Aftermath
The funeral was small and quiet. The headstone was carved was care, decorated with flowers of pink and red. Etched across the surface were the words, "Baby Mikaelson, in loving memory."
Father Kieran lowered his Bible as the ceremony came to an end, looking solemnly at the family before him. Finn and Sage Mikaelson, he had only just met a few days prior, were the first to step up and place flowers upon the newly dug earth. Finn touched the little headstone and then stood up, moving aside as Elijah and Kol moved next, the former's hand steady and firm on the other's shoulder. Katherine went with them, solemn and silent for once.
Kieran looked toward the parents of the departed baby as the siblings and friends continued their goodbyes. Klaus was stony faced and stiff, eyes on the headstone and never moving away from it as if he were etching the image into his mind forever. He only glanced away when Rebekah touched his arm, she and Freya standing nearby.
"I'm sorry, Nik." She whispered. "She was beautiful."
He nodded, a forced smile on his face as he patted his sister's hand. He nodded at Freya, the only thing he could do. everyone was still getting used to one another.
Rebekah turned to Jane as did Kieran.
The girl was silent, standing close to Klaus but not close enough to want any comfort from him. She kept her hands wrapped around the purple and white flowers tightly, unwillingly to let go of them just yet. She wore a pair of dark sunglasses and a large sun hat, hiding her face in shadow. She hadn't spoken a word to anyone not even to him. Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah had done most of the arrangements. Jane had merely been present during the meetings, but never offered her opinions.
"Jane."
Silent, Jane allowed Rebekah to hug her. She was stiff as a board, unwilling to let herself relax.
"Oh, sweets. I'm so sorry." She said, tearing up as the girl barely reacted. She couldn't imagine how she must be feeling. Though, she had heard the girl's angry outbursts at Klaus.
Freya touched her hand when Rebekah let her go. "Jane, I know this pain you have, for it happened to me." She said softly. Jane shifted ever so slightly. "It will hurt for a long time, but just know that I-that we," She gestured to her siblings. "Will help you and Klaus in any way."
"Thank you." Jane said so softly that it was barely more than a whispered sound. The first words she had spoken in 24 hours.
Rob and Meredith walked over to them next.
"I'm so sorry, Janey. If there's anything Meredith and I can do..."
Rob trailed off when it was apparent that Jane wasn't going to respond, and then glanced at Klaus.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He gripped the vampire's hand and Klaus offered him and Meredith both a genuine look of gratitude.
Marcel went next, Davina trailing behind him. She had awoken after Genevie had been slain.
He and Klaus hugged, marcel speaking lowly his condolences to his sire. Davina peered at Jane, but the girl didn't move. She quickly looked away again, remaining silent behind Marcel.
Finally, it was their turn to move.
Klaus offered his hand to Jane who stared at it for a long moment, unsure she could move without collapsing. She still felt weakened by the multiple spells and wasn't fully recovered from the strain of the magic and the hard labor of their child. Finally, she took it and together they walked to the little grave.
Klaus could feel her hand trembling, her walk almost unwilling and slightly unsteady. She didn't want to get closer, she wanted to flee. He didn't blame her. Part of him wanted to run and never look back.
Together, they put flowers on the baby's grave and then Jane stroked the lettering on the headstone.
"We are going to head back home." Elijah said quietly to his brother who nodded. "Father Kieran said there are a few things people have sent you and Rebekah's had food made." He put a hand on his brother's shoulder, giving it a firm and steady squeeze.
"I'll have to thank her." Klaus said quietly.
"Take your time. Both of you." He retreated and left them alone.
Kieran approached them after a moment. "I know that it is of little condolence, but your child is no longer suffering." He said quietly. "My doors are always open if you need me for counseling, spiritual guidance, or anything at all."
"Thank you." Klaus told him and then Kieran left them too.
Jane put her hands over the freshly dug earth and shut her eyes. Klaus watched in fascination as white lilies bloomed up from the ground. She lowered her hands and then lowered her head. She was shaking with quiet sobs.
