Thank you for wonderful reviews. I am a little unsure of this story. This is supposed to be a little different from my other stories. i hope it turns out the way i have it in my mind lol. For the guest who didnt like it, I am sorry that you feel that way. Hopefully you will find something nice to your liking. There are few secrets in their past, which will be revealed gradually. And guest who asked about Harry. Yes he was Hayley's son who died recently. More will be revealed with time. I hope I can manage to keep your interest peeked in this story.
After some time when Kaleb had gone to sleep, she got up, dragged her bag to her room and started putting her clothes in the closet. She took out the picture, stared at it for a moment, transporting back to the past when things were perfect and then with a sigh put it back in the bag. She zipped the bag again and stowed it in the closet too. She went to freshen herself up for the evening as she recalled that Mr Mikaelson's brother will be visiting. Elijah was his name, she recalled and his sister, Reba... They will want to see Kaleb which probably means that they will be meeting her too. She startled when she heard a knock at the door followed by Camille saying "I forgot to tell you that we have a nanny cam in the nursery so just want to let you know incase you are thinking of doing…" her eyes twinkled when she said that.
Hayley smiled and said "no Mrs. Mikaelson, you dont have to worry about that."
Camille asked curiously "why? Might I ask?"
Hayley said after a moment "I recently had a breakup. I just want to have a break."
Camille said, sympathetically "I am sorry to hear about it. If you ever want to talk about it, I am a very good listener."
She paused and then continued "at least that is what my patients say" ending with a laughter.
Hayley smile and said "thank you."
Camille said "I want you to dress Kaleb in something cute. Klaus family is going to be seeing him for the first time."
Hayley smiled and said "don't worry about that."
After Camille left, she wanted to rest, her back was hurting but she was not on her time and in her apartment so she headed towards Kaleb's closet and after going through it, dozens of cute, taking in recognizing expensive looking brand name outfit, wondering what does it matter, how he dresses up. He is a baby and he is going to look adorable whatever he does. Finally she selected a red and grey one piece with horizontal stripes on it and a bunny appliquéd to where it was going to hug his bottom. After that she looked around wondering what should she do except for wait for him to get up and change him. Her gaze fell on his empty bottle so she decided to go down and wash it. She wondered where was the receiver for the monitor and then after leaving the door a bit cracked open she headed out. The moment she entered the kitchen, she stopped when she saw Klaus tossing up the salad.
Klaus looked towards her and asked "do you need anything Ms Marshall?"
She said, feeling a bit nervous in his presence "no. I just came to wash Kaleb's bottle."
He pointed towards the sink and continued doing what he was doing.
She quickly washed his bottle, suddenly feeling nervous in his presence feeling afraid what if her secret is revealed and then she remembered about the monitor so she asked "um Mr. Mikaelson where is the receiver of the monitor?"
Klaus looked up from the process of cutting cucumber, pointed the knife towards the end of the long counter. She said "oh. Thanks" and then she picked up his already washed bottle and headed back up.
Later in the evening, Klaus looked towards Camille as she slipped on the sleeveless black silk dress, zipped herself up and walked to the dressing table. His eyes went to her shapely legs visible under that knee length dress. He fixed his shirt and then headed towards her, grabbed her from behind, interrupting her in the process of putting lipstick on, turned her towards her and kissed her lips, her neck as she moaned "Klaus, they will be here in a minute."
Klaus said "I will be quick" as he lifted her dress still kissing her neck, her hand went to the zipper of his pants and she pulled his hardness out. He lifted her up and with one swift motion he was in her and rocking against her with her back pinned against the wall and she was moaning loudly as her legs got wrapped around his hips.
He gave her a deep kiss on her neck and then her lips after he stilled climaxing with her. He stepped back and winked as he zipped himself up "I told you I will be quick."
She punched him playfully, quickly fixed herself up, wiped the lipstick from his lips and then finished her makeup and said "I will go and check on Kaleb" while Klaus continued dressing up with a satisfied smile on his lips but apprehensions in his heart.
Hayley took off his clothes, cleaned his body with wet towel, changed his diaper, her fingers grazing his soft skin, her heart heavy with what she had lost and then she slipped on the romper she had taken out for him and settled down with him in the rocking chair and gave him the bottle. He sucked at the nipple but hen removed his lips away from it. She tried again but he would take a few sucks and then turn away from it.
