'Katherine has a plan,' Klaus said as he sat next to Stefan on the sofa.

'Oh yeah, what's that?' Stefan muttered as he circled a paragraph he needed to reword. It barely made sense to him. Sometimes he wondered where his head was when he wrote garbage like this.

'She wants to go to Marcel,' Klaus said.

'What? No way!' Stefan set his draft down on the coffee table.

'That's what I said but your brother seems to think there's some merit in her plan,' Klaus mentioned. Nadia shuffled towards them and shoved herself between Klaus' knees. Stefan thought it was adorable how she kept following Klaus around.

'Why?' Stefan asked.

'Well she can go in, find out what's going on and report back to us,' Klaus said as he patiently took the toys Nadia handed him.

'She has a responsibility to Nadia. Can I forbid it?' Stefan turned to Klaus. 'I'm a strong Beta, she's a lower Alpha. Can I forbid she leave her daughter?'

'No, but I can,' Klaus tugged one of Nadia's curls. She gave him a dirty look and covered her head. Klaus chuckled.

'Do it, not for me but her,' Stefan nodded towards Nadia.

'I already have,' Klaus said.

'Good. Then I'll go,' Stefan said.

'What! No way in hell are you going back there!' Klaus snarled.

Nadia looked between them then reached for Stefan's manuscript. He picked her up and pulled her onto his lap, mostly because he knew Klaus wouldn't get angry in front of her and would hear him out. It felt mean using his daughter but Klaus was so over protective.

'Listen, I'll go in and view the training base, I know where it is, I can get there easily myself. I'll scout around and see if that's where the Alphas age going,' Stefan said.

'You expect me to allow you to go in when I didn't allow someone I'm not particularly fond of to go?' Klaus asked with a raised eyebrow. 'I thought you were smart.'

'Nik, think about it. I'm the only one that's been there, I can be in and out in a few hours,' Stefan said.

'And if something happens to you?' Klaus asked.

'I'll deal with whatever comes up,' Stefan shrugged. Nadia shifted in his lap and pulled on his shirt.

'A week you've been a father and now you want to go off and do reckless things again?' Klaus snapped.

'Nik-'

'I'm your Alpha. I forbid it,' Klaus stood up and reached for Stefan's manuscript. 'I'm going to read this, play with Nadia.'

Stefan looked down at the little girl in his arms and she smiled up at him. 'Lets go outside for some fresh air and call Auntie Caroline,' Stefan said as he stood up. Perhaps if he could convince the other Alphas in the pack that this was a good idea Klaus might see reason.

'You're playing with fire,' Caroline said as she carefully threaded a needle through the flower.

'But you think it's a good idea,' Stefan prompted.

'As your best friend I think it's a terrible idea, and I'm with Klaus,' Caroline said. Nadia pulled a handful of grass and reached it to Stefan.

'For me? Thank you baby,' he kissed the little girls hand. 'As an Alpha in my pack.'

'I think it's a fair idea that is worth some more investigation and research but I'm unwilling to stand against your Alpha on it,' Caroline said. 'It doesn't need to be you, it can be anyone.'

'And if something happens to that anyone, if my plan goes wrong?' Stefan asked.

'That's leadership,' Caroline shrugged.

'Leadership is taking action and stepping up, I would never ask anyone to do something I'm not willing to do,' Stefan said.

'Leadership is also about the larger picture Stefan. You have a daughter to take care of and a mate that quite frankly depends on you to keep him sane,' Caroline said.

'I never wanted a place this close to the head of a pack,' Stefan admitted.

'You're a lone wolf, you always have been, but you're good at leading. You need to separate the anxiety from the decisions Stefan,' Caroline held the crown of flowers up to Nadia and she clapped as Caroline placed it on her head.

'Look at my best girl,' Klaus said as he approached.

Nadia ran to him and he picked her up. 'Hey,' Stefan said as Klaus sat next to him.

Klaus pecked his lips and sighed. 'Are you trying to find allies so you can fight me on my decision?'

