The Birthday.

It's been months, months of watching Stefan & Klaus torture and kill people all on the quest to find werewolves. I spent most of my time trying to figure out how to undagger his siblings whom he carted around with us without getting myself killed in the process. With as paranoid as Klaus was and his clear distrust for me, buddy would kill me the second he thought I was gonna go rouge.

We pulled up not too far from a little house, there was a woman outside looking for her adorable puppy which I'm pretty sure we passed about half a mile back.

"You know what to do, Love." Klaus whispered in my ear, I frowned as I climbed out the car running up to the girl.

"Oh my god, I'm so glad I found you." I cried, faking being out of breath."I was out here with my boyfriend and I can't find him, I'm stranded."

"You're just a baby." The girl commented looking at my face."Are you okay? What are you doing out here?"

As much as we ran this con, I completely blanked maybe it was because she seemed to genuinely care about my well-being.

"Alicia?" Klaus called out he'd been playing around with this fake American accent, I hated it. At Least if he was gonna be evil, he could at least be evil with an accent.

"Nik!" I called turning on my heel to face him, he pulled me into a very awkward hug and it took all of my restraint not to bite the man out of spite.

"I was looking everywhere for you." He mumbled to me, I could feel the girl was still looking at us, probably confused. I probably looked like a little girl beside Klaus who couldn't possibly pass for a teenage boy."Thank you for helping her."

"No problem." She replied."Are you sure your okay,Alicia?" My stomach turned a bit anybody else would've left not really concerned if Klaus was really who he claimed to be.

"She's okay but there is something you can help me with." Klaus let go of me and put me to the side of him, he took two large menacing steps toward the woman."Can I use your phone? Our car ran out of gas a couple miles back and we split up looking for a gas station."

"Don't you have a cellphone ." She replied coldly, and then I realized if she was a wolf she could definitely smell that Klaus wasn't normal.

"Battery died." Klaus chuckled." I promise I'm not a serial killer. I just want to use your phone."

I snorted at that, that was literally the worst possible thing a strange man in the middle of nowhere could've said.

"Sure." She replied making sure to draw the word out, she was smart. She didn't seem to believe any of the shit Klaus was saying. She looked at me almost sympathetically as if she knew I didn't really want to be here.

"So can we come in?" Klaus asked, he sounded thirsty as hell and only a human could fall for this shit.

"No, she can." She replied turning and heading back up the steps with me following. I gave Klaus a look but he just shrugged.

"I thought you country folk were supposed to be more trusting." He commented just as the girl had grabbed the doorknob, she let out a snort before looking at him over her shoulder.

"I'm from Florida."

"Ah, means you've ran into your fair share of Florida mans." I joked, I could tell Klaus' patience was wearing thin and he had zero intention of letting her get inside that house. I hoped I could atleast stall for as long as I could.

"Well that explains it." He replied, in one shift motion Klaus was standing between me and the girl choking her against the front door. I gasped at the suddenness of it."Now show me a little Southern Hospitality, sweet pea."

"You can come in." She cried gasping for air, I never participated when Klaus murdered innocent people and he surprisingly respected that. Now if they'd managed to have crossed me in some way then I had zero reservations taking them out. Klaus gave me a nod, he'd had Stefan waiting at the back door in case the other girl tried to run so I wasn't needed. I turned on my heel and went back down the steps, in search of the adorable puppy I'd seen not too long before we'd gotten here.

"I'm a terrible person." I mumbled under my breath two people were about to be murdered and I'm stealing their dog. I headed back to the car and grabbed a few of my slim Jim's from the backseat, I was beyond happy when the little guy popped out of the bushes. He probably was making his way back home to his owners before we interrupted her.

He curiously walked up to me, tongue hanging out his mouth with his tail wagging excitedly. He was a German Shepard but fluffy and I'd never seen one like this before. I held out the slim Jim's which he happily took from me.

"What are you doing, love?" Klaus said behind me, he had an amused look on his face. I scooped the pup up and turned completely so Klaus could see him.

"This is who she was looking for." I replied pointing at his color his name "Ruby" was written on his red color in white.