She asked "hey sweetie what is wrong? You don't like it? and then she gasped as she felt herself getting wet. She said with frustration "oh no. What is going on?"
She looked around hastily and then picked up his burping cloth and put it against her chest to hide the wetness if it shows, her mind getting confused at what was happening to her and she made a mental note of talking to Sophie about it. She changed positions and tried again and started humming softly for him. This time he took it but kept on spitting the nipple out. She continued with him patiently and then startled when she heard Camille say "you are really patient with him, you know."
Hayley smiled hoping for Camille to not notice her nervousness. Camille said "I came in to check if everything is okay. It seems you have things under control. I have to take care of somethings before Elijah and Rebekah come. When you are done with him, join us downstairs. We can have a glass of wine before they come."
Hayley nodded and hoped for her to leave.
Klaus opened the kitchen cabinet and took out a glass to drink water when he heard her say "hey sweetie what is wrong? You don't like it?"
He leaned back against the counter and started listening to her, not knowing a smile had appeared on his lips. Taking a sip of water, he heard Camille and felt good to have another voice in the house, someone to talk to.
He rinsed the glass, put it back on the shelf and left the kitchen, heading towards the library to engage himself in some reading before Elijah and Rebekah came.
After Camille left Hayley continued to try feeding him and at last gave up as he had started to let it leak from the side of his mouth. She smiled and said "alright. lets take a break. Maybe you are not hungry. How about you come to my room. Let me show you my room. I have to take care of something and then we can go downstairs" as she cleaned his neck and mouth where the milk was accumulating as he had kept on spitting it out.
Kaleb stared at her face with such serious expression that she laughed. She got up and took him to her room. She closed the bedroom door, put him in the middle of the bed, and went to the bathroom, leaving the door open, while continuing talking to Kaleb "you are going to meet your uncle today. I am not sure but I think he is older than your father. Elijah, if I remember correctly and your aunt. Sorry don't recall her name. I think it was Reba. I guess we will find out in half an hour."
She took a sigh of relief, noticed the mark, got another shirt from the closet and took off the one she was wearing, changed her bra, changed the shirt, washed the old shirt and came out of the bathroom after putting some folded tissue papers inside her bra to prevent the more wetness as she said to Kaleb with a smile "I think I should put them now because this can get really embarrassing if it continues like this."
Rebekah didnt know that she had a smile on her lips as she drove her BMW towards Klaus house. She was feeling really excited about meeting Klaus and Camille after a long time. It has been two years since they had last met before she had to go to France on the student exchange program. But knowing that Elijah will be there too was making her a bit nervous as she recalled Klaus and his last encounter.
flashback Rebekah
Two year ago
Elijah hugged her and said "sister how are you?"
She smiled and said "I am good. What kind of brother are you? We have not seen you for a year. But I am so glad that you are moving back to Mystic Falls again. We will all be close by, well of course except for Kol."
Elijah smiled softly and said "I have been busy."
She looked at his face for a moment and then continued "I am not convinced but I will let it slide this time. I just thought I should invite you all before I leave. Who knows when and how we will meet again."
Elijah asked, after a moment of silence "have you invited Niklaus too."
She said "yes I have" as she set the plate on the table "and Kol is coming too. He is bringing a girlfriend of his which reminds me where is Amber ?"
Before Elijah could say another word, they were interrupted by the sound of the bell. She said "wait I want to hear more" as he headed towards the door opening it to reveal Klaus and Camille. She smiled and hugged Klaus and said "hey Camille, you look beautiful" and was turning in when they heard Kol say "wait up for us."
She smiled as her eyes went her youngest brother who had a beautiful brunette, hanging by his arms. She hugged him and led them in. At once she sensed the warm environment of the room chilling. She cleared her throat and said "Kol, where are you manners? Introduction are in order."
Kol smiled, sensing her tension and said "oh, sorry sweetheart. Rebekah meet Amanda. Amanda this is my insufferable sister Rebekah. Equally insufferable brother, Klaus, his loving wife Camille. My noble brother Elijah."
He then turned to Klaus and hugged him saying "long time brother. Camille, how are you?"
Camille said "I am good Kol. We have been busy with job. How are your studies going?"
Kol said turning towards Elijah standing with his hands in his pocket looking towards Klaus, "good. I have two more years and then I will be doctor. A real doctor not a dentist like Nik" earning a laughter from Klaus and Rebekah who handed Klaus a drink.
