Thank you all so much for your votes in the 2016 Klaroline Awards. While this story didn't win, I want to tell you all thank you for even nominating me in the first place! It was just beyond amazing that you even considered me at all! I know my updates have been slower than normal but I truly appreciate all of your love and support! I am honored beyond belief that because of all of you I can now say I was a finalist in the 2016 Klaroline Awards on Tumblr! I may be the writer here but I would be nothing without each and every one of you!
So this chapter is coming in at just shy of 11,000 words. I didn't cut it off at a cliffhanger, well not a big one anyways. There is just so much going on in this one that I felt it would be best to stop where I did. The next chapter will pick right up where I left off so don't worry about missing anything!
370 Reviews, 273 Followers and 167 Favorites! YOU ALL ROCK! THANK YOU!
This story is quickly coming to a close! I know! I know! BUT remember, we do have the sequel coming!
Also I started a One-Shot/Drabbles series called Songs of the Moment. Check it out! Send me prompts!
PS Sorry that I am a little behind on my replies to your reviews! I love and appreciate each and every one!
Mips2020: I tried to send you a private message in regards to your review on chapter 25 but it said you have that feature blocked. Thank you so much for your review! I am happy to hear you are loving this story! And thanks for the comment about my rhymes! I tried really hard to put a new on in every chapter.
KacoMU: I am hoping that Caroline will go to New Orleans! ;)
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Klaus walked down the hall and into the upstairs study full of purpose, knowing he had to utilize the time that was granted to him with Caroline out of the house.
Kol glanced up from the grimoire he was leafing through with a cock of his head, "What has you looking so chipper Nik? You look as though you just found the one person you've been dying to kill."
Klaus smirked, "Perhaps I have." His gaze turned serious as he demanded, "I need you to contact Silas for me. Tell him to meet us here within the hour."
"Why wait that long when I am standing here now?"
Klaus turned on his heels looking towards the doorway in mild disbelief to find Silas himself strutting into the room with his hands in his pockets. "How did you get in here? Furthermore, when did you get here?"
"I have my ways." Silas spoke cryptically with a grin as he meandered his way around the room picking up random trinkets here and there. "The real question of the day would be how you could screw up so royally on obtaining the cure from your own brother." His displeasure with the outcome bled coldly into his eyes and tone.
Klaus opened his mouth to speak and Silas angrily slashed his hand through the air cutting him off. Klaus tried valiantly to push the words out of his mouth, his eyes widened as he discovered that he could not utter so much as a growl. His sharp angry eyes shot an accusing glare at Silas.
Silas's hand that he held in the air out towards Klaus turned to point a shaking finger in his direction, "You do not get to speak Hybrid." He spat with rage pouring off him with every word, "I entrusted you with her safety. I expected you to treat her and this situation with the upmost care and finesse that you are widely known for. However I find that you let some petty grudge get in the way of holding the only thing that can save my daughter's life?!" Silas's footsteps pounded across the wooden floor until he was nose to nose with the Hybrid in question, "Please," He sneered, "tell me your pitiful excuses for failing my daughter! For failing me!"
Klaus released a pent up growl as Silas freed him from his hold. Shooting daggers at the man from his livid blue eyes he rubbed his throat, "It was a miscalculation on my part that, I assure you, I have a plan to rectify immediately."
Silas narrowed his eyes at Klaus as he shifted through his thoughts, "Hmm. Yes I can see that."
Klaus ground his teeth together as he spat, "I don't care if you are Caroline's Father. You would do well to stay out of my head!"
Silas took hold of a chair at the table were Kol was seated, spinning it around to straddle it with his arms flung over the back in front of him with a wide grin, "Why waste time with pointless planning and negotiations when we can just skip to the part where we execute said plan?"
Klaus's eyes lit up with pleasure, "You will do it then?"
Silas shrugged his shoulders while studying his nails, "Imitate you in order to gain the cure but also leave you open to carry out your petty revenge against your brother and his lover? Why not? It could be mildly entertaining."
Klaus grinned roguishly as his well thought out plan would be coming to fruition, allowing him to gain everything he wanted. His grin fell swiftly off his face as Silas spoke once more.
"Though I am curious, if you had to choose between your revenge or the cure. Which would it be?"
The unwavering answer flashed through Klaus's mind in an instant bringing a true smile to Silas's face.
"That is what I thought Niklaus. You are lucky, if there had been any hesitation what's so ever I would have struck you down where you stand."
"It's quite possibly that I would have allowed you to." Klaus muttered unsure about how he felt with this man, no matter who he was, rifling through his mind.
"Uh!" Kol groaned as he tilted his head over the back of his chair, "Can we be done with this sickening display of Father and Son bonding and let the rest of the class in on this devious little plan of yours?"
"It's quite simple really, Silas here," Klaus waved his hand towards the man and began strutting around the room proud of the plan he had created, "will go in wearing my face, construct a deal with Elijah over the cure and the safety of his precious whore. Elijah will be his self-righteous suit wearing self, thinking he has gained the upper hand on me, not knowing all the while that I have no obligations to uphold to said agreement seeing as it was never me who made the deal in the first place." He finished with a satisfied smirk.
"One problem brother, Elijah knows we tracked him and forewarned us that we would no longer have the means to do so again. I'm not sure even if I combined my powers with Bonnie's if it would work." Kol said as he began trying to think of ways around that little problem.
Silas stood from the chair, turning it back around into its place before he grinned, "Leave that to me Kol. You will find my powers are just a touch more…shall we say advanced then yours." He glanced back at Klaus, "Time to put in that phone call. I'd like to have this accomplished quickly to spend some quality time with my daughter this evening."
Klaus felt a pit rise in his stomach in apprehension about Caroline. Hesitantly he asked, "Are you sure that is wise? Not only does she weaken the longer the two of you are together, but she still needs to come to terms with your impending demise."
"I will be spending the evening with my daughter. Alone." Silas replied in a hardened tone, "As for your concerns for her, first off her connection with you as well as having your blood in her system will maintain her strength for the time being. As for your second," Silas sighed mournfully, "There is no helping that matter. But even more importantly it's all the more reason to spend the time with her while I am able to."
Klaus was anxious over the many ways this could end up hurting her in the long run, but knew Silas was right. She needed to spend time with her Father before she lost him for good.
