Geez sorry for such a hiatus guys, the job people still have me on tenterhooks – can you believe it? That's five weeks now! They say they will let me know by the end of this week. Ridiculous. I haven't had much energy for anything but pacing around waiting. I rewrote this chapter a few times, trying to figure out where I wanted it to go. Hope you like it. Rest assured that although they have a baby now, they're still our sex addict boys so don't worry. This aint twilight honies!

Chapter 43 BF

"This is your fault, all of it." Damon growled at Klaus as he felt Stefan's pain upstairs.

Stefan was dressing Vida in the clothes Caroline and Elena had brought for them and he was sobbing at the thought of having to separate from her so soon. It made Damon's blood boil. Klaus wasn't unaffected, to be fair. Elizabeth was suffering also and it did seem to be having an impact on Klaus's nerves and confidence that there was nothing to worry about.

"Enough Damon." Klaus warned, rolling some bourbon around the bottom of his glass as Damon folded his arms.

"Our whole lives, all of ours, have been tweaked since birth to bring you down. All because you are selfish, power hungry bastard."

Klaus blurred to him pinning him against the wall and squeezing his throat. Damon gave a choked laugh and glared at him.

"Not so long ago I couldn't stand the thought of your continued existence Damon. I wanted rid of you, but I spared you. Don't forget that." Klaus hissed, "Let's also not forget that you are tied to me now, as is your daughter – a daughter you would never have had had it not been for your manipulated DNA connection to me."

Damon struggled, his face turning red and Klaus dropped him to his knees and exhaled.

"You may be one of mine Damon, but I will not tolerate you challenging me."

"Then do something!" Damon coughed.

Hate

Damon channelled and looked up at him accusingly.

"Don't try to hate me too hard mate. You might just become me someday. You're more like me than you realise."

Damon snorted and stood up, rubbing his throat.

Damon I need you.

Stefan channelled and he looked up to the ceiling in response. Klaus sighed.

"When this is over, leave us alone. We may be related and tied but I don't want to see your face again." Damon said and left the room as Klaus inhaled and sat back down to finish his drink.

Damon walked at normal pace up to the room they had picked to be the nursery. He had thought it a terrible idea at the time to make up a nursery as if Vida was really living there, but Anne had pointed out how much more the other vampires would be convinced that she was still here should they create this illusion, rather than being off safe with Liz and Rick.

Stefan had wanted to do it too, to make her life seem real and Damon had helped him arrange the little room with all of the things their friends had supplied. Vida didn't seem to need diapers yet. Everyone was curious and waiting but neither baby expelled anything – just like they didn't. Stefan had been teary but brave throughout the last few hours, preparing and as Damon approached the hallway he sighed and walked slowly – delaying the separation for as long as possible.

Vida giggled inside and Damon pushed the door ajar quietly, peeking in for a moment to see Stefan's moment of intimacy with her. Stefan had immediately fallen into the shoes of a parent. He was a natural as Damon imagined he would be. He on the other hand, although having always wanted a child, had no real clue as to how to do things. He'd have to learn.

Stefan lifted her and rocked her while making whooshing sounds and she screamed in delight and kicked her legs as she gazed up at him.

"My baby girl." Stefan whispered. "I love you more than the world."

Damon entered, giving Stefan a small smile as he felt his chest tighten painfully. He didn't know if he was going to be able to let her go. He could hear Liz and Caroline preparing in the lounge already, discussing where to take them and how they would feed. Because the babies were blood drinkers too, they needed that, but no one knew if they fed on human blood as well. Liz wasn't exactly enthused about offering up her own veins, so Stefan had given some of he and Damon's bottles for both babies. The babies would struggle with feeding from bottles though. They had fangs for that purpose. Everyone was tense. Would they accept a bottle feed at all? Monique had offered to go with them, to ensure that if they needed to bite and feed that there was still a mate around and Elizabeth had agreed.

Elizabeth wanted to be at Klaus's side to defend her baby, not hiding, especially since Bonnie had shared what she'd known about Jack's involvement. Elizabeth was struggling to reconcile, but what she did know was that whatever he may have done, these vampires had killed him by ending the coven when they had and they were going to pay.

"Hey." Stefan said as Damon approached.

They kissed softly for a second as Vida giggled at them.

Love

Love

"It's time." Stefan said and Damon nodded, gulping as he looked down at her.

"Daddies have to do some stuff. You're going to be ok with Aunt Monique and Aunt Liz." Stefan cooed at her and she stared up at him. "They're going to keep you safe."