Kol asked "Rebekah are you excited?"
Rebekah said, smile on her lips, twinkle in her eyes "of course I am. Two years away from all of you. In a city of love. Dont start Nik" as he noticed him frowning. Camille laughed and said "you know how over protective he is of you."
Klaus asked softly "have you met father and mother?"
Rebekah said "yes I went to meet them last week. I just thought of making this weekend about siblings. Thank you for coming all of you."
"of course Rebekah. We would have come. It is just two hours drive" Camille said smiling as she took a party size sandwich Rebekah had prepared.
Camille turned towards Elijah and said "Elijah, it is good to see you. I don't even remember last time when we saw you. Was it before you took at job at Crescent Hospital Klaus."
Klaus took a deep breath and said "yes it was. It has been a while."
Camille said smiling "oh wow. that is more than a year ago. Rebekah, I must thank you for arranging this gathering."
Rebekah smiled and said "my pleasure."
Her gaze went from Klaus to Elijah and suddenly she felt very nervous and said "so Elijah you were telling me about why Amber couldnt come"
A pin drop silence fell in the room, interrupted by Kol cleaning his throat and saying "when are we having dinner Rebekah? I am starving."
She looked towards him with confusion wondering why was he changing the topic. Before she could say anything else Elijah said "Amber and I broke up."
She looked towards Klaus who had suddenly laughed cynically and then at Camille who said "Klaus…"
She asked, confused "what is going on?"
Camille said "nothing. Do you need any help in the kitchen?"
Rebekah said "no. There is nothing to do."
Klaus said "I need some fresh air. I think I will be back in a minute."
He had hardly taken a step when Elijah said "Niklaus…" but before he could say anything further Rebekah screamed as a punch landed on Elijah's face sending him stumbling back a few steps. She screamed "Nik" with her hand on her mouth but he turned to her and said "Rebekah love, I hope you have a nice time in France but I cannot be here, love. I need to leave. Lets go Camille" and before she could say anything he had left.
The moment the door closed she spun around towards Elijah and Kol and asked "what the bloody hell was that?"
Kol sighed and said "Amanda meet my dysfunctional family. Rebekah love, dont get into things that shouldn't concern you."
She opened her mouth to say something when Elijah said "I should be leaving too Rebekah."
She looked towards him baffled at what had happened suddenly that had disrupted the environment all of a sudden as she returned the hug Elijah gave her. She looked towards Kol who was eating the appetizers as if nothing happened and barked "what the hell was that?"
She suddenly realized his girlfriend was there and realized that she shouldn't be discussing the family affairs in front of her so she said "I am sorry Amanda, you had to see that. My brothers can be idiots some times. Are you sure, you know what you are getting into by being with him?"
Amanda smiled and leaned her head against Kol's shoulder saying "yes I know and I love him for who he is."
She met Kol's smirk and smiled, her heart still confused at what had happened.
end flashback
Camille fixed the flower arrangement, made sure the table was flawlessly laid, perfected the cutlery when it was already perfected, looked at the room for any signs of disorder and smiled when she found none. She walked towards the library where she knew he must be sitting. She smiled at him and said "she is good with him."
Klaus looked up, his eyes taking in the perfect image she was presenting and said "yes she seems good."
Camille walked in and said "she told me she had a recent breakup with one of her boyfriends" as he bend down and fixed Klaus's shirt collar.
He said "hmm interesting."
Camille asked "I wonder what could have happened because she seems really pleasant."
Klaus said, indifferently "we just met her. Who knows how she is to live with?"
Camille said "yes but meeting people give vibes. She gives me a good vibe. Anyway how are you dealing with all this?"
Klaus closed the book and asked "you mean about Elijah?"
Camille said "yes. Listen Klaus, you are meeting him after a year. Lets not stir up the old wounds."
He said "I will not" as he got up and headed towards the shelf to put the book back.
She teased "and also you have a beautiful wife and an adorable son now so forget about what happened."
Klaus saw the smile on her lips and said sarcastically "yes. I should forget about all of those things."
Camille said at once noticing the sad note in his tone "no I didnt mean that. I meant dont make an issue out of it. At least for tonight. They are meeting Kaleb for the first time. I want everything to go smoothly."
He nodded and said "alright."
Camille moved around the room checking if things are perfect and asked "are they coming together?"
