Summary: Klaus scares Marcel while keeping his kingdom running smoothly, and so Marcel runs to Caroline. Original!Caroline AU. Title comes from Dear Theodosia.

Rating: Teen/SFW (for past child abuse)

Caroline ran her hands through the boy's hair, comforting him as best she could. "He tries, Marcel. He does."

Marcel's shoulders shook with sobs, and Caroline, in that moment, hated Mikael more than ever before. It was Mikael who ruined Klaus, who now ruined Marcel.

"Why, mama? Why is he so mean?" The young boy pleaded. He curled into her, and her heart shattered at the sight of her son, laid so low.

She laid down with him, determined to stay the night. Klaus would just have to sleep alone, that night.

In a whisper, she told her son the secret they'd been keeping from him for two years. "Marcel, I have to be honest with you. The truth is ugly but in order to understand why your father is the way he is, you must know."

He sniffled, "okay." With wide eyes, his innocence was still intact, at least a little bit. She didn't doubt that the next death he witnessed at his father's hand would rip it away from him.

"Your father was born of an illegal relationship. His father was not the same as Aunt Rebekah and Uncle Elijah's father. Their father, Mikael, knew that Klaus was not his son and treated him as such. Your father received beatings for every little thing he did. He was never shown love, just anger and aggression."

"He isn't angry and aggressive with you," he pointed out, wiping away his tears.

"You're right," she conceded. "But that is because I have been loyal to him since we were children, over 800 years ago now. He has learned to be affectionate with me, but he has not with you. Though he would never hurt you," she hurried to assure. "He just does not know how to be anything but cruel, and doesn't think about how you will react to it."

Marcel looked away, blinking suspiciously again. "Will you tell him that I don't want to see his business please? I don't think I can."

"Of course, darling," she soothed, rubbing his back.

"Thank you, mama," he sighed. "Can we talk about somethin' else now?"

They talked until his eyes drooped. "You go on to bed, and I'll be right back, okay?"

He nodded, mostly asleep. The moment she was out of the bed, he curled into a tighter circle, more on the spot she'd been in than in his own.

She slunk out silently. As soon as she hit the steps, Klaus was there with his arms crossed. "Done coddling the boy, are you?"

"I think you mean, 'done comforting our son, are you?'," she snapped. The urge to push him down the staircase was strong, but she knew she couldn't hurt him. All she could do was sass him 'til the sun rose and there would be no emotional harm done. Sass didn't remind him of what Mikael did to him.

She loved him more than any other being on the planet, and she could not do that to him. No matter how annoying he was.

He glowered at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Her refusal to do as other wives do and just slap him silly when he needed a good whack was something they pointedly ignored, but don't be fooled. He knew exactly why she didn't. "He shouldn't need comforting!"

Her hands went to her hips instantly. "He is twelve, and dealing with having you for a father. Some comfort could go a long way in ensuring he doesn't turn against you in the future." Gods, if only he used his brain and realized that. She wouldn't be able to bear being caught between her husband and her son.

His eyes, usually lovely and sweet, were hard. "No matter what I do, he will go against me, I who has saved him from torment, who has fed and clothed him, treated him as my own, who - "

She raised a hand, cutting him off. "Not another word, Niklaus. Think about what you are saying. Think about who you are emulating right now, and how you felt when you were in Marcel's place. Then perhaps you will realize just why I am choosing him over you."

She turned, ready to return to her child. He wasn't hers by blood, and she hadn't chosen him, but she'd loved him since he stepped into her home, Klaus right behind him.

"You dare compare me to Mikael?" He spit, reaching for her. She spun, grabbing his wrist and twisting.

"Yes," she said simply. "And before I forget, Marcel has decided he wants nothing of your 'family business'. So leave him out of it, or you will regret it." You're lucky I love you hung between them, not needing to be said.

She left him in the hallway, a glare chasing her to her baby's room.

The next morning, a charcoal drawing of Caroline cradling Marcel in her arms sat innocently on his bedside table. On the bottom, he'd written, you have given me something to aspire for, All My Love, Klaus.

With a sigh, Caroline left it. It would do Marcel some good to see the human side of his father, after all.

It didn't mean he was off her hit list, but it was a start. That was all she could ask for.