'Yes,' Stefan said.

Klaus looked down at Nadia. 'Tell your Daddy he's a silly boy.'

'Silly,' she whispered as she pulled more grass.

'We'll talk about it,' Klaus said.

Stefan nodded and leaned close for another kiss. 'I love you.'

'You bloody better,' Klaus said.

'Have you seen Katherine lately?' Stefan whispered as Klaus sat next to him. Nadia was curled on his lap fast asleep and he was loath to move and disturb her.

'She asked me to watch Nadia this morning, she said she had some things to organize with her bank in Richmond,' Klaus said softly.

'That shouldn't have taken all day,' Stefan said. Nadia shifted and Stefan stroked her back.

Klaus called her twice and got no answer. Stefan was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling when Klaus cocked his head to the side. 'Her car is outside,' Klaus said.

Katherine entered a few minutes later laden with bags. 'Sorry,' she sashayed her way past Klaus. Stefan didn't miss the long look she gave Klaus from beneath her lashes.

'Where were you?' Stefan hissed.

'Careful,' Katherine scolded as she set the bags down and bent to kiss Nadia. 'You'll wake our daughter.'

'A word,' Klaus grabbed her elbow and matched her from the room. Katherine struggled but he had a strong grip.

'What?' Katherine snapped once Klaus had her in the dining room. Stefan tilted his head to watch and listen.

'You came here seeking protection and you go missing for hours!' Klaus snapped.

Katherine smirked and swayed her hips as she turned towards him. 'Miss me?' She ran her fingers up his chest.

'You know I didn't. Nadia, however, was looking for you earlier. Luckily her father was able to soothe her,' Klaus said as he caught her hand.

'See, my baby's in safe hands,' Katherine smiled.

Klaus sucked a breath through his nose. 'That's not the point, she's only known us for a week and while we know she's safe, she doesn't. She's a child Katherine.'

'Don't you think I know that!' Katherine snapped. 'Because of whatever you did to upset that goat Marcel I had to go on the run because I thought you wanted to kill me and my daughter!'

Klaus glared at her. 'A child needs her mother. A few hours she'll be fine with, but a lifetime without you is not good for any child!'

Katherine turned and marched back to where Stefan sat watching her. Nadia shifted and sat up, but she just slumped against Stefan and he wrapped an arm around her.

'Mama,' Nadia said with a little smile.

'Hey baby girl, mama got you some new things,' Katherine sat on the coffee table.

Klaus joined Stefan on the sofa and they watched as Katherine pulled out clothes and some toys. Nadia seemed happy with what she was shown, but she clung close to Stefan for the rest of the evening.

'She needed summer clothes,' Katherine shrugged when Klaus raised an eyebrow at a fallen receipt.

'I'm not saying anything,' Klaus held his hands up.

'I'm sorry if you were worried about me,' Katherine scowled after Stefan put Nadia to bed.

'It's okay, look, Nik mentioned you had some sort of plan?' Stefan asked as he rested his elbows on his knees. He felt a warm possessive hand slip underneath his t-shirt and slide over his spine. He hadn't even realized Klaus sat down.

'I could go in as an Alpha at his invitation,' Katherine said.

'Why would you want to do that?' Stefan said.

'I'm tired of running, okay, I want to settle down and watch my little girl grow up in peace. I loved you Stefan, believe it or not, and I wanted to make a life with you back then. I made a mistake, I didn't understand my body, and I'm paying the price now,' Katherine looked down at her hands.

'You've had no formal training?' Klaus asked.

Katherine shook her head. 'I was born a Beta. The Alpha I killed was an accident, we were fooling around and she hit her head and broke her neck. Her pack didn't believe me and I ran. Stefan was the first person who was kind to me after that.'

'You never told me that,' Stefan said.

'I was a new Alpha and you were a strong Beta who knew his mind. I felt safe with you. I didn't realize I was ovulating, that we needed more protection than a condom,' Katherine wrung her hands together.

'I suppose I shouldn't have blindly trusted an Alpha I didn't know that well,' Stefan admitted.