Silas understood, and was thankful that this man held such a love for his daughter that he did not hold back even to her own Father. It gave him a sense of peace, knowing that even if he would not be here, alive, to watch her grow, to protect her himself, that this man, this Hybrid would do anything for her. As well as give her the love and support she so rightly deserved. He was under no misconception that there would not be times of struggles and strife between the two of them. They were both two very head strong powerful creatures, both dead set on having things done their own way. But therein lays his absolute confidence that the two of them would always stand tall beside one another; that they would always come out on top in the end. Their genuine love for each other as well as their deep rooted connection, which they still had no idea just how deeply it ran, would always keep them together.
Silas shook himself out of his inner thoughts with a clearing of his throat as he realized the other two men in the room were staring at him strangely, "I would prefer to keep it a surprise to my daughter about this evening. And I think it would be best if she and I spent our time together on the grounds of your estate. That way if she does weaken, you will be close at hand." He looked at Klaus through narrowed eyes, "Just not too close. Like I said, I would like some quality time alone with her."
Klaus nodded his head feeling the pit in his stomach lessen with the knowledge she would be close to him should anything go wrong, "I can agree to that."
"Good. Now make the call." Silas ordered as he shoved his hands back in his pockets.
Klaus slipped his phone out of his pocket hitting Elijah's contact. After the fourth ring a voice that caused his jaw to clench could be heard through the speaker, "Klaus. Did you come to your senses so soon and finally decide that your own brother shouldn't have to go through this much pain. Color me impressed, I never thought you actually had a heart in that stone cold chest of yours."
"You would do well not to bate me Katerina." Klaus growled as he held the phone tighter in his hand.
"Why I would never." She said in mock offence.
"Enough with your games Katerina. You have been nothing but a thorn in my side for the past five-hundred years."
She scoffed, "I think your logic is twisted in the wrong direction."
"Whoever is the thorn to who means nothing. As I am sure my dear brother is a touch, shall we say, indisposed at the moment," He smirked as she snarled. "I gather I can broker this deal through you. Since it is all for you in the end isn't Katerina?"
"I'm listening." Her hesitant intrigue could be heard through the phone.
Silas in the meantime was able to filter through her thoughts, finding her exact location and pointing it out on the map they had placed across the table.
"You give me the cure, no tricks mind you, and I will give you my word that you will be free from my everlasting torment." Klaus spoke spinning her in his web.
"I'll accept," She rushed only to carefully follow with, "but I want something else as well."
"Why am I not surprised. You always were a selfish creature." Klaus scoffed, "Please regale me with your demands."
"Right, as if you have room to talk. Let me guess, you want to get your hands on the cure not to give it to Caroline but to be sure Elena gets it. That way you have your hybrid army as well as the immortal girl of your little dreams." She taunted him as she laughed.
"You have no idea what you are talking about." Klaus replied interjecting just enough hesitance in his voice to allow her to think she was on the right track. He cared not what she thought he had planned for the cure after he had it in his possession, so long as she was left in the dark about it's true purpose.
"Oh I know all about your little infatuation with the blonde baby vamp." Her voice grated on his last nerve, "I'd even suggest that you should thank me."
Klaus chuckled darkly, "Thank you? And why would I be doing that?"
"Well," She drew the word out as if she was about to tell a great secret. "I was the one to turn her."
Klaus rolled his eyes, if only she knew how much that fact pissed him off instead of pleased him, but he could not afford to get into another row with her. Not with what was at stake. "Enough of your prattle. Tell me what else it is that you want."
"A vile of your blood." Her voice came out stronger than he knew she felt at the moment.
"Not happening." Klaus replied with a scoff.
"Wait!" Her tone colored with urgency, "Not much, just enough to cure one single wolf bite."
Klaus's eyes rounded in shocked disbelief, "You want it to cure Elijah."
"Yes. And as his brother, the brother that he has stood by through everything, you should want to give it to him." Her try at manipulating him fell flat.
"Yes, look how closely he stands beside me now." Klaus heard her being to speak once more but put a stop to it, done with this charade, "Very well. Your freedom and a single dose of my blood in exchange for the cure, then we shall never have to see or speak ever again."
"Sounds like a perfect future to me." Her smile and happiness could be heard in her tone.
"Fantastic!" Klaus walked over to the map looking at the location Silas pointed out on the map, "Meet me at the park on the corner of Elm and Cyprus. I'm sure you know the place seeing as your cozy little bungalow has a spectacular view of it."
She released a shocked gasp, "How did you…"
"How did I know where you and my brother were hiding? I've told you before Katerina never to cross or underestimate me." He chuckled darkly. He just couldn't help himself from injecting her with the terror he felt she rightfully deserved. "You think I didn't know just where you were over all these centuries? You really think that you could out run me? A fox never can hide from a wolf for long. You running in fear every time you had just begun to settle down has brought me great pleasure, as well as a good laugh at your expense." Rolling his eyes at the identical looks of displeasure from Silas and Kol, Klaus wrapped up his conversation, "Now you can settle wherever your fickle heart leads you without fear of me hunting you down. But I will warn you only once Katerina, if what you hand over is not the real cure, if you think to defy me again, I will dagger Elijah for all eternity and turn you into my, what is it they call them now, ah yes, my person punching bag. You know how my temper gets when I am feeling moody."
"I'll be there with the cure in hand." She sneered through the phone before hanging up.
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The girls were rummaging through the racks at one of the only higher end stores Mystic Falls had to offer.
"You know, when you said we were going shopping, I assumed you meant somewhere a bit more…prestigious then this." Rebekah commented with a look of disgust on her face as she flicked a dress on the rack as if appalled that it had even touched her fingers.
Caroline giggled from across the rack next to Bonnie, "I know it's not the best place to buy clothes Rebekah, but every now and then I've came across some really amazing stuff here."
"Yes well, we could have just driven in to Richmond. At least then we wouldn't be shifting through these bad quality items like a bunch of lower class bargain hunters." Rebekah spoke in her prissy tone even as she found something that wasn't too horrible and laid it over her arm to try on later.
"Well not all of us can afford the prices on all those high class brands." Bonnie grumbled but smiled as she found a flowy purple top that she loved.