"Yes, but what are you doing with it?"

"They're dead, so the dog needs a home." I shrugged nonchalantly, I felt like since Klaus was also a dog he shouldn't be against me stealing the puppy.

"You're gonna have to kill me if you think that." He pointed at Ruby, who tried to lick at his fingers."Is coming with us."

"Fine, can we drop him off at a shelter?" I asked, it was nothing for miles out here and unless little Ruby here was a master hunter he surely would die.

Klaus went to open his mouth but paused at the sound of a girl screaming, my guess was Stefan was literally tearing one apart while the other had to watch.

"You didn't have to kill them."

"I didn't kill them." Klaus replied with a cheeky grin on his face."Stefan did."

I didn't say anything else, I just opened the back door of the car and climbed in making sure to place Ruby down beside me carefully.

"Keep the dog." Klaus said, sliding into the front seat, I looked up from Ruby shocked."I have a wingman, so maybe it's fair you have one too even though he's dirty, and ugly."

"Do you not see how fluffy he is? He's only gonna get fluffier, Nik." I said his nickname teasingly, I never used it outside of when he needed me to help him win somebody's trust. It felt weird, much too personal.

"I haven't had anybody call me that in awhile." He said staring into space, I clasped my mouth shut. Klaus was rather hot and cold and I didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of his negative mood swings because I'd used the same nickname as somebody else.

"I won't say it again." I stared down at my lap, Ruby had forced his way into it and was licking my thigh.

"No, it's fine." He replied turning around to face me, for somebody who was supposed to be pure evil Klaus had an adorable smile."You proved me wrong, granted you didn't have to kill Greta to do that. But I grew fond of you little witch."

"Did you get what we came for?" I asked, I didn't know how to respond to being on Klaus' good side. It didn't seem like something that was actually obtainable and would most likely hit the fan as soon as I did what I did or he found out about what Bonnie did.

"Yes, as soon as Stefan's finished having some fun we're gonna go get him." Klaus replied, as if on cue the smell of blood found its way to my nose.

"Here he comes." I lean back into the seat and click my seatbelt on, Stefan climbs up front moments later. Over the past few months I had gotten used to Stefan being drenched in blood, at first it was frightening but now it was almost as common as breathing.

Wordlessly Klaus started the car and we were on our way, Ruby whined as we passed his old house. His owners were inside torn to pieces right now.

"It's okay, I'll take great care of you." I whispered to the pup, I knew Stefan & Klaus would hear it either way. We pulled over at a shady looking bar on the side of the road, I didn't have to express my clear disinterest in going inside.

The boys hopped out leaving me sitting in the backseat, I pulled out my phone and called Bonnie. At first Klaus had taken it away from me but after a few weeks he gave it back seeing as it was some sort of distraction from Stefan mauling people. I was careful to never mention Elena or text/call her just in case he went through my phone which I'm sure he did.

"Alicia, are you okay?" Bonnie asked almost immediately she'd answered the phone the same way every time I called.

"Yes, big sister." I smiled, I was careful to never reveal any details. The last thing we needed was to fuck up and Klaus come running right back to Mystic Falls for Elena."I just wanted to check in."

"I'm okay, having a ball at Aunt Trina's." She replied, voicing dripping with sarcasm.

"I don't know why you didn't hang out with Lucy." I sighed, She'd always opted to hang out with our Dad's side of the family and god they were the most boring people on earth.

"Because we don't know her?"

"Speak for yourself, I send her annoying magical messages all the time." I shrugged, Bonnie was stubborn she wasn't really interested in anybody who wasn't around for us growing up which I understand.

Ruby let out a bark, his tail started wagging almost like he'd spotted someone he knew. I glanced in the direction he was facing and noticed it was the bar, I sighed as much as I'd love to keep talking to Bonnie. I do need to hold up my end of my deal.

"Is that a dog?"

"Yeah, you'll meet him at some point. I've gotta go, tell her happy birthday for me." I replied quickly hanging up, I made sure to crack the windows in the car so Ruby wouldn't overheat and climbed out the car.

