Here's the second part. I hope you enjoyed the first.

Thanks to Anastasiadreams for being an awesome beta. The third part, I am still working on her comments and edit will be up before Christmas!

Secrets We Keep

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Caroline Forbes had changed. That was the understatement of the millennium. She was light years away from the girl from Mystic Falls High School. When she looked in the mirror she still saw a resemblance but it was only physical; she was far removed from that life. At times it seemed like those were someone else's memories. She went from insecure small town beauty queen, to vampire moral compass, to the Augustine vampire reigning over the great city of New Orleans.

As she looked at her reflection, she knew one thing had not changed; there was still plenty humanity in her. That was a comforting thought.

She shrugged. Because.

Caroline didn't murder children. It was not the type of queen she was.

She also couldn't stop the council from doing what it deemed appropriate. She could veto them but she formed the council in order to give the supernatural citizens input and voice. She wasn't about to break her own rules. She did enough when she declared a moratorium on any action against the child. The witches, werewolves, and some vampires had been angry. The child, an abomination even to vampires, was a danger to all but still, she halted any talk or effort of killing her.

She turned to the window to watch the sun come up. She used many excuses, the biggest one that a society that had no qualms about killing a child, would find an excuse for any atrocity it could come up with. She placated most of them with that. At 18, the moratorium would fall, the child could defend herself, and the fight would be fair.

Only one witch knew the reasons behind her actions. Unfortunately, she was also the only person who would dare call her out on it. Bonnie Bennett. She was the only one Caroline would take it from.

~0~

16 years ago

Bonnie remained silent through most of it. She would never speak out against anything Caroline said and vice versa. They were family, soul sisters, best friends. But, in the privacy of Caroline's home, with a spell that guaranteed it, Bonnie boldly confronted her best friend.

"You don't expect me to believe that bullshit you spewed today, right?" Bonnie said sitting in the velvet tufted chair.

Caroline sighed as she poured them drinks. She couldn't escape this argument and though she expected it, she wasn't confident in her ability to handle it.

"Bonnie, you know I was right about murdering children. I didn't make that up," Caroline said, walking to hand her best friend a drink.

"Yes, I know. However, I need to make sure you don't think you can lie to me like you lie to them," Bonnie replied before taking a sip.

Her heart skipped a beat, but Caroline rolled her eyes to cover the tension. The witch raised an eyebrow.

"Or maybe the way you try to lie to yourself, Care?" Bonnie expounded.

Bonnie's tone needled Caroline. Her friend was set on having a conversation Caroline didn't want to touch at all. "I don't want to talk about this now," Caroline said.

"Too bad. We're going to," Bonnie replied firmly.

Pulling at her hair, Caroline tried to relieve the tension lodged in her chest. "You're so fucking annoying, Bonnie," Caroline yelled.

"You're so fucking deluded, Caroline," Bonnie snapped back.

Just like that, they turned back the clock to freshman year in high school. The witch breathed deeply and turned to look at the vampire. "This is not about the child. It's about him. You know it. I know it. He knows it," she stated calmly.

"It's not about Klaus. I don't murder children!" Caroline cried exasperated.

"Then why have you not run the whole family out of town? They could leave with the child." Caroline looked away but Bonnie showed her no mercy. "Why, Caroline, would you have me put a spell on this whole place and yet, he can stroll in and out like it's his house? You say nothing every time; because you expect him, want to see him."

Caroline's hands fisted and she struggled to remain calm. In truth, Bonnie was the only person in the world that could speak to her like this. She didn't allow it from anyone else. She didn't move when she heard the other woman get up from her chair and come to sit beside her. She still didn't move when Bonnie threw her arms around her.

"I'm not sure what he is to me and what I am to him scares the shit out of me," She said softly.

"Yes, you do know what he is to you…" her friend said. "But, you don't have to come to grips with it today."

Caroline nodded still not looking at her.

"Just admit it Dark Augustinian Vampire Queen. You want his hybrid di…"

"Bonnie!" She jumped out of the couch mortified.

The witch just laughed.

~0~

Back to present

Watching as the sun illuminated the buildings with a reddish hue, she formulated yet another plan. She had about 4 hours before the weekly meeting.

"You're up early. A huge blow to my ego," the man whispered from her bed.