"Besides," Caroline shrugged as she pulled another garment off the rack, "This shopping trip is more about bonding then anything. Plus," She said with a smile as she carried a yellow silk dress over to Rebekah, "This would look amazing on you. Especially paired with that cute short cut white jacket you have hanging in your closet."
Rebekah eyed the dress, trying to hide her pleasure at the item as well as Caroline's sunshiny smile. Rolling her eyes she snatched the dress from her laying it over her own arm, "I suppose it could do for a night at the Grill in this little Podunk town."
"That's the spirit! Now come on!" She said with a huge smile as she took ahold of Rebekah's free arm, choosing not to comment on the other items underneath the yellow dress that Rebekah obviously deemed worthy enough to try on. "Two dressing rooms just opened up. You want to share Bonnie?"
"No, I'm going to keep looking a little bit." Bonnie said absentmindedly over her shoulder as she continued looking through the racks to find something to go with the purple shirt she fell in love with. She was so distracted that she didn't hear the bell ring over the door to the shop signaling that someone had entered. It wasn't until someone touched her arm that she even knew anyone besides them and the store clerk were even there.
"Bonnie! I am so glad I found you. I have to talk to you."
"Elena! Hey, what are you doing here? What's going on?" Bonnie shifted the clothes in her arms nervously while her eyes flicked over to the dressing rooms and back to Elena standing in front of her.
"I've been trying to call you; I even stopped by your house. Since I couldn't reach you I thought maybe you would be out around town somewhere." Elena explained feeling relieved at finally finding Bonnie.
Bonnie shifted guiltily on her feet at the mention of the phone calls that she had been ignoring. She just couldn't help it. She didn't want to lie to Elena, but with everything going on she wasn't sure just how a newly-having-her-humanity-back Elena would react to everything. "Oh sorry 'Lena. My phone's been on silent in my purse since yesterday. I hadn't even thought to check it."
"It's fine Bonnie, don't worry about it." She gave a calm reassuring smile, "There's just something really strange going on and I really need to talk to you about it and Stefan and Caroline." Elena said with a roll of her eyes.
"What about me?" Caroline asked as she stepped out of the dressing room to show Bonnie the outfit she had tried on.
Elena grimaced as she seen Caroline but her face quickly turned into a scowl as Rebekah stepped out as well wearing a yellow dress. "You're here with her?"
Rebekah scoffed, "Some people find my company charming Elena. Some might even say they enjoy it more than backstabbing whiners with the personality of a flea."
Caroline and Bonnie both groaned at Rebekah's insult, knowing it was only going to cause problems.
"Oh really? As what? Apposed to someone who sleeps with anything that smiles at her?" Elena snarled as she crossed her arms.
"Why you little tart! As if you have any room to speak of who sleeps with whom. Isn't it you that decided brothers were your best course of action? That of course," She sneered with a vicious grin, "after you ran through all the other men in this town."
"I did not!" Elena yelled as her arms fell to her sides.
"Oh no that's right." Rebekah snapped her fingers as if she had just recalled something, "Outside of the Salvatore brothers with everyone else you are nothing but a tease."
"That's rich coming from the Original slut herself!" Elena shouted, the veins beneath her eyes blinking in and out of sight with her anger.
"Ok that's enough!" Caroline stepped in between them before things got any more ugly, "I really think it's time for you to go."
Elena folded her arms across her chest, "Yeah. I agree. Bye Rebekah." She said self-assured with a grin on her face.
Rebekah felt her eyes sting with tears that she pushed back. She would not allow these pathetic little girls…her inner thoughts were stopped as Caroline spoke up.
"No, I was talking about you Elena." Caroline said with a hard tone, her own arms folded over her chest as she cocked her hip out to the side.
Elena's mouth dropped open in surprise, "You cannot be serious?" She looked between all girls' faces; Caroline's hard look, Rebekah's smug triumphant smirk and Bonnie's nervous pitying smile.
Caroline sighed, letting her arms drop to her sides, "Look 'Lena. You me and Bonnie have been friends for a long time. But sometimes things happen and friends grow apart."
"And sometimes friends pick the wrong side." Elena interjected harshly.
Caroline huffed sadly shaking her head, "You have no idea what's going on Elena. And I am starting to think that even if you did, you still wouldn't be on board."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Elena said feeling offended, the sinking feeling in her stomach that she was missing something huge settled in as she remembered how Stefan had said something similar recently.
Caroline rubbed her forehead, "I know why you were looking for Bonnie. I'm sure," She continued with an eye roll, "you just wanted her help in whatever scheme you think the Mikaelson's are pulling. But there isn't any scheme Elena. You just have to realize that somethings," She blew out a breath, "Somethings are just bigger than and have nothing to do with you." Caroline turned to face Rebekah resigned that Elena might never be able to understand anything that didn't involve her, "Come on Rebekah, let's finish trying on our clothes."
Rebekah turned on her heels, walking proudly next to Caroline in amazement at how well she handled the doppelganger.
Elena shook herself out of her stunned silence and turned to Bonnie, "Bonnie please." Her eyes pleaded with her, "You have to help me figure out what's going on. Something's not right here!" With Stefan and Caroline acting so strangely and secretive she was sure of it.
Bonnie's shoulders slumped, "Elena…I think Care's right. Until you can accept that sometimes our lives change as well as the people in it, I don't think you should be a part of this."
"So there is something going on." Elena knew she was right when Bonnie turned her head to the side. "Fine. Keep your secrets with your new friends. Just don't come looking for my help when it all blows up in your faces." Spinning on her heels Elena stomped her way out of the shop.
Bonnie sighed deeply as she watched Elena walk out of the shop; she loved Elena she really did. It had been the three of them together for as long as she could remember. But things changed. People changed. And if Elena couldn't grow with them, she sighed again at the thought, they would be forced to leave her behind. She felt a hand on her left shoulder and turned her head to see a similar look of sorrow on Caroline's face.
"Maybe someday she'll come around." Caroline's voice was full of cautious hopefulness. "I just don't think right now is the time. I'm not sure if her and Damon would help or just get in the way of what is coming."
"Yeah I kind of feel the same way," Bonnie sighed in agreement. "But how long is it going to take before she comes around?"
Caroline shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. But I guess that's the perk of her being a vampire, she has forever to change her mind."
"Yeah, unlike some of us." Bonnie gave her a pointed look.
