The Wolf

by yokan87

When Caroline wakes up shackled, powerless and very far away from Mystic Falls, she knows she's in serious trouble. But when a woman named Sophie Deveraux reveals the reason why she's been kidnapped and taken to New Orleans, she realizes things are far worse than she could've ever imagined. [It's The Originals Season 1, but Caroline is a witch and she's pregnant with Klaus' child.]

15. S01E15: Farewell to Storyville

[ANGST WARNING] Remember how I warned you guys that angst was coming? It's here. Since I know some of you have a harder time reading stuff that is more on the angsty side, please proceed with caution! This isn't like the saddest thing ever, but just so you know. In my defense, this is a very angsty episode in canon, so not everything here is my fault. *coughs*

As always, big shout out to the amazing coveredinthecolors for her awesome beta services and for being so very patient. She really helps make this a much better story! Also, THANK YOU to everyone who has been reading this story and interacting with me, either on AO3 or or on tumblr. You guys are awesome and your support truly, truly makes my day!

So, if you do enjoy this story and you'd like me to keep going after what you read here, let me know! I'm very excited but also very nervous about this chapter because it is my favorite. I put everything I had here, so I really hope you guys enjoy it. :)

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Once upon a time, a man who was cursed to roam the earth for all eternity was allowed to dream some dreams of a happy life.

He had a family he loved. Trusted friends he cherished. He built a city all to himself, and then he became king. Everything was as it had never been before. For the first time in a thousand years, misery and pain were but a distant memory. The constant riot in his mind quieted down; the dark clouds, always looming not far above, following his every step, dissipated. The monster roaring inside of him, trying to claw its way out, fell asleep. And when he looked at his life, and all that he'd achieved, he thought he finally had it all: everything he ever wanted and more. It felt like happiness.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it was all gone in a mist of ash and blood.

He saw as his friends were murdered right before his eyes. He was forced to flee the city he built as it was burned to the ground. He abandoned his home, his possessions, every dream he'd ever had. He even lost his family, and never really got them back. Not as it was before.

The beast roared back to life, angrier and unrulier than ever, tearing him apart from the inside out. The immortal man's heart shrunk into a cold rock. Nothing mattered anymore — except revenge. Where happiness had existed, now there was only hatred. Anguish. Sorrow. Shame.

He blamed himself and his arrogance, his foolishness. It wasn't just his life that was ruined. It was his family's too. And he carried that weight deep in his chest for decades. It gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the dangers of giving in to intangible nonsense such as love and happiness. It made the immortal man too comfortable, too trusting. He grew soft and weak. And it cost him everything.

Now, after a hundred years carrying all that, he learns that it wasn't his fault, after all.

The one he loves above everyone else, his favorite sibling, whom he had sworn to protect until his last breath, invited his worst nightmare into their city to end him forever.

Klaus has been betrayed far too many times by people he cares about, people he trusts. His siblings. His parents. His lovers and friends. Even the mother of his child. But no one has ever hurt him as deeply and cruelly as Rebekah.

"Walk away, Rebekah," Elijah says, stepping in front of her.

"Don't move!" he snarls.

"Leave us now," Elijah insists.

"I can't," she says. "I'm stuck in this cemetery, same as you."

He takes the stake from inside his jacket and Papa Tunde's blade from his pocket. Rebekah's eyes flash with fear.

"Elijah, he has the white oak stake," she quivers.

"I brought it to you, sister," Klaus prowls towards her.

"Get out of his sight," Elijah grits out, his sharp eyes never leaving Klaus. "Your presence here only serves to anger him. Leave him to me, now."

Rebekah blurs away and Klaus' lips curl in anger. Elijah steps in his way again, opening his arms in what he certainly thinks is a peaceful sign. To Klaus, it's a declaration of war.

"I'm asking you brother to brother. Let's end this nonsense now."

A muscle twitches on Klaus' jaw. "You would side with that traitor?"

"I am not choosing sides, but I will not allow you to hurt our sister."

"We cannot leave this cemetery, Elijah. How long do you think you can defend her?"

"As long as it takes," his brother says, his eyes narrowing to near slits. "By whatever means necessary."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"I've never seen him like this before, Marcel," Rebekah tells her lover over the phone.

She told him to run, the idiot, but he refused to leave the city. They went back to the cemetery to rescue the remains of Davina, in hopes that she would be returned to life as soon as they eliminated the resurrected witches. With the help of Thierry, they got Damiana and Genevieve cornered in a room, but Rebekah's former ally managed to slip away. Damiana wasn't so lucky, and Marcel was hardly merciful.

Still, her death wasn't enough to bring back Davina. Some other Harvest girl must've risen from her tomb, but not the one they wanted.

Rebekah told Marcel to take the girl's body and get as far away from New Orleans as possible, forget about her. In the state Nik is... She doesn't think she'll leave this cemetery alive. Not even Elijah will save her. Hell, he might kill them both. He's not just angry, he's... beyond himself. Rebekah can't honestly remember the last time she saw him so consumed by rage. He'll never let her walk out, and if Elijah tries to stop him, he'll die too.

She won't allow it. If Nik's going to take his revenge, it'll be on her. Elijah shouldn't have to pay for her past mistakes.

As much as she feels her anger at the time was justified; as cruel, manipulative and ruthless as her brother ever was to her, she didn't want him dead. Yes, she colluded with the enemy against him one or two times. Even in Mystic Falls. But dead? No. She would never let Nik die. She loves him, even when she hates him — and she hates him a lot of the time.

As soon as Genevieve sent the message to their father, Rebekah regretted doing it. She wasn't thinking straight, so foolish in love that she was... Nik threatened to have her daggered again, and she had only just been returned to life, after spending 52 years in a box, condemned for the crime of falling in love. Klaus murdered every single man who ever dared to approach her. No one was ever good enough for his little sister. I'm protecting you, he'd say. But who would protect her from him? He never allowed her the freedom to make her own choices, her own mistakes, same as him. One of the most powerful creatures on earth, and Rebekah felt trapped. A hostage to her own family. To that stupid vow she never should've taken. Always and Forever. To Nik, that meant always with him, forever doing his bidding and obeying his orders.

As much as he wanted to, however, he couldn't hurt Marcel. Punishing Marcel meant killing him permanently, and Klaus loved him too much to do it. Instead, he turned on Rebekah. And how easy it was for him... He had a scornful little smile on his face the day he brought her back, like seeing her horrified expression was his idea of fun. "Fifty years," he said. Like it was nothing. To a normal person, that's a whole life. Rebekah didn't see the world change. Didn't see the city grow. Everyone she knew was gone.

She just wanted to be free.

Rebekah never needed Nik to punish her for her terrible mistake. Life did it all on its own. How naive of her to think that Mikael would simply chase after Klaus... It escaped her mind that he was called the destroyer for a reason. It had been so long since their father had crossed their paths that Rebekah allowed herself to get cocky. How wrong she was... He burned down the city. Forced them to go on their separate ways, start over elsewhere, always on the run. Killed everyone who ever meant anything to them — or so they'd thought, anyway. And Nik... He was never the same. As bad as he'd been in New Orleans, he became worse. There was no limit to his wickedness. He lost every bit of humanity left in him. And then he daggered her again, for decades and decades. After everything, Rebekah ended up exactly where she started.

If only there was a way to take it back...

But Rebekah won't ask for forgiveness, not when her brother refuses to admit his own mistakes. He never once apologized for daggering her, for ruining her life, killing the people she loved. She has spent months in New Orleans now, protecting Caroline and their unborn child. Has he ever thanked her for it? To Klaus, protecting his interests is their duty. He expects his family to always be there whenever he needs them, whenever he comes calling, but he never feels obliged to reciprocate the feeling. Never has, probably never will. Elijah is delusional in thinking there's hope for him yet, that this child will somehow turn their brother on his head, give him a fresh start. Nik hurt everyone who loves him; destroys everything he touches. It's only a matter of time until he does it to Caroline, and then to his own child.

"Do whatever it takes, just stay alive," Marcel says. "We'll get you out."

She shakes her head, spying from the tiny door of a mausoleum as Klaus and Elijah spar. They've been at it all night. Every time Klaus flashes away, trying to find her, Elijah is right after. "He's out of his mind with rage, up all night howling one obscenity-laced tirade after the next. And he won't stop until he kills me."

"Stay as far away from him as you can."

"That's a brilliant strategy, but given that dead bitch Celeste has trapped us in here until moonrise, my options are somewhat limited."

"I'm not leaving you in there. Davina will find a loophole, get you out early."

"Davina?" Rebekah asks. "She's back?"

"Yeah," she can hear the smile on Marcel's voice. "I'm guessing Celeste was the one stealing her place. Soon after Elijah killed her, Davina awakened."

"Oh. Well, at least one good news. You should take her and leave this godforsaken place forever."

"We will all go together. If Klaus comes after us, we will take him on one hell of a ride."

She sighs, feeling weariness seeping into her bones. "I spent a century looking over my shoulder, ready to run at a moment's notice. Am I to go back to that?"

"Worry about that later. Right now, just buy me as much time as you can. Davina's still a little shaken. I promise I'll get you out."

"Yeah," she says, with a lot less confidence than she would've liked. "Ok."

She ends the call, sharpening her hearing for the conversation between her siblings outside.

"You've been at this for hours," Elijah says, sounding every bit as tired as Rebekah feels. "To what end? Niklaus, I know you, and I grew up fighting you. I can't be beaten nor can I be persuaded. You cannot get past me."

"I could get past you, although it might have to be over your dead body. You did stab me with that blade, forcing me to endure hours of unspeakable pain," he bites out, his voice laced with bitterness. "Perhaps I should direct my rage towards you. You are, after all, every bit the traitor Rebekah is."

"Niklaus, I am merely trying to stop a tragedy here. In time, you will understand that."