I easily put up a boundary spell; nobody but me would be able to enter or leave until I took it down, it was quicker to do it this way than to modify the spell for Stefan & Klaus; they didn't really seem to mind I was lazy either.

I strolled straight up to the bar, Klaus was sitting against the bar while Stefan was twirling darts in a cup. There was a man standing against the wall with darts all around him, a few actually were lodged inside him it looked painful.

"Ray you can end this right now, just tell me where your pack gathers for the full moon." Stefan said, he'd just beamed a dart right into Ray's chest. I winced seeing it get stuck.

"I can't." He groaned, he was fiercely loyal and I both hated and loved that for him, he doesn't want anyone to hurt his pack. And that would be his downfall.

"I know you live by a code, Ray. But they won't stop until you give them what they want, that's just how it is." I replied sadly, Stefan was the brute force and I was the soft womanly approach to things, when Stefan couldn't get the job done I usually could and vice versa.

A random girl comes to a stop between Klaus and I, I raise an eyebrow as she does but shrug it off and take a sip from Klaus' drink.

"Hello, Mr. Klaus. I have some information for you. He told me to tell you that he saw that guy's brother Damon at the farmhouse." She explained, I palmed my forehead, dumbass Damon was way too close and was going to fuck everything up.

"Well thank you, Claudine. You just tell your friends to keep up the good work with the neighborhood watch." Klaus replied, the lady nodded and walked off. I snorted when she tried to leave but ran straight into the barrier.

"Alicia." Klaus said, I groaned and momentarily dropped it allowing Claudine to leave. I put the spell right back up.

"How was I supposed to know?" I pouted."Do you need me to talk to Damon?"

"My brothers still on our trail?" Stefan asked leaning beside Klaus.

"He's getting closer, I'm gonna have to deal with that." Klaus said, taking his drink from my hand and taking a sip. This was the moment I realized I might just be nasty as hell.

"No, no. Let me handle it." Stefan said, he truthfully confused me when he was in his ripper zone. I assumed his switch was flipped but he had moments like this where he seemed to care.

"Why should I let you leave?" Klaus asked, passing me back the glass, I stared at it for a second before sitting it back down on the bar.

"Cause you know I'll come back." Stefan replied confidently. Damn we seemed to have a lot of faith in Klaus who suffers from aggressive paranoia.

"Do I?" Klaus asked he looked between Stefan and I, I let out a sigh knowing exactly what I had to do.

"I'm staying with you, Elena would turn over in her grave if he left me with you and ran off, not to mention my sister would probably kill them." I said before downing the rest of the drink, I slammed the glass back down on the bar.

"I'll make sure my brother doesn't bother us anymore." Stefan added.

I dropped the spell again and Stefan left, Klaus knocked Ray out and placed him on the pool table. I reached behind the bar and swiped a bottle of patron.

"What do you wanna do while we wait for Stefan? Since the pool tables occupied and the dart board is bloody." I asked, popping the top off my bottle and taking a sip.

"You can go and call one of your friends." He waved his hand dismissively. I rolled my eyes.

"Ooh, are you trying to get rid of me?" I asked standing up, I looked around the bar and finally noticed everybody here had to be compelled because nobody batted an eye at the torture and or underaged drinking.

"Something like that." He replied, I frowned . I think he truly didn't trust that Stefan would come back. I don't think that Klaus truly knows how much was on the line if Stefan didn't keep his end of the deal.

"Okay, I'll just go check on Ruby." I put the lid onto my bottle and twirled it around a bit."If you need me I'll be in the car."

I waited for him to say something but he didn't, I frowned as I walked back outside. I popped open the car door and sat down in the front, Ruby popped up from his nap and immediately climbed the center console.

He snuggled up into my lap while I pulled out my phone and called Caroline, somehow I hadn't spoken to her much since I was gone and it was beyond weird. As expected she didn't answer I groaned leaning back against the chair, somehow Stefan & I both went on the same trip and nobody was worried about me except for Bonnie meanwhile Damon, Elena & Alaric were trying to track down Stefan.

