According to Klaus everything went smoothly. In his absence as he had refused to let Antonia go with, claiming she had already put herself in harm's way enough for the day, Antonia had changed Rebekah from her red dress into simple sleep wear.

Hours later she still hadn't woken up. Klaus had to pull Antonia away from a still mummified Rebekah in order for her to go to bed, if he hadn't Antonia would have stayed by her side all night. Instead a maid was to watch over her, telling both of them the moment Rebekah awoke. Watching her themselves wouldn't have done any good other than kept them up all night.

It was early morning as Klaus and Antonia had gotten up and had breakfast just enjoying the silence and each other's company occasionally talking about the coffins between bites of pancakes. It was clear both were emotionally drained.

It was nearing ten as Klaus and Antonia were sitting on the couch in the living room watching the news, something mindless taking a break from working on how to get Klaus' coffins back. Or at least he was, while Antonia zoned out thinking of her life. Rebekah still in the back of her mind.

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Klaus broke Antonia from her thoughts.

"I'm just thinking about everything" Her hand came behind his head twirling a curl at the base of his neck. He figured it wasn't the coffins as they had just discussed it at length the game plan.

"What is it, you can tell me anything, love"

"I know" Antonia's head titled looking at him, "This is going to sound weird but I'm thinking of a time line"

"Of how long it'll take Rebekah to come back? She'll be back within a few hours, love don't worry she's just being dramatic" He reassured laughing.

"No not that," Antonia paused, "a timeline for, of me"

"Of how long would you want to wait to trigger your werewolf gene?"

"Yeah… I thought I'd have more time to decide" Antonia admitted without thought, thankfully she was vague.

"More time until you found me?" Klaus asked trying to put the pieces together.

"Yeah, yeah… but when I met you like real you, in your real body, I knew there wasn't any turning back, I just couldn't walk away…" She covered up as she chewed her lip looking back at the Tv. In all honesty she wasn't lying she just wasn't telling him the full truth of what she wished she had more time for.

"Ah love" Klaus said almost flabbergasted at her honesty about how Antonia felt.

A cloud must have moved because there was a sudden abrupt ray of sun shining right in Antonia's eyes causing her to winch as the light made her already throbbing head ache severely intense.

Sucking air between her teeth she shied away from the light squeezing her eyes tight. Klaus' hands were immediately on her temples, holding her head, "Antonia what's wrong? Love, are you alright?"

"I've, I've just got a headache, and the sun shined right in my eyes" Antonia said quickly rubbing her eyes with tight little fists. As she spoke clouds moved and the ray was cut from coming inside but Antonia's eyes still swirled making her dizzy.

"Do you want to lie down for a while?" Klaus asked searching her face which was still bunched up in pain. Tension lines showed prominently on her forehead

"Um I'll just take some water and Tylenol and it'll be fine"

"I'll get you that while you lie down" Antonia gave him side eye at his insisting not budging at all.

"Either you're lying down by the time I come back or else!" He insisted standing his hands still on Antonia's head tilting it up to him. His thumbs made a small circle as he let his hands fall.

"Or else… oooo I'm so scared" Antonia mocked winching at her own voice as she relented to his weak threat settling back into the pillows on the couch as he walked out.

Her body was shutting down faster, she needed to say something but her eyes drew heavy as she laid there and sleep quickly took hold.

She awoke a little while later when she felt the couch dip beside her. Eyes cracking just enough to get a glimpse of a hand caressing her cheek.

"Why do I get daggered and here you are looking worse than I" A feminine voice asked.

Antonia shot up encasing Rebekah in her arms, "Oh! I'm so glad you're awake, I missed you!"

Rebekah hugged the girl back, a tear rolling down her cheek but she quickly wiped it away before pulling back. The Original had never had anyone other than her family, Nik mostly show this kind of affection towards her. It truly made her heart swell.

"Sister" Klaus said suddenly next to them, he quickly placed the glass of water and pain reliever on the table moving to hug Rebekah.

"Nik" Rebekah stood stiffening at the sight of her brother.

"I'm glad you're up and well" He stiffly moved to hug her, Rebekah froze as he embraced her.

"I'm I-"

"Rebekah, it's alright Katherine told us everything, you had to play along" Antonia told her as she noticed the girl's comfortability not sure what they knew.

"Is- Is, is he dead?"

"Yes, Mikael is dead" Nik said looking straight into his sister's eyes, unshed tears in both of their eyes showed one another their relieved reflections.