'You're not risking your life because you made a mistake. Nadia is a part of my pack now I'm afraid, and that means if you submit, you will be too,' Klaus said.

'I'll cease to be an Alpha?' Katherine asked. She looked relieved by this and Stefan wondered if she had ever enjoyed her power.

'There are a few ways to do it,' Klaus explained. 'You can submit to me or any Alpha I'm aligned with. There are four Alphas in this pack, or you could petition to be one; an Alpha in our pack, but other than you there is nothing for you to bring to our pack now.'

'I don't understand, I'm an Alpha, you're getting me and Nadia,' Katherine said as she folded her daughters new clothes into a pile.

'Yes, but usually when Alphas create one pack there's monies and land as well as a wider pack with them and with that pack comes a range of skills that make them self sufficient,' Stefan explained to her.

'Oh, I have nothing,' Katherine looked down.

'As a Beta you'll be under less threat, it'll be easier to take care of you,' Klaus said. His fingers were sliding along the waist band of Stefan's jeans now.

'I'll be back to being weak and pathetic then?' Katherine said.

'You'll be in a pack Katherine, and you'll have companionship and care and there's comfort in that,' Stefan reached for one of the rag dolls Katherine had bought. 'Weak and pathetic will not be words used to describe you,' Stefan said.

'I could submit to you Stefan, then you would be an Alpha,' Katherine said.

'It doesn't work that way. A Beta has to kill an Alpha to take their power, or they have to be a second with no other clear Alpha in the pack. An Alpha can submit to another Alpha,' Stefan said.

'How do you know all this crap?' Katherine screwed her nose up.

'I studied it. I'm writing a book about it too,' Stefan said.

'You always were smart,' Katherine said. 'Look there's benefit to finding out what Marcel is up to, not just for you but for me. If it means a safe future for my little girl I'd die to create it.'

'I agree, but I want to sneak in and find out what he's up to,' Stefan said.

'Are you serious. He'd smell you a mile off, you reek of Klaus, how many times a day do you two have sex?' Katherine threw her hands up.

'At least twice,' Klaus smirked. Stefan rolled his eyes at his mate and Klaus just shrugged. 'She asked the question.'

'I think that question was rhetorical,' Stefan said.

'No, I really did want to know,' Katherine admitted with a cheeky wink.

'Back to the point, I can deal with my scent easily enough,' Stefan said. 'But I know his land better than anyone in our pack.'

'So say you get in and you have a look around, what are we going to do with that information, speculate?' Klaus drummed his fingers on the table.

'I haven't gotten as far as analyzing the results,' Stefan said.

'And what are we supposed to do after, go to war? Because I for one don't want that!' Klaus said.

'I don't know,' Stefan said.

'Elders and council that's what we need,' Klaus said.

Stefan slumped back on the sofa. He was sick of waiting for something to happen, he needed to move. 'I'm going to make something to eat,' he snapped as he got up from his seat.

'Stefan,' Klaus said but Stefan ignored him. He could feel it, a tension in his skin. He needed to protect, protect Nadia and Klaus, his brother and his nephew and his friends. It tingled and burned inside him until he was half crazy with it.

Stefan had never felt this way before, he'd been content for his father and brother to lead, to take action. He was studious and careful but this inside him was reckless. Stefan detested it.

He was frying onions and mushrooms through ground beef when Klaus slipped his arms around his waist. 'I would call you little Beta but you're half an inch taller than me,' Klaus teased.

'How is it that you're the rational one and I'm ready to jump first and ask questions later?' Stefan leaned into his mate.

'It's probably our bond, we're absorbing each other's personalities. You're protective of Nadia. A lot has happened this past month love, slow down and let it in,' Klaus whispered as he nuzzled Stefan's neck.

'I can't, I'm afraid to,' Stefan said. 'If I stop, if we don't take some sort of action then we don't know what Marcel will do.'