Klaus eyes focused on her, admiring her wonderful figure, leaned back in his chair said "no, Rebekah had been visiting her friend Martha. Remember her?" when Camille nodded he continued "she lives near the lake."
Camille turned towards her saying "Rebekah was in Heartfelt?! Why didn't she come before?"
Klaus shrugged his shoulder saying "maybe she was busy."
Camille asked "did you talk to her?"
Klaus said "yes I did. Have you checked on the roast? They will be here shortly."
As if on cue they heard the bell sound. They both exchanged looks, gave each other a quick kiss. Camille said "I will inform Hayley about our guests. Why don't you open the door?"
Klaus nodded and headed towards the main door whereas Camille headed upstairs.
In the mean time Rebekah stopped the car outside a big house and got out. She scanned the elegant structure and the vast beautiful garden and sighed wondering she should have made time to come visit him earlier. She had been back for two weeks. She should have come earlier. What kind of relationship they have that they live at a distance of two hours and she is coming to his new house for the first time in her life. But she was not here for the past two years. She gave herself a logic. But still she should have tried to find out what went on between Elijah and Klaus that drove this family apart. Anyway she is here now. This time she will get to the bottom of the things. She decided before walking towards the the big oak front door in anticipation of the evening and rang the bell.
She smiled when the door opened and Klaus smiled at her. He said "look at you sister. Paris suited you."
Rebekah smiled and said "you would have loved it Nik. It is place of art."
Klaus said smiling "well when I have time" He held her hand and said "sister. It has been a while."
She smiled "Nik, I missed you." She stepped in and hugged him.
Klaus smiled, separated himself from her and led her to the living room. Rebekah looked around and said "this is a beautiful house Nik."
He smiled and offered her a glass of champagne.
She startled when she heard a knock at her door. She picked Kaleb up and headed towards the bedroom door. As she opened the door Camille said "oh, you are in here. Rebekah is downstairs."
Hayley shifted Kaleb expecting Camille to take him but when she turned away, her heart ached fro him. She whispered "it is okay. I have got you" hugged him a bit tighter and followed Camille.
Rebekah took the glass from her and said "tell me what is going on with your life."
Klaus said "my life has changed a bit but first tell me how are you? How are things back home?"
Rebekah said "mother misses you. She told me you visited her six months ago last time. It is only two hours drive Nik. Surely you can make that trip."
Klaus said "I have been really busy Rebekah with this new practice. Camille is with hers. I will visit soon. Tell me how is Kol doing? I have not met him for over a year now. Last time I met him was on Christmas."
She said "he is fine…" when they were interrupted by Camille walking in and saying "hey Rebekah. I love your new hairstyle."
She hugged Camille and said "thank you and as usual you look lovely Camille."
Camille smiled and said "thank you."
Before she could say anything further, her gaze went to a young woman walking in with a baby in her arms. Her gaze shifted from Klaus to Camille and she screamed and excitedly said "I cannot believe it. No one told me. Oh God. let me have a look at him…" she looked towards Camille questioningly who smiled and nodded saying "Rebekah meet your nephew Kaleb Mikaelson born on 10 January 2015, and this is Hayley Marshall, his nanny. Hayley meet Klaus's only sister Rebekah."
Rebekah dashed to him when Klaus pipped in "wash your hands first Rebekah. He is too young to get germs."
Rebekah rolled her eyes but smiled and obliged "of course" and then looked around when Camille pointed towards the powder room saying "door to the right near the entrance."
She hastily washed her hands and headed back, eager to hold her nephew.
Hayley's heart fluttered seeing for the first time, someone showing excitement and desire to hold Kaleb. As she was transferring Kaleb to Rebekah, her heart felt heavy. She looked at the excitement on her face and stepped back and was turning away when Camille said "Hayley stay. Have some thing to drink. Elijah will be coming over at any time. You should meet the family tonight."
Hayley looked towards Klaus who promptly handed her the glass of champagne but she said "thank you but it is late and I don't drink when I am taking care of a baby."
He smiled softly and stepped back.
They all looked towards the door when they heard the bell again and she noticed everyone exchange looks. At last Klaus got up and went towards the door. A moment later he entered with a big smile on his lips saying "look what the cat dragged in."
Rebekah yelped excitedly causing Kaleb to startle but then she put her hand on his back to calm him down and said "Kol. When did you come?"
But they both looked too shocked to say a word. Their eyes fixed on the baby in her arms. She smiled and was about to say something when Kol at once said, with a tinge of anger in his tone "Elijah, two hours drive and you couldn't tell me this?!"