She turned to him with a smile. "Actually, I never went to sleep."

"Ouch!" He brought his hand to his heart in mock offense.

Caroline walked to the bed and sat on the side facing him. "Too much to think about," she said, running her finger over the closing puncture wounds on his neck. Then with her her hand slid down his shoulder, to his arm, and over his bulging bicep where she settled with a squeeze. He really was beautiful. His brown sugar skin was gorgeous, his body sinful, and his lips were inviting.

Her eyes roved over him and his lips curve into his signature bright as the sun smile. "I love my job," he whispered in such a way that made her laugh.

She leaned in and kissed his lips. "Thanks for being such a good friend."

He ran his hand through her curls. "You're going to get me killed, Caroline," he chuckled.

"He wouldn't dare," she said not bothering to pretend she didn't know what he was talking about. "You're my lieutenant, Marcel. He wouldn't risk my ire."

"Yes, he would. Then he would fuck it out of you," he said with a playful smile.

"What the fuck. How dare you!" Her hand shot to his neck to choke him as she felt her monster face emerge. She began to squeeze but his next words doused the anger as quickly as it started.

"Come on Caroline. I've been your employee, friend and amant for 16 years. I think I'm allowed to speak truthfully here," he said pointing at the bed. He spoke firmly but not raising his voice at her. He never disrespected her. "We both know I wouldn't be here if not for your little pact. If it wasn't for it, Klaus would have seen my body parts littered all over The Quarter for what we do.

She tightened her hand around his neck. The urge to drain him almost made her shake.

Marcel continued. "No one enjoys our dalliance more than me but I think we can both admit that I'm the one that douses the flames he stokes up. He ignites the gunpowder and I deal with the explosion. Not that I'm complaining, but I don't even think your mind is in it. This is a game you both play and unfortunately, I've been chosen to be the casualty."

The truth of his words hammered in her head and she removed her hands.

"I'm done with this conversation," She said resolutely.

"OK," he relented, resignation reflected on his beautiful features. "As my queen wishes."

She was on him before he could finish the sentence. Her hands around his neck as she straddled his lap. She ground her hips against him.

"That's what I like. Tend to my wishes," she whispered with a heady voice.

"I will. You see? Just talking about him, gets you all hot and bothered." Before she could reply, he lifted her and impaled her on his ready member.

~0~

The young woman smiled briefly hearing the approaching presence then it banished just as quickly. "Ugh. It was about time. I was about to leave."

The petulance in her tone with arms crossed, and the teenage sneer made Caroline smile. This little girl thought she could give her attitude. Caroline Forbes in her own teenage years invented attitude.

"Sorry. It's not like I'm doing something big like ruling over a city of supernatural beings."

"Whatever." The young girl shrugged

Ignoring the too cool attitude, Caroline came closer. "Why are you out here today and not on the top floor of the museum?"

"I didn't feel like going there. Did you go there first?" The girl asked.

"No, I just know everything that happens in this city. So I knew where to come," Caroline said, pinning her with a look.

"Ugh. Are you going to snitch on me? What kind of friend are you? God!" the girl screamed.

Caroline sighed. She wasn't shocked by the outburst. She was used to them since the first time the girl hit puberty. Frankly, it was mild compared to the ones, she herself threw at her age.

"Davina, no, I'm not going to snitch on you. Why are you not at the place your father set aside for you to paint?" Caroline asked.

"Stop calling him that. He's not really my father, you know? Just because I was cloned after him by some dumb spell, it doesn't make him my dad," Davina huffed.

Here we go, Caroline thought. Ever since finding out that Klaus was not biologically her father, the girl used the fact every time they had a fight or he did something she didn't like. For not being his biological child, she was way too much like him. It was something Caroline secretly…found endearing.

Caroline and Davina first met by chance. Davina ran away and almost got herself captured by werewolves. Caroline, finding about the threat, rescued and took her to safety. The girl continued to find ways to put herself in Caroline's way and these meetings became routine. Neither of her parents knew about it. Caroline always went to meet her at the top floor of the museum as they secretly arranged.

"Just because you are mad at him, doesn't mean you need to pull the 'he's not my dad card'. He loves you and has been there for you. Biology means nothing," Caroline said, standing in front of her. "What did he do to upset you now?"

