"Quick Bite":
I'm sorry, I know this chapter was posted earlier but I had to take it down to rework it a bit. Something about it was nagging at me and it made me pissy all day at work. I managed to make myself happy about it again now, after a few hours of heavy editing. Sorry again!

So I was noticing as I finally ventured into my inbox after a while that there are quite a few more readers than I thought for this story. Cool! And just so you know, reviews and criticism are welcomed! (but not a necessity ;D)

To redbudrose: That's an excellent point! And it's also why I don't think I'm going to go into that storyline really. I was thinking about it at work today, actually and realized the same thing. I haven't really set a plot for this yet, though. I'm kind of just...making it up as I go along. ^_^

Onward!

Chapter 4

Late that evening, at the Original mansion, three of the Original siblings sat in the sitting room spending some quality time together. If you could call it that...

Klaus was lounging on the brown leather couch, legs extended, hands folded in his lap. Rebekah was across from him, sitting in the brown suede armchair, legs crossed, wearing a bored expression. Elijah stood by the fireplace, his arms behind his back, one hand holding the other. He stared intently, deep in thought, at the shadow of Klaus's legs cast by the faint light of dusk shining from the windows.

"Where did you disappear to today?" Rebekah was asking Klaus.

"I had some business to attend to."

She pursed her lips. "Your precious cheerleader still declining your advances?" He glanced up at her, eyes narrowed. She smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."

Klaus didn't answer her, though. He just sat, his thumbs idly tapping each other as he joined Elijah in contemplation. He'd been going over and over the conversation he had with Caroline that afternoon in his head, wondering what might have happened if Tyler Lockwood hadn't intervened. He was getting more and more annoying now that he'd broken the sire bond, especially when it came to Caroline. That had to be remedied. Perhaps he could compel the traitor to leave her alone? Somehow that seemed too juvenile. And Caroline wouldn't be pleased. Damn, the female race, he said silently. Damn his loneliness...

Rebekah finally grew frustrated with her brothers' silence and expressed it by sighing exasperatedly. Both Originals snapped out of their trances at the sudden burst of sound.

"The two of you are so broody," she pouted. "I wish Kol were still here. At least he held the capacity to have fun."

"You do share similar values," Klaus responded.

"Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"Your call."

She slouched back in her chair, arms folded, pouting some more. Elijah just shook his head at the two.

"Centuries old and still behaving like children. Will you two never change?"

"We can't all be as eloquent as you, can we, Elijah?" Klaus chided.

"You can't," Rebekah chimed.

"You're just on a roll today, aren't you?"

"I can't help it. I'm bored," Rebekah sulked. "When are we going to leave, Nik?" she asked, the teasing leaving her eyes. "Now's a good a time as any. We're safe. Mother is dead. The schoolteacher is as dead as he'll get until the doppleganger dies. What's left to stay in this despicable town for?"

Klaus bent his head sideways, finding himself increasingly interested in the cracks in the freshly polished wood floor and not in answering his sister. He knew why he didn't want to leave. But that didn't mean they had to. Elijah and Rebekah exchanged a glance, but it was Elijah that spoke.

"She's right, Klaus," he said, solemnly. "There is nothing for me here. I'll be leaving in the morning. You're welcome to join me, of course."

Rebekah spared a glance at Klaus, as if she were waiting for his permission. He looked up at her, instinctively.

"You don't have to stay with me anymore, Rebekah."

"I thought we were to be a family again," she said softly. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"There's no point anymore. Finn is dead. Kol vanished. And if the two of you don't want to stay here in Mystic Falls I won't make you."

"That's a change," Elijah said, bitterly. Klaus glanced at him sideways, narrowing his eyes.

"You don't want me to stay?" Rebekah asked, quietly.

"It's your choice, Rebekah. Stay or go. It doesn't matter to me."

He looked away, avoiding the hurt in his sister's eyes. As much as he loved her, he wished her need for codependence wasn't so overbearing. After so many centuries, she still felt alone and unloved? But then what was that saying? You hate in others what you hate most in yourself. His conscience grumbled at the thought.

"Where will you go?" Rebekah asked Elijah.

"I haven't decided yet," he slid his hand across the wood of the mantle.

"After Katherine, I'd warrant," Klaus muttered.

Elijah glared at him. He glared back. Rebekah playfully broke the tension.

"Between the two of you, will you ever find women who actually want you? It's tiring to watch your failures."

"I think she's calling us desperate," Klaus smirked at Elijah. His smile became devious, then. "Then again, we weren't the ones who ran to the bed of a Salvatore."

Rebekah rolled her eyes, growing annoyed. "Please. That was a one time thing. Out of pity, if anything."

Klaus gazed down at his fingers as he folded them. "Pity for him or for yourself, I wonder?" he asked, his voice subdued.

She suddenly leapt out of her seat with immense vampire speed, her arm poised to slap him, but he caught her wrist, expertly. She was inches from his glaring face.

"Think before you do something you'll regret, sister."

She glowered, her lips pressed into a fine line. "The only regret I have is staying with you as long as I have."

"Then leave."

Elijah angrily appeared between them, prying them apart. "Just once, could the two of you be civil?"

Rebekah rubbed her wrist, glaring at Klaus as she sat back in her seat. As Klaus returned to his own seat on the couch, Elijah turned to him.

"Why would you want to stay here, Klaus?"

"For Vampire Barbie," Rebekah answered, resentfully.

"I will put you back in the coffin," Klaus warned, standing up.

"I dare you to try," Elijah appeared before him, eyes dark with rage.

