Hello my little sweeties :) I hope you are all well? Yes? Awesome :)
I hope you all enjoy the new chapter. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. Thank you to everyone for reading, following, and reviewing.
As usual, I only own my story line and OC.
Knocking back the tumbler of whiskey that lay in his held in one swift go, Klaus relished the burn it caused in his throat and chest and toyed with the glass before gently placing it down on the sticky bar. His head pounded out an irritating beat and a myriad of thoughts battered against the inside of his skull; each one begging to take centre stage. So lost in his thoughts and self pity was he, that he did not realise he had company until Elijah's voice broke him from his spell.
With carefully calculated words and tenderness, Elijah approached his younger brother and occupied the bar stool that stood empty next to the man. Ordering his own glass of whiskey, Elijah sipped at it slowly then licked the excess from his lips as he addressed Klaus.
"You should be with her."
Klaus did not allow his gaze to falter - his eyes focused entirely on a patch of unidentifiable alcohol that had pooled on the bar's surface - as Elijah made a statement so obvious that it both pained and angered Klaus.
"Don't you think I know that." he replied through gritted teeth.
"Then stop sitting here feeling sorry for yourself and go to her."
Gripping the glass dangerously, Klaus seethed as he silently reminded himself to remain as calm as possible. The alcohol he had consumed had only reinforced his anger and sense of injustice, and Elijah's words only made him feel worse for having abandoned the woman he loved in her time of need.
"She lied to me, Elijah. She let me believe - "
Slamming his fists down on the wooden surface in front of him and now on his feet, Klaus eyed his older brother with a barely contained wildness.
"I know." Elijah interrupted, standing and placing one hand on each of Klaus' shoulders in some bid to comfort the tortured man. "I know."
Searching Elijah's brown eyes, Klaus gasped upon realising the meaning of Elijah's two simple words and remained stoically silent as he attempted to comprehend how his sibling could know the truth behind Lacy's pregnancy.
"You knew?! And you didn't think to tell me?" Klaus argued, ripping Elijah's hands away from his body. "I'm your brother and you helped her to lie to me!"
"Niklaus, calm down. You're making a scene."
"Do you know who he is? Her baby's… father. Do you?" he shouted.
Choosing to ignore Klaus' question due to his loyalty to both of his brothers, Elijah stepped towards Klaus and encased the enraged man in a tight hug; thankful that Klaus did not fight against him.
"Listen to me, Niklaus, if you don't go back now you'll regret it. She'll wake up alone and scared and she'll need you. If you truly love her then forgive her for her lies. Go and be the man she believes you are and be with her."
Despite knowing that Elijah was speaking sense, Klaus struggled to reconcile logic and emotion as he stewed over his options. The betrayal upon discovering that Lacy was further along in her pregnancy than he had assumed had cut deep within his heart. How he had managed to contain himself as the doctor explained Lacy's condition and, in turn, revealed her secret still surprised him.
Shoving Elijah away from him for a second time, Klaus chose to ignore the man's advice and glared at him with venom saturating his ocean-blue eyes.
"Why should I forgive her?"
"Because you love her, Niklaus, and she does not deserve to be punished for a small wrongdoing."
"Maybe you should practice what you preach, dear brother, before lecturing me on how I choose to handle my girlfriend's indiscretions!"
Knowing better than to antagonise his younger brother any further, Elijah kept his cool and chose his words carefully.
"Do you care to explain what you mean because I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh come off it, Elijah! You're stood there acting all high and mighty but I don't see you forgiving Katherine for her lies."
"That's different. Katherine -"
"Lied to you. Different circumstances but still a lie. You want me to forgive the woman I love? Then go and do the goddamn same and stop telling me what to do!"
His jaw twitching with the extreme effort of not giving into his violent impulses, Elijah fisted his hands and mentally counted to ten before continuing on in his mission to persuade Klaus to return to Lacy's bedside.
"I'm not here to talk about me and Katherine…" Elijah began, not bothering to address his brother's obvious insinuation that he still loved his former wife. "There is a girl in that hospital, scared and hurt and alone - a girl I care about just as much as you do - and you're sat here getting drunk and feeling sorry for yourself. Pull yourself together before you lose her."
His lips forming a thin line, Klaus stood in complete silence as he absorbed Elijah's lecture. There was no denying the betrayal that penetrated his heart or the indignation he felt at the lies of the woman he loved. Whatever the circumstance… whatever the truth… it was quickly dawning on Klaus that the bond he shared with Lacy may have been broken beyond any hope of repair, and that very thought chilled him to the bone. A life without Lacy wasn't one he ever wanted to experience.
