Aww you guys. Despite making you all cry, I am overwhelmed with the love and appreciation in your reviews. They seriously make my day. Thank you!

I know. It's sad. It's going to be sad a little, given the circumstances. Just put your trust in me, okay? ;)


Part 20

Mikaelson Mansion – Great Room – Friday, 3:24 p.m.

Upon arriving home, there was a relieved pause. Esther had not yet arrived and the Mikaelsons were able to collect themselves after a stressful and emotional trial. Henrik accepted his siblings doting love and reassurances before he was dismissed to his room with a snack so that they could reconvene on what was to come.

Elijah watched him make his way upstairs until he disappeared. Once out of earshot he reentered the Great Room where everyone was nursing their nerves. He smiled in greeting to Caroline, who'd taken residency on the couch, on his way toward Klaus where he was fixing himself a drink off of the liquor cart.

"How is he?" But Klaus didn't answer. Elijah looked down, trying to stay his patience. "What did you tell him?"

Finally, Klaus turned to face his brother, his expression wrought. "The truth."

Rebekah was sitting across the room, her legs tucked under her on one of the armchairs. "How did he take it?" she wondered. Klaus turned away in refusal, walking away from Elijah to stand by the window.

Caroline frowned, turning to Rebekah. "Not well."

Rebekah sank back into the chair, sullenly fixating on the floor. Caroline peeked back toward Klaus again. His back was rigid and she wished she could see his face. She was totally out of her element here, but it wasn't just the situation that had her out of her comfort zone. There was something undoubtedly off about Klaus. Given the circumstances, that was understandable. It made sense that he had shut down, not allowing himself to feel the brutality of the blow, but there was a lingering feeling that something more was brewing in that head of his. Some other kind of guard was shifted into place and it was blocking her, particularly.

The cushion beside her suddenly moved with an implant of weight. Kol lay his arm across the back of the couch behind her, smiling his usual boyish grin.

"Didn't know what you were getting yourself into, did you, darling?"

She crossed her arms, trying to smile in light of everything. "I could ask you the same question."

He frowned briefly before it clicked. "You're not going to rain on my parade, are you?"

"Only if someone gets hurt."

"Even if that someone is me?" Caroline scoffed, unable to resist her laugh. He turned sideways, the playful glint in his eyes making her feel a little more at ease. "Aren't you going to ask me my intentions with your friend?"

"I'm not sure I even want to know."

"Smart girl." He winked and sat normally again, his face sobering. "Thanks for being here, by the way."

The change in tone surprised her, and she found herself suddenly feeling timid with him. She tried to shrug it off. "Henrik needs all the support he can get."

"So does he." She followed his line of sight to where Klaus was staring off distantly. His voice hushed as he told her, "Word of the wise, don't let him push you away now that things have gone south."

Her eyes flicked to Kol's and it was the sincerest she had ever seen him. It was odd. She never knew him to be this mature and the newness of it made her feel somewhat awkward. Or maybe it was just his warning.

The front door opened and they were all on alert. The sound of stilettos stalking down the hallway cut through the thickened silence. It was almost as if you could hear the pounding hearts in the room beating in dread-filled tandem. When it was Katherine who turned the corner, they all let out their collectively held breath.

"Sorry I'm late."

Her business-casual attire meant she'd come from work. She went right to Elijah and hugged him. He kissed her head and held her delicately close while she held his face between her palms, her thumbs drawing circles over his cheekbones. Caroline watched in reverent intrigue. She couldn't hear their whispered conversations, but watching them in their intimate little bubble made her hopeful, and ever so slightly jealous. Her eyes flicked to the back of the room again, at the shadow of the man she loved.

It was an impossibly complicated situation. The trial had sidetracked their relationship, possibly even derailed it. Where would they stand after all this? Would he push her away, like Kol had warned? Or would she become more of a crutch? Neither scenario seemed favorable. He would hate the confrontation that was coming to fruition in her mind.

The doorbell rang and the tension levels suddenly intensified. Eyes widened, backs straightened, fingers fidgeted. Klaus moved to refill his glass. The only one not on edge was Kol.

Finn had gone to answer the door and moments later was escorting Esther into their home. She had traded the power suit for black slacks and a chiffon blouse with a sharp V that stopped at her collarbone, and her hair had been let loose. She actually looked approachable, Caroline noticed, which was probably the point.