Klaus's nostrils flared as he considered his options, but Elijah did not back down. Still face to face with Klaus, he asked, "Who is this...'Vampire Barbie'?"

Klaus retreated to the back of the room where there stood a tray of glasses and a glass pitcher filled with golden liquid. He poured the whiskey into a glass until it was half full and downed it.

"The sheriff's daughter," Rebekah explained since Klaus seemingly refused.

Elijah looked appalled. "The sheriff is part of the council."

"I'm well aware," Klaus said, distractedly.

"Don't you think it's a little reckless? If the council were to find out - "

"I'm not afraid of the humans," Klaus said, almost laughing. "And the sheriff wouldn't risk involving the council considering her own daughter is a vampire."

"What about Damon and Stefan?"

"Damon and Stefan pose no threat to me, anymore," Klaus responded, pondering the liquor in his glass.

"They'll find a way, Klaus. The girl is friends with Elena. Hurting her will only fuel their fire."

"Who said anything about hurting her, my dear brother? I have no intentions of such." He rubbed his chin, a new thought forming. "Perhaps she may be of use, though. A bargaining chip of sorts."

"Is there no line you're not willing to cross?" Elijah shook his head.

"Oh, come on, Elijah. What's life if not for living?"

"Says a centuries old vampire."

"The irony is not lost on me either," he joked.

"You're insane."

"Practical is the word you were looking for."

"Practical?" Elijah laughed. "With the lengths you go to just to protect yourself? It borders insanity."

Klaus's expression hardened into a glare. Elijah glared back, challengingly.

"Wishing you could dagger me again, aren't you?"

"Now who's not being civil?" Rebekah teased.

Elijah backed down, chagrined. "I just wish you would realize people aren't expendable, regardless of who or what they are. And neither are their feelings."

Klaus glanced up at him, considering, then looked away. Of course he was right. Always the moralized brother was his dear Elijah. He had really just considered using Caroline to his advantage. Old habits, he supposed. But he couldn't actually go through with it. ...Could he?

It was entirely too convenient to pass up. But she would hate him if she found out. And he didn't want that. Then again, the operative word was if...

"Don't get your hopes up, Elijah," Rebekah said. "He thinks of no one but himself."

"It must be a family trait," Klaus responded, sourly.

"Oh, I beg to differ," she smiled, cruelly. "I'm just as interested in your little make believe romance with the whiny brat as I am in myself. Moreso, even. It should provide ample entertainment."

His shoulders tensed, defensively, his blood boiling. He wanted to scold her for the name calling, but he was playing both sides of the net, so to speak. He couldn't let his siblings in on his feelings for Caroline just as he couldn't let Caroline in on his secondary use for her, should he go through with it. So he exhaled and brushed off the insult. Rebekah noticed his behavior, and found herself intrigued.

"Hit a nerve, did I?"

"Leave it alone, Rebekah," Elijah warned, seeing Klaus's expression darken.

"Why? It's just starting to get fun."

Just as Klaus opened his mouth to refute, the doorbell sounded. Rebekah's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Speak of the devil," she grinned, darkly.

Klaus's eyes widened. "Don't you dare - "

But she had already sped out of the room to the door. Klaus was there first, holding the door closed as she grasped the handle.

"Leave, Rebekah," he commanded.

"Make me," she sneered, shoving him out of the way.

She pulled open the door, wearing a brilliant smile."Hi, Caroline."

Caroline's eyebrows raised in confusion. "Uh...hi, Rebekah."

Klaus appeared from around Rebekah, his face taut. "You can go now, Rebekah."

"What? You don't want me to stay with you and your little girlfriend?"

"Not his girlfriend," Caroline said, forcibly.

"Not yet," Rebekah grinned.

Fed up, Klaus grabbed his sister by the throat and threw her against the wall. The fun and games were over.

"If you do not leave now, I will make sure you won't be able to leave me. Ever."

She glared at him and swallowed hard against his grip. Her eyes flicked to Caroline for a moment, then back at her brother. Slowly, he released her. She straightened her posture, full of pride once more.

"I have better things to do anyway," she said, curtly.

She spared one last look at Klaus and Caroline then dashed out. Klaus looked downward, not wanting to face the look on Caroline's face.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that," he said, turning his head only slightly.

Caroline just shook her head, letting herself in.

"First of all, girlfriend? Really? It was one date. Barely even that."

"Admitting it was a date now?" he looked up, wearing the faintest of smiles.

She paused, mouth ajar. Irritated that he caught her slip, she rolled her eyes. "Whatever. The point is one date does not equal girlfriend status."

"May I remind you it was Rebekah who said that?"

"Second of all," she continued, disregarding him, "What did she mean, 'not yet'?"

"Again,'" he said, annoyed that she was annoyed. "It was Rebekah who spoke."

Caroline folded her arms, skeptical. "So there was no hidden meaning behind it? She was just...being herself?"

"Come in," he gestured toward the sitting room. "I assume you're here for a reason."

Meanwhile, after being dismissed, Rebekah had decided to take a stroll through the woods. She stopped after a while and stood leaning against a tree, waiting, lost in thought. If Klaus wanted to banish her, fine. But he wouldn't get away with it. He never treated his siblings with respect, so why should she expect a difference after all these years? He'd caused her enough grief so now, maybe some payback was in order.

A faint clanking sound brought her back to reality. She could hear a rumble of chains coming from the old cellar. When she could hear footsteps against the old stones, she stood up. After a minute, the footsteps stopped abruptly and a wide, evil grin spread across her face.

"Hello, Tyler."