Klaus pulled Stefan's t-shirt aside and placed his mouth over the mating scar. He licked gently, then sucked on the skin. Stefan could almost feel the calmness flowing through his body, chasing the tension away. 'I've got you, let me be the Alpha for a few hours, and you focus on - what are you making?'

'You know I just started chopping what I could lay my hands on,' Stefan admitted.

'Okay, so go sit down and let me feed you for once,' Klaus said.

'I didn't know you cooked,' Stefan turned to smile at Klaus.

'You never let me,' Klaus slapped his ass. 'Go set the table, our intimate display is making my love rival uncomfortable.'

'I'm not a rival, how could I be when everything he sees is Klaus shaped,' Katherine swayed he way into the kitchen.

'I'll get the wine,' Stefan set.

'Get some red if you don't mind love,' Klaus said.

Stefan nodded and trotted down to the basement. He selected a bottle and blew the dust off. It caught in his throat and he coughed when something through the cloud caught his eye. It was an old cabinet that Stefan had never seen before but the door was ajar. He moved slowly, and pulled it open.

There were boxes at the bottom and loose pages at the top. In the middle an array of what looked like medieval torture devices hung on chains. Stefan recognized them, werewolf hunting and holding contraptions. He fingered some of the loose pages and lifted them down. The first one described the journey from England on the Mayflower. With a gasp Stefan realized what this was, something long lost. There were more, notes about shifting and families and cultures and bloodlines.

'Hey what's keeping you?' Klaus said as he joined Stefan. 'Oh, you found it.'

'You sound disappointed. Nik, what is this?' Stefan asked. He wasn't sure if he should be startled at the discovery or upset that Klaus kept it from him.

'This is something that was locked away in our family crypt, I had it shipped here when we were in Chicago. This, my love, is your wedding gift,' Klaus said.

Stefan looked between his mate and the closet full of information. 'I don't know what to say.' Stefan licked his lips.

'Say you'll look at it tomorrow, dinner is almost ready,' Klaus said as he reached out and took Stefan's hand.

Stefan followed him upstairs, and surprisingly Klaus and Katherine's bickering managed to distract him from what was in the basement.

Klaus lived in a big sprawling house. The main part dated back a century and a half, but over the years it had been added to with extensions above and below ground. Stefan hadn't explored much of it, he hadn't needed to. The basement led off from the kitchen where they preferred to eat, ignoring the formal dining room, and there was a large comfortable den that Klaus preferred to his main living room. Klaus' study and library led off the den, there was another smaller drawing room next to that and a sun room at the back, next to the kitchen.

Besides the master suite upstairs there were six more bedrooms, and two further sitting rooms. Stefan only need visit the master suite and the tiny room that was being taken over by Nadia.

'I wondered where you'd gotten to,' Klaus said when he found Stefan in one of the spare bedrooms. Stefan wrapped an arm around Klaus and pecked his lips.

'I'm looking for someplace to start my research,' Stefan said.

'I have a rule, it's probably one of the only rules of my mothers that I've retained, and it's no work upstairs. Upstairs is where we relax and sleep, where we make love,' Klaus smirked.

'Tell that to your kitchen counter and the sofa in your study,' Stefan teased.

Klaus chuckled. 'Use my study.'

'Where you keep all the private information pertaining to you and the pack?' Stefan said.

'I trust you. Besides we've fucked in there,' Klaus said. 'Although you weren't explicitly invited...'

'Well your tongue in my mouth and a hand down my pants seems explicit to me,' Stefan nudged Klaus.

'Keep talking like that and I'll bend you over this bed,' Klaus snarled.

'You always make these empty threats,' Stefan kept his voice light.

'If Nadia wasn't playing in her room right now-'

'What?' Stefan interrupted, 'Afraid you can't be quiet?'

'-with her mother.' Klaus raised an eyebrow.

Stefan was tempted to carry on but he gave in and bared his neck to Klaus. Klaus accepted it with a kiss.

'I'm serious about using my study love. What you don't know about me or my private businesses I just haven't gotten around to telling you. There's nothing in this world I intend to hide from you,' Klaus said.

