Hello, my lovely readers. Klaroline lives on in FF! On with the show…

Chapter 10: Trust No One

A prick of guilt moved Klaus as Caroline Forbes' head twisted to the side. She laid in her temporarily-dead-state for much longer than he felt comfortable with. Sometimes he forgot how much more delicate baby vampires could be. However, this was necessary.

A groan came from Caroline whose lids lifted and she stared back at Klaus. "What did you do?" she demanded, her voice hoarse. She cracked her neck to the side before shifting on the wooden chair she sat upon and tried to move her arms before her eyes flicked to the ropes that kept her in place. "Klaus?" she snarled, her eyes lit with fire and Klaus stopped himself from smiling.

"I will explain everything in good time. I came to make sure that you are comfortable," Klaus told her. He knelt before her, examining her bindings. They would keep her where he needed her to be—out of harm's way—for now, and that is all he wanted.

"Let's see, I'm stuck in a freakin' chair, in the middle of," Caroline's eyes lifted and she scanned her surroundings. "Someone's freakin' basement. How comfortable do you think I am?" she demanded, sneering back at him.

Klaus chuckled. "I am sorry, Caroline. And I promise that I will make this up to you." Standing, he turned to the door when he heard the chair scrape behind him.

"Klaus, you can't trust them," Caroline cried from behind him. "Let me help you!"

Pausing, Klaus closed Stefan's eyes and then he turned to face Caroline. He strode over to her, leaned down and cupped her face between his hands. "Caroline, I swear to you. All will be well. Soon. Trust me." Caroline's eyes bored into his and she nodded, inhaling sharply.

Nodding, Klaus moved to leave the room when Caroline stopped him again. "It's not you. It's them."

Gritting his teeth, Klaus offered Caroline a smile. "I have managed to live for all of these years. I do believe I can handle a pair of Heretics."

"But you're not you," Caroline retorted. "You're not the invincible Original Hybrid, pain in the ass. You're Stefan Salvatore, Bunny Eater." She attempted a weak smile, and Klaus dropped Stefan's head, a low laugh shaking the man's body. Oh, if only his enemies could see him in his weakened state.

This thought is what reminded Klaus that he had work to achieve upstairs. The longer that the girls were left on their own, the longer time they had to come up with a solution to their deadly problem, him.

"I'm sorry, Caroline. You will simply have to wait for your friends to come and find you," Klaus said before he strode to the door. He made himself deaf to the sound of her pleas. He had to return home. If he did not soon, he feared, one of his enemies would find hin and come looking for him and he would never return to his true body.

Arriving in the living room of the charming young couple who he had slaughtered in front of the Heretics, Klaus made his way over to Mary Lou. The blonde shuddered as he leaned over her, his breath tickling her ear. "You had better have come up with a solution, love. Time is ticking away for poor Nora."

Nora writhed on the couch. She looked rather pale at this point. Poor dear. On the way over, she'd attempted her little disappearing act and Klaus had slipped a splinter of stake inside her. It was so tiny that the only way that one could remove it would be to open her up and go looking for the needle in the haystack.

Mary Lou looked at Nora and cringed. "You're going to kill us anyway," she snapped, glaring at Klaus who offered her a smile.

"Perhaps. But I am sure that you have heard that I reward those who help me," Klaus retorted. "And once I am inside my own body, you will be rewarded in ways that you could never dream of."

Mary Lou's wide blue eyes flicked to Nora again. "Do it, Mary Lou," Nora gasped, nodding at her lover. "Do whatever he tells you to do."

Smirking, Klaus stood up to look at the clock. "Time is not your friend," he informed Mary Louise.

At that moment Stefan's phone began to ring. It had been doing that for the past three hours. Rolling his eyes, Klaus withdrew it and glared at the screen. He should have known who the caller was. It was the same caller all fifty-six times.

Stepping out of the living room, Klaus exited the house and crossed the street so that he could keep an eye on Mary Louise's progress with her little spell and deal with the more annoying Salvatore simultaneously.