Safe, baby, love

Damon channelled and she looked at him. Stefan handed her over to him and he took her, fighting tears and she frowned.

"Hey princess." He gave a smile. "Now I want you to be as much trouble as possible while daddies are making you safe ok? Show them all what a Salvatore can do."

Stefan chuckled and shook his head, bending down to lift her bag of things.

She began to sniffle and he cooed at her, rocking her like he'd seen Stefan just do.

"Don't be afraid. You're daddies are going to kick some butt and then come back and get you." Damon kissed her forehead and Stefan exhaled and squeezed his eyes closed for a second.

Uncertainty

They both looked to her at her channelling.

"Did she just…" Damon began and Stefan nodded in awe. "Uncle Rick's going to look after you too. He's daddy's best friend. He won't let anything happen." He whispered and stroked her tiny cheeks as they turned red.

"Damon." Stefan whispered, laying his chin on Damon's shoulder as he hinted towards the clock in the room.

They had to hurry. Come sunset the other vampires could descend upon the house.

Screw this, why don't we just leave now Stefan. Let's just go now, get out of here. Run as fast as we can.

Stefan put his face in his hands. They'd already had this conversation.

"What about Toby huh? What about everyone else here, willing to fight and put their lives on the line for us?"

"I don't care. All I care about is making sure you two are safe." Damon struggled.

"I know." Stefan said and pressed their foreheads together. "We have a family now Damon. We protect each other."

"What if we can't? We have no idea how many of them are coming, what strength…Stefan what if…"

"Damon…" Stefan exhaled and looked to Vida who was scrunching up her face, ready to blow in floods of tears and Damon swallowed and closed his eyes, fighting his instincts just to grab Stefan and drag him out of the window and down to his car.

Vida began to ball and Damon shed a few tears as he tried to shake his own emotions off. This wasn't helping. He cooed and tried to settle her but she wouldn't have it, pushing her legs and turning her face away from him as she cried. He choked and bounced her, feeling utterly useless and weak. This was his family and he was supposed to be able to protect them, to know what to do and he didn't. He was scared, more scared than he'd ever been. The stakes were so much higher than ever before. Stefan held him and whispered to him comfortingly, helping him move his arms in a motion that she seemed to like and she calmed a little.

"When this is over, we'll go anywhere you want." Stefan kissed Damon neck. "We'll do anything you want."

Damon nodded but didn't believe him for a second.

"Come on." Stefan guided him out of the room.

They walked down the stairs depressed already as they saw everyone ready to go. They were taking the babies to stay at a new apartment Rick had moved to. So far no one else had been invited in, so even under duress, no vampire, including those present, could enter. Monique had agreed to stay in the apartment next door for feeding issues and protection, but not to gain entry either. They couldn't take the chance. No one was sure if the babies had to be invited in, but if they had to be, Rick could do so.

"You ready?" Elena stroked Stefan's arm and looked to them both, as Damon paled and held Vida to him.

"Yeah." Stefan said, strained and looked to Damon. "If something happens, get them as far away from here as you can. Promise me." He looked to Rick and Liz.

"I promise." Rick said and nodded to Damon.

Damon swallowed and exhaled in torment.

"If you fear for their safety, get them out of here. Just go and don't look back." Stefan said.

Liz approached Damon for Vida and gave him an understanding smile as he handed her over, trembling.

"You look after my baby and I'll look after yours." She whispered and he nodded.

Stefan held him, both of them trembling now as they watched Liz and Rick leave. Monique had gone on ahead and Tyler, Karl and Michael were scouting to make sure there was no one watching.

"Lena, you have to get out of here too. It's not safe." Stefan said.

"I'm not leaving you." She said and Damon shook his head.

"Unless you want to distract us, leave. We can't worry about you too." Damon said and she paled and looked down at her hands anxiously.

"You can be our eyes out there." Stefan said and she nodded. "Just don't get involved when they arrive and attack. Get to Liz and make sure you're not followed."

"Ok." She agreed.

This was it. The final battle.

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The night came and went and nothing happened. They took turns staying awake to be on guard. Damon's nerves were wrought. He and Stefan were finally alone and able to join but they felt too stressed too.

"Come lie with me." Stefan whispered as he kissed Damon's cheeks. "I need you."

"I don't know if I can." Damon admitted sadly.

He felt too wound up. Every sound or creak of a floorboard had him on edge. This wasn't exactly a romantic atmosphere.

You need to be strong.