'Thank you,' Stefan said.

'Now your daughter sent me to find you, something about a tea party,' Klaus said.

'You know I think that was probably your idea,' Stefan said.

Klaus grinned. 'I do love a good party.'

Stefan didn't get much time to examine his wedding gift over the next few days. There were Alpha and Elder meetings to attend. As Klaus' mate and the only Beta to be mates to an Alpha in the pack it was Stefan's responsibility to attend both.

The Elders were an elected group of Betas who were trustworthy and influential within the packs. Anyone could apply to be elected and then a vote would take place. Thankfully the Mikaelson, Salvatore and Lockwood packs took democracy seriously.

This was the first time they met since Stefan and Klaus had been married, and Stefan listened patiently as they went over the minutes from the last meeting. Lexi was sitting next to him, and for a time he thought she was taking notes, but when she nudged him and tapped her pen against her notebook he saw how busy she really was.

A crude cock and balls, complete with pubic hair, was staring at him from the margin. As he watched she dotted spunk coming out of the slit.

Stefan took a moment to remind himself that she was the Mikaelson pack lawyer, and probably one of the smartest and influential women in the room.

Griffith Fell was droning on about flower boxes so Stefan stole her pen and marked veins on the cock. He wondered absently if Klaus would be pissed or amused at the drawing. Probably a bit of both.

Eventually they decided to discuss Marcel, and Stefan's spy plan. They talked for hours, and soon the value of the Elders become clear to Stefan when detailed maps of Virginia were produced.

'I don't think we should do anything,' Griffith Fell said.

'I agree, Marcel has done us no harm,' Zack Salvatore, Stefan's uncle, said.

Stefan considered telling them his theory that Marcel had a part in Giuseppe's death, but it was just that, a theory. He had no proof and without proof he'd be mocked out of the room and declared an embarrassment to Klaus. There were already mutterings about Stefan's treatment of Katherine despite Lexi's statement published a few days back.

'I beg to differ, he's attacked one of this council on two occasions now,' Alaric said. 'Stefan is the mate of one of our Alphas, the brother of another.'

'It is my understanding that Marcel was provoked,' Sophie Deveraux shrugged. 'I've had dealings with him and he's typically pleasant and cordial.'

'I don't know, I'd like to know more about what's going on there,' Liz Forbes said. 'Lesser Alphas may be going missing now but if he's building an army then for what purpose and what does he intend to do when he runs out of lesser Alphas?'

'I agree with Liz,' Lexi said as she scribbled something down.

'And what do we do when we discover the truth, attack him?' Sophie snapped. She rapped her knuckles on the table. 'I'm not comfortable putting my family in that position. I say it's not our problem. We already had to suffer through this pack merge now you want to start a war.' Sophie was looking at Stefan. 'All because you're a cock tease!'

The words stung, and Stefan looked down at his hands. Sophie was right, if Stefan had just declined Marcel's invitation they wouldn't be in this situation.

'That's enough!' Grayson Gilbert said.

Sophie raised her eyebrows at him.

'I don't know about the Mikaelson or Salvatore packs, but we don't appreciate that language in the Lockwood pack!' Grayson said.

'I know plenty in here who agree with me,' Sophie said.

'Stefan is the best educated member of the pack in pack cultures and histories, he had no choice but to accept Marcel's invitation and every one of us know that here,' Bill Forbes said.

There was some mutterings of agreement.

'I vote to create a committee for further investigation,' Liz said.

'I second it,' Andie slapped the table.

There was more mutterings but no one disagreed. They moved on and decided who would be involved in the committee.

Klaus and Elijah were waiting in Lexi's office when the meeting finally ended. Klaus stood and immediately greeted Stefan with a warm kiss.

'How did it go?' Elijah asked as they sat on the sofas. Klaus rested his arm along Stefan's shoulders.

'Pretty much how we expected it to,' Lexi shrugged as she unpacked her briefcase. Elijah raised an eyebrow when he saw the drawing they'd done at the start of the meeting.

