So first of all, thank you for giving my story a try and a special thanks to those who have reviewed, favorited or followed.

As for the second chapter, I hope you'll like it and please leave a review so I'll know what you think and how I can improve the story (grammar, characters, anything?)

Thank you a lot, enjoy!

The next day Elijah arrived in Mystic Falls and drove to the Mikaelson mansion. As he realized that no one was home he quickly brought his bags in his room upstairs, only putting them on his bed. He'd unpack later, he decided and made his way back downstairs. But before he reached the staircase he halted his movements as he laid eyes on the first door in the hallway.

That was Kol's room.

He gulped hard as a wave of sadness washed over him. Ever since he arrived back in Mystic Falls that was all he could feel. And anger. A lot of it.

Shaking his head shortly he tore his gaze away from the door and made his way back downstairs. As he looked around he saw no point in being in this house any longer seeing as none of his remaining siblings were here and also because he came back to do something else than wallow in his sadness.

That's why he quickly left the big mansion and flashed in the direction of the Gilbert house.

As he stood in front of the door of his former friend he politely knocked on it. Receiving no answer nor seeing the door open, Elijah just broke it down, stepping over the household. Luckily, he had already been invited in or breaking the door would have been an useless act.

Entering the house he started listening for any movements or sounds from inside. And indeed, he heard two heartbeats. Seemed like the Gilberts were home.

Walking to the entry of the living room where the heartbeats were coming from, he expected to see Elena in the kitchen and her brother in front of the TV or something similar… he surely didn't expect to see his brother sitting on the couch, a sleeping Caroline laying her head on the hybrid's lap while he tenderly stroked her hair.

Noticing his older brother, Klaus' movements stilled and he looked up, surprised to see him. "Elijah", he greeted in a low tone. Elijah heard a slight tremble in Niklaus' voice and couldn't help but feel guilty for not being there for his family.

"Did Rebekah tell you what happened?"

Leaving his thoughts be, Elijah nodded shortly, then his gaze fell on the sleeping Caroline and he started wondering about his brother's presence in this house. "Why are you here, Niklaus?", he asked as he made his way towards him.

"The living room was a trap from that witch", he growled as an explanation, angrily furrowing his brows while Elijah raised his.

Just as he was about to ask what exactly happened that lead to his brother being trapped, Caroline slowly opened her eyes. She looked around confused, then quickly sat up as she realized she had slept with her head in Klaus' lap. "What the hell!", she exclaimed and stood up from the couch, glaring at the hybrid.

"Did you sleep well, love?", he asked in a light tone, his sadness appearing to have vanished from one minute to the other. If Elijah hadn't known him for a thousand years he would probably believe this casual behavior and dimpled exterior.

"If you tried anything…", Caroline warned the hybrid, raising her finger at him while sounding rather upset.

Grinning innocently, Klaus only raised his hands in defense, "All's well, isn't it?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You mean after you stabbed and bit me?", she asked sharply. "Yeah, everything is just peachy", she added sarcastically as she faked a smile which widened Klaus'.

"I admit that was a little extreme…"

Hearing someone clear their throat they interrupted their banter, Caroline just now realizing Elijah's presence in the hallway next to the living room. He had watched the exchange and found it very intriguing. The girl was able to control his brother in ways that were unknown to the both of them. "Good afternoon, Miss Forbes', he greeted her.

She smiled politely at but crossed her arms in front of her chest as she inquired, "What are you doing here?"

"My family has lost one of its members and I'm here to mourn with them", Elijah explained without any emotion and Caroline's smile faded.

"What are you doing in Elena's house", she corrected herself as she took two step towards him while being careful not to upset the Original.

Bemused by her bold nature, Elijah's lips curled into a smile, that was gone as quickly as it came. "I was looking for the lovely Elena", he responded.

"Why?"

"Let's not play dumb, love, you know why", Klaus replied darkly before his brother could.

Caroline furrowed her brows, "If you hurt them, I'll…"

"There is no need for hostility", Elijah interrupted her before she could end her threat. "Now, tell me Niklaus, what exactly happened to our brother?", he asked him calmly while Caroline sat down on the couch as far away from Klaus as she could with her arms now crossed.

Klaus whole demeanor suddenly changed and he became completely serious. "I'm so sorry, brother. They killed him last night", he explained and his voice started to shake. "Right in front of me", he whispered, his eyes glistening with tears. "There was nothing I could do to stop it."

Hearing the last part made Elijah's heart ache. He had heard these words before. Rebekah told him the same thing as they believed that Alaric had killed Niklaus. And there too was nothing that she could have done to prevent his death if the Bennett witch hadn't saved his brother.

"Where is he?"

Klaus gaze wandered to the kitchen and Elijah walked into the other room where a blanket was laid over his brother's body. Slowly pulling one ending back, Kol's burnt face came into view. Swallowing hard, Elijah forced himself to tear his gaze away and looked towards Klaus who had moved to stand in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, Caroline standing a few feet behind him, a concerned expression on her face.

"Why is he still here?", Elijah asked, angry and confused that Kol was still in this house where he was killed and not in the mansion where they had lived together as a family, even if it's only been for a short while.

"I told you I'm trapped…", Klaus started but Elijah held up his hand to silence him.

"I meant why would the Gilberts leave a body and a vengeful Original in their house?", he wondered and his eyes fell on Caroline. "Where are your friends?"

Caroline answered him after some hesitating, seemingly feeling rather awkward, "They left to look for the cure."

Putting the pieces together, Elijah made his way towards Caroline. "So, you're telling me that your group of friends killed Kol to have the map for finding the cure for vampirism?", he asked, remembering what Kol had told him on the phone as he had pleaded with him to stop their siblings from raising an immortal someone called Silas.

"That's about it, Rebekah is with them", Klaus said calmly.

Elijah looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Not even 24 hours after our brother's death, she's going on a trip with his killers?"

"Apparently." Klaus let out a deep breath, thinking back to last night's happenings. After a short pause he added bitterly, "Kol believed, his death was my sadistic plan to show him he shouldn't cross my plans."

Elijah only looked at him silently, waiting for him to continue.

"I wouldn't have done that, Elijah", he said, his voice cracking and his eyes filling with tears. "He was a pain in the ass, yes, but I wouldn't have killed him!", he exclaimed desperately. A tear was rolling down his cheek as he silently added, "And he died, thinking I hated him. Thinking that I did that to him!"

"It's not your fault, Niklaus", Elijah told him, trying to give him some comfort as he laid a hand on his shoulder. "We'll avenge him. Together as a family", he promised his brother.

Caroline wanted to argue with that but didn't want to risk being hurt once again by one of the unstable Originals, after all she had just been cured from her second hybrid bite. And so she watched them together as they stood there, looking at each other without a word. She had never seen them as a real family, only as some powerful vampires that were killing nearly everyone around them, including each other but right now she could see the love and support they gave each other which she also found in her group of friends.

Watching Klaus and Elijah mourn their brother let her feel pity for the both of them. When she heard that Elena was planning on killing Kol she was on board with the plan, even though she felt guilty for killing so many vampires that had nothing to do with this. Seeing the remaining Mikaelson brothers like this she had a bad feeling about all of this, like they might live to regret killing the youngest Original brother.