"He sided with the werebitch," Davina said. That was also a routine. Davina's relationship with her mother was unstable at best. Her language when referring to Hayley was also something Caroline was used to.

Not giving Davina the reaction the girl was looking for. Caroline tried going another route. "My mom and I used to have the nastiest fights when I was younger. I used to think she was a witch that was out to get me. That is when she wasn't ignoring me or leaving me to raise myself while she worked, worked, and worked."

"Is that how you became a control freak?" the young woman asked.

"Hey! No, dumping on me today," She chided. "What did they agree on?" she asked curiously. Klaus and Hayley never agreed on anything.

Caroline was still surprised the she wolf was alive after it was revealed the child wasn't really Klaus' but a spell the Deveraux sisters came up with to force Klaus' hand. He killed Sophie in cold blood and left her body in St Charles after torturing her for days. Davina's father was a male witch that participated in the whole scheme and whom the sisters murdered to prevent from talking.

Much to Caroline's chagrin, Hayley was an innocent victim in the whole plan. It didn't prevent Caroline from making her life miserable as much as she could. She brought Katherine into town to disrupt Hayley's relationship with Elijah frequently. She used everything she could to make the woman miserable. Except she couldn't use the one thing that would probably piss off Hayley the most, the friendship between herself and Davina.

"She wants me to leave next year. She keeps nagging him that you'll lift the barrier thing you have so no one can hurt me," she said looking at Caroline, the question in her eyes crystal clear.

Despite the burning anguish in her chest at the thought of the city turning on the girl, she needed to reassure Davina. Caroline smiled.

"I have to lift the moratorium in two years. That's true," she said and held her hand up to prevent the girl from interrupting. "But you know I would never let anything happen to you."

"Because, I'm his daughter," the girl said, another question surfacing behind the words.

"Because we're friends," Caroline said, touching Davina's shoulder. The girl smiled so genuinely, it moved something in Caroline's chest.

"Thank you. And don't worry; I'll keep your secret. No one needs to know that the Dark Queen is actually really cool," Davina said, the awe in her voice yanking at the heart she weakened years ago.

Caroline knew Davina loved spending time with her. She often said that unlike her mother or her aunt Bekah, Caroline actually listened. Plus, she dressed nice and sexy, everyone feared and respected her and she talked to her about interesting things. Caroline gave Davina her first Grimoire. She also helped her pick her first grown up party dress which she wore to the ball where the queen herself was in attendance.

"I'm not going to lecture but you have to stop calling your mom a bitch. She may be uncool and tacky, but she's still your mom," Caroline started. "Also, and just think about it, traveling would not be such a bad thing. Get out and see the world, enjoy different cultures and spend your dad's money on shoes and clothes, kiss some boys, try different foods."

That way you won't dress like your mom or be like her ignorant pouty ass. She wanted to add, but didn't. She already felt petty. There was no need to verbalize it.

"Boys?" Davina said with big eyes.

"That's the only thing you heard?" Caroline shook her head. "And, what happened to John?"

"Dad scared him away." And just like that Klaus was dad again.

Caroline wanted to laugh at the way the young girl rolled her eyes.

"One day a boy will come that is not scared of your ogre daddy," Caroline said dramatically making Davina laugh.

"Yeah right," The young witch said. "Are you banging Marcel?" she asked.

Once again the girl managed to sweep the ground from under Caroline, who could only stare at her. "Um. Davina…" Caroline started.

She was scrambling for something to say. As much as Caroline changed, she couldn't discuss her sexual life with a young girl, but she wasn't her mother and wouldn't think of lying to her. "Marcel and I are friends and sometimes…"

"With benefits," Davina concluded. "It's ok. I know that stuff happens. But, you and Klaus? Never mind, I know what you're going to say. It's complicated."

Caroline noticed how she used Klaus now, trying to distance herself from him so Caroline would be willing discuss it. The girl was smart. She had yet to respond when the girl spoke yet again.

"He knows. Aunt Bekah told him you were with Marcel last night. Hayley called you a whore who shares her lover with her best friend," Davina said looking away, a blush blooming over her cheeks.