'Should we be finding a more mature lawyer?' Elijah asked as he showed Klaus the drawing.

'Hey it's only half my work, Stefan decorated it,' Lexi said.

Klaus turned to look at Stefan. 'Griffith Fell was talking-'

'Fair enough,' Klaus interrupted. It made Stefan smile.

Lexi talked then through the meeting and how it went, and Stefan added value when he could.

'And Sophie Deveraux,' Lexi said.

'No,' Stefan warned. Lexi glared at him then turned to Klaus.

'Sophie spoke disrespectfully of Stefan,' Lexi said.

'It was just her opinion,' Stefan said.

'And she's entitled to an opinion, what she's not allowed to do is call you a cock tease in front of the whole council,' Lexi said.

'She did what?' Klaus turned to glare at Stefan but he looked down at his hands and avoided his husbands eyes.

'That is unacceptable, I'll deal with her,' Elijah said.

Klaus was still pissed when they pulled into their driveway. Stefan followed him into the house and was delighted to see Nadia running to him. His relief was short lived, he set the little girl down and couldn't help but feel like a shitty father for letting Katherine leave. He should have persisted and demanded answers, instead he was relieved when she left.

'What kept you two?' Katherine demanded. She was striding their way in towering heels and a tiny red dress.

'Don't be rude,' Klaus said as Nadia clung to his leg. He lifted her and kissed her chubby cheek. 'Good evening beautiful.'

'I have a date,' Katherine said. 'And its past Nadia's bedtime.'

'Here, let me,' Stefan took Nadia from Klaus and carried her upstairs. She peered over his shoulder and waved goodbye to her mother, and then she tucked her head into his neck.

Stefan settled her into her room, pleased that Katherine had at least got her ready, and selected one of her books. He read quietly, and she was asleep long before the story was finished. Stefan didn't mind, he wasn't in the mood for company tonight, not after the afternoon had left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'I'm sorry baby girl,' Stefan said as he trailed his fingers over her soft hair. Nadia shifted and his heart ached with love for her, for the moments he missed. That had been Marcel's fault, Marcel's scheme had chased Katherine and Stefan hadn't bothered himself about her since then.

'Stefan,' Klaus said from the doorway. Stefan took a deep breath and stood up. He lifted the monitor and slid it into his pocket.

'Hey,' Stefan swallowed as he stepped into the hallway.

'I spoke with Lexi again, and she told me exactly what Sophie said. You know that she's just angry,' Klaus reached for Stefan's hand. 'The family is notoriously resistant to change. They're the only family opposed to the pack union.'

'She has a point though,' Stefan said.

'No, she doesn't. You're a Beta being courted. If anything the three Alpha wolves that have courted you have taken liberties, and that includes me,' Klaus said. He took a step back away from Nadia's room and pulled Stefan towards their own bedroom.

'No you didn't,' Stefan said with a shake of his head.

'Our betrothal was broken yet I didn't leave your side,' Klaus reminded Stefan.

'Oh believe me, I didn't want you to,' Stefan pressed a kiss to Klaus' cheek.

'Why don't you go take a shower and I'll make us some dinner,' Klaus said as he reached into Stefan's pocket and tugged out Nadia's baby monitor.

'Yeah, that sounds good,' Stefan admitted as he started to unbutton his shirt.

'If you do things like that you won't be getting any dinner,' Klaus warned him darkly.

'I'm just undressing, its kind of essential if you want a shower,' Stefan grinned.

'Well its distracting,' Klaus said as he left the room.

Stefan smiled. The anxious feelings of what had happened over the past few weeks hadn't left him yet, and his chest was tight with worry, but Stefan knew he would get over it eventually. He tried to push it from his mind as he let the water wash away the stress of the day.

Nadia's cries over the baby monitor woke Stefan. Beside him the bed shifted and Klaus was already pulling a pair of boxers on as Stefan half sat up. 'Go back to sleep love,' Klaus said as he left the room but it was impossible with the sound of Nadia crying. He listened as Klaus soothed her with gentle words and sounds. A few minutes later Klaus appeared with her in the bedroom. Stefan pulled a pair of sleep pants on and rolled onto his side as Klaus set Nadia between them. She turned to him with big wet eyes.

