A/N: Another chapter from Klaus' POV. In this one Hunter makes a bigger appearance. There's just one more short chapter to go (cause I need to change some plot points), and then there's the big meeting.

COMMENT!!! Comments especially DO make me update faster.

SO JUST COMMENT OK?

Enjoy.

The worst thing about the smell of flames, however, was how it brought back to Klaus' mind the images of his father's burning body...

Mikael was never the perfect father. But he was a damn good one. Everyone in their village could attest to it. If asked, anyone would have said Mikael would give his life to protect his children...

Still, he yelled too much. Mikael tried not to, but after so many years fighting in meaningless wars, being beaten down no matter what he did, and watching his people dying from countless plagues, he was too afraid for his children's safety... too paranoid about some imminent danger surrounding them at all times.

But he never harmed his children. Sometimes, they thought he would. Other fathers, men as angry and less scary than Mikael, would have done so, but not him. Never Mikael. He would raise his hand during arguments—especially with Niklaus, who was always too alike Mikael for his own good—and his children would tremble, thinking he would strike them down. But he never did.

Mikael always caught himself before the beast of rage inside his heart won. He would sigh, as his hand fell softly over his child's shoulder, and, with a tender smile, Mikael tried to explain why, for example: "Sword fighting while drunk is a terrible idea, Niklaus..."

Even when the Mikaelsons still forced themselves to believe their father was a monster, none of them ever claimed Mikael had been a monster in their youth. It would be too much of a lie. He had been the kindest and most attentive father any of them could have hoped for. Yet, as the years went by, they could no longer say he was a good father.

Niklaus never thought much about being a father. If he had, he would have been terrified of being an awful one. After all, he was a horrible brother... good brothers don't dagger their siblings and leave them rooting in coffins for centuries.

But Klaus was an even worst son... What kind of child kills their parents?

Sure, Esther had cursed him when Klaus killed her, and he spent a thousand years paying for his mistake. But she was still his mother. Besides, his mother was right about him, wasn't she? All of Esther's fears of Klaus becoming a monster and terrifying innocents had come to pass...

But what about Mikael? What about the centuries Mikael spent suffering just so he could allow his children a few more years of freedom? What about the kind and loving man his father once was? The man who always tried to make his children laugh; who would have carved out his heart to make sure his little ones had a happy life.

Mikael was the best and most fearsome warrior in their village. In Norway, years after his presumed death, there were still songs about his achievements, his conquests. It was through such songs that the Mikaelsons learned about their father's tragic past... But, in the end, all the Great Destroyer ever wanted was to be a father. This much had always been clear in the way he talked and cared for his children... He loved when his sons and daughter crawled over to his lap. Mikael even joked, saying his greatest achievement was never to tear down the gates of Rome, but to be able to hold all of his children at the same time, allowing them to sleep comfortably in his lap...

No. Niklaus had no excuse for killing his father. Not when he could still remember his father's most tender moments...

Once, when Klaus was still a boy, he woke up crying from a nightmare. Mikael promptly jumped out of his bed and rushed to his son. He took Klaus away from his siblings and let him sit on his lap until he fell asleep again.

"So," Mikael said, once it became clear Klaus was doing everything in his power to stay awake. "Do you wish to tell me about your bad dreams, my boy?" he asked, hugging his son. "Maybe there's some evil monster I can scare off?" Mikael messed with Klaus' hair, smiling softly.

Niklaus shook his head."There's no monster, father..." he muttered, his small fingers playing with his father's necklace. "I-I dreamt you left me alone in the woods..." he sniffed, trying to hide his tearful eyes. "Because y-you didn't want me anymore..." he cried, quick sobs cutting his breath.

"That's nonsense!" Mikael said, barely refraining from yelling. "Niklaus, you know that, don't you?" Mikael asked, concern mapping his face as he held his son tightly against his chest. "You know--you must know I'd never abandon you, my boy... where the hell did those ideas come from, Klaus?"

"Sometimes..." Klaus sniffed, his voice low. "I think I'll do something stupid and you'll stop loving me, father..." a quick sob cut his breath. "Because I can't make you proud so you won't—you won't love me..."

"Look at me." Mikael let go of his son, grabbing his arms and raising the boy high enough to hold his gaze. "I will never stop loving you, Niklaus. No matter what you do. I will love you always and forever. Until my last breathe and beyond..."

And Mikael did.

Between 1914 and 2010, Mikael had learned a bit of acting. He played the part well. Letting Elena and the Salvatores believe he actually wanted to harm Klaus. It all worked as Mikael had planned. He knew what to say to let his son know it was time...time to put an end to their curse.

Mikael only prayed his boy would not hold back. Klaus did not disappoint him...

So, when Klaus carved the white oak stake into his father's chest, Mikael smiled.

The old Viking had his back pressed against the cold asphalt as his son stood over him.

Klaus' eyes shined with horror when he realized what he had done.

He could still hear his father's cruel words ringing in his ears. Sometimes Esther could speak through Mikael. It was one of the most painful moments, and Klaus was aware of it. Yet, he allowed himself to be baited. Klaus let himself commit an atrocity... kill the father he loved, to escape his mother's cruelty.