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, Elijah."

"I have no idea what -"

"Stop it!" he hisses out ferociously. "Stop the façade, brother! You came to New Orleans under the false pretense of being curious about what the witches were cooking up for me. Katerina wrote that letter hoping that it would remove me from your path, so the two of you could finally live that beautiful romance you so longed for 500 years ago. But you never even considered going back to her. You stayed."

"For you. For your family."

"Not for me! You stayed for Caroline. Admit it."

"Brother, I've done nothing but try to keep the mother of your child safe."

"Yes. Because you fell in love with her." The thrum of anger in Nik's voice travels all the way to Rebekah. She can imagine his eyes, flashing golden like blazing fire. She knew this moment would come, when Elijah would be forced to confront his feelings for Caroline. And she also knew it would be the end of their pretense familial bond. "You knew how I felt about her. But that never mattered to you."

"Niklaus... I would never stay in the way of your happiness with Caroline."

"You don't think I know? You don't think I see what happens right under my roof?! You liked putting that blade inside of me, didn't you? It gave you the chance to envision your perfect world. One where I'm not an obstacle anymore. Where my daughter can grow up to call you father!"

"Do you even hear yourself? You sound completely deranged. Paranoid. You're imagining things, Niklaus, imagining enemies you don't have. You should see yourself. The murderous expression, the self-righteous posturing. You look like father."

Rebekah's eyes widen in shock. What the hell is Elijah doing? Doesn't he know that's the absolute worst thing anyone could ever accuse Niklaus of? If he wants to make him calm down, he's doing it all wrong.

"I'm not him," Klaus says, his voice broken now. "Rebekah's betrayal justifies my anger. His was that of a madman. You were never the recipient of his cruelty! None of you were! Not Kol, not Finn, none of you!"

There's a long pause. Rebekah doesn't have to be there to understand. Even so many years later, even knowing he's gone, their father still harms Klaus more than any weapon ever could. His treatment of Niklaus was bestial, even when he was a little child. Ever since Rebekah was old enough to remember, he was getting humiliated and abused — sometimes, to an inch of his life. And if anyone tried to intervene, they'd get on their father's bad side as well. Nik is right about that, at least. Mikael was brutal to all his children, but to none more so than him. He was taught hatred, pain, scorn and abandonment since a very young age. It's no wonder he grew up to be the worst of them all. The terrible things nestled inside of him that got amplified by vampirism… No one should ever have to endure what he did.

But no one should have to endure the kind of pain Niklaus now inflicts upon others either.

"Niklaus, I understand your anger," Elijah speaks quietly. "But I implore you, be better than him. Do what he could not. Demonstrate the grace of mercy rather than this petty cruelty."

"You ask me to show mercy to one who has wronged me as much as Rebekah. You really don't know me at all, do you, brother?"

"Enough," Rebekah says as she cuts into her brothers' quarrel. They've been at it all night and accomplished nothing. All Elijah's done is enrage Klaus further. If they keep this going, Nik will kill them both.

"Whatever I have done wrong, my guilt is nothing compared to yours," she tells Klaus. "You want revenge? Fine. But before you have it I will look you in the eye and tell you why it was your cruelty and your spite that led us to this."

"Go on, then," he says. The look of disgust on his face is even worse than what Rebekah imagined. "Speak your peace, and when you are finished, I will grant you the punishment you deserve, even if I have to go through Elijah to do so."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Let it begin! The trial of Rebekah Mikaelson."

Elijah lets out a pitiful sigh. The theatrics... Niklaus went up on a tomb, looking down at the two of them as though he's an all-mighty god they're supposed to be worshipping. Even at the height of his anger, he can't help his flair for drama.

"What a relief. His ego is in check," Rebekah mutters, as unimpressed as Elijah.

"Just speak your truth, Rebekah. I'll make certain he behaves himself."

"You stand accused of betraying your own blood," Klaus declares. "How do you plead?"

"I plead you to shut up and listen."

"You summoned our father! You brought him to our home! What possible defense could you have?"

"I knew he was the only thing that you feared and I wanted you to run," Rebekah says, her voice steady and assured, but Elijah can hear the inflection of hurt in it.

"Because you hated me."

"Because you were hateful! You denied me the freedom to love."

"Oh, so that's your defense?" he sneers. "You called Mikael, the destroyer, the hunter of vampires, because I detained you from pursuing some dull suitors."

"You were cruel! And controlling and manipulative."

"I was trying to protect you!" he growls. "From imbeciles and leeches, not to mention your own poor judgment."

"You think you're the only one who knows anything. The only truth is your truth. We never question the people you bring into your life, so why should you question ours?"

"Because I'm not a sick fool, Rebekah! I don't give in to the first sycophant who offers me flowers and calls me pretty!"

"You got yourself a child, Nik!" Rebekah practically screams. "You want to compare? Nothing I've ever done has ever been as drastic as that. And yet I never tried to have Caroline murdered and you locked up for your carelessness. I cared for her as though she were my family, which is more grace you've ever shown to anyone I've ever had a relationship with." Elijah turns his eyes to his brother. He's white to the throat and unsteady with fury. "And that includes the one you loved enough to call your best friend. Why did you forbid me to love Marcel?"

"Do not mention his name," Klaus hisses, standing to his feet and pointing a menacing finger to Rebekah.

"What has happened to you?" she asks, an undercurrent of sadness in his sister's voice. "I remember the sweet boy who made me laugh and gave me gifts. Who loved art and music. I wanted to be just like you. How could you have fallen so far?"

Elijah takes a step forward. "You say you despise Rebekah for her betrayal and yet no one has stood by your side for so long, not even myself. Perhaps it's you that's forgotten. Do you remember the day that father caught you whittling little chess pieces with his hunting knife? He whipped you so mercilessly and for so long I actually feared for your life." Elijah pauses, swallowing down as the memories trickle in. Their father always seemed like he was just waiting for an opportunity to end Niklaus and on that day... He would have. "I tried to stop him; he shoved me away and continued to beat you. And then Rebekah stepped in, with a sword in hand, ready to slay him. She was so scared, just as we all were. But she stood up to him for you. And he stopped. She saved your life at the risk of father turning on her as well."

Something like hurt flickers through Klaus' eyes, overbright with emotion. "So you would paint her as a loyal sister," he says. "But she betrayed me out of lust for Marcel. Perhaps that was why you did it, for love," he turns back to Rebekah. "Perhaps I might temper my rage if Rebekah will admit she was a victim of her own idiocy, that her great love Marcel used her to oust this family and take my city!" His voice escalating until he's shouting from behind grit teeth, his anger flaring hot once more.

"Marcel did not manipulate me," Rebekah says, calmly. Elijah scrubs a hand across his face. She won't make anything easier for anyone by standing up to Niklaus right now.

"You defend him and yet you can't help but wonder, what if I'm right?" he smirks.

Rebekah's face scrunches up. "We loved each other. It was your refusal to respect that that led to your ruin."

"Then why didn't he chase after you when you fled New Orleans? Oh yes! That's right. He was here, stealing what I built."

"You want me to renounce Marcel? To beg for your forgiveness?" Her voice quivers as her eyes fill with tears. "I won't! Marcel is not at fault. I called Mikael."

"Rebekah, you must-" Elijah says, trying to cut her off.

"I was the one brought him to New Orleans because of your wickedness!" she continues, words tumbling out of her mouth like grenades. "I wanted love and happiness and you denied me the freedom to have either! Yes, I hated and I was afraid of our father, but he was a lesser evil than you, my bastard brother who loomed over me, threatening me as you are now! I wanted rid of you! And given a choice... I'd do it again."

Oh, Rebekah...

Before Elijah has enough time to question her obvious insanity, Klaus is leaping towards her, teeth bared and stake in hand. He pushes her against a tomb and raises his arm, ready to stab her in the heart with the white oak. All Elijah can do is launch himself against him with all his might, knocking him off his feet. The two of them roll down on the ground and, when Elijah stands up, he has both the stake and the blade in his possession.

He lets out a relieved sigh while Niklaus glares, taken with the fury that certainly burns inside of him. For once, Elijah can't really blame him. Rebekah was completely irrational. He can understand the need to hurt Niklaus' unshakable belief in his own self-righteousness, but she overstepped. She provoked his ire in a moment when he's a snap away from exploding. It's almost like she has a death wish.

But even if he'd berate her for her vile words, Elijah would still not let Niklaus get his revenge. Not against his baby sister.

"Sister, leave us," he tells her, eyes fixed on Klaus.

"I won't go."

"I said," he repeats, raising his voice with clear authority. "Leave us, please."

This time, she heeds his command and disappears from sight through the maze of tombs and mausoleums.

"You wouldn't listen to her," he tells his younger brother. "So now you must deal with me."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Celeste was an incredibly clever witch. You don't survive for as long as she did, jumping from body to body, without learning a few useful tricks. She was also, probably, very confident in her own skills. Much to her displeasure, though, Caroline is quite resourceful herself. She may not be as experienced or even as knowledgeable as Celeste, but she is especially motivated.

Undoing the boundary spell around the cemetery was not easy. Figuring out the mystery binding ingredient was tricky. Of course that old bitch — sorry, Elijah — had to make it as hard as possible, knowing the Mikaelsons would have a pregnant witch there in a second to try and break it.

It took Caroline the better part of the night and the early hours of the morning, but she came up with something to unbalance the magic. It won't exactly break the spell, just lift it. All Caroline has to do is put the object she enchanted next to where Celeste cast her spell and the effect will be suspended in that area, around the main gate, allowing the three Mikaelsons to walk out — hopefully all still alive. When the moon rises, the spell will have run its course and end for good.

