Hi guys, sorry for the delay. As usual, my workload has taken over my spare time. Luckily, thanks to Christmas break I have a bit of time to update.

I hope you all enjoy it and a big thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed and favourited this story. Thank you! :)

As usual, I do not own The Originals.

Surging through the thick, oak door of the living room, Klaus yelled out for the mother of his child and spotted her with a swiftness that only served to emphasize his anger. Behind him, Lacy stood almost statue-still with her hand placed gently on Klaus's lower arm.

"Nik…" she half-whispered.

She did not need to complete her sentence for her to know that Klaus had understood the context of the single word; her secret plea for him to contain his explosive rage at Caroline's inadvertent meddling.

It took Lacy a moment to truly take in the scene before her. Sat in one corner of the large, but pleasantly tasteful and under-stated, living room was Caroline. Her pregnant belly bloomed like an expanding sun and her youthful face held a smile of simple contentment… that was until she noticed the expression of fury on Klaus's face. Next to her sat Esther; an air of superiority and grandeur set about her. The two women were sat so close that their knees were almost touching.

A few feet away, pacing in an agitated manner, was Mikael. It was not at all difficult to miss the look of disapproval he threw in Klaus's direction as soon as he had spotted his hated son.

"Klaus." stated Caroline simply, her smile vanishing.

"What did you do?"

"I don't understand… You missed our appointment and I couldn't get hold of you, so I thought your mother-"

"Did it ever occur to you that I had more important things to do today?" he snapped.

Jumping up, Esther addressed her son with a sternness only a mother could exude.

"Niklaus, that is no way to talk to Caroline! She is the mother of your child and you missed a very important appointment today. There is absolutely no reason why you should have missed it, and quite frankly-"

"Stay out of this, mother!" yelled Klaus.

"I will not! That is my first grandchild and I have a right-"

"You have no rights! You are having nothing to do with my child. You were hardly a stellar mother; forgive me if my confidence in your ability to be a grandmother is lacking."

"Nik…" Lacy began, her fingers twisting into his.

Tearing his eyes away from the face of his mother, Klaus fought the urge to continue on fighting and instead, focused his attention on the woman beside him. He squeezed her small hand with his own larger and rougher one, and thanked the heavens above that she was by his side; reminding him of what was at stake with only a single syllable and a meaningful tone.

"That is your mother, boy! Show some respect!" spat Mikael; finally joining the conversation.

Ripping his hand out of Lacy's, Klaus let the deep hatred he held towards his father overtake him and allowed it to mingle with his anger at Caroline. Surging forward, Klaus intended to hurt Mikael as much as he physically could. Yet, he was stopped by the force of Lacy's hands gripping onto his leather jacket and tugging him back. A small yelp escaped the mouth of Caroline, who stood in shock and cradled her bump protectively.

"Klaus! Think of the baby." Caroline begged; utterly confused by the violent turn of events and somewhat concerned about Klaus's temper and hid capability to parent a child.

Clenching his fists into tight balls, Klaus ceased his attempts to be free of Lacy's hold. He stared his father in the eye and internally scolded himself for allowing himself to appear weak in front of Mikael; something which he knew Mikael had taken notice of by the smug satisfaction that lay upon the older man's features.

"She did a damn good job raising you, you ungrateful brat, and you repay her by trapping this lovely young woman into carrying your bastard child and shaming our family name."

"Ignore him." stated Lacy.

"I would advise you, little girl, not to meddle in affairs that have absolutely nothing to do with you." started Mikael, with a snide look directed toward Lacy.

"Do not speak to her." huffed Klaus.

With a half smirk, Mikael turned to Klaus and mused with slight laughter at his son's protectiveness towards Lacy.

"I will do whatever I want, boy. She has no place here."

"She is my girlfriend!" shouted Klaus. "She has every right to be here!"

"Girlfriend?!" Esther cried with surprise. "She-she can't be! Caroline… the baby… you cannot raise a child in such a deprived environment. You have to marry her, Niklaus. A baby needs both of its parents."

Esther paced back and forth with the desperation of a worried mother who believed her child was slipping away. She ignored the presence of her husband and even that of Caroline; who remained still and silent in the corner in an effort to detach herself from the situation.

"My child will have just that, dear mother, but make no mistake. I will not be marrying Caroline. Not now, not ever. I am not in love with her and I will not ruin my chances at happiness just to save your precious reputation."

"But… her?! Really?!" blurted Esther, pointing accusingly at Lacy who returned the gesture with a look of disgust and disapproval.

