Chapter 1

~ ⓛⓞⓥⓔ ~ POV Klaus ~ ⓛⓞⓥⓔ ~

He was utterly alone and his misery endless. Those few who would care to free him were either far away, or helpless, or gone. Klaus' daughter and siblings needed his help themselves; Hayley was hiding them from a greater threat, and Camille… She was gone.

He always knew she wouldn't make it in his world. Too brittle, too kind, too gentle. She should have left the town right after her uncle died. She should have removed herself from the situation she couldn't possibly handle. And if she didn't understand the reality of that all, Klaus could have forcibly sent her away from that city overrun by supernatural killers. If he really cared, he would have. Just like Klaus removed himself from Caroline's world and let her try to build a life she wanted and, most of all, deserved.

But with Camille he was unforgivingly selfish. Overwhelmed by everything that had happened in Mystic Falls and by many troubles that were coming his way, Klaus needed a friend. And so he kept Camille around, knowing that she'd either end up dead, or vampire, or a dead vampire. He was too old, he'd seen too much to not know what would happen to her if she stayed in New Orleans.

Just another death Klaus was responsible for, another sin out of many, and now he was paying for them all. But his family, his littlest wolf were still alive, and that made it all worth it. If Klaus cared so much about his own, can he really be the worst monster walking this earth or all the horrible things he'd done could be explained and forgiven. Was there redemption at the end of that purgatory?

"Some people can't be fixed," his conscious replied. "People who do terrible things are just terrible people."

Klaus was starring in the darkness and only occasionally could see a dim light forming a shape. Somebody was looking at him, but Klaus couldn't make out the face. It was blurry, and many of its features constantly changed. But not the cold blue eyes with their expression stern and judgemental. Klaus wanted to hide from that stare... But he wouldn't. Klaus didn't hide, never. No one would make him! A wave of red crashed over the image, and it was gone, replaced by crimson red and his own scream.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Klaus eyes flew open and only then he realised they were shut before. He was expecting to see anyone, but not her. One of his siblings, Hayley, Marcel, or even a grown up version of his little girl, but not her. He suddenly recognised the icy blue of her eyes, only now they were wide open with fear and concern.

"I think I'm hurting him really bad," Caroline's voice trembled as she tried to pull the weapon out.

"Not exactly something worth to brag about when the man is more dead than alive," someone replied. It was a woman whose voice Klaus couldn't recognise but noticed her distinctive British accent.

"I don't mean to hurt him, it's this Papa-something-blade!"

"Maybe it's time to get that Papa Tunde's blade out then," suggested the woman.

"I'm trying!" hissed Caroline with her hand in Klaus' chest.

Klaus felt the agony building up inside him. The Original hybrid could have sworn he screamed, but judging by the lack of reaction on Caroline's face, Klaus knew the screams had never made it out. She was here, standing next to him and trying to get the bloody blade out. Why her? Why now? Who was helping her?

"Can it be protected by a spell?" he heard Caroline again.

"Why would it be? I heard they only had to relocate him once after Hayley's failed attempt to free him. Since then no one came here to save him. Who would want to bring him back anyway?"

"Ok, I'm not a Voodoo major, but I think there's a spell or something," insisted Caroline. "This thing's stuck."

"There shouldn't be, Hayley said anyone can get it in and out."

"I know what Hayley said," Klaus could hear a glimpse of annoyance in Caroline's voice. "It was me who told you what she said. Come and try it yourself then."

Caroline was short-tempered just like him. The only difference was that she wouldn't willingly admit it. But Caroline was young, and she'll come in peace with herself eventually just like he did.

"I guess they put a spell on it after she tried to save him," Caroline assumed. "Maybe that is why Klaus was guarded only by a few vampires. What if Marcel didn't need more, because even if someone found Klaus, they wouldn't be able to retrieve the blade and free him?"

"They had a protection spell on this place as well and it wasn't exactly easy to break," reminded the woman who Klaus now assumed was a witch. "And Stefan just took down another vampire. I fear there are more coming."

Both Klaus and Caroline looked at the gate, where the witch was on the watch, ready to help Stefan to kill any more vampires who might be guarding this place.

"I can't get it out, Valerie," after trying to pull the blade with all her strength confessed Caroline. "I'm just torturing him at this point."

"He'll survive any torture, I'm sure," the woman said. "Watch the gate," she came to replace Caroline.