Anger clouding her senses, Caroline forced herself to breathe. She needed to calm down before she did something to those two hags. But at the moment, she concerned herself with the girl before her. "Davina, you don't need to feel bad for not defending me. No one is supposed to know about our friendship."`

The girl brightened. "I did defend you, in secret."

Caroline frowned.

"Hayley and aunt Bekah had someone do a locator spell for Sheriff Forbes. They had someone retrieve something from your old house and use it. I rerouted the spell."

Her resolved threatened to shatter with the words. Her mother was off limits. She would make them suffer in the worst way possible.

"What!" Caroline urged herself to breathe before a thought occurred to her "Where did you send them?"

She smiled." To Tyler Lockwood's new pack."

Caroline returned the smile.

~0~

"She's not at the museum. She's snuck out again," Hayley said with her arms crossed in front of her.

Klaus pretended not to hear her.

"Are you listening to me? Davina is gone again," Hayley said more forcefully.

He said nothing.

"Klaus!" She yelled but again, no response from him.

She stomped her foot. "I'm not leaving till you acknowledge me."

"Lijah, you need to come get your girlfriend before I begin to spill her blood. By the way, this is not a drill," Klaus said softly but with glee in his voice.

Elijah appeared at the door immediately and put himself between them.

"This is why she is the way she is. You let her do whatever she wants," Hayley shrieked from behind him.

"Is it my fault your own daughter won't listen to you? And really, who could blame her? That annoying shrill of a voice gets me every time and I barely have to listen to it. Can you please remove yourself from my presence?" Klaus said waiving his hand dismissively.

She walked away in a huff of frustration knowing the conversation was over.

"Niklaus, you must be stricter with Davina. You are the only one she listens to. I think you…" But Klaus cut him off.

"I'm in no mood to listen to you either brother. Especially, for one of your depressing lectures. Please go." Then he went back to reading.

As Elijah walked away, Klaus went back to pretending to read. When his brother was out of sight, he smiled. He wasn't worried. Though Davina wasn't where she was supposed to be, the day of the week indicated she was safe.

They were clever. He had to give them that. They were able to fool almost everywhere but the Original Hybrid's sense of smell was more sophisticated than the average wolf's or vampire. Whenever Davina came back on this particular day of the week, a certain delicious scent was mixed with hers. He remembered the shock of smelling it for the first time and how the girl's mood improved every time following these outings. She would leave the house hating all of them and would come back smiling and calling him dad at least for a few hours. She would convince everyone it was painting that put her in such a good mood. So, naturally, the other members of the household encouraged it.

It surprised Klaus that he cared for the girl. Living at finding the child Hayley was expecting wasn't his, that he had been fooled, he had made up his mind to kill them both. But Davina's impromptu birth and the foretelling of her powers changed everything. He saw it as an opportunity. He could mold her and she could become his go to witch, one he could have at his beck and call.

Along the way, he changed. The girl was smart and similar to him. The spell guaranteed she was like him in her abilities but her personality was something she learned. At times, though frustrated, he would be gleeful at the way she mirrored his reactions and impulses. She was vicious with her words. She didn't hesitate to cut up her mother and pretty much had a love/hate relationship with Rebekah and Elijah, mostly hate really. He suspected it was due to their relationship with Hayley. It rubbed Davina the wrong way. Since her birth, everyone went into protect Davina mode so hardcore they stifled the girl.

He couldn't help the way she grew into his heart. He raised her, after all, much like he did with Marcel. Klaus tried to give her as much freedom as possible, the thing she craved the most. But there were times when he was forced to work with the others. This was becoming a thorn on his side. Especially, during her teenage years. Klaus couldn't wait for her to move past this stage.

The door opening and the yelling brought him out of his musings. He heard Davina's footsteps as she approached his office and the three sets that followed her.

She barged in the room.

"Can you get these people off my back?" she demanded the minute she walked in. Her look was hostile and she crossed her arms in front of her. How was she the same girl that used to follow him around and whom he taught how to make magic on canvas? Could this really be the innocent girl that used to climb in the bed of a monster and snuggled against him?

He stared at her blankly.

Hayley walked in. "Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!"