"Oh, love." He knelt next to her, encircling her in his arms. "My love."
She allowed it for a second before she jerked away from him, standing up abruptly. "No."
He sighed and stood up as well, extending his hand to her. "Love."
She shook her head roughly and took a step back. "No."
He let his hand fall. She had been getting distant for the past few days. It worried him because he didn't know what to do or what to say. He couldn't fix it and it bothered him.
"Let's go." He said softly. "Come on, love."
Jane suddenly stumbled forward, and Klaus caught her elbows, helping her upright.
"I'm tired." She said softly and he nodded.
"You haven't rested." He kept her steady, leading them back to the car. "Perhaps you should lie down later."
"Yeah, maybe."
"We don't have to attend the-"
"You don't." She snapped. "But I'm going."
Klaus frowned. "I don't mind going, love. I just thought that-"
She rounded on him as they neared the car. "Well don't. I have to go."
"You don't have to, Jane. You can stay home and no one would be upset."
She scowled at him. "He died protecting her. That ought to mean something to you too."
Pain. Darkness. Blood. Screaming. Howling.
The pain was unbearable and made gasping for air difficult. There was blood, so much blood that it soaked her clothes and soaked the grass under her fingers. She gripped at the blades tightly, wishing for death as she ripped them from the ground. Wishing for the pain to stop tearing her apart. She was screaming, writhing in pain. And then...
"NO!"
She was free falling, for a brief second, then the ground rushed up to meet her. As her body fell, she felt a hard impact on her left temple and heard a loud crash as something fell and broke. Aching in pain, she jerked awake in a panic, her heart hammering as she sucked in air. She was sweaty and cold at the same time and lying on a carpeted floor. The dimly lit room came into view as she blinked slowly. The only light came from the edges of the curtains, though not enough to flood the room. Where was she? What happened?
The floor was cold, and she shivered from the cool air even as she disentangled herself from the mass of covers. Her memory flooded back to her all at once. Jerking the covers off, she glanced down at her thighs. No blood. Her thighs were sticky with perspiration however and her thin pajamas stuck to her uncomfortably. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she looked around almost helplessly as she choked out a sob. She was alone in a strange, yet familiar place. Her forehead throbbed and a deep cut in the palm of her right hand was dripping blood everywhere onto the dark green carpeted floor from having landed in what remained of the bedside table lamp.
She was in a hotel room; she could see when the blurry tears cleared from her eyes.
The room was lavishly furnished with a vanity, a large wall mirror that hung up so that she could see the bed and below it was a wide rectangular chest of drawers made of dark oak like the rest of the furniture. She blinked as if she were seeing it for the first time and she supposed in a way...she was. She felt as though she were still waking from a deep sleep, glancing around at the almost unfamiliar room that had been her life for the past three months. The silence was almost deafening, and she bit her lip before deciding to get up off of the floor. It was getting lighter in the room, and she figured it had to be early morning.
She got up, holding her fist closed to try to stop the bleeding. She turned from the bed, finding a plush bathrobe nearby and slipping it on over her pajamas as the chill of the air hit her arms. Walking over to the window, she tied the robe's waist ties clumsy with one hand and then pulled back the curtains.
She blinked at the blanket of white down below her, tiny flakes falling through the sky.
It's snowing...
Looking over her shoulder, she glanced toward the adjoining bathroom, but noticed no light was on nor was the door shut to indicate someone was inside.
He was gone again as he usually was. Fresh hot tears rolled down her cheeks and the feeling of fear and loneliness threatened to overwhelm her. Her baby was gone... He was gone...
The pain and loss that she had pushed away for so long was coming back in waves and she immediately ran for the bathroom, dry heaving for she had eaten nothing for hours. Maybe days, she wasn't positive. When the urge died down, she leaned back against the wall, dizzy, nauseous, and slightly hungry.
"Oh, my!"