As soon as Caroline got off the phone with Elijah, she jumped in the car and went to the cemetery to understand what exactly Celeste did. Normally, binding spells use rock salt to limit the area of influence, but not in this case. Salt would've been way too easy. She tried the blood thing again, but it was useless. With the baby's blood inside of her, it was as though she were a Mikaelson trying to walk through the boundary lines herself, which means, if she'd gone in, she would've been unable to walk out, same as the siblings.

Good riddance to Celeste — again, sorry, Elijah — but she was one smart witch, that snake.

While she went back to the Mikaelson library to check through some grimoires, she ended up blacking out with her head on the book. It wasn't so much sleep as it was a shut down. Her brain just couldn't take it anymore. She was going on nearly 48 hours awake, and Caroline had restricted herself to one cup of strong black coffee because of the baby. All it did was give her another hour of poor energy.

As much as she wanted to keep going, her batteries were completely drained. She woke up with a jerk two hours later, the 200 years old grimoire in front of her wet with drool. She took a quick shower to wake herself up, another large glass of warm milk and went right back to work.

All through the night, while she was awake, Caroline called them. She tried everyone — Elijah, Rebekah, Klaus. No one was answering their phones. Her anxiety levels were through the roof. They should know better than to ignore a distressed pregnant woman. All she wanted was to know that the three of them were still alive and breathing; a text would have sufficed to calm her down. As justified as it is, it cannot be healthy at this stage of pregnancy for her nerves to be this jangled and all over the place. Her heart hasn't stopped racing for hours. Once this is all over, she's going to take some good days off drama, even if she has to leave New Orleans for that. It's decided.

When she gets to the cemetery, everything seems eerily calm, which does nothing to placate her jitters. She would rather be listening to Klaus' enraged screams right now than this gruesome silence.

Now, under the sunlight, she can clearly see the dark blood stain near the spot where the spell was cast. Must be where Sabine cut her own throat open with a shard of glass. She's more than glad that Celeste is gone, and she knows now that all that friendship and camaraderie she'd demonstrated in the beginning had been an act, a way to gain her trust and keep her close. But Caroline can't help but feel bad for the real Sabine, the woman whose body Celeste jumped into when her previous life ended. All the lives she destroyed jumping from host to host...

Focus, Caroline.

She places the object carefully at the center of the circle, puts her hand out and whispers a few words. She feels energy coursing through her, the hairs on her arms standing to attention. She won't know if she got it right until she tries, though. If she gets in and her counter-spell failed, she won't be able to come out.

"Ok," she mutters, taking a deep breath. "It's gonna work."

She crosses the imaginary line surrounding the cemetery, then turns around, shuts her eyes and tries to put her foot forward. When she steps back on the outside, her face cracks with a wide smile. That was no simple spell she found a way around there. What would her father say if he could see her now?

But Caroline only allows herself a second of self-congratulatory bliss. She'll have all the time in the world to feel proud later, when this is all over and everyone is safe and preferably no longer feeling murderous and vindictive.

Immediately she starts moving, her body propelling her forward as though out of its own accord. There's a moment of despair when she realizes the sheer enormity of that cemetery. They could be anywhere. But then she remembers this is sacred territory for the witches. She isn't one of them, and her magic doesn't come from the ancestral bond the New Orleans' covens share with the witches who have been consecrated here, but there are invisible lines of magic running all through this place. She can use it to her favor.

Caroline shuts her eyes, sharpens all her senses and calls for the well of magic inside of her. It rumbles in her core, buzzing all through her body, and then she lets it out, like a boomerang. Her magic travels, pulling her along, until it finds a disturbance. It's very distant, but Caroline thinks she can hear... voices?

Her heart lurches in her chest as she rushes towards the sound.

"So what's it gonna be? You hold both weapons," she hears Klaus' voice. Hoarse and annoyed, but she'd recognize that arrogant English lilt even underwater. "Tunde's blade to put me down, but the stake could finish me off for good."

"Well, unlike you, brother, I have no taste for fratricide. I only hold this to keep it from you. The blade is just my insurance."

Elijah.

So Elijah has managed to disarm him. Good, she thinks. She trusts Elijah with destructive weapons a lot more than she'd trust a pissed off Klaus with a stick. He would never use it against one of his siblings. Well, not again, anyway. He did already stab Klaus with that blade once, and Caroline would very much still like to have a word with him about just how horrible the effects of that kind of dark magic circulating through someone's body can be. Hopefully, however, it'll be just one time and he won't have to do it again.

But if it's just the two of them... Where's Rebekah?

"Why must you defend her?" Klaus asks. "Rebekah betrayed you as well when she brought Mikael here."

"And believe me, I am just as disappointed in her as you are. But I defend her because she is our sister and because I like to remember her the way she was before we became what we became."

"My memories serve to make her betrayal more painful."

"Can you not then accept some small part of the blame? After all, Niklaus, it was your cruelty that led her to do what she did."

"Do you not see, Elijah? She didn't mean to chase me off, she wanted me dead!"

Caroline grunts in annoyance as she tries to find them. Their voices are loud enough that she can hear them fine, but this goddamn place is a maze. She knows which direction she needs to go, it's just hard to figure out the shortest way there.

"You're wrong, Niklaus."

"She has always hated me. You know that's true."

"You have no idea, do you? You have no idea what she was prepared to do for you. When our sister sees something she perceives as an injustice, she can be stubborn, impetuous and at times, downright dangerous. And that was never more apparent than when she tried to kill our father."

"What is this? Some melodramatic fiction designed to garner my sympathy?"

"It is the truth. I was there. She had a knife pointed towards his heart, and she would've done it, all to protect you, had I not stopped her. I often wish I could revisit that moment... Complete the task myself," Elijah says, his voice ridden with sorrow.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Klaus hisses.

"Niklaus, sometimes our sister acts without thinking. She's short of temper, she's quick to fall in love, but she loves you. Your malicious treatment has broken her heart. So, yes, she responded by summoning our father. Yes, that was a mistake. But I'm not entirely sure I can blame her."

"I can."

There's a loud whooshing sound, just as she finally made it to the spot where they were, and then they're both gone.

"Oh, for crying out loud," she mutters as she starts chasing them again, writing herself a mental note to make them both feel extremely guilty for grinding a heavily pregnant woman like this.

"Niklaus, so help me..." Elijah's voice is distant, but she can sort of make out what he's saying.

"Are you really going to stand against me?" Klaus nearly shouts now. "And not with that pathetic blade. You'd just have to pull it out someday, and then I'd hate you as I do her now. If you really want to protect Rebekah, you'll need to use the white oak stake."

Caroline curses under her breath. That is so like Klaus to provoke people's ire by being petty and irrational.

"I don't have to listen to this nonsense."

"Don't pretend you haven't thought about it, Elijah! You look at me and you see everything you abhor about yourself. Sure, you dress it up with you fancy suits and your handkerchiefs," he's grunting now, his words drenched in scorn. "You, with your mask of civility and eloquence, you're every bit the abomination I am. Or worse. Go on, Elijah! Go on. Use the stake!"

No, no, no...

He wants to be attacked, the idiot. He wants this fight to happen. Hours and hours trapped in this cemetery and he still hasn't come down from the height of his anger.

"I'm not so cowardly that I have to kill you, Niklaus, but if I have to make you suffer to protect Rebekah, that is what I'll do."

Caroline is running now. Every muscle in her body is screaming, but the dark panic at the pit of her stomach is rising.

"You see? I knew you couldn't do it. You still cling to that hope that I can be redeemed, and if the bastard can be saved... Well, maybe there's hope for you."

Everything goes quiet, and then Elijah's screaming. A painful, guttural sound that sends a horrible shiver up Caroline's spine. She feels all the blood drain off her face, and then she turns a corner and finally spots them.

Klaus is above Elijah, whose eyes are wide in terror as he groans loudly, Tunde's blade slowly piercing through his chest.

"No!" Caroline screams. Klaus drops Elijah's body and turns to her, a surprised look on his face. Elijah convulses on the ground, his lips moving as though he's trying to speak, the veins on his forehead jumping. And then he goes still, his eyes unseeing. Caroline gapes, horrified at the scene. "What have you done?" she breathes.

Klaus grinds his teeth. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I came to stop a tragedy, but I see I'm too late." She glares at him, and then crouches down next to Elijah. "Oh, God..." she mutters, her hand hovering above the spot where the blade went in. The dark magic makes her skin prickle. Thinking quickly, she decides the best way to end this is to just remove the blade. The less time it spends inside of him, draining all of his life force, the less damage it'll do. "Ok," she says, more to herself than anyone else. "All right."

Taking a steadying breath, she undoes a few buttons on Elijah's shirt, just enough to see the wound, not completely closed yet. Caroline scrunches her eyes shut, hoping to every god out there that her werewolf strength is enough for her to do this. "I'm sorry," she mutters before garnering all her strength and sticking her hand through the cut left by the blade. It goes right in, deep, and Elijah's back arches as he lets out a strangled sound. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Caroline moves her fingers around, trying not to think about what she's touching, until she feels something that is definitely not like anything that should be inside a human body. Her hands close around the blade's handle and pull it out with a disgusted grunt. Elijah screams and then falls back down, blinking slowly.

It's gonna take a while for the wound to close, but luckily he won't have lost too much energy and will heal faster than Klaus did.

With some effort, and having to lean on Elijah's body with her bloodied hand, still holding the blade, Caroline manages to pull herself up. Her wobbly knees almost give out, and she has to fight to ignore the dizziness and nausea.

"I should've known you would come to aid your prince in shiny suit," Klaus says, words spat out coated in something vile. His voice is even, but Caroline can hear all the sharp edges of his disdain, his seething rage so strong the air around him wavers. "You didn't try to pull the blade out of me when he stuck it in my chest, did you?"

She's momentarily thrown by the look in his eyes, his face twisted into an awful grimace.