Caroline's face cringed at what Bonnie meant, "Sorry. But who knows? She might come around sooner rather than later and plus, if you think about it, Esther found a way to stick around and so did my Father so who can say for sure just how long you will be around for." Caroline's eyes lit up with an idea causing her to clap her hands in excitement, "How about after we get through all this we start looking into it?"
"I'm just trying to get through all this and graduate High School on time. That's all I can afford to think about right now. Speaking of that," The two girls turned making their way over to the dressing rooms, "You haven't been in class lately. Aren't you worried about graduating with us?"
Caroline bit her lip then licked them before muttering, "I kind of don't have to be in class to graduate."
Bonnie looked at her confused, "What's that supposed to mean?" Her eyes rounded in shock, "You're not compelling your diploma are you? That doesn't seem like you at all."
Caroline took Bonnie's choice of clothing out of her arms to hang in the dressing room, "I kind of already have enough credits to graduate." She shrugged her shoulders as if it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Since when?" Bonnie asked.
"Since before Christmas?" She meant to say it as a statement but it came out as more of a question.
"Oh my gosh Care, That's amazing! Why didn't you say anything?" Bonnie said with a smile feeling pride in her best friend.
"Well I had the option not to attend classes but I wanted to finish out the year with my friends. And even if I am an overachiever, I didn't want to come off as if I was bragging. Then all this stuff happened so when I moved out of my," She huffed and reworded herself, "well when I moved in with Klaus, I filled out the paperwork so I could stop going to school."
"This actually works out better for me." Bonnie said with a grin.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked before she shut the dressing room door to change back into her own clothes.
"Well now that you don't have to worry about your own assignments you can help me get mine done." Bonnie said causing Caroline to giggle on her way back out of the dressing room.
Rebekah stepped out of her dressing room holding the few items she deemed worth enough to add to her closet trying to pretend she didn't overhear them talking, "So I see the self-absorbed doppel-whiner left."
Caroline and Bonnie attempted to hide their smirks at that. "Yes, Elena left." Caroline answered.
Bonnie cleared her throat, "Well I'm just going to go try these things on."
After Bonnie shut the door Caroline noticed how Rebekah stood there her eyes flicking between the items in her arms and Caroline as she picked at the clothing she held.
"You do know this isn't some ploy right?" Caroline said to her softly.
"What are you blathering about?" Rebekah asked with her head held high.
"I really do want to try and be friends." Caroline offered her a small smile.
Rebekah scoffed, "Right. You are only doing what other's before you have tried and failed to do."
"And what's that?" Caroline asked with her eyebrow raised as they made their way to the cashier's counter.
"You think you are the first of my brother's paramours to try and use me to get closer to him?" Rebekah replied cockily.
"You Mikaelson's are so paranoid." Caroline huffed with an eye roll not letting Rebekah's comment get to her.
"So you are going to try and tell me you are not using a so-called friendship with me to gain my brother's favor?"
"Actually it's kind of the opposite." At Rebekah's skeptical look Caroline continued to explain, "Look I really think, maybe in some alternate universe, we could actually be friends. I mean come on! The two of us together? We would make a hell of a team. Plus, it's not about me using you to gain your brother's favor." She scoffed with an eye roll, "It's about me helping you gain his."
"So you are saying by us being…friends…you think it will help Nik be less angry with me?" She asked thinking it over. Her brother was hung up on the girl and she wasn't terrible company.
Caroline shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "His and Kol's as well. But if you really aren't interested…" She let her sentence drag out.
Rebekah eyed her with that new found feeling of respect that she had found for the other blonde, "Well." She said primly as she placed her purchases on the counter, "It would be nice to have another female around. And I suppose you will do."
"If that's your way of saying you want to be friends then I'll take it." Caroline laughed happily that her plan was working. It wasn't too much of a hardship for her; Rebekah was surprisingly not as terrible as she first thought.
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Silas strutted his way into the parlor at the Mikaelson's where both Klaus and Kol had been waiting since his call. Holding out his hand he handed Klaus the small box containing the cure.
Klaus's eyes glittered and a smile over took him as he opened it to see the cure staring back at him. Closing the lid he looked up at Silas, "You did it. Not that I ever had any doubts." He said as he went over to a painting hanging on the wall. Taking it down gently to reveal nothing but a blank wall until he pressed down allowing a seamless panel to open which behind laid a door to a hidden safe. Once the cure was placed inside, the painting hanging back over the hidden panel he turned to face Silas, "Were there any incidents I should be aware of?"
Silas grinned, "If you count the fact that Katerina brought me a fake cure, on your older brother's orders no less, as something that you would want to be made of aware of then yes."
Klaus felt fury flow through him as his eyes tinged with yellow, "What?"
Kol stood from his chair, his own fury bring out the veins beneath his eyes, "You mean after the so-called promise of his tramp's freedom he still was out to betray us?"
"Just how did you handle things after you discovered their indiscretions?" Klaus asked holding onto his barely controlled rage.
"I made Katerina recall only giving you the wrong cure. Had her take me to their little love nest. Once your brother had taken your blood and his mind was clear, I used my own tricks to have him exchange the fake cure for the real one and left him unaware of what had truly transpired. He still thinks he has the real cure." Silas began shaking his head, "It is a true shame how the doppelganger line has turned out. The Original was truly a selfless person."
"Maybe that is the curse of the doppelganger line. They worsen with each one." Klaus spat as he filled a tumbler with Scotch.
"That's right; you have known three of them. Tell me, what was the one from your human days like? Tatia was her name was it not?" Silas asked in genuine curiosity.
Klaus winced at the reminder of yet another of the doppelgangers that had pulled the proverbial wool over his eyes. "Yes her name was Tatia."
Silas narrowed his eyes in Klaus's direction, "Hmm. Just why are you closing yourself off from me I wonder?"
Kol sprung out of his chair clapping his hands as he spoke with unrepentant glee, "Now that Silas is quite the story!"
"Kol, do shut up." Klaus growled through his teeth.
"Oh come now brother. Silas here," He said as he swung his arm around Silas's shoulder, "should get to hear all about the doppelgangers and their penitence for coming between brothers and all."
Silas turned his head to face Kol with a grin, "Who? You and Niklaus here?"