Stefan reminded and Damon nodded and followed him to their bed, undressing and climbing in with him. Stefan lay underneath him and coaxed him to lie on top of him.

I want to feel you.

Stefan stroked the sides of Damon's face and opened his legs so Damon could lie in between them. Damon lay down and immediately felt his body vibrate. They needed this. It was right. Yet all he could think about, was that this should be the last thing on their minds with Vida in danger. Stefan sighed and brought Damon's head down to his mouth, kissing him softly.

She has the strongest daddy in the world…when he's himself – not floating inside his own body.

Stefan pointed out and Damon exhaled and lay his face on Stefan's collarbone, as Stefan carded his fingers through the back of Damon's head hair.

"Make love to me and make us strong." Stefan encouraged and Damon began to slide his hands over Stefan's skin, enjoying every muscle and patch of soft skin on his mates' body.

Stefan relaxed, focussing only on Damon. He had to. They both had to. They couldn't defend their family if they weren't strong.

Damon began to place small kisses on Stefan's chest, dragging his long fringe over him and making him shudder.

"Mmmmn." Stefan sighed, smelling their perfume intensify.

Damon took a nipple into his mouth and sucked, rolling his tongue around it and Stefan let out a little gasp of pleasure and flexed his hips upward. Damon began to focus and grew more interested, his manhood growing hard and rubbing against Stefan's thighs as he moved down his body, nibbling and kissing until he got to his stomach. He paused and sniffed there. Stefan looked down. Damon rubbed his cheek there and placed a small kiss before moving downward and Stefan ached to ask him what he was thinking.

Do I still smell good?

Yeah.

Like before?

It's different.

Damon took Stefan's erection into his mouth and Stefan gave up thinking as he tilted his head back and opened his mouth wide. It felt like forever since they'd had sex without heat or hormones getting in the way. Damon worked him hard and teasingly and he began to moan, embarrassed that he was approaching his climax so quickly.

Damon pulled back at the last moment and Stefan whimpered, then he realised why. Stefan's entrance was wet again. He huffed, feeling emotional and upset and Damon climbed back up to his face and kissed him comfortingly. Was he always going to have this weirdness now? Was he always going to be like a woman?

Damon pulled him up suddenly and held him, as they got onto their knees and kissed each other. Damon kissed around to Stefan's neck and bit down. Stefan mewled and left his switch off. The blood wave began and they both reeled at its intensity. It felt like a tidal wave and Stefan felt himself being pulled forwards and down on top of Damon as Damon drank and held him tight. Stefan bit into the side of Damon's shoulder and began to drink too, making Damon stop and pant, moaning at the sensation.

Fuck me Stefan.

Hmm?

I'm going to die if you don't cum inside of me.

Damon channelled with such urgency that Stefan felt slightly manhandled as Damon opened his legs and arched impatiently. Stefan pulled his fangs out and looked down surprised. Stefan was the one with the wet entrance now. He was the mutant/life grower or whatever – wasn't he? Shouldn't Damon want to be inside of him?

Stefan…

Damon grunted and Stefan pinned Damon's hands down and watched him squirm for a few seconds.

You want me huh?

Hurry!

You want my spunk for a change do you?

Stefan…

Stefan marvelled at his wonderful mate, despite the changes to his body, they were still equals. He released one of Damon's hands and reached behind to collect some of his fluid. Damon inhaled sharply at the smell and his pupils dilated in want. He licked his lips at the scent and sight of Stefan lowering his fingers and coating Damon's entrance with it. Stefan pushed his fingers inside and Damon almost whined.

So my black haired one wants me inside.

Stefan stop fucking teasing and fuck my brains out already!

Stefan smirked and placed his erection at Damon's entrance. Damon closed his eyes as he slid inside and Stefan smiled widely. Their bodies flooded them with endorphins. They were finally joined. Stefan began to move, reeling from how powerfully their bodies were vibrating and Damon moaned incoherently and met him thrust for thrust.

"I love you." Stefan panted and pulled Damon's legs forward so he could get deeper inside.

His entrance pulsed in want and leaked the delicious fluid but it didn't matter. He was feeling with his whole body and nothing about it felt foreign or bad. This was still his body and he had control. Damon's veins protruded and he became feverish as he approached his climax, growling and crying out as he grabbed Stefan's forearms. Stefan lay down on top of him and bit into his neck once more and Damon yelled and climaxed in between their stomachs.