"I didn't know what it was. I had no idea it was even inside of you until Elijah pulled it out," she retorts, defensively. "I would've done the same thing for you."

"I'm not so certain. You're siding up with him against me. Go on, then," he says, motioning towards Elijah. "Save your lover."

His words hit Caroline like a blow. It leaves her cold in shock, but then the heat of it — and the pain — hits full force, her eyes widening with a mixture of ire and righteous indignation. Before she knows what she's doing, her hand is flying to his face. She slaps him so hard he nearly tumbles, probably not expecting that much strength. His cheek becomes a bright red, and he takes a hand to the corner of his mouth, eyes flashing to her.

She can't believe he just said that.

"I saw you," he hisses. "The night of the Harvest. I saw you and Elijah having a lovely moment together. Quite touching. He was quick to offer you comfort, was he not? Tell me, Caroline. I've always wondered. Are his kisses better than mine?"

Caroline's eyes narrow in disbelief. "Is that what all that crazy behavior has been about? Why you've been acting like an idiot since that night? You think Elijah and I...?" She falters, words melting away on her tongue. "You don't even know what you saw. I never kissed Elijah."

"He certainly kissed you."

"We never kissed!" she yells in his face.

"Well, that's fascinating. I expected you to deny it, but to say I'm making things up-"

"We never kissed because I stopped him. I stopped him before he did something even he would regret. Because of you, Klaus!"

He snorts disdainfully. "Well, don't mind me, love. I would hate to get in the way of your love story."

Caroline shakes her head helplessly, totally incredulous. She's been hurt, betrayed, attacked, endured hours of terrible pain and psychological torture. But this... After everything she's been through — and not just in the past couple of days, which would be more than enough to warrant at least a tiny bit of consideration from him, but since the day she was brought to his city...

She knows he's lashing out on purpose, but his words hurt. Badly. And she's been through enough hell to have to receive this kind of vicious treatment from the father of her child.

It's hard to tell which of the awful set of emotions striking her all at once gets to her the most. The anger, turning her blood into lava; the indignation at the absurdity of his accusations; the disappointment; or the heartbreak.

"I came here to save you," she starts, her voice quivering as her throat starts to feel tight. "From yourself. It's all I've ever tried to do since I was brought to this godforsaken city. I'm trying to keep you from making the worst mistake of your miserable life. This will destroy you, Klaus. It already is! Look at you. You're... awful. Mean. Not even you can live through murdering your own family." She shakes her head, swallowing back the tears that are threatening to come. "Every time I see a light in you, every time I think there's hope, that you want to do better, you just... Have to prove me wrong. If Elijah is a fool for believing in your redemption, then what am I?"

"They've betrayed me," he seethes. "She summoned the devil to murder me and he stuck that blade in my chest for her, leaving me to agonize through hour of miserably pain! I deserve my revenge!"

"Revenge! That's all there ever is to you! It's what moves you! The strongest thing you're ever capable of feeling is this wretched desire for revenge! The day you don't have something to hate is the day you won't even pull yourself out of bed in the morning. You accuse them of betraying you, but what was that when you daggered Elijah and gave him as a gift to your enemy? Or when you stole centuries of your sister's life by putting her in a box at your convenience? Who betrays who in this family depends on the day, Klaus. You live to hurt one another. And now you're destroying everything you had left for something that happened a hundred years ago, for someone who's dead! Don't you see?! This is exactly what the witches wanted and you're walking right into their trap. They planned all of this! They counted on you behaving like a lunatic! The very same witches who have tried to kill your daughter!" Caroline stops as her voice threatens to give out, her eyes burning with hot tears. "I was taken from my town, from my mother and my friends, with the false promise that I would have a home here. Protection. Affection. A family. So far, all I've had was fighting and scheming and lying... Always and Forever doesn't mean anything. I told you I don't want my child's father to be a monster. I don't want her to be afraid of you like I was afraid of my father — like you were afraid of yours. But when I see you like this..." Caroline draws a hoarse, shaky breath, as a sob quakes her chest. "I picked you and you're breaking my heart, Klaus."

His eyes are brimmed with tears, but she can still see the madness there. Any attempt at talking reason into him will be useless. He's too far gone. This isn't a rational conversation, not to him. It never was. He's all raw feelings, out to see blood in order to satiate the monster inside.

"You don't want to break out of this cycle," she continues, sadly. "You live for this. You hurt them, they hurt you, and none of you ever stop. Someone always wants their revenge. Rebekah did when she brought your father here, because you'd wronged her. And now you want to kill her. And then Elijah will want to kill you. It won't ever end. You need to take a good look at yourself, Klaus, and ask if this is someone you can be truly proud of. If that's the man you want your daughter to know. A man who would terrorize and manipulate his own family. Is that the kind of father you want to be? Because if it is, you should tell me now, so I can take my baby far away from you, to some place you will never find her."

His eyes flash. "You wouldn't."

Caroline looks him dead in the eye, putting Tunde's blade in his hand, her voice sharpening in an instant. "Try me."

She turns on her heels, seeing as Elijah haphazardly tries to pull himself up. She won't help him anymore. They can get themselves out of this. She is done.

"Don't turn your back on me!" Klaus roars, like he has any right to demand anything from her at this point.

Caroline feels her temper spike again as she whips around. "Or what?! Are you going to stick that blade in my chest to -"

A howl escapes Caroline's lips as she is struck by a sharp wave of pain. The same stabbing feeling she felt before, only this time it's so much worse. It starts on the lower part of her abdomen and radiates through her body, making her double over, gnashing her teeth and clutching her belly. Another raw wail tears from her chest as a second stab hits her, a sound desperate, sobby, filled with fear.

"Caroline," she hears Klaus' voice. "What is it? What happen -"

"Don't come near me!" she bellows, stretching out a hand and throwing him back with a powerful gust of wind. She straightens her back, the throbbing pain persisting.

Klaus is looking at her with big eyes, the rage he had in him suddenly evaporated, replaced by something like fear.

She wants to throw up.

Every step she takes is pure agony and the tears are rolling freely down her cheeks now, only partly because of the pain. Caroline is terrified. She needs to get the hell out of here. Fast.

As soon as she crosses the front gate, she turns. Klaus is but a few steps behind. He stops when she does, peering at her with a silent plea, but she can't even stand the sight of his face right now. So she points her hand to the spell circle and, with a few enchanted words, destroys the object she'd placed there. When Klaus tries to follow her out, he can't.

"Caroline," he calls after her as she slowly makes her way back to her car. "Caroline! Undo this spell! Caroline!"

Caroline stifles another sob and ignores his desperate screaming, gets in her car and drives away.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Rebekah opens her eyes to the vastness of the night sky above.

She takes a deep breath, feeling a stab in her chest as the cool air fills her lungs. It always hurts to breathe again after dying.

Dying... She was dead.

The last thing she remembers is the horrible grimace on Nik's face, twisted with rage, as he stabbed her in the chest. With the stake.

Her blouse feels wet, but the wound is closed and the white oak is nowhere to be found.

"Welcome back, sister."

Rebekah sits up to find Elijah slumped against one of the tombs, one of his legs bent, the other stretched out before him. He looks awful, her poor brother — face ashen, dark circles under his eyes, ragged breath, clothes all rumpled and stained with blood. Rebekah has no idea how long she was out for, but it seems Elijah still hasn't made a full recovery.

The corner of his mouth curls into a lopsided grin.

"What..." she starts, looking down at her chest again. How is it possible that she's still here if Nik stabbed her with the white oak stake?

"He missed," Elijah says.

Rebekah blinks at him. "Nik never misses."

Elijah shrugs.

Rebekah saw the whole mess with Caroline from her hiding corner. She was just trying to help, but Klaus' rage had escaped its leash. All he saw was red. Not even the heavily pregnant mother of his child was spared. Poor Caroline... Rebekah could see the hurt in her eyes even from a distance.

She knew the situation with Elijah would blow up eventually, and when it did, the darkest part of Niklaus' rage would emerge. Elijah was playing with fire. But neither he nor Caroline deserved the treatment they got. It was Rebekah Klaus was mad at. The two of them were collateral damage because they dared to try protecting her. Rebekah was moved by Caroline's defense of her. The two of them never got along well in Mystic Falls, but they really did find a way around their differences in New Orleans. Girls, sticking together in a boys' world. She would go as far as to call Caroline a friend now, and that's all the more reason why she took Klaus' behavior towards her personally. That girl's done nothing but forgive and forget her brother's stupid temper since she was kidnapped from her hometown and brought to this city. He should've counted himself lucky that she hadn't given up on him yet. A lesser person — perhaps a saner person, someone who loved him just a tiny bit less — would've abandoned him long ago.

The same goes for her, and for Elijah. They've stuck by Nik's side though fire and blood. Through silver daggers and toxic bites. Through the highest of his insanity and the lowest of his depressions. But nothing is ever enough for Nik. No amount of dedication or love can demote him of his paranoid delusions. Caroline was right; hatred is what fuels Nik's very existence. For a long time, it had to be. It was the same for all of them. It's what kept them alive throughout so many centuries, before they even understood the full extent of their powers, back when they felt so much more vulnerable, and when Mikael was a constant threat, breathing down their necks. But it doesn't have to be like that anymore. Not unless they allow it.

Nik can't recognize happiness when it is seven months pregnant and looking him in the eye. Rebekah doubted there was any hope left for him before; now that he's gone and broken Caroline's heart as well... Her poor brother. So warped it cripples him. What is the point of living like that? She's had a thousand years too much of this. No more.