Caroline looked at Klaus while slowly taking her hand out of his chest, and he could see that she felt guilty for hurting him and for not being able to stop his misery. He could never understand that girl, a woman now. Did she care about him? Did she hate him? Did she need something from him, and it was as simple as that? Then why those sorry eyes? Klaus felt tired. He didn't have enough energy for… For anything really. And he couldn't handle thinking about Caroline Forbes at that moment. Klaus needed them to get the blade out and then find his daughter and his family.

"You were right," muttered Valerie.

"Another protection spell?" asked Caroline.

"Something like that," witch answered and closed her eyes.

Caroline stayed quiet, while her friend put both her hands right above the blade buried in his chest and closed her eyes. Klaus felt a shiver passing through his body and what's little energy he had, left him completely. The Original felt as if he was floating above the ground and barely kept himself from slipping into unconscious again. Caroline's scream cut the air, and Klaus tried to look in the direction it was coming from, but he couldn't move.

The hybrid heard sounds of a fight and tried to move his hands, his fingers, but he was completely paralysed. Klaus heard one body fell on the ground, but before a fear could creep in he heard Caroline.

"We have to move now!" she screamed and someone's neck got broken. "And I mean right now!"

Whoever she was fighting, she won. Klaus counted at least two freshly made corpses. It still amazed him, Caroline didn't look like a fighter, she was barely a vampire as he knew them. But somehow she could handle whatever came her way, with her spirit staying strong, and that is what made her different from… Klaus pushed the thought away. It wasn't fair to think that way.

"Leave!" he heard a man's voice and recognised Stefan. "Caroline! Val!"

"We have to carry him!" stated the witch, and brought her hands up mumbling ancient words.

Klaus could barely turn his head. He saw three vampires trying to get in the crypt. Caroline was fighting one and Valerie held two others, who screamed in pain as blood was running out of their eyes and nostrils. Klaus knew that trick. It felt as if every vein in your brain was bursting. If witch was strong enough, she could make the pain so excruciating that victim could barely breathe let alone move. And that Valerie witch was strong.

Caroline managed to take down her opponent and came to help the witch, but Valerie shook her head.

"I got it," the woman said finishing the vampires. "I think I removed the spell or weakened it at least, get him out of here."

"I can't leave you here!"

"I appreciate the sentiment, but one of us has to get the Old One out of here, and the other has to help Stefan to fight off the vampires who are flying our way. Get the Original to safety, or it was all for nothing! We won't get another chance," the witch run to the gate as Klaus assumed to make way for him and Caroline and to help Stefan.

He wondered why nobody mentioned Damon as if he wasn't with them? And why Caroline came with that woman instead of the Bennett Witch?

Klaus felt Caroline's thin, but stone strong hand slid behind him to support his back as she put one of his hands over her shoulders and he tried his best to help himself out of the coffin. It was a rather weak attempt, but still acknowledged by Caroline, who shot a pleased glance at him and hold him tighter.

"After years in a coffin one would hope you got lighter than a feather but you never fail to disappoint."

The words were harsh, as most that he heard from her, but he could hear a tease in them and replied with a shadow of a smile. It quickly disappeared though. Klaus hated to feel so vulnerable and helpless and somehow he was annoyed with Caroline, who tried to help him, for seeing him in that state. His own feelings were often too complicated even for him to understand or manage.

The next thing he felt was wind. They were flying through the forest and he could smell and feel life again. The witch did something to him, probably broke a protection spell on the blade or even weakened the weapon itself because Klaus finally felt as if he was coming to life, despite that bloody thing still stuck inside of him. He could recognise the smells and even sounds from distant cities. The Original hybrid realised they belonged to small towns, with fewer cars and cleaner air. He could hear waves strong and wild, which could only be coming from an open ocean.

"We're in Virginia," he heard Caroline say as if she could read his mind. "Here…"

They slowed down, and he saw a car parked under heavy branches of a tree. She helped him in a front seat and froze for a moment. Caroline still had to listen very carefully to be able to hear anything even just a couple of miles away. No one followed them; Klaus knew that and waited for Caroline to reach the same conclusion.

"No one followed us," she breathed out. "Guys must have taken them down."

Caroline bent down, her face on the same level as his and Klaus knew she was preparing to try to get the blade out. At this point the pain became integral part of his existence, and Klaus thought how strange it'd be not to feel it every second.

"So here we go," Caroline looked at him with a small apologetic smile.