Almost immediately Esther's eyes went to Katherine who waggled her fingers in mockery. Seconds later her gaze flicked to Caroline. She turned to Finn in disgrace. "I expected a little more regard for our privacy, as a family."

"Caroline is Henrik's schoolteacher," Finn explained, walking past her into the room to reclaim the glass of wine he'd poured. "Given that she is an integral part of his day to day life, her presence is more than appropriate."

Esther pressed her lips together then subtly slid accusatory eyes to Katherine. Elijah wrapped a protective arm around her and smiled thinly. "And Katerina is my fiancée."

The shock on Esther's face was fleeting, immediately replaced by disappointment and disapproval.

"By the way, I'm pregnant." Katherine tilted her head with a sweet smile. "Congrats, grandma."

The room went hushed and all color drained from Esther's face. The two women stared daggers at one another, Katherine's smile daring her to make a move. Beside her, Elijah had gone stiff. He took hold of her elbow and pulled her to the side of the room. His eyes were wild with worry.

"I thought we had agreed not to tell anyone until the second trimester?"

She shrugged, rolling her eyes. "I couldn't resist."

"Katerina, it was your agreement."

"I'm going to be an auntie?" A marveling Rebekah was suddenly behind them. Elijah turned around in time for her to thwack him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell us?!"

"I thought you were looking plump in the cheeks," Kol teased from his spot on the couch. Katherine's arm went behind her back to flip him off.

"Congratulations," Finn offered, raising his half-emptied glass to them.

"Condolences," Kol added, raising an invisible glass. Caroline hit him in his ribs with a throw pillow.

"Thank you all," Elijah nodded appreciatively, not letting Klaus' silence go unnoticed.

Esther's lips twisted into a tight smile. "That is lovely news." Katherine eyed her skeptically as she slowly neared, her hand protectively going to her stomach, despite its flatness. "And will the wedding be before or after you give birth?"

"Why do you care?" she challenged. "You're not invited."

Elijah squeezed her hand firmly. "The wedding will be at the end of next month."

"I see." She smiled bitterly. "Clearly I have a lot of lost time to make up for." Her gaze carefully circled the room and landed on her daughter. "Finn tells me you're graduating next month, Rebekah. Have you decided which university you'll be attending? Perhaps I could pull some strings at my alma mater."

Rebekah's lips pursed. She hugged herself with a shrug. "Actually, I've been considering taking a year off to travel."

Esther's laugh was nothing but shrill mockery. "That's a silly delusion. You'd be prolonging your education, your entire life."

"Fortunately both of those things are my choice," she retorted, bitingly. "As it stands, a very good friend of mine has invited me to go to Europe over the summer."

"Not that Eduardo bloke," Kol groaned.

"Enzo," she grudgingly corrected.

Finally, Klaus' attention was drawn. He turned from the window. "You failed to mention any travel plans."

She half-frowned. "He just asked me last week."

"Do you have a passport?" Rebekah froze, shrinking under the weight of her mother's knowing gaze. Esther smiled. "I believe there's a policy requiring parental awareness for a minor to apply for their own passport, but if I'm to give consent to let my daughter go to another country with some boy, I surely would have to meet him."

Rebekah's eyes began to shine with unshed tears. "That's not fair."

The room was uncomfortably silent and Esther's eyes were searching for her next victim. They drifted toward the couch and the smile that formed was sickening.

"Caroline."

Her blood froze at the sound of her name on Esther's lips like a threat. She slowly took a breath, readying for her turn at interrogation.

"You must think the world of me." Caroline opened her mouth to speak but Esther quickly cut her off. "Henrik seems to favor you from what I've heard. As do the rest of my children." She not so subtly glanced across the room to Klaus, smiling smugly when he turned away. "Especially my Niklaus."

Caroline swallowed, her heart picking up in speed. "Henrik is a very special child."

"All of my children are special. It's remarkable how well they've managed, given the circumstances." She smiled, waving a hand. "But I'm sure you already know all about that." She glanced to Klaus with a purse of her lips. "Such tragedy my son has endured. He so loved that young gir – "

A clanging of metal interrupted as Klaus slammed his glass back onto the drink cart. Esther's lips pressed together as he brushed through them all and up the two steps to the entryway, pausing without turning.

"I'll go get Henrik."

. . . . . . . . . .

Up in his room, Henrik was sitting idly on his bed, his stuffed monkey in his lap. His bedroom door was open a crack and he'd heard only the echoes of the conversation below.