And she said as much to him, as she yelled in his face that his wickedness wasn't just going to destroy their family; it was going to kill his own child. Nik snarled that she's always wanted him dead, and, at last... She admitted that, maybe... Maybe it was true. For a moment, at least. For just a minute, when she was forced to meet Marcel in the dead of night, away from prying eyes, like their love was a dirty thing, while Nik sauntered about with a different lover every night, she wished her brother dead. It was enough for her to ask Genevieve to send that note to Mikael. Literally a moment later she regretted it, wanted to take it back. But it was too late. Wishing for her brother's death for even just one moment is horrible enough, so much so that she refused to admit it.

Nik took the stake and drove it right into her chest, his eyes dark as the night, glowing with tears.

But he missed. And Nik never misses.

Rebekah pulls herself up. "Can you stand?" she asks Elijah.

He sighs wearily. "Honestly, I haven't tried since I tumbled."

"Come on."

She takes his arms and gets him on his feet. He's so weak his body is shaking. He needs to feed. Rebekah puts one of his arms around her shoulders and wraps a hand on his waist. "Lean on me," she tells him as they start walking towards the exit.

When they turn around the last corner before the main gate, they see Nik. A dejected figure, lonesome and sad, sitting on one of the tombs closest to the gate, absently toying with the white oak stake.

Rebekah stops, takes a sharp intake of air.

"Rebekah..." Elijah says, warningly, sensing what she's about to do. She helps him lean against one of the tombs. "Don't do this, sister. Let him be."

She peers into her older brother's worry-ridden eyes, takes in his unfamiliar lackluster appearance. "We have to put an end to this one way or another. I'm not going to spend the rest of eternity running from my own brother."

Elijah presses his lips tightly together and gives her hand a gentle squeeze. If Klaus really is bent on ending her tonight, there'll be nothing he can do in the state he's in.

Rebekah prowls towards him like one who approaches a giant wolf in the wild, but, even as tension threads in her stomach, she realizes he is different. All the fight seems to have bled away from him, the fire blazing behind his eyes has gone out. Klaus looks... defeated. Crushed.

She stuffs her hands in her pockets, searches for the moon in the sky. It hasn't reached its apex yet, which is when the boundary spell will wear off. Explains why he's still here, when the anguish over Caroline is clearly eating away at him. It's ironic, but Rebekah suddenly finds herself feeling sorry for him. Or perhaps it's for all of them. They've all lost something tonight, but perhaps none more so than Nik. Even if it is entirely his own fault. None of them are innocent, and none of them are entirely villains, either. They're all victims and perpetrators, trying to stay alive.

"You missed my heart," she says.

"Perhaps I did," he replies, still not meeting her eyes, his voice dull and weak. "Or perhaps I never meant to kill you. Perhaps I just wanted you to feel a fraction of the fear I felt when father came for me."

"Do you yourself know the truth?"

"I know this. You accuse me of being evil and yet you are the one who conspired to kill your own blood."

"You made our lives a living hell, Nik. You tormented us."

His blue gaze flicks towards her at last, and though his expression is grim, his eyes are softer than she expected. "I love my family," he says. "I love you... Elijah... I loved all of you." He jumps down from the tomb. Rebekah keeps the apprehension off her face, even as he approaches her with the white oak in his hand. "I know I can be difficult, but I did not make myself this way. It was Mikael who ruined me."

"He ruined me, too. That's what you forget," she retorts, her voice a bit too high, her eyes rimmed with tears. "Centuries later, each of us is broken. You, with your anger and paranoia... Me, with my fear of abandonment. And poor Elijah..." She casts a glance at their brother, still far behind, and looking away to give them a modicum of privacy, but certainly listening to their every word. "He dedicates himself to everyone but himself. We are the strongest creatures in the world and yet we are damaged beyond repair. We live without hope, but we will never die. And anyone who dares to come near us, gets infected with our misery. We are the definition of cursed... Always and forever."

A breeze sweeps in and the front gate blows open. The moon has finally reached its apex. She could flash away from there if she wanted to, disappear in the world like Katerina Petrova did all those years ago. She doubts Nik would hunt her with the same purpose he devoted to her search. But she wouldn't have a single day of peace, would never feel truly free, knowing that there would always be a place in the world she could never return to.

"The barrier is down. Whatever you're going to do to me, do it now," she says. And the truth is... She won't even fight him, if he truly wants her dead. Caroline was right. Who hurts who is just a matter of perspective in this family. It's all they do. Maybe death truly is the only way to end this cycle of abuse.

"You said our father ruined us," Nik starts. "And I can't help but wonder... What if his father ruined him?"

"What if it's hereditary, you mean? Grandfather ruined father. Father ruined us. Does that mean you'll ruin your child, too?"

Nik stays quiet, his eyes down, shoulders sagging as though under the weight of generations and generations of spoiled fruits and tainted love.

"I doubt father ever cared. You have a chance to break out of the cycle, do better for your daughter than our parents ever did for any of us. It's up to you."

"I ruined it already," he says quietly, sounding so broken Rebekah's heart tightens.

"What's done is done, Nik. You made a mistake. You said terrible things to the one person who's truly innocent in all of this. You can't take it back, but you can try to make amends."

"What's done is never done. It remains within us. A story we tell ourselves so we know who we are. Vicious father... A bastard son... The sister who betrayed him... A child who should've never been." He walks to the gate, and then turns around to face her once more. "What is it that you want, Rebekah?"

"Same things that I've wanted since I was a child. I want a home. I want a family. I want someone to love me... And I want to live."

He nods. "Then go. Go as far as your heart commands you. We're far too damaged to remain together, less a family now than a volatile mix of ingredients. You took this city from me once, but it will be mine again. I don't know if I can still call myself a father after today... But I will do everything in my power to make this place safe, for my daughter and for her mother. No doubt Elijah will choose to stay. But you, sister..." He pauses, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "You are free."

Klaus stares at her and then turns away, walking out of the cemetery and disappearing into the night. Rebekah chokes out a sobbing breath. She thought she'd be relieved, even happy, to be walking away with her life and her freedom. Instead, she feels empty. This is not how she wanted to say goodbye to Nik.

"He never misses," Elijah says, and Rebekah turns to find he somehow dragged himself near. Again, he's smiling. Their brother never meant to kill her, after all. Elijah's unshakable faith in Niklaus remains.

"Are you feeling better?" she asks, wiping away her tears.

"I'm getting there."

She nods. "I don't suppose you have any desire to join me."

Elijah's eyes flicker away, then back. "I do hope you find everything you're looking for."

Even though she already knew what his answer would be, it still stings to hear it. His abnegation is far too strong for him to leave Niklaus. And then there's Caroline... No, her big brother won't be leaving this city, not for a long time. But a girl can dream.

"Elijah, when I brought Mikael, I never for a second meant to hurt you," she tells him.

He smiles. "I know."

"I was certain that Klaus really meant to kill me. Whether he never did at all or if he changed his mind... Maybe somewhere, deep down... He still is the brother we once knew."

"Very deep, but... He's still in there."

Rebekah wraps her arms around her brother, the one who's cared for them all for so long, and gives him a tight hug and a long kiss on his cheek. She can only hope that his faith in Nik's redemption gets rewarded after all. Whether it's through the baby or Caroline or something else entirely. If Nik can find a way to heal his soul, then maybe Elijah will be finally free as well, able to rest and live his own life for a change.

"Help him find his way," she whispers, before pulling away and walking out.

She stops, closes her eyes and inhales deeply, letting the cold night air fill her lungs as though for the first time in centuries. At last, Rebekah smiles to herself.

This is the beginning of the rest of her life. She has no idea what awaits her, doesn't even know where to begin. But, for once, the unknown doesn't scare her.

A thousand years too late, perhaps, but Rebekah will finally make something of her eternity. May it be long and good.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"This is going to feel cold," the doctor says as she slicks Caroline's belly with gel. She's so nervous she doesn't even register the sensation. It's doubtful she'd notice if the doctor set her on fire.

Caroline hasn't stopped shaking since she left the cemetery. She doesn't think she's ever been this terrified in her entire life. Maybe the closest was when she was trapped inside the plantation house while it burned up. Something is wrong with her baby. She can feel it. She thought she was having contractions, going into labor. The stabbing pain didn't stop until she arrived back at the French Quarter, and even then her body still felt strange. Part of her fears the moment the doctor will turn on the ultrasound and fail to find a heartbeat.

The exam hasn't even begun yet and already Caroline's eyes are watering.

Cami takes her hand, holding it tight between her own. Caroline has to remind herself not to squeeze back too hard; she might actually break Cami's human fingers with her werewolf strength.

Caroline was so lost she had no idea what she was doing or where to go as she drove back to the Quarter, but Cami was the only person she could think of, so as soon as she was back, she made her way to Rousseau's. Her friend only needed one look at her to know something was very wrong.

"What is it?" she asked, all concern.

"Do you think... Do you think your friend could squeeze me in for.. an appointment?" Caroline replied, trying not to choke on her words.

"Did something happen to the baby?"

Caroline just shook, doing her best to hold back the sobs.

Cami removed her apron, told a friend she had to step out, grabbed Caroline's hand and walked her to the doctor's office. Dr. Lisa was seeing a routine patient then, but when Cami said it was an emergency, she cut the consult short to see Caroline. When the doctor asked to go in, however, Caroline got stuck. Fear tore through her guts like panic, a tiny voice in her head saying please, please, let this not be true, let this all be my imagination, please.

"Hey," Cami said in a soothing tone, taking her hands and looking straight into her eyes. "It's gonna be ok."

"What if it isn't? What if the baby... What if something..."

"Stop. You don't know that yet."

Caroline was quiet for a moment. "Can you come in with me? I don't wanna be alone in there."

Cami didn't even reply, just took her arm and gently walked her in.

While the doctor set up the ultrasound, she explained everything she felt.

"Do you still feel any pain?" Dr. Lisa asked.

"No, not now."

"Are you experiencing any bleeding?"

"I don't think so."

"Ok. That's a good sign."