Kol's expression dropped from his glee to morph into a face of disgust, "That lot has never tempted me to do anything to them but bodily harm. No. It was Nik and Elijah that fell into that wench Tatia's trap."
"Oh? Do tell." Silas asked with a smirk.
Klaus huffed as he stomped his way over to the side table to pour himself another drink tuning out Kol's explanation of the havoc Tatia had caused so long ago. He had no need to hear just what a fool he had been in the past when it came to that woman. He had no clue how Elijah could stomach any version of her. They were all the same; selfish and conceded, only looking after themselves. It sounded to him as if the real doppelganger curse was just that. Where the first, this Amara, Silas spoke of had given herself freely out of love of others, the rest only lived for themselves whether they realized it or not.
A hand on his shoulder drew him out of his inner brooding.
"I would have to agree with your idea there Niklaus." Silas whispered. "It would seem that none of those to follow Amara carried with them their true legacy. Instead they turned into selfish self-serving creatures. It's hard to believe that they were cut from the same cloth."
Klaus failed to hold back his irritation at having his mind read yet again from crossing his face. His gaze swiped the room around them, noticing Kol was nowhere to be found. "Did my brother annoy you to the point that you did away with him or did he just lose interest in a pointless retelling of the past?"
Silas chuckled, "Nether. He is off looking over the spell to ensure his and Caroline's survival as well as the destruction of the Other Side." Silas watched as Klaus's eyes turned introspective. Keeping his voice low he waved his hand granting the Hybrid permission to precede, "You have something you wish to ask me?"
"Once the Other Side is gone, just where is it you will go? Do you even know?" It was a thought that had plagued his mind since learning that the Other Side was not something formed from Nature but an extremely intricate spell woven by a vengeful witch.
"Of course I know." Klaus watched as Silas's eyes glazed over in what could only be named as longing, as if he was seeing the possibility of home for the first time in years.
Silas chuckled with a shake of his head, casting the look from his eyes, "Yes I suppose you could call it that. Home. What a truly profound thought Niklaus." He poured himself a drink and turned to face Klaus, "You must remember that this Other Side as it is known was not always what awaited us once we passed on. From the dawn of time, but what has been forgotten and lost to time, is what was known as the Infinite Realm. It is a place that, not surprising from its name, knows no bounds."
"What do you mean?" Klaus's eyes glittered as his mind drew in this new and unknown knowledge.
"Think of it this way My Son, one man's Heaven could be another man's Hell. Just the same as one's happiness could be another's misery." Silas watched as this information sunk in as he took a sip of his drink.
"So you are saying that the Infinite Realm holds peace for all who pass through there?" Klaus's forehead furrowed at the thought. He knew of many who would pass on that were not deserving of such a thing.
"Oh no. Not in the slightest My Son." Silas said with a soft smile and a shake of his head. "Tell me, does all mankind merit such a thing? Think of people such as Hitler or Stalin, do you feel they warrant such peace?"
"Of course not." Klaus scoffed. He knew in some circles he himself was considered a tyrant, someone who took immense pleasure in other's suffering. But never had he sought out the complete demise of an entire race or group of people. He might cause mayhem and murder for his own gain, but never had he contemplated the destruction of an entire civilization. Granted he had to admit that others would not agree.
"And so," Silas spoke drawing him out of his inner thoughts, "in the Infinite Realm there are those who will find purgatory for as long as deemed necessary before they ever have the chance of finding the peace they crave."
Klaus licked his lips before asking his next question, "Do you think those who have passed, those not of the supernatural, do you think they are there now?"
A smile lit Silas's face; he was filled with pride that Klaus had even thought to ask such a thing. "Without a doubt. The Other Side was created to hold only those that lived within the supernatural world, not those who were human." A wistful yet happy sigh left him, "I look forward to having the chance at seeing my wife once again." Klaus's eyes flickered around the room drawing Silas's attention to the introspective Hybrid once more, "What is on your mind? You can ask or talk to me about anything you know."
He swallowed deeply before uttering, "My brother." Klaus felt his heart pound as he breathed out the name he had not spoken aloud for so long, "Henrik. Will you…Could you…?" Klaus struggled as he cleared his throat unable to put to voice what he wanted to ask.
"Find him and look after him by chance?" Silas asked softly with a smile. "And no, it did not take reading your mind to figure out what you were trying to say. It is a normal thing to worry over a loved one." Silas took a step closer to Klaus, placing his hand on his shoulder with a gentle squeeze, "It would be my honor to find the young Henrik. Though I am sure he has watched over you all throughout the years."
Klaus visibly grimace, "I truly hope he has not. He would not be proud of what we have all turned into over the centuries."
"Circumstance has a way of changing us and how others view us as well. But who knows," Silas shrugged his shoulders and stepped away from Klaus, "maybe one day you will know for sure just how Henrik thinks and feels of you and your actions."
Silas began to walk to the doorway, set on leaving before his daughter returned, to handle a few more things before spending time alone with her. He almost made it out of the room before Klaus self-depreciating laugh stopped him.
"I am sure whatever it is that decides what we endure once we reach the Infinite Realm, I will not be amongst those existing in peace."
"You never know Niklaus. The thing that decides that might just surprise you." Silas spoke cryptically. He knew what would be asked next, he debated on giving the answer to Klaus or not. But in the end it was the look of utter hopelessness, of him truly believing that there was nothing redeemable about himself, that had Silas answer honestly when asked.
"And what thing is that?"
"Your true essence. Which yes, before you ask, can change over time and along with the circumstances you are involved in." Silas took a step back towards Klaus, "But ask yourself this, everything you have ever done, ever crime you have ever committed, what was its purpose? What have you done that was for your own selfish gain versus what have you done that was for the gain or assistance of others, of those you love? Does your good outweigh your bad? If not, can you rectify that in an honest and pure way?" Silas watched as Klaus licked his lip and went deep into his own mind, "Now, I think I shall take my leave. I will return later. Please remember not to speak of my coming back to Caroline. I shall see you later Niklaus." With a nod of his head he left the Hybrid who was swimming in his own thoughts and questions.
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Caroline dumped her bags on the chaise lounge in the bedroom then followed the sounds of the soft classical music into the art studio down the hall. The door was open and the sight of Klaus in his paint splattered jeans and T-shirt standing in front of an easel was something she wished she could capture on film. His face seemed serine, without a hint of the worry or the burden he normally carried with him lately when he thought she wasn't looking. It seemed art really was his passion, something he could do to really lose himself in. With a mischievous smirk she carefully and quietly pulled her phone out of the back pocket of the jeans she had changed into and quickly snapped a picture.