Stefan felt a huge burst of happiness and love fill his body and he shed some tears as he released inside of him. Damon seemed to be sobbing too as they held each other and kissed their faces, stroking each other's cheeks. Damon's cheeks were scarlet, his lips swollen from kissing and biting his lips so as not to make too much noise and Stefan chuckled, holding Damon's legs around his waist as he felt himself spill a little more inside. Damon sighed and watched him.

"I think…" Stefan breathed, "That you need to be fucked more often my black haired one."

"Clearly." Damon chuckled and smiled. "I've had a Stefan shaped void inside of me."

Stefan kissed his mouth sweetly and pulled out of him, making him grumble.

"Wham bam huh?" Damon sat up on his elbows as Stefan climbed off of the bed and started the shower.

Stefan gave him a sad smile. They were preparing for battle. They couldn't share this moment much longer. They had to be ready. Damon sighed and squeezed his soft manhood, looking down and Stefan checked his cell phone for messages for Liz.

I miss you.

Damon channelled and Stefan looked over at him in surprise. Damon caught his eyes and exhaled quietly.

I'm right here.

"Everything's going to be different now." Damon said and Stefan felt his throat tighten. "We're parents now. Not just mates."

"It doesn't mean I'm going to love you any less." Stefan said and walked back over to him. "You're the world."

Damon nodded.

"We'll figure this out." Stefan stroked through Damon's hair.

"Have you heard from..?" Damon began, looking at the cell phone in Stefan's hand.

"Radio silence, remember?" Stefan reminded.

They had to make it look like the babies were still here and therefore there was to be no communication from Liz, Rick and Monique unless they were under attack. Caroline had somehow found sound files of babies crying and had played them on and off through the night to make it seem even more realistic that the babies were residing here. Stefan had barely slept at first, waking every time he heard a cry and feeling like he wanted to rip his hair out. Their little Vida was probably crying and afraid of these new care givers whom she couldn't feed from.

Damon sensed his thoughts and hugged him.

"This will be over soon and we'll go get her."

Love

Love you my black haired one. We can be a family and still be us. I promise.

Damon nodded and rubbed his eyes.

There was a loud crash somewhere in the house and they both stood up abruptly and scanned the room for invaders.

"Someone's here." Stefan said and they both dressed in a blur.

Danger, danger!

They heard the channelling and they grabbed their weapons. They had plenty of stakes, axes, chains etc. and they were prepared to have no mercy whatsoever on whoever would challenge them. They wanted their baby back and they'd make it happen as quickly as possible.

They exited their room, using their wits as they felt their family members struggling and warning them. Their ability to channel to each other was another advantage that the other vampires wouldn't have.

Let's set the trap like we planned. Did Caroline bring the doll?

Yeah.

You go into the nursery, I'll scout.

Damon said and Stefan nodded and went into the nursery, lifting the doll they'd dressed to look like a real child. They had planned on using it as bait. If there were too many intruders for them to pick off one at a time, then they'd lure them into the nursery and corner them. Klaus however had other plans of his own. He planned on ripping any intruder apart before they could even get that far. He was almost enjoying their discussions of battle and carnage. It hadn't escaped anyone's' notice either, especially Elizabeth.

Be safe little blood machine. I love you.

Love you Mr immortal.

Stefan channelled and Damon chuckled. Now that Klaus was linked to Damon he couldn't be killed, or at least that's what Klaus said. It didn't seem real though. It hadn't stopped Stefan's body pulling his soul almost right out of his body. They couldn't really trust it.

Damon ventured down the stairs, immediately dogging a body flying through the air towards them as it crashed into the hallway behind him.

I'm fine Stefan!

He channelled quickly and ran to help as at least five vampires he didn't know piled into his lounge to attack. Karl and Michael were fighting furiously with them so Damon jumped in to help.

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"Listen to me I won't have anything happen to you! You're staying here!" Klaus argued with Elizabeth as they heard the fighting begin.

"I can defend myself Nicklaus!" She shrugged him off.

"It's too dangerous." He growled and she slapped him hard, shocking him into silence as she shed a few tears.

"How dare you try and take this away from me. They killed Jack! It's my right." She hissed and he looked down at the ground and swallowed. "If you stand in my way I'll never forgive you."

"And what about your son?" He argued weakly.

This woman was always his weak point.

"If something happens to me..." She swallowed and they looked at each other silently, "I want you to take him."

"What?" He asked stunned, thinking on all if the other choices she had here - Anne, Monique, even the Salvatore's.

"Be the kind of father I always knew you could be. Better than yours." She said and he paled. "Now...get out of the way, my love." She said and swept past him as he stared at the space where she had been in shock.