Jane jumped at the sudden voice and looked up as an older woman appeared in the bathroom doorway. She was dressed in a hotel uniform, her dress a faded navy and her greying brown hair in a pristine bun at the base of her neck. She had dropped the neatly folded towels she had been carting.
"Are you all right, Mrs. Mikaelson? You're bleeding!"
"Um…"
Still in shock at the woman's sudden appearance, Jane moved to stand. Her legs gave way halfway through, due to dizziness, and the maid gave a shriek as she dashed forward.
"Oh, my goodness!" The maid caught her under the arms. "Oh, dear...Fred! Oh, Fred come quick!" A man with a balding head, a trim mustache, and same faded navy uniform took Jane's other arm and together they got her back into the bedroom. They sat her in one of the plush armchairs near an oak desk.
The maid went over to the light switch illuminating the room with the shining intricate light fixture above. Jane could only blink as the man examined her hand.
"I'll go for a medical kit." He grabbed a hand towel and wrapped her hand in it before going out. The maid on the other hand, was cleaning up the broken lamp.
Red cheeked, Jane stared at her blanket that the kindly maid had laid across her lap when the man had examined her hand.
"I'm sorry. I got dizzy and-"
"It's perfectly all right. Of course, you got dizzy, you haven't eaten yet, you poor dear." The woman said gently. "You just rest there. Pay it no mind."
The woman's warm smile and words brought back memories of Marguerite. Her eyes stung and she had to look away.
The butler came back with a young man with a white box and Jane shied away when he came closer.
"It's all right, Mrs. Mikaelson. I'm Dr. Gregory. Let me see your injury."
Jane nodded and let the man clean and bandage the cut.
"No, stitches necessary." The grey eyed doctor smiled. "Now let's make sure you don't have a concussion that bruise looks pretty swollen." He probed it gently and then had her follow his penlight and his fingers. Lowering the pen, he smiled again. "Just a bruise, I think. But I do recommend that you not overexert yourself for a while and to put ice on it."
"Thank you." Jane said softly. The doctor nodded and left and the maid gave the butler a pointed look. Nodding, the man left and returned with a cart, a silver tray on top.
"You'll have to excuse me for my outburst earlier. You're usually still asleep at this time." She was refolding the dropped towels and washrags.
"But I didn't order anything." Jane made herself speak again and the maid smiled.
"Your husband has it sent up every morning, just in case." She replied and took the towels and washrags into the bathroom. The man set the cart near the desk.
She wasn't sure how to respond to that so simply said:
"Oh."
"Just set the cart out in the hall when you are done, ma'am." The man smiled at her and left the room. Jane peered at the tray at the end of the desk. On it was a glass of orange juice and a silver dome over a plate. She lifted the lid, and the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast filled the air. She took the tray from the desk and moved it over to the little couch and armchair placing the tray on the coffee table and sat back in the armchair. She ate slowly at first, but hunger got the better of her and she cleaned her plate in minutes, before draining her orange juice.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
Jane looked over at the maid who was now, stripping the bed of sheets.
"I can get you more." She continued, looking at her.
"No...thank you."
The woman smiled and continued cleaning.
"Where...Where did my h-husband go?" She asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer. Her tongue tripped over the word, feeling foreign.
"Um, I'm not sure. He usually goes downtown, I think." She said conversationally. If she had heard the trip up, she didn't mention it.
Hesitantly, she fiddled with her robe ties. "...and he comes back?"
The maid looked up at her again, obviously hearing her hesitancy and was confused by it. "Um, yes, I mean he stays at the hotel bar most nights until they close. He must like the music from our local piano guy, he hardly ever touches a drink. Is he not a heavy drinker?"
"Um...not usually."
She knew she sounded stupid, but in all honesty, she really didn't know where he was or if he even was around at all. She wouldn't blame he if he had decided enough was enough. And he had told them she was sick that much was certain. He just didn't mention it was sick in the head...
The thought of him leaving her all alone forever twisted her stomach and her breakfast tried to come back up. She fought the urge to empty her newly filled stomach.
"Mrs. Mikaelson, would you like me to do anything else for you?"
