onslaught of memories.

And he wonders how he's going to be able to go out into society again, let alone guard the most important person in this country like Elijah and Thomas are so keen on him doing.

He doesn't Google Caroline Forbes. He could, the high speed internet at Chatsworth second only to that in the Palace he's told. But for some reason he doesn't. If he is going to meet her, he'd rather go in without any preconceived notions of her.

Instead, some weeks later he asks his father as they work their way through splitting a pile of firewood for the upcoming winter.

"I'm afraid I haven't seen her since she was a little girl." Thomas replies, driving his axe into a stump of wood and wiping at his brow with his sleeve. "But from all reports she's incredibly intelligent, and kind, and caring."

"Will she have the strength though; to do what needs to be done with Acamos? To carry on her mother's work?" He points out, swinging the axe over his head and down to the piece of wood in front of him. It splits cleanly in two and he reaches down with gloved hands to toss it into the rapidly growing pile.

Thomas sits, thoughtful expression painted across his features.

"I think she'll do what she thinks is right. She's different, from her mother you know. Less hardened to the world. There's something innocent about her, although that might just be her age. And she's very beautiful." Thomas adds, almost as an afterthought.

He refrains from rolling his eyes, coming to take a seat beside his father. Almost unbidden, Thomas reaches out and cards a hand through his hair, slightly longer now that he'd been discharged.

It's an affectionate motion, one that happens only in the quiet times when he really needs it.

"It won't be like this forever you know. It gets better, in a fashion."

The next morning he's up with the sunrise, yoga mat stretched out on his balcony as he welcomes the dawn. The gentle movements help more than he ever thought they would, muscle memory taking over as he flows gently through the poses, ever mindful of the stitches that he'd probably have taken out later.

He goes to find his father after, who hands him Elijah's business card with a smile. He flips the small piece of stock card over and over as he returns once more to his balcony, bringing his phone to his ear after he's dialled the unfamiliar number.

Elijah picks up on the second ring, voice and tone as polite as ever as he murmurs out a greeting.

He conveys his intentions in stammered tones, feeling unusually out of his depth. There's a long pause before Elijah replies, giving him a date and a time to present himself at the palace.

And just like that he has a meeting with a Queen.

AN: Hey guys! This came to me after reading Uneasy Lies again and realising just how much of Klaus' POV we'd missed throughout the journey.

This won't be an exact mirror of Uneasy Lies. It'll be structured more like a series of snapshots and one shot, not necessarily in any sort of chronological order.

So here's the deal! Hit me up with a review and tell me a scene that you were dying to see in Uneasy Lies that you didn't get to see. If it's within my ability to write it and it makes sense within the universe I'll write it up as a chapter and dedicate it to you!

At this point in time I would prefer that we stick to just Klaus as a character, however it can involve any other character e.g. moments between Klaus and Thomas, or Klaus and Kol, or Klaus and Caroline of course!

This is thanks for all of you for sticking with me through Uneasy Lies. I know it was a journey! I also think it's a nice little way to expand the universe that I've fallen in love with!

Klaus refers to Thomas by his name rather than 'father' simply because the two are like best friends as well as father and son.

I'm still working on A Billion Lights fyi, so never fear!