Caroline allowed herself to relax for a second, and then the doctor lifted her shirt and spread the gel and panic took over again.

She takes another shuddery breath while the doctor touches the ultrasound to her belly, facing away from the screen. Cami's hand is probably getting crushed with the strength Caroline's gripping her now, but she doesn't complain.

And then, all of a sudden, the strong, steady sound of a heartbeat fills the room. Caroline gasps as tears free-flow down her cheeks.

"Your baby is ok," the doctor says. "Her heartbeats are strong, but a little accelerated. She seems to be in some distress. Were you in some kind of accident or had a big scare...?"

Caroline hesitates. "Something like that."

The doctor exchanges a look with Cami, then turns back to the monitor. "The discomfort you're experiencing is likely due to stress. It's not uncommon for episodes like this to happen when the mother is under great duress, but it can be dangerous at this stage of the pregnancy because it can lead to an early labor. Your baby is not ready to come out yet, so I recommend absolute rest. You need peace and quiet, no stressful situations at all, at least for a little while, until everything is back to normal. Eat well, get full nights of sleep and try not exert yourself with exercises or heavy chores — and stay out of trouble. All kinds of trouble. That's really important."

If she wasn't still so on edge, Caroline would laugh. If only this doctor knew... Caroline's whole pregnancy has been a collection of extremely stressful situations, punctuated by rare moments of moderate peace. In a way, it's probably a miracle she hasn't had a miscarriage yet. It probably would've happened, if the baby didn't have healing blood and werewolf resilience. It makes her think how spectacularly she has failed on the one job she had so far: to protect her unborn child. If her daughter is still alive, it's definitely not because of her parents. It's in spite of them. They were supposed to shelter her from the evils of the world and all they do is put her in danger. But never Caroline felt so close to losing her baby as she did today...

The last few days have been the perfect storm. Nearly burning to death, nights in a row with very little sleep, pushing her magic to its limits, all the worry over Klaus and Rebekah, and then that argument at the cemetery... It was too much.

It wasn't just Klaus. But it was also Klaus. If something had happened to the baby... If she'd had a miscarriage or gone into early labor... She would never forgive him. Ever. Even if, deep down, she knows he never meant for any of this to happen. The way he screamed after her as she left the cemetery... He was terrified. Not as much as her, but still.

She hopes he's feeling awful right now. That he's scared to death. He deserves the despair.

Caroline just... Can't look at him right now. Whatever happened after she left, if he killed Elijah and Rebekah or if he let them go... She can't go back to the compound. Can't be with him, under the same roof. Just thinking about it makes her blood boil. That place will never give her the peace and quiet she needs.

No. She's not going back there.

"I'll give you a minute to clean yourself up," the doctor says, offering her some tissues.

When Dr. Lisa leaves, Cami immediately turns to her with murder in her green eyes. "What did he do?" she demands, ready for a fight.

Caroline lets go of her hand, looking down at her belly while she wipes out the gel. She doesn't even know where to start... How to explain.

"He didn't... Attack you... Did he?" Cami asks. "Because I swear to God — I don't care if he's a thousand or a billion years old, I will kick his -"

"No," Caroline cuts her off. The last thing she needs right now is to rile Cami up against Klaus. If anything happens to the other woman, Caroline might actually have to assassinate the father of her daughter. "He didn't attack me, he just... He's too much. Every time I think things are going to quiet down for a bit and that we're finally gonna have time to... Did you know we don't even have a nursery yet? I haven't bought a single onesie. I spent the last six months so afraid my daughter would die before she was even born that I didn't prepare for when she is here."

"I'm sorry," Cami says, earnestly.

"I just can't be in that house anymore. You heard the doctor, I need peace."

"You can come stay with me if you want."

Caroline tries to grin, but she's afraid the best she can offer right now is a weird twist of her lips. "Thank you. But I don't want to bring that on you."

"It's no trouble at all, really. I have a spare room. You can stay for as long as you want. Besides, I've wanted an excuse to slap a Mikaelson for a long time now."

"That's very generous of you, Cami, and I really appreciate it, but... You've had your share of Klaus trouble. And I don't think I'm staying in the Quarter anyway."

"Where are you gonna go, then?"

Caroline goes quiet for a moment, considering.

"I think I know just the place."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The walk back from Lafayette Cemetery to the compound could've taken mere minutes, but somehow Klaus makes it last an hour. He's never found himself in such a paradoxical state before, and it's beyond disorienting; at the same time he's desperate to get home, he's also terrified of what he might find when he gets there.

How could everything come crashing down so fast? He thought he finally had it all under control. They had Davina. The witch threat was contained. He'd recovered his family's home. Marcel answered to him. Rebekah and Elijah were back on his side. Things with Caroline were — not fixed, but certainly starting to look up. And then all of a sudden... Just one second of negligence, and it all turned to ash.

Davina died in that sham of a ritual. The witches regained their power, and then some. He found out he spent the last century believing a lie, that his own sister and his best friend had been behind the downfall of his life, responsible for the very moment where everything started to go wrong after a thousand years of trying to make it right. And then there was Elijah and Caroline...

Klaus was certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they'd been together. But if that werewolf-powered slap he received wasn't enough to convince him, then the outrage and the hurt in Caroline's eyes certainly were. He got it wrong. Somehow, he got it wrong. He was so assured of what he saw... Elijah was going to kiss her, and she wasn't moving out of the way. Somehow, that wasn't the whole picture. Klaus still feels very much betrayed, if not by her, then by his brother. But he's also ashamed. He could've killed Elijah today — not just because of that, of course, but if he says at least part of his disappointment and his righteousness were not rooted in that kiss that never happened...

Klaus has been wrong before. Not something he particularly likes to admit, but it happens occasionally. Apparently, however, never quite as often as on the last few days.

What a monumental collection of failures he's hoarded in such a short period of time.

Rebekah used to say he could talk his way out of hell. Indeed, Klaus learned very early on in life how powerful words can be. The whippings and beatings he got from his father all faded, but the accusations and humiliations cut much deeper. He still carries those scars with him, will probably carry them forever. And so he taught himself how to wield words as weapons. He doesn't fancy himself as a diplomat like Elijah, doesn't have the patience or the modesty for negotiations, would much rather sort things out through a good old, and much quicker, bloodshed; but Klaus' tongue is as sharp as his fangs. Sometimes more. Today was yet another proof of that.

He felt an unreasonable bout of jealousy festering at the pit of his stomach when Caroline kneeled down next to Elijah, horrified at what he'd done, and pulled the blade out of his chest with her own hands. A verbose rush of anger formed in the back of his throat and, before he could catch them, or even allay them into something less biting, words had formed and spilled out.

Words hit stronger than blows. He knows that better than anyone. And he unleashed all the might of his anger on Caroline, all because of something that, apparently, never happened. To think he might've been the one to cause her to... He doesn't even like to think about it, refuses to entertain the idea that she could've...

The way she doubled over, how pain registered so clearly on every line on her face, the fear in her eyes... Klaus went cold. The weight of what he did feel like a hook lodged in his heart. A slap to the face was easy. It was physical pain. What Klaus couldn't handle was the look in her eyes, that terrible expression on her face, like she wasn't even seeing him anymore, only this horrible thing she desperately needed to get rid of. Klaus has provoked quite a myriad of not-so-positive emotions on Caroline over the years, but he's never seen that look on her face before. Suddenly all the fight, all the fire, cleared like rain clouds after a storm, leaving nothing to muddle the waters between himself and the damage his cursed words had caused.

Elijah was right, after all. He tries so hard to distance himself from the memory of Mikael, only to end up being exactly like him. His child is not even born yet and already he's hurting her.

Klaus went into that cemetery with a sister, a brother and a woman who means the world to him expecting his child. Now he's not sure how much of that he still has left. Maybe none of it.

This is not how revenge is supposed to feel.

No, this feels like... Failing. Or falling. Only there's no bottom to reach, no end. The emptiness inside of him goes on and on and on... Devouring everything in its way like a black hole. He wonders how much of him will be left before his ordeal in New Orleans reaches its inevitable end.

When he finally makes it back to the compound, it is packed with vampires.

He has no idea what they're doing there, but it's a good indication that he won't find the one thing he expected to.

Klaus takes a sharp breath. "Is there a reason you lot are loitering in my home?"

"I asked them to be here."

Of course. The final piece of the puzzle. Marcel.

If he'd made his grand appearance a few hours ago, Klaus would've probably ripped his heart out in a blink. He was dying for a chance to get his hands on Marcel. His betrayal didn't hurt as much as Rebekah's, but it was close. Except he is not his blood. Klaus might've considered him a brother once, but he wouldn't have hesitated before making him pay, if anything than to torture Rebekah even further.

He was his right-hand man. Klaus trusted him as much as he trusted Elijah. He raised that man since he was a little boy. Taught him everything he knows. The very best and the very worst. And Klaus mourned his death like he'd lost a part of himself, spent years blaming his own arrogance and cowardice for Marcel's death. Couldn't even hear his name, couldn't look his sister in the eye and see all that grief, all that pain. And all along, it had been their fault. Their betrayal. They took everything from Klaus. Everything.

He could never kill Rebekah. Not really. He might've thought he could, but the truth is... He'd never stab her with the white oak. She broke his heart like no one ever before, but she's still his baby sister. He wanted her to be scared, to feel the same kind of terror he experienced because of her plot to have him killed.

But Marcellus... No, he shouldn't be spared. He should pay for what he did. For destroying the only thing Klaus has ever truly held close to his heart in one thousand years of a meagre existence and then daring to call himself king.

"You and I need to settle this out in the open," Marcel says, squaring his shoulders, staring Klaus straight in the eye, pretending to be brave.

"I thought you would've run off by now," he says.