A single sob broke from Rebekah's lips and she reached for her brother pulling him into another hug as she continued to cry into his shoulder. "Finally, we don't have to run anymore"

Klaus patted her back when she suddenly shot up, realization covered her face as she shouted, "That bitch! I'll have her heart!"

"We need to talk before you do anything" Klaus demanded as Rebekah paced no doubt planning what evils to inflict on the doppelgänger.

Klaus and Rebekah insisted Antonia lay and continue to rest as they claimed it looked like she needed some sleep while Klaus went to the next room to explain everything to his sister. Antonia obliged only because Klaus caught her off guard by silencing her with a sweetly pressed kiss to her lips before she could object. She had wanted to tell Klaus right when she awoke but with his sister being there she hardly thought it was the time, she saw him connecting to his sister talking everything out was more important.

She could wait a few more hours, right?

Later, Antonia woke up to find the house was bustling with noise. She could see Hybrids going up and down the stairs with pink furnishings, must be Rebekah's things.

Twisting on the couch intending to roll over on her side to face inside the house there was a sound from the opposite end of the couch.

"Oh, best watch those feet there, love"

Antonia was abruptly aware that her feet lay in Klaus' lap who was checking his phone which he looked up from to smile at her. It was like a ton of bricks hitting her, she didn't want to wait, she knew she had to tell Klaus. If she didn't tell him now she was scared of what was going to happen.

"Sorry, how long was I out for?" Sitting up Antonia scooched closer to him keeping her feet in his lap. A rough hand rubbed her ankle mindlessly.

"Only about an hour or so, hopefully the noise of Rebekah's moving men didn't wake you?"

"No not at all, I'm glad I did" Antonia said as she leaned her chin on Klaus' shoulder gazing up at him.

Deep breath, here goes nothing Antonia thought, "I need to tell you something"

Klaus set his phone down on the side table and looked at her, his hand smoothed her hair as her words got stuck in her throat.

Her tear-ducks on the other hand weren't and slowly tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Antonia- " concern laced his voice as he saw the tears forming.

"I'm dying" she blurted out. Not her smartest move.

"What?" Klaus looked like someone just told him the sky was falling, it had to be impossible. His face was riddled with confusion.

"I'm dying. The black magic is forcing me to turn now that I have found you. It is shutting down my body, I'm dying for real-", tears continued to stream down her face and down her neck, she wiped them away slowly as she spoke.

"How long do you have? How do you know? This is a lie" Klaus asked standing up, his voice boomed throughout the house.

"The longer I stay around you the faster I die-"

"What is this some kind of sick joke? I finally have my mate and you just turn around a decide not to turn? What do you not want to be with me? How long till you're dead and gone, just leaving me alone?!" Klaus was full blown screaming at Antonia.

She knew this was going to happen, but the lying to Klaus was eating her up inside. She had to tell him, she already had kept him in the dark too long. Antonia was just silently praying she hadn't fucked it up too much that he couldn't trust her again.

"No! I never want to leave you, let me explain please"

"Then why would you keep the fact that YOU'RE DYING FROM ME? You lied to me! This doesn't make any sense, why are you dying now!" The pictures on the wall shook from the power of his voice. Out the window she could see a flock of birds flee from the nearby trees seeking refuge elsewhere from the yelling.

Antonia shrunk back, "The black magic is killing me because I'm unturned around you, I should have told you I was scared, I'm sorry-!"

"So you knew exactly what Abby was talking about but said nothing!" He spit out, mentally kicking himself at not searching more into what Gloria had said all those months ago.

"You're right I did and I've realized how stupid I am! I've known since I met you."

"Why didn't you tell me? What else are you keeping secret?" He looked back at Antonia accusingly, seeing his face harden made Antonia only cry harder.

"Nothing felt right, telling you felt wrong like I was guilting you into being with me. I was trying to do the right thing! Nothing else is a lie! I swear nothing!" she reached out to him but he just turned back and walked towards the fireplace.

"The bloody right thing? My ass! How can I believe anything you say now! Why didn't you bloody tell me? I deserved to know!"

"I didn't want you, to want me to turn because you didn't want me to die, I wanted you to want me to turn because you loved me, I'd rather die than be a burden to you!" Antonia stood from the couch as she spoke moving to try to hold Klaus' hand but he pulled back as if she was going to burn him. Nothing hurt Antonia more than to see him not want contact with her.

