And now we're tying in to the Originals' premiere. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 7

K was sitting at the desk in the main floor study with the laptop open. She had been scanning through the yellow pages for awhile and couldn't seem to find what she was looking for. It was still a little odd for her to use a computer to search for businesses… K remembered having to use an actual, paper bound book to do this sort of thing. No matter how long she'd lived thus far, humanity never took a greater leap forward than in the twentieth century.

Finally, she found the number and address for a metalworker who might be able to help her. Grabbing her phone, K typed in the address in her Notes app along with the others she'd found so she could go and talk to them. She would have spoken to them on the phone if she thought the conversation was going to be completely private.

~!~

There was no arguing with Klaus this time or bartering for some time away. She simply waited until he went to speak with Cami to run her errands.

By the time she'd visited the first two businesses and been denied, K began to lose hope anyone could help her. The final one, the general metalworker, was her last chance.

A bell chimed when she opened the door to the small shop. She looked around for someone, but the little space was empty.

"Hello?" she called.

"Just a second!" someone yelled from the back. Yelling was unnecessary and it bugged her. K had opened her hearing to see if anyone else was there, so the old man might as well have yelled in her ears when he called out.

She bit back a groan and dug a finger into her ear. She wiggled it briefly to ebb the ringing before the man who spoke emerged. He smiled wide the moment he saw her as he waddled out of the backroom.

"Mornin'." He chimed warmly.

K smiled back. He looked like Santa Clause and she found it cute.

"Morning." She replied. As K approached the counter she dug into her pocket to remove the chunk of metal she'd brought with her. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with something."

"I can try." He chuckled.

K smiled again and presented him with the nail.

"Can you turn this into a ring?"

The old man behind the counter took the nail from her open palm. He slid his glasses from the top of his bald head and rested them low on his nose. He went to inspecting it, turning the object one way and the other.

"Iron," he mumbled, "In pretty good shape too for being so old." He looked at her over the rim of his glasses. "This is an antique, at least a few hundred years old."

"I know." She nodded. "A thousand, actually."

His brows climbed as he went back to the nail. He began to nod absently as he looked over the tooled surfaces. K could tell that if he was good as his job he'd be able to tell the nail was handmade and done so roughly.

"What kinda ring you lookin' for?"

"Something like this." K said as she reached into her pocket again and pulled out a piece of folded paper. She unfurled it and handed it to Santa.

He looked over the rough sketch K had done. The nail had been folded in half and then twisted together. She drew another angle of the simple ring showing what she wanted to happen to the two ends.

"I'd like them to be melted together," she said pointing to the sketch of the ends, "So it looks like it doesn't stop. It'll have to be shortened, of course, to fit his finger."

"Yeah," he slowly began to nod as he looked from the sketch to the nail and back again. "Yeah, I think I can do that for ya. It's thin enough, it should work." He looked to her again. "How big's this ring s'posed to be?"

K held up her thumb with a smile like she was giving him a thumb's up. He chuckled and nodded. Klaus used to wear a daylight ring on the left ring-finger. He no longer wore it, but he still had it. K tried it on to see how big it was and found out it fit her thumb perfectly.

"Alright then." He mused.

The old man gathered a notepad of his own and began to scribble down what she wanted. Taking out a tape measure, he measured her thumb and made a note of that as well.

"It'll take a couple days. It's easy enough, but it's detailed work." He told her. "I assume you want me sealin' it too?"

"Please." She nodded.

"Okay then," Santa said. He set her things down and flipped the page in his notepad over so he could write on the back. "I'll just need some info and I can get this done for ya by Thursday mornin', afternoon at the latest."

K thanked him for being so quick and gave him her name and number so he could call her when he was done. She thanked him again and left.

~!~

The next two days were spent lounging –for the most part- while K waited for the ring to be finished. She was excited to see what the old blacksmith had to offer. Finally she'd gotten the phone call. K was happy and didn't bother hiding it. Her expression drew attention, but again she refused to tell Klaus what she was doing. She told him she'd reveal what the secret was when she got home, but not before. Like she knew he would be, he was irritated, but she was in too good a mood to care.