Davina rolled her eyes and dropped herself next to Klaus on the couch. She crossed her legs and leaned back. Klaus continued to keep his face impassive in the interest of not giving the child a reaction she could use later. The truth is he wondered if he were in Davina's shoes, would he be content with just rolling his eyes and mentally checking out. He would probably use those witch powers and drop Hayley on the floor. Her mother was positively the most annoying creature he ever laid eyes upon and that was saying much having dealt with the second doppelganger for two years.

However, he wasn't blind to the fact that Davina was a brat when she wanted to be. That was, of course, his fault. No matter what Elijah tried to teach her, she had always modeled herself after Klaus.

He wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Answer me. Where were you?" Hayley asked forcefully.

The girl scoffed. "I went for a walk. I felt like I needed a change. Not that it's any of your business," Davina said haughtily making Klaus wonder if she could get an eye ailment from rolling her eyes so much and so deeply. It was the one trait she got from her mother other than her dark looks. Klaus was at times tempted to point it out to make her stop doing it.

"It's none of my business? Listen you little …" Elijah, appearing at the door with Rebekah, cut her off.

Hayley should be grateful for that. The insult from Hayley would set off Klaus.

"Davina, we've been through this for 16 years. You cannot go around this city alone. It's dangerous," he explained calmly. "Your mother is worried about you. She's been frantic since finding out you were not painting."

"I'm sure you took care of her nerves like you always do, uncle. How many times did it take?" The nasty quality of her smile was almost impressive. Elijah's face went stony. "Oh, don't be mad. Just try not to be so loud next time," she mock whispered the last part.

Anger flashed through the usually composed original and he looked at his brother. Klaus sighed and looked at the girl until she recanted.

"Fine! I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking about that," she grumbled.

"And...?" Hayley probed.

"And what?" her daughter asked as if perplexed.

"You have nothing else to say?" Rebekah asked incredulously from the door. She had been silent until now.

"Not really," Davina said plainly, her shoulders lifting.

Klaus stood up. "Come on, Sweetheart. Let's go have a little chat."

The girl walked out of the room without sparing the others a glance.

"What are we going to do with her?" Hayley whined.

Klaus was at the door when he turned to address Hayley. "You do seem agitated. Lijah, you should definitely get started soothing those nerves," Klaus said, "Bekah, dear, you should probably go. No one likes a third wheel." He shook his head sardonically before he left the room.

~0~

"I hate it when you take their side!" she exploded the minute they were alone in the solarium. It was the room where they had true privacy and the others were banned from coming in by a spell.

"I'm not taking anyone's side. You shouldn't talk to your mother like that. Take control of yourself," Klaus said calmly, attempting for emotional distance from her volatile temper.

"Why not? You hate her as much as I do," she retorted.

"I don't hate her, just don't like her. Neither do you," he replied, then asked her, "Why do you think you hate her?"

"Cause she's the most annoying person ever. All she does is preach about my safety and jumping on uncle Lijah's D…" She looked down realizing what she almost said. "Sorry."

He watched her as she looked at the ground and began to lecture her as he gathered his painting materials. "You need to work on your impulses and manners. It's something you need to be good at. Remember our deal and also remember that I cannot abide bad manners."

The deal was he would turn her. He would let her experience life and on her 25th birthday, if she still wanted it, it would happen.

She looked at him with her deep brown eyes. He knew she hated when he was in this mode but still preferred him to the other three. He almost counted the seconds until she walked to him and threw her arms around him.

"I'm sorry, daddy. I'll do better." She kissed his cheek.

"Ok," he said, almost smiling as he waited for the bomb to drop.

"There's a party after the presentation for Cirque du Mond this week," she said almost too casually.

"Is there now?" Klaus asked without looking at her.

"Yeah," she replied, just kept running her fingers and fidgeting with her clothes.

He said nothing. He could almost hear her brain clicking around but she stayed mum for about 5 minutes.

"It's really stupid. It's going to be some sort of costume party," she commented out loud obviously for his benefit.

"hmm," he grunted.

Silence reined again.

"Caroline will be there," she blurted out.

"Caroline, is it now?" He turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

Her eyes widened at her mistake then quickly recovered. "I feel like I know her since you sketch her so much." Klaus was stunned for a second. She realized her second mistake. "I found the sketches on your drawers."

"Why are you going through my things?" he asked firmly.

She ignored the question. "Can we go?"

"Go where?" He was confused.