Klaus knocked on the open door gently, pushing it wider so he could fit through. Henrik looked up, instinctively shrinking into himself. Klaus' heart ached at the regressive behavior. Just when he'd started letting his guards down, he lamented.

Klaus cleared his throat, nodding toward the monkey as he sauntered over. "Have you thought of a name for him yet?"

Henrik looked down at it, squeezing its belly as Klaus sat with him. He smiled a little. "Max."

"Max?" Klaus' brows knit despite his hunch.

"From my book."

He feigned revelation. "So he's a little monster then?"

"No, he's the king, remember?"

Klaus smiled. "I thought you were the king of wild things." He tapped his nose.

Henrik scrunched his nose in response and shook his head. "No, I'm Henrik."

It was the first laugh since the trial began. "In that case…" Klaus bowed his head. "Hail king Max the monkey."

Henrik climbed into his lap. "Can we read the book?"

Klaus sighed. "You know we can't right now."

Henrik pouted, looking down and tugging at his monkey's tail. They were silent until, "Is she here?" His voice was a whisper but there was a plethora of emotion.

"Yes." He licked his lips, trying to find the words to say. "Is there anything you want to know before we go down there?"

Henrik pressed his lips together, thinking very carefully. "Is she going to like me?"

Klaus' jaw clenched, his stomach burning with bile. It cracked his heart to say, "She already loves you." He breathed deeply in through his nose and let it out slow as he tried to numb himself. "No one will hold it against you if you want to love her too."

Henrik seemed to consider that briefly before he looked up at his brother and put his hands on either side of his face. He said nothing, and Klaus almost let himself get lost in the little boy's eyes. For a brief moment he contemplated sneaking off, escaping to Neverland like they'd planned. A whole life with just the two of them flashed before his eyes, running amok through every sight with the city of Manhattan at their disposal; Henrik endeavoring to become a fine, well-read young man with fully blossomed confidence.

And Caroline.

The three of them would live in untethered bliss, no more heartache or pain or fear of being taken from each other.

But the cold rush of reality crept up his spine. "It's time to be brave, little monkey."

Henrik whimpered and threw his arms around his neck, clinging tight. "I'm scared," he whispered, his voice thick. Klaus held his head and back, wishing they could stay like this forever. He choked back the knot in his throat and hugged his brother tighter.

"Me too," he confessed. He took another deep breath, pulling Henrik back to see his face. "I can be brave if you can."

Henrik studied his face thoughtfully, then nodded once in resolution. "Okay."

"Okay."

Together they descended the stairs, hand in hand, tightly grasping to each other. When they reached the doorway to the Great Room, Henrik stopped suddenly, jerking Klaus back. Klaus turned and crouched down, whispering a consolation in his little brother's ear before standing up again. Henrik let go of his hand and hugged Max close. Klaus stayed behind him, holding his shoulders in reassurance as they stood together in the doorway.

Esther turned, eyes alight. The room waited anxiously as she walked over to the trembling six-year-old, her smile warmer than they had ever seen.

"Hello, pet," she greeted him sweetly. "How big you've grown." She tilted her head. "Do you know who I am, love?"

Henrik blinked, glancing past her from one sibling to another with uncertainty. "My mommy."

Esther smiled and knelt in front of him. "I know I've been away for a very long time. I hope you'll forgive me." Henrik looked down, fidgeting his feet. "Perhaps we could start over. Would that be all right?"

"How?"

"I thought we could get to know each other. You can tell me what kind of things you like. I can tell you what kind of things I like. For instance, sometimes I like to ride horses." Henrik looked up, scrunching his face. "Do you like horses?"

"I like monkeys."

"Monkeys?" She pouted her lips with hum. "They're quite the clever creatures, aren't they?Depending on the species. Most are just tree-dwelling vermin, but you know some say people derive from monkeys."

His eyes narrowed. "It's called evolution," he told her, stressing the "ooh" sound. "And they're not vermin, they're primates."

She smiled, pleasantly surprised. "Is this your monkey?" She reached toward the stuffed animal to touch it. Henrik's eyes widened and he took a step back, bumping against his brother's leg. She drew her hand back in confusion.

"He doesn't like to be touched," Klaus said quietly. She frowned, even more bemused as Henrik moved to hug Klaus' leg. "By those he distrusts," he added.

Esther's eyes were slits as she rose. "Clearly that is a learned behavior."

"We've all got our quirks," Kol said his eyes gleaming wicked. "Psychology points toward lack of affection."