"Yes, Damon. To what do I owe the displeasure?" Klaus intoned, taking pleasure in the fact that it was Stefan's voice in Damon's ear. This must bring such joy to Damon.

"Where in the hell are you?" Damon snarled into the phone.

"Caroline and I decided to go to dinner and a movie," Klaus replied. "In Richmond. Don't worry, mother; we'll be home by midnight."

Damon let out a growl. "Bullshit, you psychotic jackass. Caroline isn't answering any of Bonnie's calls. And you know she can't shut up. Where in the hell are you?"

Klaus could hear Bonnie in the background. "Damon, you're not helping."

"Why don't you place the person with a brain in their head on the phone," Klaus suggested.

Damon muttered to Bonnie. "Hell Spawn wants to talk to you." The sounds of movement on the other side of the line, along with a line of insults directed at Klaus ended with Bonnie on the line.

"Yes?" Bonnie said. She sounded no happier to be speaking to Klaus than Damon had.

"Tell Damon that his persistent calls will get him nowhere because what I am doing is truly not his business," Klaus informed Bonnie.

"The hell it's not! You're wearing my brother's skin, you dick!" Damon shouted and Klaus felt his amusement flagging.

"If you want him back, I suggest you mind you own bloody business," Klaus snapped and then hung up.

Stomping over to the door, Klaus jerked the handle to find it hot to his touch. Bloody witches. Taking several steps backward; Klaus kicked the door open. He found Mary Louise, a knife in her hand, her fingers deep inside her girlfriend, trying to find the wooden splinter.

Grabbing a piece of the broken door, Klaus threw it and it found its way into Mary Louise's spine and she dropped over. "I cannot tell you how incredibly stupid what you just did was, now can I?" Klaus demanded of Nora who still looked rather pale. With a newly bloodied shirt, she looked like she might be an extra from a horror film. Too bad she had no idea what real horror looked like, but she would soon.

"Now, either you will reverse this spell for me, or I will finish what I have started with this one," Klaus snarled, stomping across the floor, grabbing Mary Louise by the neck and shaking her like a rag doll.

Nora shook her head. "We can't reverse it. The spell is too strong," she told him.

Laughing, Klaus took the piece of wood from the door out of Mary Louise and then he placed it against her heart. "Call the other one, you. Tell her to come here. Or I will track her down and make her death a slow one."
Nora sat up with effort and removed her phone. Her fingers slipped on the screen, coating it with blood before she got the hang of it. "Valerie. Yes. It's me. There's a bit of a problem. Yes. I need you. Please…"

"You're a fool, Nora, and you and Mary Lou can clean up your own mess," Valerie retorted.

Holding out a hand, Klaus waved for the useless girl to hand it to him. "I suggest you reconsider the offer, unless you prefer to live the rest of your life running from the one monster who will make it his life's work to find you."

Inhaling, Valerie let out a hiss. "Right. I'll be there soon, Ste— ," she caught herself and stopped before hanging up.

~0~

True to her word, Valerie caught up with them soon enough. Her eyes trailed over the broken doorframe, Mary Louise's prone body and Nora's spasming on the couch. "Looks as if I arrived just in time for the second act," she said, folding her arms. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you place me back inside my own body. And return Stefan to his," Klaus retorted.

"And you are?" Valerie replied.

"Klaus Mikaelson," Klaus told her and smirked.

Valerie's pale face turned a shade paler as she examined him. "And you promise that no harm will come to Stefan?"

"Why do you care?" Klaus replied. "Bit of history between you two?" He couldn't help himself. He was curious since they'd met.

"Not that it is your business, but, yes. Stefan and I met years ago," Valerie told him, moving to look over where Mary Louise had left off.

"Just kill me!" Nora screamed, falling off the couch.

Valerie peered at Nora through narrowed eyes. "Is there anything to be done for her?"

"Would you like there to be?" Klaus inquired.

Pausing, Valerie looked uncertain. "I suppose. It would make Lily happy."

"And I care about Stefan's mother's happiness," Klaus replied with sarcasm. "Perhaps Stefan might, if he were here. Why don't you be a dear and help us reunite you, your lover and his mother?"