I jumped a bit when my phone rang, I assumed it was Caroline calling back and quickly answered.

"I was mad at you for all of the summer but now I'm not." I said excitedly, I frowned a bit at the pause. I could hear her breathing but she didn't say anything."Caroline?"

"This is awkward." Matt said, I pulled the phone away from my ear and sure enough the caller wasn't Caroline but Matt.

"This is very awkward." I replied, running my fingers through Ruby's fur."Well I wasn't mad at you Matt and it's nice to see that someone hasn't forgotten about me."

"Nobody forgot you, you think they're just looking for Stefan?" Matt asked, I could hear loud music and people talking in his background.

"Yes? Nobody has spoken to me all summer but Bonnie and she doesn't count she's my sister." I replied, trying to keep my voice down to not bother Ruby.

"I'm sorry, things have been weird." He explained, I scrunched up my face out of all of us Matt had the most normal life.

"Strange how?"

"Somethings off with Jeremy, E has been obsessed with finding Stefan and Caroline & Tyler have been spending a lot of time together." He replied, my grip on the phone tightened just a bit. The witches warned there'd be consequences so I wasn't highly alarmed with Jeremy. I already knew about Elena but Caroline & Tyler hanging out was new to me.

"How long have they been hanging out? And by hanging out what do you mean?" I asked, tapping my foot against the ground. I was a bit pissed off that I hadn't gone with Stefan.

"I think they're dating."

"That's why she isn't answering me?" I asked disappointedly, I was confused why Caroline was the one Tyler had helping him out with Mason's journal and something about it felt off to me but I trusted them. Now my best friend is awol and I'm hearing she's hanging out with my ex."Holy fuck did they double snake us?"

"I think so."

"I'm gonna call Tyler right now." I said calmly, I moved Ruby from my lap and placed him back into the backseat. And stepped out the car, closing the car door behind me.

"Do not mention my name." Matt blurted out.

"Matt this isn't my first time." I shrugged looking at my reflection in the mirror, to make things easier on my self I opted to get my hair done in braids again, my skin had a beautiful tan from all the sun making my green eyes pop even more. I adjusted my tank top for maximum cleavage."Thanks for telling me Matt, but let the master handle this."

"Don't do anything crazy." He said, we said our goodbyes and hung up. I video called Tyler,it was risky on my part the slightest bit of my background could give me away. But I think if anybody understood pettiness it was Klaus.

"Alicia." He answered on the second to last ring, he did a double take at how great I looked despite everything."You're okay."

"I'm okay." I replied with a shrug."I'm just wondering why I haven't heard from you."

"You ignored us for a month." He stammered out, I raised an eyebrow. I'd called him and Caroline several times since I got my phone back and I read all those messages they'd sent that they claimed went unread.

"I've called you atleast 10 times."

"I'm sorry Lee." He replied, I noticed he looked off camera a few times but I couldn't tell who he was looking at.

"Are you with Caroline? Let's just cut to the chase." I asked, making sure to cross my arms. I was still holding the phone so I pretty much pressed and shoved both tits into his face.

"No, I'm not." He replied, I stared at him without saying anything trying to read if he was lying or not." So who are you with?"

"You broke up with me." He replied annoyed."It's not any of your business who I'm with."

"It's my business when you're suddenly fucking my ex best friend." I spat his face softened a bit it didn't change the frustration on my face." Tell Caroline if she wants to try and salvage this, she'll call me."

"Alicia!" Tyler called but I hung up, I kicked the side of the car annoyed. I wouldn't be getting answers from either of them, I doubt Bonnie was kept in the loop and the one person who would know I can't speak to for her safety.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket, grabbed my bottle from the car and took a big gulp. Much bigger than I should've taken around somebody who I need to constantly be on guard with.

I stomped back inside the bar, Klaus seemed to be lost in his thoughts as he nursed a second drink. I sat down beside him, he turned and faced me but didn't say anything.