Esther smiled shallowly. "What you lack, Kol, is discipline, not affection."

He scoffed. "Stick to what you came here for, mother. Thievery and deception."

"That's enough, Kol," Finn warned gesturing to Henrik.

"Why? He should know the truth. She's a liar. And a bad one, at that."

"What a lovely sentiment for your brother. It's a wonder he's afraid when you've filled his mind with debauchery!"

He laughed and stood, inching toward her. "Oh that's rich! I'm getting schooled on debauchery by the woman who nearly killed a man!"

While Finn and Elijah began to intervene, creating an even bigger argument, Klaus put his hands protectively over Henrik's ears.

"I think Henrik has some questions," he said loudly over them. The foursome conceded with silence. He lifted his hands and whispered, "Go ahead," to Henrik, who held on to his brother's leg while he addressed his mother.

"Am I going to live with you?"

Esther's brows, surprised at his straightforwardness. "I would like you to, yes." Henrik's eyes widened and he clutched Klaus' leg tighter. "You see, I'd like to do all the things that mummies do. Take care of you. Make your favorite meals. Read you stories before tucking you in."

"Nik and Finn and Lijah already do those things."

"Yes, well, it would be nice if I could have a turn." She looked down, putting on an act of woe. "I never got the chance to be your mum. I was sad every day that I missed getting to do those things with you."

"Then why did you do a bad thing?"

She looked beside herself and the rest of the room was aghast. "What?"

"You went to jail and people who go to jail does bad things. So you had to do a bad thing to go there, so why?"

She swallowed. "Believe me, love. It's far more complicated than you can understand right now."

"No it's not," he argued. "I don't want a mommy who does bad things. I want my brothers who does good things. And Bekah. And Kaffrine. And Miss Caroline."

"Henrik – "

"I don't want you to be my mommy."

"Well like it not, I am your mother and that's not going to change because you will it – "

"No you're not!" He turned his back on her and hid behind Klaus, clinging to his jeans. "You're not my mommy!"

Her eyes blared in fury. She stood inching toward Klaus. "You put him up to this, didn't you?"

"Mother," Finn tried to intervene.

Klaus glared down his nose at her. "His mind is his own."

"You've poisoned him against me. Just like you've poisoned the rest of my children," she spat. "Just like you poisoned Tatia!"

Rebekah beckoned Henrik to her in a whisper while Elijah detached from Katherine to join his brothers near the entry. Kol was quick to follow.

Klaus seized his mother by her wrists, nose to nose with her as his voice dropped octaves, "Don't make me regret letting you into our home."

She snapped her arms away from him with little force. She looked around, found herself semi-surrounded by her sons. Her demeanor chilled and she turned her nose up.

"Hail the conquering heroes who have turned my child against me." She glared at all of them. "I was going to be lenient, let him stay here and take it one day at a time with visitations, but I will not have him raised in this toxic environment."

Finn grabbed her wrist this time and she gasped. "You touch one hair on his head and I will have you back behind bars before you can reach the town line."

"How dare you!" She hissed, ripping her arm away. "After all I've done to help you."

There was a falter of confidence as all eyes shifted to Finn in question. He let his shoulders drop, shaking his head. "You can take your money, mother, but you will not take Henrik."

"You've no authority over him, anymore."

Elijah moved up beside his brother, creating a human barricade. "Henrik has made his decision."

"Henrik is a child. He does not get to decide."

Soon Rebekah and Katherine had joined their forces and Henrik had climbed into Caroline's lap where she held him protectively. Esther looked across all of her children's faces, her own sobering stoically.

"Since you leave me no choice." She pulled her phone out and began to dial. "I'd hoped I wouldn't have to involve the authorities..."

"You can't," Rebekah faltered.

Elijah held his hand up. "Let her call them," he dared. "Let them see a screaming, crying child being ripped out of his home."

"You will give us all we need to petition the court and regain custody," Finn agreed. "Permanently."

Her lips curved thinly. "And perhaps this time they'd like to hear just how detached he's been from his mother all these years. That you are non-compliant with the court order you just signed."

Klaus snatched the phone away from her. His hard gaze held hers a moment longer before he ended the call and put it back in her hand and sprinted down the steps into the Great Room. Henrik sat up a little as his brother came towards him. Without warning, Klaus grabbed him under his arms and lifted him off the couch, turning to set him on his feet. Despite his trembling, Henrik looked up at him with hopeful eyes, his heart splintered. What he was about to do hit him hard and sudden, and his eyes burned with tears of rage. He slowly lowered to his knees, holding Henrik's shoulders with the intention of reassurance but now he felt like holding onto him was all that would keep him afloat.