Klaus felt her hand slide into her chest and his breathing became heavy with pain coming at him in waves, growing stronger and stronger, as if there was no limit. The hybrid felt her slim fingers wrapped around the blade handle and pulled it. The Original half screamed half roared in agony and suddenly realised he heard his own voice after all those years. Another wave of pain started to built up inside of him, and he hold his breath. It crashed over Klaus, sinking him to the bottom of hell he almost escaped.

~ ⓛⓞⓥⓔ ~ POV Caroline ~ ⓛⓞⓥⓔ ~

Caroline was driving for five hours now but they were still long way from home. Or from the place that became their home after staying in Mystic Falls wasn't safe anymore. Her girls could be capable of brining the Originals back, and that potentially put them on Marcel's hit list. Caroline just hoped he still hasn't figured out that someone found a way to destroy him. And of course there was Ana. Caroline couldn't even imagine how many people would want that little girl dead.

She checked her phone again, just like she did a minute ago, hoping to hear something from someone and at the same time fearing any news at that point. Caroline had to get to Chicago to her girls, she had to keep Klaus safe until he regained his strength, and at the same time she wanted to be with Stefan. But he had to find the remains of Esther. It was too close to New Orleans, and Stefan needed Valerie's help. She was a powerful witch, a strong vampire, a siphoner, who could challenge Marcel himself, and all those other things that Caroline wasn't.

Caroline had to do her part. She had to keep Klaus safe and return to her girls as fast as she could. Caroline couldn't leave them under Bonnie's protection any longer than it was necessary. Bonnie's magic was coming back slowly, but, as before, she was selfless and fearless. If someone would come for the girls, she would fight with her own life and most likely die, being unable to protect them. Ric would fight, but how much could he do? His priority would be twins, and deep inside Caroline knew, he wouldn't fight for Ana as fiercely as Caroline would.

Her phone ringed and Caroline jumped on her seat. She saw Ana's name on her phone's screen as if the little one could read her mind from the miles away.

"Ana? Is everything okay, baby?"

"Yes," she heard small voice. "I can't sleep," her voice was coming out muted, as if she was talking from under her duvet so that Ric and Bonnie wouldn't hear her.

"Are you okay?"

"Something isn't right," Ana stated firmly. "But not bad, just… Different. Good different, I think."

"Good different?" Caroline was puzzled.

"Like you coming home with a gift box big enough to fit a puppy," she heard a smile in Ana's voice.

Caroline smirked rolling her eyes. Those talks, hints, and cries for a puppy would never end! But there was no way she could get Ana a dog, they had to stay mobile, and things were too complicated as they were. "This feeling will pass, honey," Caroline replied in that parent-like voice.

"My feelings are never wrong," the girl insisted, and Caroline could almost see how Ana pursed her lips.

"Who is it?"

The car swerved out of the line, but Klaus grabbed the wheel with one hand and immediately returned the jeep back in line.

"Who is it?" repeated Ana after Klaus.

Caroline looked at Klaus, who let go of the wheel and waited for a reply.

"Mom?"

Caroline stared blankly on the road, which was barely lightened by the moonlight. "It's my friend, darling," Caroline replied to Ana. "Please go to sleep and I will try to be home by tomorrow night, okay?"

"With your friend?"

Caroline swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Yes, you'll meet him."

Ana stayed silent for a moment and then hung up. Caroline knew Ana too well to hope that the girl would go to sleep now. But could Ana actually feel who was coming closer and closer to her?

"Stop the car, Caroline," she heard Klaus' voice and that time obeyed without hesitation.

They stopped on the side of the road and got out. Klaus looked around, his eyes piercing through the night. Caroline knew he could see and hear things so far away as she would never be able to. Neither her nor anyone she knew would ever develop their abilities to the level comparable to Klaus'. Perhaps one of his siblings could match him, but he was hybrid and they weren't. Maybe Marcel could challenge him? But Klaus had bazillion years on him, knowledge and experience often meant that much more than just physical qualities. Moreover, Klaus had something very precious to fight for, and Caroline made a mistake by allowing herself to get attached to someone who belong with Klaus. Now he was going to take away what's his.

"Who was it?" Klaus asked still looking somewhere far away as if he could actually see hundreds of miles ahead in Ana's little window.

Caroline leaned on the side of the car and run her fingers through wavy blond hair. "It was her," Caroline replied. "You know it was."

Klaus turned to face Caroline.