"You knew even before I discovered we were mates, that I would be there if you, when you decided you wanted to turn!"

"I'm sorry! I truly am, please believe me I don't want to leave you, I'd rather die than you resent being tied to me forever"

She had hurt him and that made her heart break. She could feel her heart physically hurting in her chest. It was as if her heart was being pulled apart.

"Please don't die" Klaus said as his own eyes watered with tears, he plopped down on the ottoman looking utterly defeated before he buried his face in his hands.

"No, I'm not going to" Antonia said moving once again towards him, she kneeled between his legs taking ahold of his hands that covered his face.

"You just said you were going to die the longer you stay around me- are you lying once again?" His words cut her, like a hot knife cut butter making her pull back. His eyes stung her but she knew she deserved this.

"You didn't let me finish" Her voice was barely a whisper.

His eyes glistened with tears and his face was red as he looked at her letting her explain, "I need to turn soon or I will truly die. I don't know how long I have but I don't want to rush you into this, lying to you was eating me up inside. I'm so, so sorry."

She felt her nose running from crying so much but ignored it since Klaus had finally looked up from the floor meeting her gaze. She was expecting a facial expression a little calmer or at least not the horrified look she got.

"Your nose"

"What?" Her head tilted not following as she finally brought a hand to wipe at her nose subconsciously.

Her hand came in front of her covered in crimson blood.

"I'm fine, let's finish talking please, Klaus please" Antonia said wiping the back of her hand on her dress only caring for the man in front of her.

"No"

"What?" This is it Antonia thought, he's done, I lied to him and I screwed up so much he doesn't want me anymore.

"I'm calling Abby and you're turning today"

"Really?" Antonia stood straight up quickly.

"I do Antonia, I do love you Antonia, I've loved you since the day I laid eyes on you I may not have known it was love, but I know now and you're not dying, not now not ever. You're never leaving me, so sit your sweet little ass down while I get everything we need to make sure we're never separated" He pointed to the couch, his voice softer than it was earlier. "You said you didn't want to be a burden to me, but you could never be. I can't believe for a second you thought I didn't love you"

Antonia's words got stuck in her throat once again and when they managed to escape they came out as a croak, "I love you Klaus, and I'll never lie to you again, I'm so sorry. I was stupid, I should have trusted you. I am so, so sorry-"she started to ramble out more and more apologizes but Klaus stopped her.

His eyes lit up at her words holding her arms.

"Say it again" Klaus pleaded as much as Klaus could plead. She gave him a puzzling look, she opened her mouth to say sorry again but quickly realized what he wanted to hear.

"I love you Klaus" She was sincere, he could see it in her eyes, those dusty gray eyes that ached for him. Only him. His heart lurched in his chest.

Antonia had blood smeared across her cheeks but Klaus closed the gap between them nonetheless and silenced all her apologizes with a searing kiss. They were flush against each other as Antonia's hands held his face and his arms pulled her hips impossibly closer.

Their lips melded together in the most intimate way yet, those three words opened up a whole new level of connection between them. It was as if their lips wanted to be pressed against the other's for eternity.

Their mouths found sanctuary in each other and when they broke apart, Antonia couldn't help but let a little tear slip out.

"I'm so sorry I lied, I didn't want to force this, force you" Tears clouded her vision as she wobbled on her feet.

"I forgive you, my love. Now please rest and I'll wake you when everything is in order" He kissed her temple when he finished holding her steady.

They stayed in each other's arms for a moment before Antonia broke the silence.

"Can the person I kill please at least be someone deserving of their fate?"

"Of course, my angel, now please rest" He stressed at the worn-out girl before him.

"Can we sit and talk just for a moment?"

Wordlessly Klaus sat down and pulled Antonia along with him onto his lap. Immediately he nuzzled right into her neck, earning a giggle from the girl.

"I'm sorry"

"It's fine-" He murmured into her hair.

"No, it's not! I lied to you, my mate. I'm supposed to be honest with you no matter what and you're not mad- how are you okay with this already?"

"I'm fine with it because I know this is difficult, it's not just difficult for me but for you. You thought what you thought was right, right for me. No one's ever wanted to lay their life down for me, never. Being mad at you doesn't do anything for me, it would just keep me from you" Klaus confessed to Antonia.

"I'm so, so sorry Klaus" Antonia cried, completely breaking down. The emotional toil of lying to Klaus coming down on her all at once.

