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The church was empty at this time of night and in this weather save one. Damon Salvatore was kneeled at the front of the church. Only the many prayer candles lit his vigil and the occasional bursts of lightening from outside. What had he done? Why was it that his drive for Elena always seemed to bring out the worst in him? Of course it also seemed to bring out the best.

He and Bonnie had always had a peculiar relationship but he'd had a healthy respect for her - perhaps because she could bring him to his knees almost effortlessly and few in this world could do that. She had helped him and his brother more times than he could count and she was devoted to Elena. Now she was gone - by his hands. He was the monster that he accused the Mikaelsons of being. He bowed his head.

"Forgive me Father for I have sinned..." The doors at the back of the church flew open and the candles blew out. Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah and Stefan strode up the aisle. Their faces were unforgiving. As Damon rose and turned to defend himself Klaus and Stefan secured his left arm with chains while Elijah and Rebekah secured his right. He looked at their faces searching for any emotions he might be able to prevail to but they were stoic - their faces immutable masks. Lightening illuminated the open entry again and Damon saw Kol striding towards them.

The youngest original had his well honed psychotic look on and Damon was worried. Again he searched the faces of the others hoping he might find some quarter but even his brother's face held a blank expression. Kol hauled off and punched Damon in the jaw and he heard the bones crack before they began to heal back. He heard the chains rattle as his body was slung backwards. The murderous rage on the original's face did not dissipate.

"I should rip your heart out where you stand," Kol growled lowly. He took a step back from Damon.

"Damon Salvatore you are being detained for the death of Bonnie Bennett. You will answer for your crimes," Kol said evenly. Then the five of them hauled him from the church - putting up a fight the whole way. They took him to Klaus' house and strung him up in the conservatory. The steel traps on his hands and feet insured that he would not completely heal as he struggled and the chains were doused in vervain. Also Klaus seemed to have several vervain plants in the conservatory.

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As soon as Klaus entered the townhouse, he saw how worried and nervous Caroline looked. Walking up to her, he wrapped his arms around her and just held her. She was trying hard not to cry but he whispered, "you don't need to be strong for anyone now."

Tears fell and she held onto him as she cried and he stroked her hair back. He didn't seem to care that his shirt was ruined, he just cared that his Caroline was releasing her sadness in his embrace.

"I hate Damon." She whimpered out. "I hate him! He killed Jeremy, Alaric and now Bonnie! I HATE HIM!"

"I know that you do-we all do at the moment." He soothed. Tilting her chin upwards, he saw her lips quiver and he brushed his on her cheek. "I will always protect you Caroline Forbes. There is no greater redemption than you and seeing your tears like this-it pains me."

"You promise?" she asked and he nodded.

"On my life." He promised. "On my life-always and forever."

She managed a watery smile and he just led her to the couch, flopping down on it with her in his arms. Humming a soft little lullaby for her, she fell into a peaceful sleep and he whispered to her in his native tongue.

"Ég mun alltaf elska þig Caroline Forbes"

((A/N: Ég mun alltaf elska þig Caroline ForbesI will always love you Caroline Forbes.))

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Elena was nervous, pacing as she bounced Kayleigh in her arms while she waited for Elijah to come back home. Tears were burning her eyes when Caroline came over and took Kayleigh in her arms.

"Elena sweetie," Caroline whispered softly. "You need to rest all this nervousness and worry isn't good for the baby."

"I haven't seen him like that in a long time," Elena worried. "What if I don't get him back?"

"You'll get him back," Caroline smiled confidently, "remember Mikaelsons are crazy protective of their family. This just means they consider us family."

Elena nodded and as she went upstairs into her room, she lay down and tears fell as she remembered sitting beside Bonnie's body the same way she did for Jeremy. After a while strong arms wrapped tenderly around her and Elijah's voice was whispered softly through her hair.

"Are you alright? Caroline mentioned that you were nervous and worried." She turned in his arms and nestled her head into his chest.

"I was worried for you," she whispered. "I was worried something happened to you and I was nervous as I wasn't sure about what would be done."

"You don't need to be that way anymore." He crooned and she snuggled into him. Feeling his hand where their baby laid, she looked up and saw his smile. "I told you that I will always protect you."

"I believe it." Kissing her softly, he pulled away and held her in his arms as close as he could. He had the two most important members of his family with him at the moment-Elena and their unborn baby.

That was all he needed.

Always and forever.

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Rebekah was watching her daughter sleep peacefully with three stuffed animals-a fox, a stag and a wolf-all surrounding her when another made its way into the crib. A stuffed Labrador that was yellow. Following the hand that had placed the dog into the crib, she saw that it was Stefan who was with her. He smiled at her and then at their daughter.

"I believe that my family may have its salvation." He mused with his arm around her waist and she curled herself into him with a smile on her own face.

"Yes, she is not just the Salvatore family salvation but the Mikaelson one as well. I never knew I could be so happy," Rebekah told him warmly before they went back to staring at their daughter who looked close to waking and Rebekah picked her up in her arms and walked towards the rocking chair where she lowered herself onto it. She smiled as she rocked the baby back and forth with a soft little lullaby that she sang.

"Hush little baby, don't say a word, momma's gonna buy you a mockingbird…" Stefan was right in front of them and as he fell down on his knees, he reached out a finger and caressed Kayleigh's cheek. Her little hand wrapped itself around his finger and began to gnaw on it.

He was smiling at the two of them and knew that they were all that mattered.

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