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"There are too many! They're everywhere!" Caroline shouted as she and Anne hid behind a tree in the woods, breathing for a second and scanning.

"We can't take them all on one on one. We have to set a trap of some kind." Anne panted and Caroline chewed her lip.

They ducked as body parts showered in their direction.

"It's like they're on a kamikaze mission or something!" Caroline exclaimed in horror.

These vampires we're taking no prisoners with their approach. It almost seemed like they would get the babies or die. They both shook their heads in recognition of that fear.

"Caroline, go, run now before it's too late. Go to your mother."

"What?" Caroline frowned.

"You have a life here, a human one still. Go before something happens to you."

"I can't leave you to fight alone."

"I'm not alone darling. I have my family here. You should go and protect yours."

Caroline looked around, Tyler and Elena were in the woods somewhere, keeping lookout, fighting, risking their lives. Stefan was in the house, fighting for his daughter and mate. She shook her head and Anne searched her eyes.

"This is my family." She said with conviction and stood up, looking towards a group of vampires heading in their direction.

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"Keep down!" Tyler knocked Elena to safety as he ripped the heart out of a vampire attacking him.

They were like ants! Everywhere he looked they appeared. It didn't seem to matter how many of them he killed, there were always more. He panted and reached to touch Elena's shoulder. She shouldn't be here. He'd told her to go home or to Liz but she'd seen the first couple of vampires approaching and had decided to stay.

"How can there be so many?" She croaked, holding her arm as it throbbed.

He could smell it was broken from the way she'd been grabbed by one of them. She was braving it and not letting on, but it must be painful.

"I don't know." He sighed and snapped his head around when he heard a crack.

"It's me Ty!" Nathan called and Tyler relaxed and rubbed his face. "How many?"

"I don't know man. I think I've taken down six so far but they just keep appearing. I feel like I'm in a video game here."

Nathan nodded and looked to Elena, wide eyed when he smelled her injury.

"We should head back to the house, regroup." Nathan suggested and Tyler nodded, helping Elena up and biting into his wrist so she could heal.

She deliberated for a second but the pain overwhelmed her thinking and she sucked from him.

"Can you feel them in there? Are they alright?" Tyler asked, indicating towards the house and Nathan exhaled and nodded.

"Some got in but they've been handled."

"Where's Klaus?" Elena asked, recovering as she leant on Tyler for support.

"Inside."

"What the hell's he doing? Why isn't he out here helping us?!" Tyler growled, furious.

"I don't know." Nathan agreed angrily.

"Never thought I'd see the day where I was trying to save his sorry ass." Tyler shook his head as they walked.

"It's not his ass we're saving." Elena pointed out.

"Then whose?" A voice asked and they all spun around as Elena groaned at the movement.

A woman stood before them, ready for a fight but standing confidently, calmly.

"Take Elena." Tyler hinted to Nathan and the woman looked to Elena and gave a sympathetic smile.

"She's not in danger from me. I don't kill humans. Whether they work for Klaus or not." The woman said.

"I do not work for Klaus." Elena growled and the woman raised an eyebrow.

"Then why aren't you helping us? Help us kill him."

"He can't be killed! Haven't you guys done your homework? He's immortal for real. You're all just going to get yourselves killed unless you back off!" Tyler spoke through his teeth, his Wolf eyes glowing in warning.

"You're a hybrid. One of them. Well that explains it."

"Klaus doesn't control me." Tyler hissed and the woman crossed her arms and studied him.

"Prove it then. Help your kind finish him for real."

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." Nathan threatened and she looked to him, sniffing discretely.

"You want to let him enslave you? Kill your friends, your pack?" The woman asked incredulously and he bore his human teeth at her.

"What's it to you anyway?" Nathan spat and her eyes glowed gold.

Both he and Tyler gasped in surprise.

"You're a wolf?" Tyler frowned and she nodded.

"You're working with the vampires?"

"We'll take them all down once Klaus is gone."

"We keep telling you, he can't be killed!" Elena burst out, feeling more and more exposed the longer this conversation went on.

This could be a trap, something to keep them occupied while others invaded the house.

"No but he can be reduced to a corpse as near as death as possible, so no wolf ever has to worry about being violated and enslaved by him ever again." She looked to Tyler pointedly and he swallowed. "You want that for your people don't you?"

"Ty..." Nathan warned anxiously.