"Shhhh shhh its okay, my love, it's okay. I'm right here" Klaus cooed, Antonia turned into him crying. His hands rubbed her back trying to calm her.

"I'm so sorry" she cried again and again.

With the worst timing ever, Rebekah walked right into the living room, "Nik, can I steal Antonia to help me- oh my God what happened?"

It was then that the two noticed that Antonia's nose had started to bleed heavily again and had dripped all on the floor.

"I need you to stay here with Antonia, I have to get our affairs in order-" Antonia stayed buried crying into Klaus' chest neither caring about the blood smears.

"Are we leaving again?" Rebekah jumped to conclusion, fear evident in her eyes looking like a cornered rabbit ready to make a dash for it.

"No, no, I just need to run out for a moment and I don't want to leave Antonia alone" He reassured his sister calming her nerves.

Pulling back from Klaus' chest Antonia objected sniffling, "I'm fine, I don't need a babysitter"

"As much as I don't want to leave you like this time is of the essence, just stay with Rebekah, please for me" cue puppy eyes which immediately melted Antonia's heart.

Pushing Antonia up by her hips to get her to stand Klaus kissed her one more time before he walked out swiping his phone on the way out.

"Come let's get you cleaned up you look like hell" Rebekah judged before turning on her heel clicking her way out and upstairs to her newly decorated room. It was clear Rebekah didn't know the seriousness of her brother and Antonia's conversation and Antonia was happy to leave it at that. She didn't feel she needed to share what she had told Klaus just yet not until her and him got time to talk more.

"Wow thanks" Antonia muttered following behind as she tried to calm her appearance.

A short while later….

"Why did we come here again?" Rebekah asked.

"Because you killed the cook and I'm hungry and don't wanna cook" Antonia reminded the elder girl with a snarky glance as she walked into the Mystic Grill.

"Oh yeah that, well granted I killed her before I knew you were hungry" Rebekah pointed out rolling eyes, which quickly landed on a handsome blond server.

"Oh hush" Antonia bantered back as Rebekah led the way to the bar.

Waiting for their orders to be filled they sipped drinks, Antonia eyed Damon walking in with Ric. Literally dying and no food, this ensuing drama wasn't what she wanted, she just wanted her zucchini fries and burger.

Apparently, Klaus had told Rebekah to make sure she got something healthy hence the zucchini fries, what was she a child? Rebekah had commented that when she was a child she had ate better than Antonia.

Rebekah had yet to acknowledge Damon and Ric's presence but Antonia knew from the way she bristled beside her, her vampire senses had taken notice of their arrival. They on the other hand hadn't noticed and with a gush of wind they wouldn't.

Antonia looked around, she couldn't believe Rebekah had whooshed away. Not surprised though considering the Mikealson siblings and her were not yet aware if Elena told Stefan or Damon about what she did but nonetheless annoyed.

Damon came up the stairs behind Antonia to the bar down from her. His footsteps giving him away, "Look at what we have here Ric"

Antonia ignored him popping another fry into her mouth as Damon hopped on the stool next to her with Ric coming to sit on the other side.

Finishing her fry Antonia turned to Ric, "I'm Antonia, you must be the real Ric it's a pleasure to meet you officially" She smiled sweetly sticking her hand out for a handshake. Antonia had no reason to dislike Ric so she had decided to be polite until he showed her otherwise.

Ric looked at her hand then back at Damon who only gave his confused looked to his friend. The two humans shook hands, "Nice meet you too, I think?".

"What do you want Damon?" Antonia asked not looking at him as she finished her drink.

"What do I want? Wow Ric what do we want?"

"Damon…" Ric warned hoping that this wouldn't become a fight after all it was lunch time and the Grill was packed.

"Tell your mangy mutt of a boyfriend that Stefan isn't ready to play and that he needs to just give me more time to break through to him"

"I'll be sure to pass on the message word for word for you" Antonia's grip tightened on her glass as Damon just watched her as if trying to figure her out, "From what Katherine has told me about you I'm surprised you haven't gotten your brother to give back Klaus' stuff yet, but I guess that's just what happens when you lose your touch"

Damon started to laugh but Ric cut in before he could retort back, "Damon"

"What?" Damon asked clearly irritated.

"Come one we need to go pick up Jeremey" Sliding off the stool Ric started to move to leave clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation was going.

Damon threw him a glance as if trying to say shut up but still got up and went to leave after Ric but not before stealing a fry from Antonia's plate.