Elijah said "what?" confused and then looked towards Klaus who said "meet Kaleb Mikaelson. Camille and my son."
Rebekah laughed seeing confusion fade from Kol's face "you thought he was mine. I wish he was. Look at him. Just look at him. He is adorable. I can eat him."
Kol hurried towards her saying "hush Rebekah, you are scaring the baby" when at the precise moment, Kaleb decided to make his presence known and protested a bit.
Rebekah laughed and said "no he is not scared of his aunt. Are you Kaleb?" as she shifted him in her arms and then said to Kol "you want to hold him?"
Kol said "of course I want to."
He started to hold him when Rebekah thwarted at his hands saying "what kind of doctor are you becoming? Wash your hands first."
Kol had decency to blush and looked towards Camille who smiled and pointed towards the powder room.
A moment later he and Elijah were back and he took the baby and looked at him with a smile.
Hayley slowly stood up seeing the family gathered around Kaleb, feeling out of place but not knowing what else to do so she just stayed there and continued to look towards them not knowing two pair of eyes, one blue and one brown were fixed on her.
Rebekah turned to Elijah and said "Elijah when are you planning to un-statue yourself and hold your nephew?" capturing Hayley's attention and her heart fluttered seeing the smile appear on the until-now serious man who said "of course I want to."
The moment Elijah held him, Kaleb started crying prompting Kol to say "Elijah what have you done?"
Camille laughed and said "maybe too much excitement for him. Hayley would you mind taking him upstairs."
Hayley said "yes Mrs. Mikaelson."
Camille said "Cami, how many times must I tell you?"
She smiled and said "it was nice meeting you all. I must take him upstairs now."
She walked to Elijah and felt a current run through her body when he transferred Kaleb to her. She turned around, patting him gently on his back and caught Klaus looking towards her. She suddenly felt too self-conscious under his scrutinizing glance and turned towards the stairs but then paused and said "Camille, is it alright if I change him and put him down for night?"
She said, looking down at her wrist watch "yes, it is eight. Maybe we should start a routine for him."
Hayley nodded and headed upstairs.
The moment she started upstairs she heard Rebekah say "oh god Nik, how could you keep such a secret from us? And Camille you look so good for a new mom."
Klaus said "we just wanted to surprise you and Camille was never pregnant with Kaleb."
Her feet stopped on the top step but then she continued to the room not wanting to hear anything else.
She changed his clothes and then settled down in the rocking chair with the bottle in her hand but to her dismay Kaleb refused to drink.
While she was struggling with Kaleb, there was silence in the living room which was broken by Kol who asked "have you adopted him?"
Klaus said laughing "no. He is ours but we opted for gestational surrogacy."
Rebekah looked towards Kol in confusion who looked stunned by this piece of information. She asked "what does that mean?"
Kol asked more confused than earlier "why?"
Camille said "it was just easy to go that route. It didnt interfere with our lives. You know how busy our lives are, our careers and with pregnancy things change. It had hardly been a few months for our private practice to start, when we decided to have and I just didnt want to fall behind my career because of that. And what does matter in the end. We got to have a baby who is our flesh and blood."
Kol's eyes darted to Klaus in confusion with words of disapproval were on the tip of his tongue when Rebekah said "anyway does not matter how you got him. He is a Mikaelson and we love him. How old is he?" earning herself a smile from her brother and sister-in-law.
Camille said "two weeks. He was born on 1st November."
Klaus could feel Kol fidgeting to say something but he was not in a mood to go into details of why they made that decision and at the same time they heard Kaleb crying prompting him to look towards Camille who said "let me turn off the monitor so that we at least listen to what the other is saying" ending with a laughter.
She got up and went to turn the monitor off.
Ten minutes later, distracted by the sound of Kaleb muffled crying sounds still coming from the stairways, unable to concentrate on the conversation, he looked towards Camille who too was looking uncomfortable. Eyes going towards the staircase again and again he said "love can you go and check on him? Why is he crying?"
Camille nodded and headed upstairs after excusing herself.
Hayley said "Kaleb honey, what is wrong? Do you have gas in your stomach?" as she slightly pressed his stomach.
She looked towards the door when she heard Camille ask "why is he crying like that Hayley?"
Hayley said "Mrs Mikaelson. Kids cry. Around third week they also develop colic if they have it. Maybe he has got some gas in his stomach. Dont worry he will be fine."