"I need you to do something for me, monkey." Henrik's lip trembled and he shook his head. "I need you to go with her."

"Klaus, what the hell?" Katherine objected angrily.

"No!" Henrik shouted through his tears, ripping himself away from his brother and backing away until he bumped into the liquor cart.

"Just for now," Klaus pleaded. "Just for a little while."

"No, I'm not going!" Henrik ran around the cart to the furthest corner of the room and curled up, sobbing into his toy.

Tears streamed down Klaus' cheeks and he was motionless. Caroline moved to stand behind Klaus, her hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Have you no sympathy mother?" Elijah turned to her. "Can you not see the harm you are causing?"

She turned her nose up. "It's for his own good."

Ignoring them all, Klaus got up and walked slowly to sit beside Henrik. He sat silently for a beat, listening to his brother's sobs. "You know I'd never want to make you do anything you don't want to. But we could get into a lot of trouble," he told him quietly. He would hate him later for the blatant manipulation, almost as much as Klaus was already hating himself for it. "If the judge finds out." Henrik's crying softened and Klaus knew he was listening. "You see, years ago, we signed a contract to take care of you. But the judge has decided to take that contract and give Esther that permission. You know how contracts work, don't you?"

"Like," – he hiccoughed – "like the chores contract that Lijah made?"

"That's right. And what happens when Kol doesn't uphold his end of that contract?"

"He gets in trouble." Klaus nodded. "How Lijah gets Kol in trouble, the judge gets you in trouble?"

"Yes. And who does the judge call when he makes his decree?"

Henrik sniffled. "The police."

"And we don't want that to happen. Then we might never see each other."

Henrik stood up and hugged his brother, fingers locking behind his neck. "I'll go," he whispered.

Klaus picked him up and stood, whispering, "I'm brave if you're brave." Henrik hugged him tighter.

When they reached the center of the room once more, Klaus let him down and Henrik walked slowly toward the line of siblings. They took their turns with hugs and tears until Esther reached out her hand. Henrik ignored it and held firm to his monkey. She retracted and looked at them all.

"If you'll gather his things, I'll send for them in the morning." No one wanted to look at her, and those who were did so with hatred in their eyes. She clasped her hands before her. "I'm sorry it had to come to this." She nodded to Henrik. "Let's go, pet."

He looked back one last time with watery eyes at Klaus, then followed his mother out of the room.

The room stood still, not a sound to be heard but the revving of the engine as the car outside drove off, and the wavering breaths of a broken family trying to keep themselves together. Klaus was frozen in his spot staring at the empty doorway. Caroline moved behind him, laying her hand against his shoulder. Something cracked then, and he shrugged her hand off, stalking furiously out of the room. The front door opened and slammed, the echo pounding in her ears.


It was close to one in the morning when a knock came on Caroline's door. It was feeble, barely audible but she heard it in passing from the kitchen to the living room. After the day's emotional trauma, there was no way she was going to be able to sleep restfully tonight, so she'd taken to baking cookies and watching some late night infomercials to drown out the noise in her mind. Curious as to who would be up this late, she went to open it, unprepared for what she would find behind it.

Klaus was gripping the door panel, his head hung. He emanated an overpowering odor of alcohol, looking overall sloppy in a disarray.

"Can I come in?" he asked softly, not lifting his head.

She said nothing, stepping aside to open the doorway. He trudged in past her and she shut the door. When she turned around he stood, his face slack, bleak eyes rimmed with red and sunken in, and somehow in a matter of hours his five-o-clock shadow had reared its head. He was the epitome of distraught.

Her heart broke for him. She wordlessly led him to the couch to sit. He buried his face in his hands, hunching over, and she heard the first sob choke out. Her hand went to his back as a tear rolled down her own cheek and the floodgates opened. He wept openly, folding over until she pulled him against her chest and held him there, letting him grieve in her arms for almost two hours.

When he let her, she brought him to her bed. She helped him out of his bourbon scented clothes and used a cold washcloth to wipe his face. Then, she curled up with him, letting him nest in her arms as she whispered consolations until he fell asleep. Not long after, she drifted alongside him.

When she awoke late that morning, he was gone.