"You're right, brother." Klaus admitted with a murmur. "But I don't know what to do."
"Just forgive her."
Staring up at the bare ceiling, Lacy studied it with the curiosity of a newborn studying the world around them. She could not explain why it was that she found the ceiling so fascinating, but she did know that it calmed her mind and she was grateful for the reprieve from her thoughts.
Finally deciding to look away she shifted her focus to the plastic clock on the wall in front of her. It was mid morning and she'd been awake less than an hour. The time mattered very little to her when all each minute managed to do was make it abundantly clear that Klaus was not by her side. The confusion she had felt upon waking had quickly cleared when her condition was explained to her by the doctor, but panic soon set in when the realisation hit her that Klaus had discovered her deception. It was the only logical reason for his absence and it broke her to her core
Squeezing her eyes shut, Lacy clamped her hand down onto her mouth as a cry pierced the air and convulsions wracked her frail body. The tears came thick and fast and they fell from her eyes without prejudice or concern for her surroundings. The harder she tried to muffle the sounds, the harder the tears came and the louder she wailed.
"Shush. It's okay. I got you."
A hand cupped her cheek and Lacy tentatively pried open her eyes. Standing over her was Kol. His brown eyes were devoid of their usual sparkle and his youthful face was crinkled into a deep frown. A thin layer of stubble adorned his lower face and Lacy hated how much older his sadness made him appear.
Stroking her matted hair with his other hand, Kol forced himself to smile before he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. A fresh wave of sobs began at his small action and he stood straight up; taken aback and worried that he had hurt Lacy.
"Did I hurt you, love?"
A shake of her head was the reply. Satisfied, Kol still grimaced as he pulled Lacy's hand away from her mouth and held it firmly in his own hand. Interlocking their fingers, he placed himself down on the edge of the bed and resumed his stroking of her hair. She stared up at him with big, wide eyes and he was stunned by the vulnerability that radiated from them.
"Elijah told me what happened."
He knew it was ridiculous to ask after her well-being. Whether or not she felt any grief over their lost unborn child he would never know. He knew better than to ask her such a question.
"I'm so sorry, Kol." Lacy finally spoke.
Her voice broke as she said his name. Her apology was sincere and she prayed that Kol would understand the meaning behind her four simple words. There was so much she needed to say but she struggled to vocalise it. Sorry was a poor substitute but it would have to do.
"It's not your fault. These things happen."
"Please don't hate me." Lacy said, her voice so low it sounded almost pitiful.
His heart breaking with the effort of containing himself, Kol plastered on a reassuring smile and shook his head as he let out a quiet laugh. Lifting their interlaced hands and placing a chaste kiss on her fingers, he wondered how he would ever survive if he were to lose the battle for Lacy's heart.
"I could never hate you. Not even if I tried."
He leaned down to kiss her lips but was stopped by a sudden movement in the doorway that caught his eye. Clearing her throat and holding a bunch of pink coloured roses was Caroline. Her skin glowed and her blonde locks tumbled down onto her chest in perfect curls. One hand held tightly onto the bouquet whilst the other caressed her burgeoning bump.
"Hi…" Caroline began, pausing before entering the room and glancing from Lacy to Kol. "I hope it's okay that I came. I heard what happened and I thought… Well… I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry and if there's anything I can do to help you - anything at all - just ask."
Her cheeks turning an unflattering shade of pink, Lacy turned her head away so as to hide her shame and embarrassment at being caught in a somewhat compromising position with Kol. Caroline was not a vindictive woman, Lacy knew that, but she was also under no obligation not to inform Klaus of whatever she had heard or saw between them.
A sense of awkwardness permeating the small room, Kol shifted from the edge of Lacy's bed and took the flowers from Caroline. He eyed her with scrutiny and wished she would leave. As if she had read his thoughts Caroline spoke again and her words echoed Kol's desires.
"I am clearly interrupting…" said Caroline, her brain ticking over as she began to decipher the situation she had encountered. "I really do hope you get better soon, Lacy."
Turning on her heel, Caroline made to leave but immediately stopped when her eyes met the icy cold stare of Klaus as he marched down the hallway and stopped dead in front of her.
"Caroline." he greeted placing a brisk kiss on her cheek. "What are you doing here?"
"I just-"
"You should be getting home, love. You know what the doctor said about getting plenty of rest."