Camille didnt look satisfied but she closed the door and headed down.
She spend the next twenty minutes trying to console him. He would be quiet for a minute and then would start crying. Her heart was getting heavy with his cries and she was starting to feel helpless and then to her dismay she started to feel her breast getting heavy and engorged. She looked down at Kaleb and wondered is it possible? He is not drinking any formula so shouldnt she try at least. Maybe. But that is wrong. Why? Why is it wrong? She suddenly remember something about nanny cam and monitors so she took him to her room, closed the door and after balancing him in her arms she relieved herself in one of his empty bottles but then she lost her nerves. She continued to look towards the bottle and then with frustration, unable to bear to hear his cries, she dipped her finger in the bottle, and put it against his lips and to her shock after protesting a bit, he started to suck at it hungrily. She thought for a moment and then capped the bottle and gave it to Kaleb and he started to drink it. She stared at him in shock, her heart filled with guilt at what she was doing but at least he was quiet now, at least he was drinking.
Klaus took a deep breath of sigh when he could no longer hear the cries. He looked towards Camille who said "excuse me for a moment, I will set the table and we should eat now."
Rebekah said "let me help you Camille."
Camille nodded and they left the living room.
Rebekah said "I wish we could spend more time with Kaleb."
Camille said, taking out the chicken roast from the oven "Klaus told me you are spending the night with a friend. You can visit tomorrow if you want to."
Rebekah said excitedly "oh that is wonderful. Yes definitely I will come."
Camille smiled and asked "so tell me. Have you found someone interesting there?" with a tease in her voice.
Rebekah laughed and teased "well what happened in Paris will remain in Paris."
Camille laughed, feeling light and happy to have company, said "so you had fun" with twinkle in her eyes.
Rebekah said taking the serving dish laden with boiled potatoes from her hand "all I will confess is that Nik wouldn't have approved of my time in Paris. Where is the dinning room?"
Camille laughed and said "to your right" pointing her towards the dinning room.
When the table was laid, she said "I will go and check on Hayley and then we can have dinner."
Camille opened the door to an empty room and then she headed towards her room. She knocked at it and opened the door after getting the permission to enter. Seeing her sitting on the bed with Kaleb in her arms, she smiled and asked "O god you are a miracle worker. If you are done, come down and have some dinner with us."
Hayley looked down at Kaleb, feeling extremely tired now, her back hurting, said "I think I will like to have an early night today, if you don't mind."
Camille said "nonsense. You should eat something. I will bring something for you upstairs."
"no. Mrs…. Camille. that is not necessary" Hayley at once said.
Camille said "you rest and thank you for getting him quiet. I was getting agitated with his cries. I will bring something up for you" and retreated.
Camille said "lets have dinner. Poor girl is tired. I will give her something to eat later. Klaus take them to the dinning room, I will set place for Kol" addressing the last part of the sentence to Klaus. He smiled, got up and led his siblings to the dinner. Camille set another place for Kol and said "let me make a plate for Hayley and will be back shortly. You guys start the dinner."
Saying that she made a plate for her, filing it with small portions of each food item and headed upstairs whereas others settled down around the table.
He looked up as Camille entered, saying "we got lucky this time. I am certain that she is a good choice. He has gone to sleep finally. I never realized how this continuos crying can get on your nerves." as she settled down missing the confused expression on Kol's and Rebekah's faces. The dinner was a pleasant affair with light conversation, Rebekah bringing them up to date with what happened in France, Kol about his studies and Elijah mostly listened. The unresolved tension between Elijah and Klaus was making Camille really tense but she felt relieved that as long as they were civil to each there, she was fine.
Klaus looked towards Elijah who asked "have you told father and mother about Kaleb?"
He shook his head saying "not yet. I was planning on visiting mother when father is one of his business trips."
He noticed Rebekah trying to say something but he said "lets not go there Rebekah. The evening had been pleasant enough so lets not spoil it."
Camille scanned the table and noticed that no one was eating anymore so she said "Klaus, honey will you help me with dishes and the desert then?" as she started to pick up the dishes.
The moment, Klaus and Camille stepped out, Rebekah asked "Kol what is troubling you. You have been frowning for a while."
Kol shook his head saying "nothing" not so convincing Rebekah. Luckily they got distracted with Klaus and Camille coming back with desert.