Making towards her son, Esther placed her hands on his cheeks and stared into the familiar sea-blue eyes that she adored since she first held him in her arms.

"Niklaus, you are a handsome man. My wonderful son. You can have anyone you want. I don't understand why you insist on keeping this woman in your life. It was bad enough when you were merely friends, but now this! Why would you do such a thing? Can't you see that she's trying to steal you away from us?!"

"Enough!"

Grabbing his mother's hands, Klaus threw them away from his body.

"Believe me when I say this because I mean every word… If there is ever a time when I am forced to choose, I will always choose her. Over you. Over everyone. Even over my own child. She is everything to me. She did not steal me away. You, mother, pushed me away when you let Mikael beat me every day of my life. This is your own doing and you have to live with it."

Turning his back on his mother, Klaus looked directly at Lacy and gained strength from her presence. Taking her hand in his, he said no goodbyes and felt no regrets. He was in the hallway, on the brink of exiting his childhood home, when he was stopped by the sound of Caroline calling after him. Begrudgingly, he ceased walking and turned so that he was facing Caroline.

"Klaus, please wait."

"What do you want, Caroline?"

Noticing the hurt that flashed across Caroline's face at his snappy tone, Klaus cursed himself for his actions but did not say his apologies out loud. He was angry, yes, but he knew that he could not blame Caroline for what had happened. The child growing inside of her was a result of his own mistakes and carelessness, and he was solely responsible for any consequences that came as a result.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't think coming here would lead to all of this."

"What did you think would happen?"

"I don't know! I just- I needed some help. I gave up everything to be with you and then you-"

Stopping, Caroline shook her head and reminded herself that she would not vent her feelings over her failed relationship with Klaus. Despite this, though, she could not stop her eyes from wandering to Lacy's and Klaus's entwined fingers and this was enough to make the rest of her speech clear.

"I need help. I'm having this baby in less than three months and you don't seem to be at all interested. I'm sorry I turned your life upside. Really, I am. I had no idea that you and Lacy were a couple, but this is our child we're on about, Klaus. It has to come first."

For nearly a minute no-one spoke. When it became obvious to Caroline that Klaus was not going to respond in the way she had so dearly hoped, a heavy, pitiful sigh left her mouth and her hands ran themselves through her long, blonde curls.

"Fine. When you're ready to grow up and admit responsibility for your own child, you'll know where to find me."

With that, Caroline spun on her heel and journeyed back to the living room where Klaus's parents were still present. Left alone, Lacy cleared her throat with a small cough and spoke Klaus's name softly.

"Don't." he replied, knowing that Lacy's words would only amplify his feelings of guilt.

"She has a point, Nik."

"So now you're on Caroline's side?"

"No. I-"

"I've just spent the last few minutes defending you! Fighting over the fact that I love you. I chose you over my own goddamn child!"

"I never asked you to!" yelled Lacy, her hands flying up in the air in frustration.

Taking a step back, Lacy took a number of deep breaths and let calmness wash over; determined not to fight with Klaus anymore when they had only just reunited.

"All I'm saying is that you can have both. You can, Nik." she emphasised, pressing a chaste kiss to Klaus's lips. "I already told you that I'll stick by you no matter what. I know how your parents make you feel, and believe me… I will fight to the end to keep you. Your mother will have to kill me before I willingly leave you and let her marry you off to Caroline, but she is right that your baby needs you. So, please, just apologise to Caroline."

Tangling his fingers into the back of Lacy's brunette hair, Klaus pulled her face to his and pushed his lips against hers in a passionate but brief kiss.

"Well, isn't this just beautiful. Nik, you're going soft in your old age."

The recognisable tone of Kol's voice rang out throughout the air. Pulling away from Klaus, Lacy immediately felt shame wash over her. She was happy in her new-found relationship with Klaus but Kol had made it clear, weeks earlier, that he cared for her deeply. Catching her in an embrace with Klaus was not how she wanted Kol to find out about the recent development.

Kol, however, seemed to show no hurt or anger in his hazel brown eyes. The vacant look in his eyes worried Lacy more than any fury or pain could have. Although she had always been closest to Klaus, she had grown up knowing Kol and suspected that his care-free attitude was a cover for more deep-rooted feelings of betrayal.

"A little birdy told me you got a girl knocked up. Well done, brother. Let's hope it doesn't get your looks. Poor kid will be doomed."

"Be quiet, Kol."

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Kol gave his brother a forced smile as he apologised.

"No need to be so touchy."