"Where is she? Why is she calling you "mom"? Where is Hayley?" Klaus tried to stay calm but Caroline saw how hard it was for him.

"Hope's in Chicago, it wasn't safe in Mystic Falls anymore. She's calling me mom because it was easier to settle in a new place as a single mother than as a woman with someone else's child. Hayley's on the run, trying to save your family. Marcel's minions almost got to Elijah and others, but Hayley's wolf-friends managed to fight them off."

"She has wolves helping her?"

"Not anymore or at least not those wolves," Caroline replied, "most of them died that night. I don't think she has any friends left."

"How did you end up taking care of Hope, Caroline?" Klaus looked at her so intensely that for a moment she couldn't find words.

She broke their eye contact to get her head together. "About two years ago I came to New Orleans looking for you," Caroline began. "I needed your help but I couldn't find you. I think Hayley somehow found out about that and eventually she appeared in Mystic Falls. She was looking for help, but we couldn't do anything for her."

"I suppose by the time Hayley showed up in Mystic Falls, you already solved all your problems and didn't need me anymore," Klaus assumed. His eyes would turn her to ashes if they could.

Caroline looked up at him. "We had our hands full with Damon and Enzo being consumed by a freaky ancient monster. I couldn't help her alone, and my friends weren't particularly eager to revive the Original family, especially when it meant facing that creature of yours."

"Marcel," Klaus said. "And you just turned Hayley away?"

"Yes, Klaus, we turned her away!" Caroline shouted. "What were we supposed to do? Risk our lives to save you and your family?!"

"I risked my family's safety for you when I helped your boyfriend who came to our town marked by Rayna Cruz!"

"I remembered that!"

"Did you?"

"I did!" Caroline straightened up, barely keeping her emotions under control. "So I offered Hayley the help I could offer."

Klaus' jaw tightened.

"She couldn't stay in Mystic Falls, because Marcel was chasing her and we wouldn't let her to jeopardise all our lives. But I offered to take care of Hope. It was nearly unmanageable to be on the run with four coffins and a child on her hands. You might have deserved any fate that Marcel had prepared for you. But not Hope, she's innocent and her only fault is that she was born into your family."

Klaus looked at Caroline, and she was afraid he would bite her and leave to die on a side road. But when he spoke, his voice was quiet. "You're a straight shooter, Caroline," he said.

Caroline took a deep breath and a moment to gather her thoughts. "Hayley didn't accept my offer at first," she continued, "and she attempted to free you on her own, but failed and also lost those wolves, who were guarding the Originals for her. So about a month after she left Mystic Falls, a compelled woman came to my house," Caroline looked down remembering that night, "with Ana in her hands."

She knew that Klaus needed time to absorb all of it and stayed quiet. He walked into the field that lay both sides of the road, grass so high it touched Klaus' fingers. Caroline looked at him, at his tall strong figure, and at the moon that hang high above his head, just as powerful, eternal, and lonely.

"I haven't seen Hayley since then," Caroline said quietly. "But all your sire lines are still alive, so Elijah and Rebekah must be alive as well. We don't know, which spell Freya used. Bonnie said if it was the one Esther used on you and your siblings before then if anyone died, you would die too. But you are well and alive," smiled Caroline, trying to bring a glimpse of hope in everything she told him.

"I shall thank you for that."

"We desperately need your help, Klaus."

"Of that I am sure," he pursued his lips.

"You know," Caroline crossed her arms, "you say things like 'I shall thank you for that' but I'm not re-e-ally feeling your appreciation."

"You need me," Klaus replied while coming back to the car. "Desperately. Hence, I don't have to be on my best behaviour."

Klaus passed Caroline to get in the driver's seat.

"It's my car," she reminded him.

"I sincerely hope you don't mind," Klaus answered without much care in his voice, but he reached over to open the front seat door for her. "I have to see my daughter as soon as possible and I do drive slightly better."

"You do everything better," replied Caroline fastening her seat belt nonetheless. "You are a billion years old after all."

"Feel free to go to sleep, love."

"Fat chance," grumbled Caroline.

— * — * — * —

Thank you for reading, guys! So Klaus is freed. Apparently, in The Originals S04 *spoiler* he's gonna be Marcel's prisoner for a few episodes (ref. Joseph Morgan's interview), but I just don't see TVD Klaus like that. Michael Narducci has to work with the characters he has on TO, but, luckily, when one writing a fanfic, s/he can mix things up a little. So I'm taking a slightly different direction here :)