"Yeah, well. This is my town. You may want me to beg for forgiveness, but I'm not sorry. I may not be able to beat you, but I came here to face you, to end this in front of my people. If you're gonna kill me for that, get on with it."

Klaus' eyes flash.

Fool... Did he bring all his men to witness his downfall? So they'd hate Klaus and never swear loyalty to him? Does Marcel really think he cares about that? He'd just as easily kill all those miserable rats, teach them all a lesson. Klaus could be done with the lot of them in a second. Wouldn't even break a sweat. Hasn't Marcel understood that they are nothing compared to him? That he can crunch them all between his fingers?

Sabine's boundary spell gave him the perfect opportunity to run. But he'd rather die. Such a lovesick loon.

As he peers at the man he once considered the truest of friends, Klaus finds... Nothing. No fire. No anger. No thirst for vindication. A few hours back and he'd have Marcel's head on a spike in the middle of this courtyard. Now, however... It just doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters. He's already lost.

Empty. He's just empty.

Klaus turns his back on Marcel and walks away.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Elijah expected Klaus to dash off into the night, straight back to the compound after Caroline, but it's not what he does. Instead, Klaus lags behind, takes a winding way back in regular human speed — and not even a human in a particular hurry.

He'd like to say he has no idea why his brother acting so unlike himself, but Elijah knows. And he can sympathize.

He was still in a bit of a daze when Caroline left, saw through foggy eyes as she doubled over in pain, as Niklaus followed her all the way to the front gate. She walked out and he remained trapped. The spell should've bound her, too, because of the baby. If she left, it means she managed to undo it. But if Niklaus didn't... It's because she wouldn't allow him to.

His brother is an idiot. All that time he'd been harboring resentment towards her and Elijah because of that no-kiss. Part of him knew it had to be because of that, but he didn't want to provoke Niklaus' ire unnecessarily, and on the off chance that he'd been angry about some other random pettiness — which wasn't unlikely — then it would've been best to leave it at that.

Elijah was wrong; he overstepped, allowed his judgement to get clouded by his feelings and did something terribly misguided, which he deeply regrets. It was one second of carelessness, and look at all the damage it caused… But Caroline stopped him, and she did so by proclaiming her love for his brother. How could Klaus see everything but that? How can he still, at this stage, doubt that girl's feelings for him? Is he blind? Elijah knows of his brother's complete ineptitude when it comes to processing his own emotions; Niklaus has a fantastic eye for reading other people, unraveling everyone around him with impressive acumen, but the same cannot be said about himself. He lives immerse in denial, nurturing his grudges whilst burying everything that he deems a weakness. Elijah expected him to be moronic in understanding - and accepting — his feelings for Caroline and, most of all, in acting on them in an appropriate manner. But how could he not see her?

Was it fear or insecurity what made him refuse the truth? Was he waiting for her to make a decision, to take a step forward? Or for the other shoe to drop and, with it, the realization that it had all been a mistake?

Well, it matters no more. After what happened at the cemetery...

Even from a distance, as he follows his brother, stopping once or twice to replenish his energy from ill-advised tourists, Elijah can't help but pity him. He seems... lost. Overtaken with dejection. His invincible, unflappable brother, reduced to such a sad, lonely figure, ambling through the streets of New Orleans with his cold heart shattered to pieces.

By his own fault, a voice in Elijah's head speaks. Niklaus threatened and alienated Rebekah, lashed out at Caroline to the point she felt physically ill. Elijah... Well, he's not without fault. He did stab his brother with that blade, which he assumed was bad, but had no idea just how terrible. If he'd known, he would've gone for the old neck snap as Caroline suggested. He only had the blade inside himself for a few minutes, but it was more than enough for him to know anguish like he'd never known before. It was... A living hell, quite literally. He's not sorry he tried to stop Niklaus from killing Rebekah, but he is sorry he resorted to such a dreadful approach.

If Niklaus hadn't been so outrageously excessive in his levy against their sister, Elijah would have sided with him. What Rebekah did was indefensible. Bringing Mikael to New Orleans... Whatever Niklaus did, however cruel he might've been, nothing justifies reaching out to the man they'd spent miserable centuries running away from. Never settling, never taking roots. She was as unhappy as they were while they ran from Mikael. How could she so easily forget? And for a romance? She was willing to sacrifice Niklaus for Marcel.

Elijah can understand her pain, her anger even. But not that. She should've spoken to him first. He was never a fan of Marcellus as the rest of his family, always a bit jealous, if he's to be completely honest, of how adored he was by both his siblings. But he would've done anything in his power to make sure Rebekah would be happy by their side, even if that meant fighting Niklaus. Truth be told, he didn't fight for her when their brother kept her daggered for 52 years. Perhaps that's why Rebekah didn't trust him. He tried to convince Klaus to set her free several times, but he kept denying it, and Elijah let him be, trying not to spite him further, afraid he would be next.

In a way, he, too, was responsible for things reaching the terrible climax they did in 1919.

But then it all ended, for all of them. New Orleans burned to the ground. Niklaus and Rebekah fled. Elijah barely escaped with his life as he tried to stall their father. And then spent decades apart from his siblings, afraid to lead Mikael straight to them. Straight to Niklaus. The next time they saw each other, Rebekah was back in a coffin, alongside Kol and Finn, and Klaus was but a shadow of the man he'd been in New Orleans. Elijah hated him with all his heart for thinking he'd murdered their own family.

And it all started with Rebekah and Marcel.

Because of that mess that started one hundred years ago, they might've lost Caroline and the baby.

So yes, Elijah can understand Klaus' hesitation to go home. He, too, is afraid to face the consequences.

He gives Niklaus a moment to go into the compound on his own and face whatever it is that awaits him there away from his older brother's prying eyes, but when he hears Marcellus' voice, Elijah stills.

That idiot... Rebekah sacrificed everything so he could run away with his head still attached to his neck and his little dead witch by his side and he jeopardizes it all by staying back to face Niklaus' wrath as though he has any chance to survive. This will only break his family apart even further. Rebekah won't ever forgive Klaus if he kills Marcel.

Elijah's blood boils in his veins.

This boy is the very reason all this came to pass. Why Rebekah is gone. Why Caroline is... wherever she is. Why Niklaus is broken, perhaps beyond repair. Why their family lost their home and their right to happiness a hundred years ago. How dare he show his face?

Elijah enters the compound, staying in the shadows while he watches. He expects to see Niklaus at the height of his ruthlessness, taking out Marcel and the rest of his riffraff just to placate the pain in his heart. Instead, his brother turns around and walks away, going up the stairs and disappearing from sight. Elijah is momentarily thrown by it. He thought he'd see his brother's eyes flash golden, ablaze with anger, but he just stared spiritlessly at Marcel, the light completely gone from him.

A ripple of uncertainty runs through the crowd, who were obviously waiting for violence to break out.

Well, they shall have it.

Niklaus may be too disconsolate to give them what they deserve, but Elijah isn't.

He cracks his neck, undoes the button on his jacket, and, taking full advantage of his superior speed and strength, flashes to Marcellus, grabbing him by his throat and throwing him across the courtyard, against a wall, as though he were a vase. The sound of his painful moan sounds like music to his ears.

"Good evening," Elijah says, his voice booming across the packed courtyard. "I trust I need no introduction. After all, this was once my family's home. Tonight... I'm taking it back." His lips curl into a grim, ugly smile. In all honesty, he'd been dying to do this since they moved in, couldn't stand having to share his home with a bunch of useless vermin and lowlifes. But Niklaus insisted that they needed an army to watch the place, guard Caroline, keep her safe. Clearly, they were as good as nothing. Should've just kicked them all out long ago. "Your privileges have all been revoked," he announces, and then turns, his eyes fixing on Marcel.

Elijah feels anger burning at the pit of his stomach, visibly stiffens with the effort not to rip his heart out right there. Instead, he points a finger at the man as he pulls himself up. "Out of respect for my sister, I will grant you this one mercy. I will allow you to keep your life. However, you are hereby exiled. If I so much as find a trace of you in the French Quarter, it will not end well for you. Do you understand?"

Marcel's mouth compresses into a fine line, his eyes sparkling with the need to fight back. The insolence of that man... Elijah should beat him to a pulp just to teach him a lesson. But he'll allow him to leave. For now. He has more important things to worry about than this miserable excuse for a vampire.

"That is all," he says to the crowd of stunned faces. "Run along."

Slowly, the vampires begin to trickle out. Marcel waits until his guys have all turned before joining them. If he so much as dare to set foot anywhere near Elijah or his family, he will learn the meaning of regret.

He lets out a steadying breath, pulling down his jacket, and then looks up, half-hoping to see Niklaus' appraising eyes. But he's not there. That can't be good...

He finds his brother standing by Caroline's bedroom, his eyes distant and glazed over as he peers inside. He doesn't think he's ever seen Niklaus looking more devastated than he does right then. Disheartened. Dispirited. To see him this way, devoid of that dangerous energy he constantly exudes, is more disturbing than seeing him completely consumed by rage as he'd been at the cemetery.

Elijah's heart sinks.

"She's gone," Niklaus speaks after a moment, his voice as empty as the rest of him. "Caroline's left us."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Lost.

That's how Caroline feels. Lost. The last twenty-four hours have lasted about a hundred, and all the accumulated exhaustion of the past few days are weighing down on her, hard. But she doesn't feel like shutting her eyes and going to sleep. She doesn't feel like doing anything, really. All she wants to do is sit right outside the cabin and watch as the fire creeps, flames dancing hypnotically before her eyes.

Cami helped her pack in record speed. They just threw all her stuff and dragged it to her car. Caroline wanted to take a cab, but Cami made a good point that no cab driver would want to drive her deep into the Bayou, all the way to where the werewolves are. She could've stolen one of Klaus' cars, of course — which would've been the least he deserved — but she didn't want to take any of his things and give him any plausible excuses to chase after her. All she wants for now is to be left alone.