The bell chimed again when she walked through the door to the shop. The smile on her lips hadn't faded since Santa called her. Shortly after reaching the counter, he walked up from the back again.

"Got your ring for ya." He smiled.

Santa reached underneath the counter. He fished briefly through whatever was down there before pulling up a small tray that had K's sketch, his notes and a little cardboard jewelry box. He opened it up, stuck the lid to the bottom and slid it forward. K eagerly looked inside and found something she hadn't expected.

"What's this?" she asked as she pulled out a thinner, smaller ring.

"The left over bit." He answered. "Seemed a shame to waste it bein' it's so old."

K gave him a small smile. It almost looked the right size… Slipping off her engagement ring, K slid the iron piece on. Amazingly enough, it fit. Her heart skipped a beat.

Her eyes went back to what was in the box. K retrieved the ring she intended for Klaus and held it up to better examine it. The nail had been flattened out just a hint so it wasn't too thick where the metal overlapped. The inside was completely smooth so it'd fit better as a ring and the seam was… well, it was seamless. It looked as though the ring never ended which was exactly what she wanted.

Like with the first, K slid the ring on to test the size. It fit her thumb as snuggly as Klaus' former daylight ring had. Her smile returned and expanded tenfold when she looked back at Santa.

"Thank you." She beamed. "Really, thank you."

"My pleasure." He told her kindly.

So incredibly happy with the job he'd done, K almost couldn't take them off, but she did and placed them gently back inside the box as though they'd break. She slipped her engagement ring back on.

"Am I right in thinkin' that's a wedding ring?" he asked as she reached into her pocket to pay him. Santa had noticed which finger she put the second, smaller ring on and came to his own conclusions.

"Uh… yeah." She nodded. "It will be, I hope."

"What made ya choose that? If you don't mind my askin'."

"It was from the first house we ever lived in." she said as vaguely and concisely as she could. It was a fine line.

"That's nice." He smiled.

Santa gave her the cost of the work. He didn't bother charging her for the second ring because she hadn't ordered it, but that didn't matter to K. She was so glad for the rings and impressed with his skill that she paid him much more than he asked. She told him it was well worth the cost before thanking him again and leaving.

When K finally made her way home and found Klaus, he was sitting in the library reading while Hope played on the rug. He looked up from his book to see K walking into the room with a smile and a box in her fingertips.

"That's the second time you've reappeared with a suspicious smile." He said as he went back to reading.

"Suspicious?" she asked in a deadpan, borderline sarcastic tone. She shook her head and slid onto the couch beside him. "Only you would think a smile is suspicious."

"I've yet to learn otherwise."

K rolled her eyes. Instead of continuing, she produced the box and offered it to him. There was no harm in showing Klaus now. It wasn't as though they had to be a surprise.

He raised a brow to the little white object she was showing him. Eventually, he dos-eared the page he was on, closed the book and set it aside in favor of whatever K was showing him.

"This is?"

"What I've been doing."

Klaus eyed her for a moment before opening the lid and seeing the two nearly polished –but still clearly aged- rings within. His brows came together curiously as he took them out an inspected them. It was obvious what they were, but what they were wasn't.

"What are they made of?" he asked as he turned the men's ring –his ring- over in his fingers.

"A nail I took from the chateau." She admitted. Klaus turned to see her staring at the ring, resting her elbow on the back of the couch and propping up her head. Her eyes slowly drifted to hers. "The one you hung the boar's head from was still in the wall." She mused.

Klaus scoffed a small, disbelieving laugh. He looked again to the ring and couldn't help but marvel at it slightly. Not only was incredibly sweet, but something that shouldn't rightfully exist anymore. The nail –like most everything else from that time- should have been destroyed or disappeared because time forgot it. But here it was a trinket that represented a union that began a thousand years ago.

"They're perfect." He finally said.