Closing her eyes, Valerie began to chant and then she shook her head. "Something is blocking me."

"Oh, what would that be, pray tell?" Klaus snapped.

"You," Valerie said simply. "The magic I feel is connected to you. I can't reverse the spell. You must allow it to run its course."

Shaking his head, Klaus got to his feet and grabbed Valerie by the shoulders. "You will find a way to fix this or I will end you, as well as these two!" he thundered at her.

Smirking back at him, Valerie grabbed Stefan's shoulders and held on. Klaus fell to his knees and let out a cry of agony. He'd never felt anything like this before. It felt like fire poured through his entire body as the Heretic in his hands shivered with pleasure.

When Valerie released him, Klaus fell to Stefan's knees and then toppled over. He felt completely drained. Helplessly he watched Valerie jerk the stake out of Mary Louise and then pull Nora to her feet. "Come now, love. We'll get you fixed up in no time and you can go back to making me miserable."

Groaning, Klaus attempted to force Stefan's knees and hands into a position that would allow him to move into a standing position but the weaker form would not follow his orders. He would kill whoever had created this spell. They took him from his child, his family and his power. They would pay dearly.

After a great deal of time, more people entered the house and Klaus could stare up at them. "What in the hell did you do?" Damon demanded, coming to stand over Klaus and glare. He leaned over and jerked Klaus to Stefan's feet.

Bonnie looked around the house. "Where is Caroline?"

"In the basement," Klaus replied, giving up and leaning against Damon. He would need to kill Damon after this was over. He watched Bonnie stalk out of sight. He knew he would have to see Caroline and admit that he had made an error in judgment. And much like Elijah, she would likely hold it over his head for the time being.

When Caroline and Bonnie did appear, neither female uttered a word. Caroline would not even spare Klaus a glance on her way out the front door. This left Klaus with a lump in his throat, choking off any stupid remark he might make to dig himself a further hole.

For once Damon did not add his own thoughts. Instead he half drug Klaus through the hole—where a door should be—and out to his car. Klaus allowed Stefan's body to be placed in the backseat. Once there he glanced at Caroline whose fury seemed to have left her speechless. This was worse than if she insulted him: telling him that this was typical of him, and he was a horrible person who deserved something horrible to happen to him.

"Caroline," Klaus began when Caroline held up a hand in response.

"Whatever you have to say for yourself: Don't," Caroline said, firmly. She would not turn to look at him. Her eyes remained on the window. Peering at the reflection, Klaus thought he saw tears glinting in her eyes. He wanted to hold her, to offer her comfort, to apologize but his pride kept him from lifting a finger.

Arriving back at the Salvatore household, Caroline and Bonnie got out of the car and strode up the stairs. Klaus stepped out of the car, with the intention of going inside to pour himself a drink and ponder who to end this mess for good when Damon appeared before him.

"Not so fast," Damon snapped. Grabbing Klaus by his borrowed shirt collar, Damon hauled him into the woods and shoved Klaus into a tree.

Sucking in a deep breath, Klaus glared back at Damon. "You will remember that killing me will result in Stefan being stuck in my body, until my family places me back inside it and then where will Stefan be left?" he growled out, watching Damon carefully. He'd already been defeated by a lesser enemy today, he did not need a further exhibition of his current inferiority.

"What in hell were you thinking?" Damon demanded, pacing back and forth. "I can't stand you. And, personally, I don't care if you die, Klaus, but you put Stef in danger. I thought he was your 'mate?'" Damon stopped and his eyes bored into Klaus with rage.

Klaus realized that Damon actually felt terrified. His fear for his brother was palpable. Being reminded of Elijah, again, Klaus felt a spike of guilt. Not understanding his sudden compulsion to apologize to Damon; Klaus rolled his eyes. "I thought you wanted Stefan back. That is all I had hoped to achieve. To fix this grievous error." He gestured toward Stefan's body.

"Taking on two Heretics by yourself…" Damon shook his head. "That was stupid, even for you, Klaus. All you had to do was call me, and I would have helped you." Taking a seat on a stump, Damon shook his head. "On top of it, you could have gotten Blondie killed, too. I thought you had a thing for her?" Looking up at Klaus, Damon snorted. "If Elena were here, I would never put her in a position like that."