Hearing the click of the camera Klaus swiftly turned his head to the doorway to find Caroline leaning against its frame looking down at her phone with a tender smile.
"Just what do you think you are doing My Love?" He asked with a tender smile of his own.
"Hmm nothing." She said as she made a few more motions on her phone before placing it back in her pocket and pushed her body off the doorframe swinging her arms, "Just updating my background is all."
Klaus raised his eyebrow, "Is that so?" He set his pallet and brush down and flashed to her side pulling her phone from her pocket. "Let's see what you deem worthy of such a thing then."
Caroline tried to mask her giggles with a huff as she folded her arms over her chest and watched as he pressed the button to light up her screen.
His face showed his surprise at the image of himself staring back at him. The light filtered in from the large open windows to his side casting him and his easel in a shimmering light. His full body profile took up most of the photo as well as the side view of the painting he was working on. He never knew that was how he looked when he painted, so relaxed and free.
"You're not going to delete it are you?" Caroline's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Handing her phone back he heard her happy sigh as she looked at the photo of him once more with that tender smile. He stepped up to her wrapping his arms around her waist, her own going around his neck after she placed her phone back into her pocket.
"So I was thinking," She tilted her head cutely.
"Should I get a pen and some parchment to take down your list?" He asked with a teasing grin.
"Ha-ha very funny." His chuckle pulsated through her with how close they were pressed together. "I was actually thinking that if you aren't too busy we could all head out to the Grill."
"And just who is this we you speak of?" He asked as he ran his fingertips across her silky skin that peeked out from between her top and jeans.
One hand stayed on the back of his neck while she moved the other lower, tangling and untangling her fingers in his necklaces, "Rebekah, Bonnie, Kol and us." Her eyes glanced down at her fingers as she licked her lips then flicked back up to meet his, "I just thought that maybe with a group around us it might ease everyone else into seeing us out together." At the stunned but doubtful look on his face she faltered, "If you don't want to it's no big deal."
"No it's not that Caroline." He quickly sought to assure her. "As much as I would love nothing more than to make our formal debut as a couple, there is something else in line for you tonight." He finished with a smirk.
"Oh and what would that be?" She beamed adorably up at him.
"Hmm. There could be something in lines of a surprise for you this evening that will have you tied up in other things." His dimples showed as he smiled, knowing she would never guess just what or who would be coming to see her.
"Well," She whispered as she ran her face along his, breathing her words into his ear causing his eyes to flutter closed, "You can always tie me up later, after we go out to the Grill."
A deep moan left his throat at the visions that danced through his mind of an unbearably lovely Caroline, tied down and spread out naked on their bed, a salivating feast for his senses. If he did not force his mind away from such thoughts it would take but a moment to have his vision a reality and that was not a way he wished for her Father to find them later. He pulled away from her with a dimpled smile, tapping her on her nose, "Not that type of surprise My Love. But that is one we will need to revisit someday soon." He said with a wink as he began the task of cleaning up his art supplies.
"Okay." Caroline said confused but quickly disregarded her confusion in lieu of her upcoming surprise, "So what is this mysterious surprise you have planned for me?"
"Oh no My Love, I was sworn to secrecy and I intend to keep my word." He chuckled at he heard the whine in her voice.
"Oh come on!" She groaned with her arms going out beside her. She slowly walked towards him with a smile hoping to convince him, pinching her fingers in front of her face as she bounced on her toes, "Can't you give me just the tiniest little hint?"
Klaus laughed deeply at her attempts to wheedle information out of him, "You really do not do surprises, do you Caroline?"
"Um hello! Have you met me?" She looked at him with wide eyes, almost appalled. "I once snuck under the Christmas tree and snuck a peek at all of my gifts just so I would know how to react when I opened them in front of everyone."
Klaus hummed under his breath with a cocked eyebrow, "Remind me to hide any future gifts where you cannot find them."
"Good luck with that." Caroline snickered.
The sound of the front door opening drew their attention away from each other. Klaus made his way to her linking her arm in his with a tender smile, "Well it looks as though you will not have to wait any longer for your surprise." The excitement on her face captivated him as they made their way down the staircase. He was so enthralled with her eager expression that it took him by surprise when it fell to a look of confusion.
"This is my surprise?" Caroline asked skeptically with her arm raised waving at the man standing in the entryway.
Elijah had walked into mansion closing the door behind him, then straightening his cuffs of his suit as he glanced around looking to see who was home. Finding none of his siblings in sight, he crossed the foyer to the staircase making it only a few steps into the house before he heard two sets of footsteps making their way towards him.
"No Love, I believe this one belongs to me." He whispered to her before planting an impish grin on his face, "Elijah! What an unexpected surprise. You are looking quite well after your nasty run in with the wolves. What brings you here?"
"Niklaus." Elijah greeted his brother. "I am pleased you came to your senses sooner rather than later. Though I find your reasoning's quiet beyond my comprehension. Just what game are you playing brother?"
"Whatever do you mean Elijah?" Klaus ask innocently.
"From what I hear you are holding the cure for Miss. Forbes here, but I also hear tales of a possible relationship between the two of you." Elijah looked to the woman who stood next to his brother at the bottom of the staircase, "You should know Miss. Forbes my brother does not take well to the people he deems close to him attempting to leave him."
Caroline scoffed, waving her hand around with her hip cocked out to the side, "And what's you point Elijah?"
"My point is," He drew himself up, not liking the way this baby vampire was speaking to him in such a manner; "if you think he will give you the cure, allowing you to become human, you are unfortunately mistaken."
"Please excuse me Elijah, but you have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe if you were around more you might actually know that Klaus is only looking out for…"
"It's quite alright Caroline, no need to defend me with my brother." Klaus looked at her softly but conveyed his message that he did not want his brother knowing what was going on. Not until he was ready for him to know. At her slight nod of understanding he bit back a smile as she leveled a withering glare back towards Elijah. "So you were about to tell us just why you are here."