"Hadn't you better get in before Mother grounds you?"

"I'm a grown man, Niklaus."

"Hmmm, maybe one day."

Grabbing Lacy, Klaus bid farewell to his young brother. Avoiding Kol's gaze, Lacy hoped that the younger Mikaelson man would keep their past relationship a buried secret; knowing that Klaus would not be able to emotionally handle another bombshell.

Nearly a week passed. Lacy was reveling in the blissful bubble of happiness she and Klaus had managed to create for themselves, and she found herself daring to hope that life had finally returned to normal.

It was a dull day, with grey clouds residing in the sky and the threat of rain hanging in the air, when Lacy was forced to address the most hateful of her 'admirers'.

"What can I do for you, Esther?" asked Lacy with a strained smile, as the other woman took it upon herself to take the seat opposite at the table where Lacy awaited her lunch order.

"I'd like to speak with you, if that's okay."

"It's a free country." she replied with a shrug.

"I don't understand your hostility towards me, Lacy. I have been nothing but accommodating towards you."

A snort inadvertently escaped Lacy and she did not miss the way Esther's perfectly plucked eyebrows raised in disapproval and questioning. Composing herself, Lacy kept her voice level and polite as she addressed Esther's claim.

"Mrs Mikaelson, no offence but just last week you accused me of trying to steal Nik away from you. You basically said I wasn't good enough for him. I'd hardly call that 'accommodating'."

"Well… I think given the current situation, I can be forgiven for some rash words. My dear… you have known Niklaus for many, many years and I appreciate that he cares for you deeply. I am grateful for the company you give him. However, I am his mother. I know what's best for him and what is best for him is to be with Caroline and the baby."

"Nik is old enough to make his own choices."

"See, that's the thing… I don't thing these are his choices. I think he's being influenced. Be honest with yourself, Lacy, this isn't where you belong. There's no place for you in the new family Niklaus will soon have."

"Excuse me?"

The agitation in Lacy's voice was extremely evident. Her muscles tensed in annoyance and she braced herself for a major confrontation.

"You're a beautiful, smart, young woman. Surely, you must realise that this relationship you and my son have embarked on has no future. You can have any man you want. Find someone more suited to you and let Niklaus be happy with Caroline."

It was the condescending smile that finally broke through Lacy's self-restraint. Rushing to her feet, Lacy slammed her hands down on the wooden table and watched with satisfaction as Esther's body jolted at the sudden noise.

"How dare you! What gives you the audacity to sit there and judge me?! You have no clue about what's best for Nik. None at all! You let your own husband beat him - a small, innocent, defenceless child! You-"

"Lacy! Oh my god, hi!"

A pair of slender arms wrapped themselves around Lacy's upper body and pulled her into a tight hug. A brush of thick, sleek brunette hair filled her vision for a moment and it took some seconds for Lacy to recognise the voice of the woman holding her.

"Just play along." the woman whispered into Lacy's ear before turning around, but keeping one arm slung around Lacy's shoulders. "Esther Mikaelson, always a pleasure."

Fixing the grimace on her face, Esther stood to her full height and remained silent as she turned her back on the two chocolate-haired beauties.

"Say hi to Elijah for me!" the woman yelled out cheerily; grinning happily when she saw Esther falter slightly in her step before storming off.

Sighing with relief, Lacy focused her attention on the woman next to her.

"Thank you, Hayley."

"No problem. You looked like you were about to go full on nuclear at Esther. As fun as it'd be to see you put that smug bitch in her place, I didn't think getting arrested in a public place for assault would be on your 'to-do' list."

"You're right." laughed Lacy. "Esther is just so…"

"She's the devil."

"That's one way of putting it. She can't stand me."

"Ah, snap. I'm pretty sure she'd like to see me fall off a cliff."

"She'd push me off one if she got the chance." mused Lacy. "I get why Esther hates my guts but what about you?"

With a wry smile, Hayley called over a waiter and order two glasses of vodka before taking the seat Esther had occupied.

"She hates me because of Elijah."

"Why?"

"Because she knows I'm in love with him."

Lacy's mind began to race. At a year older than her, Lacy had known little of Hayley until she began working as Elijah's secretary. It had take only weeks for her to realise that her boss held some affections for Hayley; the two having mingled on a number of occasions due to Hayley's job as a lower-level writer at the company.

With a devilish smile, Lacy took a small sip of the vodka that had arrived mere seconds before and allowed an idea to form in her mind.

"Hayley, are you free next Friday?"

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