Klaus spoke efficiently as he started to forcibly lead Caroline down the hall and as far away from Lacy as he possibly could. They were both separate aspects of his life and it was not the time for them to collide. The moment truly belonged to Lacy and her physical and emotional health and any deviation from it, whether intentional or not, made Klaus feel he was not being loyal to the woman he cherished.
"You shouldn't be here, Kol." Elijah whispered, his attention torn between the brother beside him and the one walking away.
"I'm glad he's here." Lacy replied before Kol even had a chance, astonished at her own honesty.
A smile of triumph flashed across Kol's face and his heart swelled. Despite the unfortunate circumstances that had brought them together, he could not help but indulge his inner fantasy that there was still a chance of a happy ending with the girl of his dreams. Scowling at his younger brother's blatant glee, Elijah rubbed his temples and rolled his eyes.
Reaching out to pat Elijah's hand, Lacy spoke. "Stop worrying, Elijah."
Looking down at her with the tenderness of a devoted family member, Elijah clasped Lacy's hand and gave her a cautionary glance.
"Will you be okay?"
His question was heavy with layers of unasked queries. Each one was burning within him and longed to be set free from the tip of his tongue. From the instant he had walked into the room and set eyes on the two occupants, he had realised that something in their relationship had irrevocably shifted… whether they had understood it or not.
Looking past Elijah and down the hallway to where Klaus and Caroline were stood face to face, Lacy studied them intently. As she had many months ago, she acknowledged how they made a beautiful couple; both were physically stunning and Lacy was certain that their child would be also. She watched them as Caroline threw her hands up in the air and mouthed something at Klaus. Lacy was too far away to here what was being passed between the two former lovers but she did not miss the expression of defeat that flit across her boyfriend's face, nor how his hands reached out to cradle Caroline's bump until he thought better of it and let his hand drop to his side. She tore her gaze away. Suddenly, she had seen more than she had wanted.
With a lift of her head, she caught Elijah's brown eyes with her own blue ones and stared at him withy great determination. It was as if a light bulb had gone off inside of her head. Now she could see clearly and she did not appreciate what she saw. Just one look at Klaus and Caroline had told her all she had needed to know and now there was no more hiding from the truth. Esther had been right all along.
"I hope so."
"What do you mean, you're not coming home?" Klaus blurted out in shock.
Three days had passed and Lacy was due to leave her short stay in hospital. Her body was tender and still healing but it was the throbbing in her heart that especially stung. The betrayal in Klaus' eyes hurt her more than any surgery ever could.
"I can't go home, Nik. I just can't."
"Why the hell not? You belong there with me."
Neither one was touching the other. The distance between them was gaping and with each second that ticked by the chances of a reconciliation diminished. Zipping up her bag, Lacy flung it over her shoulder before running her fingers through her hair. Klaus remained on the other side of the room near the doorway and she wished he would move so she could leave.
"You know why."
"No. I don't. Please enlighten me, sweetheart, since you seem to know things I don't!"
She flinched as he directed his anger straight at her but she stood firm and did not waver in her goal to save him from herself.
"I can see it in your eyes, Nik. You look at me differently now. You know it wasn't your baby and you hate me for lying to you."
"I don't hate you!" Klaus argued back.
"You should!"
"So you told a lie. Yeah, I'm pissed at you… but I still love you and I still think you should be coming home with me."
Rushing past Klaus, Lacy screamed and thrashed out when Klaus' arms wrapped themselves around her and prevented her from leaving the room.
"Let me go! I'm trying to do the right thing!"
"Stop fighting me, love!"
"You should be with Caroline. I'm no good for you, Nik. Let me go!"
Her energy was ebbing away and she wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to hold on out of sheer will. She was desperate now. She did not want to break his heart but now she had no choice. He had spent his life always doing right by her and now it was her time to do right by him… even if it meant destroying his faith in her.
"No!"
"It was Kol's!"
Feeling his hands slip away from her body, Lacy finally turned around and faced Klaus. His face was ashen and she her breathing was heavy.
"It was Kol's baby."
Although he did not utter another syllable, his silence spoke volumes more than any tense words would. Forcing her legs to move, Lacy pushed forward and left Klaus to stand alone in the room. The last month of their lives replayed like a broken record in her head and she hoped with every cell in her dejected body that Klaus would one day forgive for all she had done.
So... like I said to sweetdreams705, I had never ever intended for Kol to actually be in love with Lacy so this whole stuff has surprised me a lot and I STILL can't decide who I want her to be with. Who do you think she should be with and why?
Just to let you know that Katherine and Hayley will be back in the next chapter for those of who wondering what's going on with that particular story line.
Review? xxx