It was what Mikael wanted. But Niklaus hated his father for his sacrifice almost as much as he loathed himself for the sin he had committed.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He repeated, desperation and sobs muffling his words. "Please God, please let me take it back..." Klaus muttered as he tried to pull out the stake.

But Mikael held his son's hand in place, keeping it over the stake with one of his hands. With the other, he softly touched Klaus' cheek.

"You're free now, my boy. We both are." He whispered, a smile on his lips, as his skin turned gray. "Don't waste your life being cruel. Don't be the monster your mother thought you to be. You have a good heart, my son." He chuckled, holding back a scream when his chest started to burn. Mikael pushed Klaus aside, making sure the flames killing him would not harm his son.

"No." Klaus screamed, trying to put out the fire with his hand. "No. God, please. No..."

"You have so much greatness in you, my sweet boy." Mikael said, touching his son's face. "Be kind. Be a good brother. And for fuck's sake, don't be afraid to be happy." He smiled, tears mapping his face and his voice growing weaker. "You deserve to be happy. You and your siblings." He sighed, feeling his final breath drawing nearer.

"Father, I'm-I'm sorry..." Klaus stuttered, tears burning his eyes almost as malignant as the flames consumed his father.

"It's alright, my boy. I'm so proud of you. You've been so, so brave." Mikael smiled, gently cleaning a tear from Klaus' face with his thumb. "I love you, Niklaus. Now, always and forever..." he beamed, his eyes shining with a peaceful happiness. "I..." Mikael added, as though he had just remembered an important secret. "You need to know about your—."

The flames devoured Mikael before he could finish. Whatever secret he was about to tell Klaus died with Mikael. It was lost alongside Niklaus' last chance of redemption and happiness.

Klaus sat down beside his father, watching the fire burn out, as part of his father's ashes flew away in the wind. There, hugging his knees close to his chest and crying until dawn, Klaus swore to never be a father.

Being a vampire made it easier, of course. But even if he could, Niklaus promised himself never to do it. How could he curse another human to this tragedy?

Besides, if Mikael, the strongest, kindest and most devoted father Niklaus had ever seen; if Mikael could not protect his children from misery, if he could not make sure his family was happy... What hope was left for Klaus?

As Klaus swore his oath to never know fatherhood, he heard another cry. Someone else was mourning Mikael's death...and whoever it was, they were nearby.

Raising his head, Klaus gazed around the yard of his new house. His eyes fell on a boy, no older than 14, with blond messy hair and deep blue eyes which stared straight at Mikael's burning body. The boy had fallen to his knees, sobbing quietly.

With a hollow heart, Klaus opened and closed his mouth. Desperate to think of something to say, something that could fix his mistakes. In his soul, he wanted to make that boy smile.

"Did you know him?" Klaus whispered halfheartedly, almost afraid of the answer. He knew the boy was too far away to hear him, unless he had supernatural abilities. But perhaps...

"Yes." the boy replied, holding back a sob, his eyes still fixed on the flames. "I know him better than you do..." he said, his voice low and full of rage. Yet, he still avoided meeting Klaus' eyes.

"Hunter!" A high-pitched yell come from afar.

Klaus blinked, and a woman appeared next to the boy—Hunter. She was around forty years old, with curly blonde hair, and Klaus had the strangest sensation as he looked at her. He had seen the woman before... many years ago. She was strolling through a square somewhere, hand in hand with Mikael...

The woman kneeled down, gently wrapping her arms around the boy.

"What's wrong?" She asked, cleaning the tears from Hunter's face. "Where's Mikael?"

For the first time, the boy raised his eyes to meet Klaus' gaze. His eyes were filled with a dying warmth, and it slowly shrunk Niklaus' soul.

Hunter pointed at Klaus and the pile of ashes beside him.

If the boy looked at Niklaus with a mix of misery and rage, the woman stared at him with utter pity.

She held Klaus' gaze for longer than Hunter, even managing a small smile.

"We need to go." The woman said, holding back a cry. "Now, Hunter..." she pulled him up gently.

"Wait." Klaus called, jumping up. "Did you know my father?" He asked, his tired legs barely able to keep him standing. "How did you know him?" His mouth was dry, his heart drumming in his chest.

"I'm sorry." The woman said, throwing back a pitiful look at Klaus. "Truly." In the space of a single breath, she disappeared just as fast as she had appeared, taking Hunter with her...

Leaving Klaus alone with his guilt and his father's ashes. His thoughts scattered around, always out of focus. It was maddening, but trying to make sense of his mind was too painful.

So Klaus sat down by Mikael's remains. Allowing his mind to wonder...

Could Mikael have another child? Had he married again?

And why the fuck did Klaus feel such a strong connection to Hunter?

Niklaus would not have answers to any of his questions, not for a long time.

But one day, Klaus Mikaelson would learn the truth, even if it destroyed everything he ever loved...

A: THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO VOTE AND COMMENT!! Which will make me update faster.

Also what do you think will happen from now on? Any theories yet?

What would you like to see in this story?

I won't make promises (since I have a pretty good idea what I want from this story)...but who knows!