Elijah didn't miss the silent exchange between the two, nor did he understand the hostility radiating off the girl towards him. Placing his right hand into his jacket pocket he informed them, "I am just here to pick up a few things then I will be off once more."
"Ah yes, off to your little den of sin with the doppelganger. Where is your little harlot? Surely you did not bring her here?" Klaus asked cheekily.
Elijah scoffed, "As if I would be fool enough to bring her here, even with you promises of her freedom."
"You're fool enough to be with her in the first place." Caroline muttered under her breath.
Elijah narrowed his eyes at her, "It would behoove you to not only speak up but also not to speak of things you have no clue of."
"Ok fine," Caroline stood straighter taking a step towards him and away from Klaus's side, "Here's a behooving loudly spoken comment for you. You are an idiot."
Klaus's bellowing laughter was accompanied by Kol's who was leaving the study to join them.
"Excuse me?" Elijah asked flustered with Caroline's demeanor.
"No you are not excused." Caroline spoke strongly with a nod of her head, "You really think that Katherine of all people isn't just using you to gain her freedom from Klaus? Whatever the hell that even means. You think she isn't going to drop you like a bad habit once she realizes it's safe?"
"I can assure you that you know nothing of Katerina and our relationship." Elijah growled.
Caroline shook her head with a scoff, "Right, I know nothing of the vindictive bitch that smothered me with a pillow as part of a damn game against Stefan and Damon. Who used me when she first came into town, trying to mess with her other two lovers, who in case you were wondering, were not you. She only ever looks out for herself." Caroline stopped with a shrug of her shoulders, "But then again, maybe you're right." She laughed lightly as she walked back to Klaus's side, "You are the one that has spent so much time with her over the past Five-hundred years. Oh wait! No you haven't."
Elijah snarled towards Caroline but stopped once he heard Klaus's growl of warning. Pulling down his jacket ends he looked passed the girl to his brother, "I suggest you teach your current dalliance some manners while she is under our roof Niklaus."
Caroline's indignant huff was calmed by Klaus's hand on her arm but it was Kol who spoke up first as he and Rebekah walked side by side into the room.
"I assure you Elijah; this is as much her roof as it is ours." Kol pointed a finger at him, withholding his smirk at the mannerism he picked up from Caroline, "It would behoove you to treat her with the respect she is entitled to as the newest Lady of the house."
Elijah looked to Rebekah, "And you sister, are you standing for this as well? As I well remember you never did take light to there being any other Lady of the house other than yourself."
Kol chuckled, "She would have to be a Lady first and we all know she is nothing but a strumpet."
Caroline stomped her foot on the top of Kol's who stood beside her, "Hey!" She waved her finger in his face, "You need to stop calling her things like that. We all know you are way more of a strumpet than she will ever be!"
The foursome all looked at one another before breaking into fits of laughter with Elijah looking on dumbfounded at what was happening around him. He couldn't help but watch in awe as his siblings all laughed happily with the blonde haired girl. He couldn't help but think that maybe he had misjudged this situation as well as the girl herself. It had been years since he had seen his siblings look so carefree and dare he think, united.
Elijah cleared his throat and adjusted his tie; such things would be better thought of later, when he had time to observe them more, to make a more informed decision. "Well then, I shall handle what I came here to take care of." He turned to make his way up the staircase only to be stopped by an angry looking Klaus placing his hand on his arm.
"You really didn't think you could sneak away now did you brother?" Klaus tsked at him.
"Yes brother, we do have more to discuss." Kol smirked having flashed to Elijah's other side.
Elijah looked between his two brothers, "And what is this? The two of you decided to join forces?" He scoffed, "And for what? Kol you know that now that he has the cure he is going to start his mission once more of building his army of hybrids and he will mow down any of us that dares to stand in his way. I once thought him able to find redemption, to see that his pointless want of owning hybrids was nothing but a failed attempt at creating a family he already had. But I fear I was sadly mistaken."
Klaus finally dropped his act, having had enough of Elijah's self-indulgent speeches. He grabbed ahold of Elijah's upper arm spinning and throwing him across the room. Stalking his way over to where his brother landed, making it to him just as he stood from the ground dusting himself off, Klaus shouted, "You know nothing! You think yourself a Saint don't you brother?" He spat. "While you've been off with your backstabbing whore, I've been here working endlessly to put together an intricate plan to save not only Caroline but our brother as well." He chuckled sinisterly, "You talk of my redemption! You speak of my failures! What of yours?" He shouted so loud the other's jumped.
"What nonsense do you speak of now Niklaus?" Elijah snarled back.
"The nonsense I speak of is the fact that had I not been two steps ahead of your duplicity I would have a fake cure that would only lead to our brother's death!" Klaus roared.
Elijah's eyes widened in shock, he quickly glanced around the room at the others finding nothing but the truth blazing from their eyes at this new information. "I don't understand. If this is the truth…If I had known…" He pulled what he thought to be the cure from his inner jacket pocket looking from it to his siblings.
Kol flashed over to him, knocking the fake cure from his hands causing it to shatter as it hit the floor, sneering directly in his face, "If you had known you would have what? Pray recall dear honorable brother of mine I tried to inform you. I tried to explain but you could not be bothered with, what was it you said to me on that phone call? My useless prattle?"
Elijah recalled the phone call Kol was speaking of, he had been with Rebekah at the time, and they had just closed in on Katerina when Kol had called him. He had begun ranting and raving about the importance of them having the cure. He vaguely recalled Kol saying something about it meaning life or death for him. And that was when he had caught sight of Katerina. He had cut Kol off with a rehearsed; I have no time for your prattle Kol, and then hung up. Now that the details were coming back to him, the fact that Kol had attempted to include him, to trust him with this, his face well into a look of genuine remorse.
He took hold of Kol's arm to stop him from moving away, "If this is all true Kol, then why not be upfront with me? Why go to Niklaus instead of me?"
Kol chuckled as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard, "You might have never placed the dagger into my chest Elijah," Kol sneered as he tore his arm from Elijah's hold, "but you never did anything to stop it either."
Elijah followed after him across the foyer floor, "I fought for you! I came back to this town in the very beginning to secure the location of your and our sibling's bodies from him," He pointed angrily towards Klaus, "he who hid them and led me to believe you had all perished. Niklaus is the one who daggered us all whenever he felt we were out of line."