"Help us get him. We have a witch with us and she can reduce him to a corpse like state. He won't be able to move again and we can bury him in the ocean. "She took a step forward. "Help us protect our packs, alpha. Save your kind and we'll leave. None of you have to get hurt because of him."

"How does the spell work?" Tyler asked and Nathan looked at him nervously.

Elena looked to him in fear and Tyler looked at her torn.

"Tyler, no." She whispered, shaking her head and he directed his gaze back at the female wolf.

"We just need a little blood from one of the children that's all."

"It wouldn't hurt them?"

"Ty!" Nathan cried out in horror that he was actually considering it and the woman's eyes grew wide with hope.

"No, their blood contains some of his DNA and she can remove it and use that connection to his exact strand to weaken him."

"He is my bloodline too. What about the rest of us?!" Nathan growled and sniffed as he became aware of other wolves approaching.

This could go horribly wrong here. He felt his skin prickle.

"No one else will be affected once his DNA is removed from theirs." She said looking between them both as she heard her pack approaching.

"Please, don't make us hurt you. You are our brothers."

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Damon fought with as much of his animal nature as he could while Stefan kept up the pretence that the babies were still here. Stefan hated not fighting but they had to play it this way until the numbers were lower. If they could lure the invaders into this room they could nail them all in here. The room had been filled with gas canisters containing Vervain, which had been discretely hidden. It had been Klaus's idea and they all agreed it was a great plan.

Stefan paced, the tape playing the anguished sounds of babies crying as he ached to leave the room and fight. He had to wait till the right moment. He looked around the nursery, frowning. He hated it. It wasn't filled with the love and care a real parent would take when making up a room for their child. It had been thrown together. He wrinkled his nose in distaste as some of the furnishings. As soon as Vida was home and safe, they'd tear this place apart and make it new.

He felt Damon in pain and he clutched at his stomach, groaning as he panted. He looked towards the door desperately. Damon was hurt. He had to go to him, but they both agreed this plan. He pulled at his hair, then heard a scream. He couldn't take it any longer. He had to do something. He turned up the volume of the tape playing and moved to the cot, preparing himself as he eyed the canisters. He had hidden a small remote releaser in the cot and all he needed to do was to get them in here and press it. He knew this room, knew where everything was and he was sure he could get out before the vervain made him pass out. Damon's plan had been for him to ensure he was concealed too so he could exit and lock them in before releasing the gas but this seemed the better way.

The door was thrown open with a crash and three vampires piled in, growling when they seen the cot.

"Give it here!" One guy shouted at him and he growled back and placed a protective hand over the front of the cot.

All three blurred at him at the same time and he was rammed back into the wall with so much force he dropped the remote. He gasped and reached for it when a metal pole was shoved through his abdomen, pinning him to the floor. He almost vomited and the vampires searched the cot, growling angrily when they realised there was nothing but a doll here.

"Give it up momma." One leaned into his face as he fought to push the metal pole out of him.

"Fuck you!" He growled back.

"Give it up and we won't kill it. We just want the blood."

"Over my dead body!" Stefan spat, showering their faces with particles of his blood as he did so.

"Always knew you were Klaus's bitch." Another said and stuck his hand into Stefan chest. Stefan cried out, gasping. He was going to die. This was it, for real this time. Damon couldn't save him now even if he wanted to. Damon was linked and would live forever but Stefan was only half of him and therefore he didn't get the same protection.

Suddenly there were screams and limbs and blood everywhere and Stefan sank into the carpet gasping and trying to recover. He looked up as the vampire who'd impaled him, had his head torn off, to see Klaus standing covered in blood and staring down at him in concern.

"Stand up brother." Klaus urged, pulling the pole from his body as he gagged at the movement and helping him to his feet.

He leaned over, holding himself and Klaus putt a bottle of Damon's blood in his hands. He took it gratefully and drank it down.

"Stefan!" Damon's voice came down the hall and they both looked in that direction.

Damon had felt Stefan's attack.

Come on brother.

Klaus helped Stefan walk towards the lounge. There was blood and bodies everywhere. It was like a macabre vision of what hell must look like. Damon stumbled over towards him frantically, cupping his face and checking him as Klaus stood back and watched. Damon released his hold on him after a few seconds and looked to Klaus. They shared a silent moment of thanks and acceptance of that and Stefan looked around at the devastation around them. This wasn't their home, it was a graveyard.

"Are they all dead?" Stefan whispered and looked to Klaus and he nodded.

"Not…all of them." Damon looked out of the window and paled as a group of vampires, the size of an army began to walk towards the house.