After desert, Rebekah said "let me help you clean up Camille" scooting her chair back.
Klaus led Elijah and Kol back to the living room. Elijah said "this house is really nice Niklaus. You have done well."
Klaus said "thank you. I should have invited you before but I have been really busy with the practice."
Elijah said "no harm done. I understand. You have always been focused on your career and seeing that Camille shares your passion. It is a good thing. I am happy that you are doing well."
Klaus felt like asking him "are you really?" but decided against it remembering his promise to himself.
He turned towards Kol and asked "Kol, have you decided which specialty you want to do?"
Kol said "pediatrics."
Klaus said "that is wonderful. You are good with kids. I saw you with Kaleb."
Kol said "if I remember correctly, you were good too. I remember you with Damon's son."
Klaus said reminiscing the carefree, happy memories, a smile sneaked on his lips "yes. How is little Josh?"
Kol said "he is seven years old now."
Klaus whistled and said "time flies. What else has changed in the past two years? I visited mother six months back" felt Elijah's gaze on him, knowing well what he was thinking but didnt look towards him and continued "but didnt get to find out more about what was going on."
Kol said "well Caroline is engaged to Stefan now. Damon and Anna got separated and is dating Elena these days. Stefan and Caroline are getting married in June. Tyler is done with his police academy training. He is now on patrol. Uncle Richard is really mad at him for choosing that profession."
Klaus laughed and then looked towards the hallway when he saw her coming down. He saw her heading towards the kitchen with the plate in her hand and startles when he heard Kol ask "how is your practice going?"
He said "busy but successful."
Hayley said "Camille, the food was delicious. Thank you."
Camille took the plate form her hand and said "thank you Hayley. Do you want to join us for a drink or something?"
Although feeling tempted for some company, she was feeling too exhausted, so she said "I am sorry but I am too tired so I should retire. It was nice meeting you Ms Mikaelson. Hopefully we will meet soon."
Rebekah smiled and said "call me Rebekah and yes definitely we will meet again."
She nodded, turned and left wanted to ask Camille and Klaus if they want to say goodnight to Kaleb or not but then decided against it and headed upstairs.
He startled when Kol said "I think we should be leaving now. Rebekah love, what are your plans?"
"I was spending the weekend with Martha so going there afterwards but why so soon. We have not even seen Nik's house" Rebekah smiled.
Kol said "we have a long drive back home and as for house, some other time. It is already 10:30 . It will be one by the time we get home."
Elijah said "I think Kol is right. We should not take advantage of Niklaus's hospitality" as he stood up. Quiet filled the room again, only to be broken by Elijah cleaning his throat and saying "Niklaus can I talk to you alone?"
If Kol or Rebekah found it curious they hid it well as Rebekah continued to talk to Camille while Kol walked to the family picture of his and Camille on the fireplace. Klaus said "yes sure. Come, to the library."
He led Elijah to the library and looked towards him questioningly.
He could see Elijah fidgeting with words but he felt like hearing those words so he kept quiet. At last Elijah said "brother forgive me for I have wronged you. I should have stood by you but I lost my nerves and … I deeply regret with what happened with Amber ."
Klaus continued to look towards him and after a moment said "I will be wrong to blame you for what happened with Amber . There must be some lacking in me that forced her to go to you but I expected you to honor our bond and not put yourself in that situation. I expected you to stand by me when father kicked me out of house and for that I have deep regrets. I blame myself for associating such high expectations from you. You want me to forgive you? I will forgive you. You want me to forget about it? I cannot do so."
When Elijah continued to remain quiet, he said "fear not brother, with time, every wound gets healed and so shall this one too."
Elijah nodded, held out his hand to him and felt relieved when Klaus took it. He then turned and left.
She changed her clothes and the moment her head hit the pillow she sighed as the mattress provided cushion to her aching back. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
The moment the front door closed behind them, Camille said "that was not too bad except for Kaleb crying. I hope you and Elijah got your difference out of way."
Klaus said nonchalantly "I don't know if they are completely gone but I guess it is time we put our difference aside. What was wrong with Kaleb?"
Camille said "I don't know. When last time I checked he was sleeping so must be noting. Why don't you clean up the kitchen, I will just check on him one last time?
Klaus nodded and went to the kitchen while Camille headed upstairs.
A/N: what do you think guys? Am I still able to capture you interest in the story? Leave a review if you can and want to. They do inspire me.