Eve didn't even wait to hear the full story before opening her arms and welcoming Caroline into the camp. "You can stay however long you need," she said, smiling. Caroline has no idea what to do with her life, short, medium or long term, but Eve's warm hospitality was comforting. "We don't usually have this many people," the werewolf explained as Caroline made her way through dozens of tents and trailers to the cabins closer to the river. "They've come from all over the state, even from other parts of the country. They'll be thrilled you're here."

It was more than a little overwhelming to know that her pregnancy had drawn this many people — werewolves — to New Orleans. She really didn't know what to say. The state she's in, the last thing Caroline wanted was to be treated as some freak show attraction by a bunch of strangers. But the ones who came out to say hello were all very nice and respectful. No one tried to touch her belly, at least. That's something.

"You can stay here," Eve said, motioning to one of the cabins. "It's mine. I used to share it with my sister, but she left a few years ago. There's a spare bed and we got our own bathroom. It's not much, but -"

"It's perfect," Caroline said, offering her as earnest a smile as she could muster. "I can't thank you enough."

"I'll light up the bonfire outside and we'll be gathering at the main cabin for dinner in a little while. I'll come fetch you. Go ahead, make yourself comfortable."

In comparison to the Mikaelson's lavishing collection of mansions, it really is very modest. The cabin is small, sparsely decorated, but it's very clean and cozy and, frankly, everything Caroline needs right now. Luxury hasn't come without its costs in New Orleans. All that opulence has led her to an emergency consult, fearing for her baby's life. She can certainly do without the riches if it means having some much deserved peace. That's a priceless commodity in this city.

But getting settled, having a good hot shower and changing into warm clothes didn't have the effect Caroline expected. Instead of relaxing, the insanity of the last few days finally caught up. For days in a row, she had been operating on autopilot as disaster stroke nonstop. It was one thing after the next, and Caroline barely had any time to breathe or think of anything that wasn't saving her own ass or somebody else's. Now that it's all over, it's like a fire inside of her went out, leaving her cold and oddly empty.

She's not feeling any pain and it seems like the baby will be fine. Not thanks to her or the miracles of modern medicine. Caroline's certain that if it wasn't for the baby's blood healing properties, she'd be in a hospital now and her child in a neonatal ICU, if alive at all. The fact that the baby was in so much distress not even magic was fast enough to heal leaves no doubt about the seriousness of what happened. And as much as Caroline wishes she could blame it all on Klaus, the truth is she feels terribly guilty herself for pushing through even though she knew her body was giving obvious signs that it was dangerously close to a collapse. The baby may be miraculous, but she's still only human, and her stubbornness and refusal to listen to her own limits, paired up with a humongous amount of stress, was a recipe for tragedy.

Parents of the year, aren't they?

And now… what? Where to go from here?

It's not like she'd made any thorough planning before. In fact, she was running behind on everything. Almost seven months and she still hadn't allowed herself to buy anything for the child. Not even a teddy bear. A few weeks ago, in one of her escapades from the compound, Caroline passed by a baby shop. A little yellow dress on display caught her attention. She stood there, paralyzed, staring, for ages. It was so tiny... How could a person actually fit into that? She tried to picture her daughter in that dress, what she'll look like when she's finally here. Her eyes, her hair, her nose... If she'll have dimples, like Klaus. Or freckles, like her. If she'll be more Mikaelson or Forbes. And she... Couldn't. Caroline's mind just went completely blank.

The worst part is that it wasn't a one-time thing. It happened every single time she attempted to picture herself with a little child. Caroline just can't imagine her and Klaus and a baby. In some subconscious level, she still doesn't believe this will actually happen, and it blocks her from preparing to have the baby.

Today, when she felt that stab of pain at the cemetery, there was a voice in her head, amid the panic and the fear, saying, in a rather calm and cool way, See? I told you. It won't happen. And Caroline just... She broke down. Like it was her fault. Her lack of faith was causing her to lose her baby.

She doesn't want to say it outloud. Doesn't want to admit to anyone that she's been having these fears, these doubts. She feels terrible, ashamed, the worst mother-to-be in the world, and letting other people in on this will only make it more real. But the truth is... Now that she's left the compound, everything seems ten times worse. Caroline didn't have any plans before, but what does she have now, aside from a new brand of anxiety about getting too worked up and going into early labor?

Despite everything, there was this sense that something was being built over the last seven months, like they were going somewhere. For a second there, Caroline even thought she and Klaus were... Well. Finding some much needed common ground, for lack of a better definition. It all imploded so fast...

It occurred to her that perhaps it's time to go back to Mystic Falls. She needs a few days to make sure everything's fine and that she won't accidentally have some kind of crisis on the road, but then... It's a thought. She's still not certain that the powers that be won't follow her all the way back to Virginia and take the Mikaelson-less opportunity to finish her off. Like it or not, Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah have been running up and down the city fighting witches, vampires and hybrids for her. If it wasn't for her Original bodyguards, she doesn't know that she'd still be here. If it's true that witches all over the country have been murmuring about her baby... Well. News travel fast in the supernatural world. And then there's Tyler. He could've gone back home. That would be unpleasant... And what will everyone else do once they hear that her hybrid child has been labeled Most Likely To Be the Antichrist? Will they want to keep her safe, or will they join the hordes of haters? Will they have any sympathy for her, considering who the father is?

How did she get trapped between a rock and a hard place like this?

Caroline's lost in thought when she hears twigs and leaves crackling near. She rears her head like a deer, ready to attack and then bolt. But then she spots Rebekah, coming out of the shadows of the trees and walking towards her with a smile.

She jumps to her feet. "Rebekah," she breathes, relief washing over her. Caroline got so caught up in her own drama that she forgot to check on her, make sure she was ok. Something told her Klaus wasn't going to kill his sister after all, but there was an infinite list of terrible things he could've done. For once tonight she can be truly grateful about something.

"Yes, still in one piece," Rebekah says, as though reading her mind. "No one died. That I know of, at least."

"The bar has been so low lately I guess we should consider that a great day."

Rebekah chuckles, but it does not meet her eyes. "Camille told me where to find you. I couldn't leave before I knew you and my niece were ok."

Caroline blinks. "You're leaving? What happened to us girls sticking together?"

"Nik and I came to a sort of... Arrangement. I leave town for good, he allows me to. Can't pass that up."

"So he exiled you?"

"Not really. But he finally granted me the right to make my own decisions. I think we can all agree that the best for me, for our family, in light of everything that's happened, is that I go somewhere else."

Caroline swallows back an objection. As much as she wants to tell Rebekah to stay, she's probably not wrong. They've hurt each other way too much. Klaus won't be ready to trust her again for a while, and she won't be ready to forgive his rage and ruthlessness until they spend some time apart.

"A thousand years with Klaus," Caroline says with a light shrug. "I guess you deserve a few vacation days. Or... years."

"I really appreciate what you did today, Caroline. How you stood up for me. We've come a long way, haven't we?"

She grins. "Who would've thought, huh?"

"I guess now is a good time for me to admit that I kind of always admired you." Caroline frowns almost comically. "Oh, don't get too over yourself. You must've known. I was nastier with you than with anyone else back there because the truth is... I envied you. You were the girl I wanted to be, if I could ever have anything resembling a normal life. Well, minus the whole sleeping with my brother part."

They both burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the comment, Rebekah making a face in disgust and shaking her head. When the laughter finally dies down, Caroline is overtaken with a feeling she never thought she'd have upon seeing Rebekah leave: sadness.

"I wish we'd had more time to be friends," the Original vampire says.

"We're much more than that now," Caroline replies, placing a hand on her bump.

Rebekah beams, a smile so genuine it looks almost foreign on her face, normally so full of cynicism.

"Please, be careful," she says. "Our family has no shortage of enemies and she will inherit all of them."

"You can always come back and visit," Caroline offers. "I'm no stranger to keeping secrets from your brother. Years and years of practice in Mystic Falls."

"Well, if I can't..." Rebekah swallows, her eyes suddenly overbright, her voice thick with emotion. "Make sure to tell that little girl stories of her crazy auntie Bex. And let her know, despite my absence... I do love her very much."

Tears brim in Caroline's eyes as she nods her head, a million things passing between them. If they were that kind, they'd hug now. But they don't need it. Right now, there's probably no one in this world who understands Caroline's predicament as well as Rebekah. And that alone makes their bond stronger than any physical contact ever could.

"I hope you find what you're looking for," she says.

"You, too. I hope you find your place in the world, Caroline, where you want to raise your daughter, even if it's not here. But know this... Nik is... Complicated. A monster, at times. But he does want more from life than just to be feared. He's too broken to find it himself, but... I do believe there's still hope for him."

Caroline looks at Rebekah, something tightening in her chest, unsure of what to say, and then she looks away.

When she lifts her face again, Rebekah is no longer there. She can't help the twinge in her heart, the feeling that she's losing a friend. But part of her is happy for Rebekah, too. At least someone in this family will finally get to enjoy life, chase happiness instead of paddling away from nightmares.

Suddenly she feels a little bit lighter. It's not much, but it's something. In a day like today, any little hope counts.

Maybe, if there's a way for Rebekah... There might be a way for all of them yet.

TBC

---

I'm afraid to ask. lol

So? Thoughts?

Please don't murder me! :(

But I'd really appreciate your thoughts! =) Curious to see whether my favorite parts were anybody else's as well. I really hope you guys enjoyed it and thanks for reading!

A/N: This episode ends with an amazing scene of Rebekah driving away in her convertible, which made no sense for me to describe here. But the scene is to the tune of an amazing song called Walkabout by the Augustines and that's the song I had playing in my head for that whole last scene, if you'd like some background music to go with your reading.

How do you guys feel about playlists? Y/N/Stupid?