"Oh, really?" Klaus couldn't help his skepticism until Damon pinned him with a long look. Perhaps Damon's devotion to the doppelgänger drove him now. Love is a weakness that would be continually used against Damon and Elena, if she ever returned.

Standing up, Damon shook his head. "Look, you worried so much about your family. Let's go see them," he said.

Klaus froze. "You would like to go to New Orleans? Leaving your friends at the mercy of your mother and her little henchwomen?" Smirking, Klaus shook his head. "Now, who is being stupid?"

Walking over to Klaus, Damon placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "I want to do whatever will keep you from going off the rails and getting my baby bro killed." Searching his brother's eyes, Damon seemed to feel that he and Klaus were on the same page. "We'll make a day trip. In and out. No one will even know we're gone."

Pausing, Klaus evaluated the possible outcomes. In the end, he decided that he needed to see his daughter more than he needed to worry about his personal safety. "I will let Stefan know," Klaus said.

"Yeah. I think maybe we should make this a surprise visit," Damon said.

"I agree," Caroline said, coming to join them. She had her arms folded over her chest and she refused to look at Klaus.

"Caroline, I do not believe you should place yourself in the middle of –" Klaus began when Caroline turned to glare back at him.

"You don't get to tell me what to do. Not after what you did to me today, Klaus," Caroline hissed at him before turning back to Damon. "I already booked the flight. We leave in an hour." With that, she whirled on her heel and headed toward the house.

Damon looked at Klaus but did not add his thoughts. It looked as if they were on their way to New Orleans.

~0~

Of the three, Klaus knew his way around the city of New Orleans better than any of the others. He led them straight through the quarter without anyone so much as blinking at them. They were simply three vampires, in a city filled with them. And so long as no one called Klaus by his name, everything would be fine.

They arrived at the compound and Klaus entered it to find Freya, holding Hope and talking to Stefan about who knew what. "Sister," Klaus called.

Freya stopped in the middle of a courtyard. The hard look on her face must mimic the one he would have had if the situations were reversed. Her eyes flicked to Stefan who turned to him.

"Klaus," Stefan said, looking shocked. Then he spotted Damon and Caroline. "Hey," he said with a smile. Klaus blinked at the look on his own face, before he shook Stefan's head. It was all still so very confusing. His daughter grabbed his attention, crying out to him and holding out her arms.

Running across the courtyard, Klaus gathered his daughter to him and held her close. She buried her face into Stefan's chest and Klaus placed his borrowed hand on her cheek, stroking it. He felt relief rushing through him. Opening his eyes, he registered the odd sight of Damon and Caroline hugging his own body before Caroline turned to look at Hope.

Nervously Caroline came over to them. "Hi," Caroline said.

Hope grinned at her and then she leaned forward. Klaus had no idea what his child was doing until she placed a hand on Caroline's stomach. A small bump had formed, as if by magic.

"What is that?" Damon cried. Then he glared at Klaus. "Oh, come on! You couldn't wait until you were out of Stef's body? You had to make Caroline all Twi-pregnant?"

"What?" Caroline looked down at her baby bump. She also looked confused. "How? Oh, my God! How is this happening?"

"There must be an explanation," Freya said. "Please, come with me." She held out a hand to Caroline who looked back at Klaus.

"It will be alright, Caroline," Klaus reassured Caroline. Although there was part of him that wondered if it would be. It was impossible for vampires to become pregnant. He and Caroline had not had sex since that memorable time in the woods. This meant that either someone had placed a spell on Caroline—or this was a trick—or those were someone else's babies. As if they did not have enough magic related problems. First body switching, now baby switching. What next?

Sighing heavily, Klaus patted his own baby's back and mounted the stairs. He would try his best to help Caroline through this phase of his life as best he could. Hopefully she would not develop a desire to rip his head off before she gave birth, or she could wait until he was in the body where his head would grow back, eventually.

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Peace,

J