Knowing how sentimental K was, Klaus should have expected something along these lines if she were to ever give him something. He looked over to her and smiled. The small action made K feel better. While she loved the rings, she wasn't sure he would too. Klaus was strange about things like this, not rings necessarily, but things from the past. Some reminders he didn't mind, others were simply there and couldn't be ignored, and others he never wanted to think of again. The nail was from the house they shared for years, but it was also the house K lived in when she 'died'. She knew there was a 50/50 chance of them being accepted.

"Good."

~!~

For the Next Millennium

Season 3, Episode 1

A few more months had passed without much change in anything. Klaus and Elijah still barely spoke and when they did it was contentious and angry. Klaus would intentionally jab at his brother; prod his wounds to ensure they never healed while still internally praying for forgiveness.

Elijah and K had mended whatever strain Klaus' betrayal had put on their friendship. He stopped thinking everything he said or they did would make it to the ear of his brother. Eventually, Elijah realized K simply needed someone close to be just that, close. After all, Elijah was the only one who hadn't left. Rebekah was gone and K couldn't speak with Hayley. She needed someone to speak to and spend time with that wasn't Klaus. He realized he sometimes needed the same.

K continued to take Hope to the bayou in between the full moons. Klaus had put his foot down on the length of time she could spend with the wolves at first, but slowly began to calm towards the idea. He realized it made life a bit easier and offered him some of the forgiveness he never admitted aloud he wanted. Because of it, he let K take Hope down there once a week to help calm the tense situations that lingered.

K still hadn't warmed to Freya. There was simply something about the witch she still didn't like. Perhaps it was because when Freya had apologized after taking control of K it rang false to her ears? It could also be that an air of superiority always surrounded the witch. Whatever the reason, she simply wasn't comfortable around Freya and because of that they barely spoke.

No date had been set yet for the wedding. K wanted to wait until the family was actually speaking. Klaus swore they didn't have to wait for the others. He thought that if they were still being petty they didn't deserve to come. She knew he was only trying to remain the 'dominant' one in the situation. He was trying to exude a confidence and bravado that told the world he didn't care if they were still angry because he'd done nothing wrong. She knew otherwise or at least hoped for it. She hoped Klaus didn't honestly think he was alright with them not being there.

At the moment Klaus was standing in the formal living room staring at one of the many portraits of his family that lined the wall. His eyes were solely on Elijah. His gut twisted, his heart ached and sputtered with cold, and his mind flashed with memories of the past.

"Always and forever, indeed." He muttered painfully.

Klaus turned to leave, but hesitated when he saw K. She'd been walking by and heard him speaking to himself. They said nothing for a moment. K knew better than to let her pity touch her features.

"Go for a walk with me?" she asked.

"Where?" he asked. Klaus found his footing and approached her, more than willing to act like nothing had happened.

"Does it matter?"

She held out her hand, silently beckoning him to take it. Klaus forced a weak smile and did as she asked. Together, they left the compound and walked the streets of New Orleans.

No one paid them the slightest hint of attention as they walked along the sidewalks hand in hand. It was nice for a moment or two before it became strange. Without having their daylight rings, there were no vampires in the Quarter which meant Klaus and K were just like everyone else. It was odd… Klaus still wasn't used to it.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" K asked after awhile.

"It is." He nodded.

K tensed her grip just a hint.

"I'm proud of you."

Klaus smiled to himself. He gave her a slight nod of thanks.

They walked in silence the rest of the time before returning home an hour or so later. He wanted to find Hope and K followed suit. They found the little girl with her aunt and uncle in the library upstairs.

While she hoped he wouldn't rise to the task, Klaus couldn't help himself and immediately began to push Elijah. Again.

"I'd offer to accompany you as well," he chimed as he and K stepped into the room side by side. "But I fear my fragile ego could not withstand the litany of insults Hayley has no doubt prepared."

His sarcasm was so thick it saturated everyone who heard him speak. K sighed. Her eyes drifted shut because she knew what was coming.