"The party? Hello!" Davina said with her hand on her waist. It was a learned gesture down to the language. Caroline. That alone guaranteed he would take her. "I really want to go," she said this time.

"You don't say." He smiled.

~0~

She walked walk in the room while Klaus willed his body to stay still. He showed up to her house not bothering to call to announce himself. The visit caught her unaware. He instructed her servant to wake her when told she slept. Now here she was in her sleep clothes and her hair in curls, the way he loved to see it and she almost never wore anymore.

"You requested an audience?" she said as she took a tumbler of blood from her maid.

"Audience?" he chuckled. "You're becoming as pretentious as you say I am, love," he added taking the other tumbler the maid offered.

She went to sit on the chair. Her indigo silk robe tied at the front but when she sat, it left her legs exposed. He didn't pretend not to notice. His eyes openly followed the parting of the gown. She followed the movement of his eyes and smiled, obviously enjoying his reaction.

"To what do I owe this pleasant visit?" she asked.

He returned the smile. "I think it's time you stopped playing with Marcel's life." His smile grew at the same rate hers vanished.

"How exactly am I playing with my lieutenant's life?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

After a small taste and a barely visible wince, she placed the tumbler down by the side table. A vampire was normally thirsty after waking. Klaus stood up. He walked to take a seat next to her, his arm going into the back of the chair.

"You don't have to do this," she said, tension in her voice, but she was already leaning into him.

He heard her intake of breath as she took her time to inhale his scent. He basked in the feeling, letting it overwhelm every fiber of his body.

Her left hand was behind him and it snuck under his Henley as her mouth opened and her wet lips touched his skin, he shuddered; her hand flexed on his back. She dug her nails in while sinking her fangs. He made a long hissing noise and she whimpered as the taste of him filled her mouth. He leaned his head back and buried his hand in her hair.

"Caroline" He breathed out as if in surrender.

~0~

Fangs still hooked on his vein she maneuvered her lower body to straddle him. His blood, his scent, him, all of it was an ultimate turn-on for her, but there was something about the way he said her name. It drove her insane. She ground herself against him, feeling him, letting him feel her.

His hand shot to her lower back to press her down. She lifted her head and brought her head to face him. His blood dripped from her fangs creating a trail from his neck to his cheek. Her face hovered over his and drops traveled down her chin and fell at the corner of his mouth. His eyes turned red and the need she saw there mirrored her own.

He held her face tightly. "This thing with Marcel ends now."

"And if it doesn't?" she challenged, refusing to acquiesce just because he wanted it.

"He'll die. Slowly." He pressed an open mouth kiss on her lips.

"I would hate you," she said calmly, staring at his blood stained plump lips.

He let go of her face put both his arms around her and bucked his hips making her groan. "I'll find ways to earn your forgiveness."

It echoed Marcel's words. She knew he would make good on them. She had known this moment would come soon but she wouldn't admit it to anyone. Just like how she orchestrated these moments. They had a pattern. Once a week he would come to her when he could no longer stay away. She would hold her hunger as much as she could.

Because she knew.

She knew how much he cared and sometimes a woman needed to feel it. It wasn't only the taste of him and his blood. She needed to feel him care for her, to show her the extent of his devotion.

Still old habits die hard. "We had a deal, Klaus," she whispered softly.

His hands splayed on her lower back, he placed a kiss on her jaw. "I'm done with that deal. It's time to put an end to your dalliance." He smiled against her jaw. "For your lieutenant's sake, that is."

"Ok, fine. It's over." She said. "I hope you realize the same goes for you. If I can't have my side piece, you can't have yours. So bye bye homely bartender."

"As you wish," he whispered before he crushed his lips to her. Her hips resumed their grinding and he moaned.

"I'm serious. You know I'll make good on my word. I may not crave her blood but I'll drink it just the same." She watched his eyes darken and shift.

She smiled as he ripped her underwear.

How fucked up was she? She drowned in his need for her to avoid facing hers for him.

~0~

"I found them." Elijah told them.

"The Augustinians?" Rebekah asked.

"Yes. I'll be leaving in the morning to meet them," Elijah informed them. "Tomorrow we'll know."

"We'll finally get to kill her," Hayley said spitefully.

Rebekah nodded.

Thank you for reading