Kol spun back around, "Yes but at least he never lied or hid behind false modesty and mannerisms. Tell me Elijah," He said with a devious smirk with his eyes flitting over to Klaus, "just how long have you known where your little harlot was all these years? How many times did you point our brother in mine or Rebekah's direction whenever he would get too close to finding your sweet Katerina?" He heard Rebekah's sharp gasp from behind him, "We are family yet you used us as her shield for all these years. Then when I come back from the dead and when I need my family to stand by my side and help me to stay alive, you choose your paramour again."
Elijah let his hand fall limply at his side, "Kol I had no idea."
Kol scoffed, hardening his face in attempts to hide his hurt and betrayal, "I don't care for your excuses or your fake attempts at finding your way back into the family folds. Our sister and Nik can make their own decision when it comes to you but I am done Elijah. I will not reside under the same roof as a traitor masquerading as my so-called loving brother." Knowing he was close to losing his grip on his emotions he flashed from the room.
Elijah sucked in a stunned breath and moved to follow after his baby brother only to come up against an unmovable wall made of Rebekah and Klaus. He glanced around their shoulders to find an even more shocking site of Caroline chasing after Kol with a worried look about her face.
"You heard him brother," Klaus said coldly, "it's time for you to leave before I decide to pull your dagger out of hiding and place you back into your coffin." With that he turned, sharing a quick look with his sister before following Caroline after Kol.
"Rebekah." Elijah spoke softly reaching forward to place his hand on her shoulder only to once again drop it limply to his side as she shrugged away from him before he could touch her.
"You need to go Elijah." Rebekah tried to keep a firm grip on her wavering voice as she crossed her arms over her chest in attempts to hold herself together.
"Rebekah please." Elijah's voice was near pleading, "Sister you can't honestly believe…"
"Believe what Elijah?" Her voice cracked as her blue eyes filled with tears she tried so hard not to shed, "That my brother, the pillar of our family, sold us out to save a vindictive little tramp over the years? That when it suited you and your purposes you would use us as a means to save her?" At the look in Elijah's eyes she knew the truth as she gasped, "Kol was right." She wiped away the traitorous tear that fell and squared her shoulders, "At least Nik was upfront about his motives, and at least he took the time over the years to spend time with us, to in his own convoluted way show us that he cares. But what have you done? Where were you when we needed you? You do nothing but hide behind your perfect suits and you skewed sense of morals. I think you need this time away from us to take a good long look in the mirror at yourself. I agree with Nik, you always wax on about finding his redemption but I think what you were really trying to find was your own." She turned to walk away from him, her heart broken at all that she had learned of the brother she had always thought could do no wrong.
"Sister." Elijah breathed out, his voice filled with regret and remorse.
Rebekah stopped and turned her head but did not look in his direction, "I hope you find whatever it is you are looking for Elijah. Goodbye." Turning her head back forward she walked away.
Leaving Elijah standing there alone, feeling the painful dismissal from his family before he slowly walked out of the house, not bothering to gather anything he had originally came for.
Rebekah walked into the parlor where the others already had drinks in their hands. They all heard the soft click of the front door being closed, each sibling closing their eyes for a second at the sound.
Caroline picked up the tumbler she had readied for Rebekah and left Klaus's side to hand it over with a small sympathetic smile, "Are you guys sure you want to ban Elijah? I know I don't have any idea how a real family dynamic works but he is your brother."
Rebekah smiled at Caroline, grateful for her honest concern for them, "I think it is well past time that Elijah gets knocked off that high horse of his."
Caroline looked to a dark brooding Kol who stood glaring out of the window behind the desk. She slowly made her way to him only to be stopped by Klaus. Looking up at him questioningly she went to speak but snapped her mouth closed at the shake of his head and his mouthed words of, "Not now Love." Her shoulders slumped with a silent sigh and a nod of her head as her worried eyes glanced back at Kol.
Klaus wrapped his arm around Caroline's shoulders and smiled softly as she laid her head against his chest. He glanced up at his sister rolling his eyes at her mocking but pleased smile.
The ringing of the doorbell brought Caroline's head off of Klaus, "Who could it be now?" She sighed.
Klaus smiled widely down at her as he tucked her hair behind her ear, "That would be your real surprise."
Caroline glanced around the room at the others, "I don't think we are up for any more surprises tonight. Why don't we wait for another time?"
"Nonsense Caroline," Kol spoke from his spot at the window turning to face her with a light grin, "Don't let our family squabbles take this away from you." He seen her bite her lip unsure of what to do. He lifted a shaking finger at her and scolded her, "Now don't start mothering us; we will all be just fine without your coddling."
Caroline giggled and rolled her eyes, "Ok fine, but if you need me…" She trailed off.
"I know where you live." Kol chuckled.
Caroline smiled with a nod of her head and began to walk out of the room letting Klaus lead her only to stop next to Rebekah, "You too alright?"
Rebekah rolled her eyes, "Yes. Yes. Us girl need to stick together and all such nonsense." As Caroline and her brother left the room a whispered, "Thank you Caroline." Could be heard floating behind them.
Klaus stopped Caroline in the foyer with his wrist held up in front of her, "Drink My Love." He demanded softly.
Caroline pressed her lips together in confusion at his random request, but knew well enough to just do as he asked. She rolled her eyes before gently biting into his wrist taking a few deep pulls of his blood in her mouth before letting go and licking her lips, not wanting to get lost in his taste.
Klaus leaned down placing a tender kiss on her lips, pulling back with a smile before he turned to leave her alone.
Caroline watched him walk away before the doorbell rang again. Slowly she made her way to the door trying to figure out why Klaus wouldn't want to be here for whatever this surprise was that he had planned for her. Cautiously she opened the door to find a man standing with his back facing her.
Hearing the door open he slowly spun to face her with a beaming smile on his face.
Caroline's face lit up, "Papa!" She gasped happily as she flung herself into his waiting arms.
Silas spun his daughter in a few quick circles, "Little One." He would never get over how much she had grown or how wonderful it felt having her in his arms once again.
"What's going on? Why are you here?" Caroline asked once her feet were back on the ground.
"Can't a Father come to spend some time with his only daughter?" Silas asked cheekily.
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I promise to be back soon! All you love sends me over the Moon!
PS…If you skipped it go back up to the top and check out my Author's Note! ;)