'It must have been a bad dream, her diaper is fine,' Klaus shrugged as he settled down.

Stefan stroked her head and tickled under her chin. 'Hey, whats the matter baby?'

Nadia made a few sounds that neither of them understood and curled against Stefan's chest. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and looked across at Klaus. Klaus made a face and she smiled at him. Stefan felt warm, his wolf settled knowing that his daughter was in probably the safest place in the world right now, tucked between them. Nadia was certainly content, the tears were long gone and she was blinking sleepily at Klaus as he snuggled closer to them and started to tell her a story.

Stefan was almost asleep when it occurred to him that Katherine hadn't come to check on Nadia. He twisted around and checked the time. It was half past four, and with a frown he passed Nadia to Klaus and slipped out of bed.

Katherine wasn't in her room, but all of her stuff was gone and there were two envelopes on the bed.

One was addressed to him, the other was addressed to Nadia.

Stefan opened the one for him.

Stefan,

I screwed up big time. I thought that by coming here both Nadia and I would be safe, but it seems that not even the great Niklaus Mikaelson and his pack can offer me the protection I need. Marcel found me again, and he offered me a deal. It was a good deal, he wanted me to visit his pack and consider joining, and in return he gave me his word that he wouldn't hurt our Nadia. He made a blood oath that he wouldn't seek her as part of his pack, and he signed it. I've given it to your lawyer for safekeeping.

My end of the deal now consists of me going to Marcel but I know that he's collecting weak and pack-less Alphas so we can be killed by his strong Betas. He's already made himself powerful, he's making his pack powerful now too. I suggest you take precautions to protect yourselves, I know I am.

I'm not going to honor my end of the deal with Marcel, and I know he can't break a blood oath so I'm happy to screw him over because I know its keeping our little girl safe, and you were right, there's no place safer than with Klaus, but you forgot to add yourself to that equation too. You're dangerous Stefan, more dangerous than you realize Remember that if you ever need to protect our daughter.

I left something out when I told you the story of when Marcel threatened me. I knew he wasn't Klaus, but I didn't challenge him on it. Marcel told me that if I didn't leave then he would claim you right in front of my eyes. He threatened to kill me and our child so he could secure your obedience. I ran then not just to protect Nadia and myself, I was protecting you. It may be hard for you to believe that I wanted to protect you, I don't care if you believe it or not, but I thought you should know the truth about what happened.

I'm genuinely sorry that I'm running away, but I know Nadia won't be safe with me, and I know he's going to chase me. Perhaps chasing me will distract him enough that it keeps you and your family safe, at least for a while. I'll get in touch with you from time to time to find out how Nadia fares, my heart is breaking even as I write this knowing all the wonderful things I'm going to miss in her life. Don't let her forget me, please, tell her often that I love her too.

Hopefully we will meet again, sooner rather than later. Tell Klaus he's a brilliant father, have him adopt her, the paperwork is going to be delivered to your lawyer in the morning.

With all my heart (and my regret),

Katherine

Stefan sucked in a breath and reread the letter.

'Stefan,' Klaus said from behind. Stefan turned around and reached the pages to his husband. He walked back to their bedroom and watched Nadia sleep in the center of the bed as Klaus read the letter. 'I didn't see this coming.'

'Neither did I,' Stefan admitted.

'Well, I guess that's that.' Klaus said. 'We should take her advice though.'

Stefan rested his head against the door jam. In two months he'd acquired a husband, a daughter and a rake of problems. He remembered the simple days when all he wanted to do was write his book, and now, he barely had time to read.

'I'm going back to bed, its too early to do any thing about this,' Klaus said. Stefan watched him slip in below the sheet and carefully tuck Nadia in, and he couldn't help the smile that threatened to split his face. Despite Katherine running and the problems that bit at his backyard Stefan had never been happier.