"I think you've had enough of that." He commented after awhile, my eyes followed his down to the bottle I was still clutching in my hand. I didn't fight him when he took it from me and put it back where I'd stolen it from."No need to drunkenly divulge all your deep dark secrets to the big bad hybrid."

"What are you gonna do? Kill me?" I asked without thinking, I was expecting him to lash out but he chuckled instead.

"I take it your phone call didn't go well?" He asked, twirling his drink around.

"Nope." I grinned, staring at Ray still passed out on the table."Turns out my ex and my friend are fucking since I'm gone."

"The blonde and the wolf?"Klaus asked, taken aback."We can go back into town and kill them. I do need a wolf. That wouldn't have happened if Damon hadn't interfered."

"I don't want them dead." I snorted, reaching for the bottle behind the bar but stopping myself, I'd have zero use if I was drunk and I could blab about Elena."I'm just feeling betrayed. But I appreciate that you would do that for me."

"You've been a far better wingman than Stefan." He finished off the rest of his drink."He seems to be here out of obligation, he can't even hide the fact that he loathes my company, but you. You're sitting in a bar drinking with me not even batting an eye."

"I'm a girl who likes to have a good time." I shrugged."And besides, you're really not half bad when you're not trying to kill people I care about."

"Didn't you try to kill me?"

"You started it." I countered, we both laughed until we heard the faint sounds of Ray groaning."Did he tell you anything?"

"While you were outside." He replied, sliding from his seat and going over to Ray, I followed suit and came to a stop on the opposite side of the table."Okay it's a three step process,right? Step one: I want you to drink from my wrist."

Ray looked on confused, I don't know why he expected Klaus to go through all this trouble and just let him go. Truthfully if I was in his position I would've expected death or tried to kill mysef.

"I already told you where my pack is. What more do you want from me." He asked, Klaus grabbed his head holding it straight.

"Have you been listening to what I've been saying? I have great plans for you." Klaus replied biting into his wrist and forcing his blood into Ray's mouth." You'll thank me later for it."

"What are you going to do?" Ray asked, every supernatural knew what consuming a vampires blood did. Ray was rightfully afraid. Stefan walked in just in time, he gave me a brief nod and stood beside Klaus.

"It's time for step two,Alicia?" Klaus said, I was slightly buzzed and felt zero sympathy right now and I think Klaus knew that. I snapped my fingers and Ray's neck broke, effectively temporarily killing him. He turned his attention to Stefan. "You're back."

"Did you doubt me?" He asked, he did. Anybody with common sense would doubt that Stefan would keep his word.

"Not for a second." Klaus replied, turning away from Ray, I stared down at him curious of how much different he'd be from a vampire." You've passed the test, you still care for your brother. For your old life."

"I don't care about anything anymore." Stefan said which was bull because he would've let Klaus handle it if that were the case.

"You put on a good show. But do try to be more like Alicia, her sister isn't hunting her night and day. They talk everyday and I don't have to worry about either witch." Klaus replied, shaking his head." Let's hope for your brothers sake, he does. You never stop caring about family. But every time you feed, the blood makes it easier."

While we waited for Ray to wake up Stefan went outside for some "air". I knew he really intended on calling Elena and I would do my part in keeping Klaus distracted so he couldn't hear.

I climbed behind the bar and filled up a bowl with water, I knew Ruby would probably be hungry and definitely have to use the bathroom. The poor little guys been in the car all day.

"So Nik." I leaned against the bar, he was sitting on the stool in front of me.

"Little witch." He replied, I think it was the patron speaking but Klaus actually was looking pretty nice right now.

"What's the plan after this? We build your hybrid army and then what?" I asked carefully, if I seemed too interested he might strangle me.

"Why are you asking?"

"I was curious if you'd wake up Elijah or the others? before you came along Elijah was my friend." I explained, I had to be careful.

"When I know they'll be safe, you'll see Elijah again." He replied, taking a sip of his drink."I think you'd get along quite well with my other siblings."

"Elijah said that too, he told me I reminded him of your little brother." I saw Klaus' face softened a bit and a small smile graced his lips before it was gone.

" I think you'd like Kol a lot better than the wolfboy."