"Yes," Elijah shot back without hesitation as he stood. He didn't turn to face Klaus. "Well I doubt your presence is particularly wanted anyway."

"My own brother greeting me with such distain." Klaus baited. "What do you think Freya?" the blond on the floor eyed him with irritation. "Is he still angry for my part in Hayley's curse?" Elijah slowly began to turn to look at his younger brother. "Need I remind him that it was my ploy that kept her alive?"

"Of course, forgive me," Elijah said with such anger it was astounding he managed to hide it within sarcasm at all. "You must think this an act of heroism even as you bask in her torment."

Elijah's eyes darkened substantially while Klaus kept his cold smirk. The eldest brother stepped around the younger in an attempt to leave the situation and his rising ire, but Klaus always had to have the final word.

"Perhaps," he said as he turned to continue speaking to Elijah. The eldest reluctantly turned as well. "I'd be more sympathetic if Hayley simply apologized? After all, it was her who tried to run away with my daughter."

Elijah opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.

"Enough." K snapped under her breath. "Stop it, both of you."

"Ah yes," he sneered angrily. Elijah's dark eyes darted to K before settling on Klaus again. He waved a hand at her as though presenting her for scrutiny. "Lest we forget the one still foolish enough to stand at your side and support your sadistic behavior. No matter how retched your act, little Kali is always there to forgive."

"Elijah," K gasped.

She was stunned by what he said, by the anger behind the words he'd directed at her and couldn't hide it from her face. He seemed to realize what had come spilling from his lips. He immediately began to adjust himself to appear as though he was in control of his anger, but the insult had already been slung.

"Perhaps," Freya chimed when the tension grew. "The two of you should go your separate ways for the moment."

"Yes," Klaus said with a tight jaw. "I think it best."

Elijah looked up. His face was emotionless as he looked at Klaus. He glanced briefly to K before turning his back on the room and leaving completely without uttering another word.

"Congratulations Niklaus," Freya sighed. "Keep this up, and you won't have any family left."

She returned to Hope leaving Klaus to grumble internally over what transpired seconds ago. K shook her head. She sighed and left the room as well in favor of being anywhere else. Sometimes it felt like the feud between Klaus and Elijah grew worse, not better.

~!~

Klaus came to bed late that night to find K already curled against a pillow. He didn't know if she was asleep or not, but he acted as though she might be and was as silent as possible as he got ready to sleep. She wasn't asleep, however. She found it difficult that night because of the fight between the brothers and how it spilled over onto her. She knew Elijah was angry about their engagement, but that was the first time he'd so openly said something about it and his words cut deep.

K felt the bed give way beside her as Klaus slid into it. She couldn't help herself and spoke before she could think better of it.

"Why must you always twist the blade once you've plunged it in?" she asked in a low, quiet voice.

Klaus looked at the woman beside him who was lying with her back to him. He growled internally as he relaxed into his mattress.

"I thought you asleep." He sighed as he adjusted. She didn't reply. Klaus chewed on the inside of his cheek. "Is this what we're doing tonight? Fighting?"

K growled her frustration. She threw her blanket off and looked to the man lying comfortably on his back.

"I've no intentions of arguing with a man who clearly thinks he's done nothing wrong." She said before turning and leaving his room.

Klaus remained in bed staring at the vacant room. He was surprised she'd left, but not so shocked he planned to go after her. She was right. He didn't feel he'd said anything mean or cruel to Elijah that he should apologize for, especially after his brother's jab at K. So Klaus made himself comfortable and went to bed while K slept in her old room. If she wanted to pout, fine. Klaus Mikaelson wasn't one to chase after another.

K lay in bed toying with her ring and staring blankly at her ceiling. She didn't know how to fix a rift when Klaus didn't seem to truly want it fixed. She'd seen him build bridges before –or at least try- but he didn't seem to want to bother with it now. K would have been surprised by his attitude if it wasn't so completely 'Klaus-like'.

Rolling her eyes a final time, she adjusted herself to go to bed.