She jumped, eyes widening as she nearly forgotten the woman was still in there. Jane grimaced at her own idiocy.
"No, thank you."
The maid smiled. "All right then."
The brown-eyed maid took her linen basket of used towel and bedsheets and left the room, Jane followed her after a short hesitation, grabbing the cart and dragging it behind her. She didn't want to be alone. A flush of shame creeping into her face as she followed the maid, but she felt afraid. The rest of the hotel suite was a spacious living room area was just outside the bedroom and included a little kitchen in the right corner of the room.
The maid turned, took the cart and gave her a bright smile. "I assume you'll be ordering lunch soon, Mrs. Mikaelson? You do look like you're feeling much better."
"Um, yes." She said, again startled at how many people seemed to be shocked to see her up and about and that called her "Mrs. Mikaelson". Probably having figured he had done something to her.
"Oh, good." She nodded. "Have a good morning, Ma'am." She took the cart and went out the door. It shut firmly behind her and the silence filled the room once more. Jane sighed and went back into the bedroom, but even that wasn't good enough. She needed to get out of that room for a while. Looking around she found her clothes had been put away neatly in a dresser near the bathroom and she grabbed a change of clothes. She couldn't remember the last time she had changed out of pajamas. Grabbing her little makeup and bathroom bag, she went to shower.
An hour and a half later she was washed and dressed, sitting in the living room in a pair of jeans and a sweater, and waiting for her phone to turn back on. She had apparently shut it off and now it had several updates to do before she could use it. Sipping the coffee that she had made for herself from the little espresso machine, she watched the snow continue to fall outside. From what she could tell of the outside, she was in New York.
Her phone chimed and she glanced down at it, wincing when numerous messages and voicemails appeared. Some of the messages were from Christmas and New Year's. Tears appeared in her eyes. She had missed the holidays and everything because of how she had acted. How horrible she had been. Wiping at her nose, she picked up her phone and read through her messages as a memory resurfaced.
Marcel came to the bridge and spotted her at the far railing.
"Jane?" He called and moved closer. "Everyone's been looking for you." He stood next to her. "Klaus and Elijah are tearing about the city." She was staring down at the water rushing beneath them, gripping the metal railing tightly.
She remained silent and never turned to acknowledge him.
"Let's get you back home, all right? It's cold out and you're not wearing a coat."
"My baby's cold." She said emotionlessly. Her tone chilled him, and he stiffened. "So why should it matter if I am?"
Marcel swallowed nervously. He had never expected her to be so cold and detached.
"Don't talk like that, Jane." Truthfully, her words frightened him more than her silence. It was eerie.
She went silent again.
"Jane." A relieved voice said, and Marcel turned his head.
Elijah came up to Jane's other side. "There you are. Where have you been? Everyone's been looking."
She didn't respond to him. Just continued to stare down at the river, a single tear dripped down her cheek. He sighed and looked at Marcel.
"Thank you for finding her."
He nodded. "No, problem."
The Original touched her arm. "Come along, Jane. It's late and cold."
"Cold." She spat out harshly and jerked her arm away from him. She was glaring at him, and Marcel didn't like the look in her eyes. "What does it matter? My unborn baby lies cold and dead and everyone's more concerned about me being out in the cold."
"I cannot begin to understand your grief." Elijah said softly, but with a sharp warning. "But you should not speak like that." He slid his jacket around her shoulders, preparing to turn her away from the water. She let him move her and didn't speak again.
After getting directions to a grocery store, almost getting lost, spending far longer in the store than she should, and the hazardous journey back, she made it safe and sound to the hotel room. Jane was exhausted, but she had to make dinner before Klaus came back. He'd come back around six, the people at the desk said so she had two hours to cook something edible.
Straightening the dress that she had found in the closet, Jane glanced at her hands and stilled. The ring was gone. She glanced at the clock. He'd be there in another half hour or so. Panicking, she began searching for the jewelry that she felt ashamed of taking off.
"Oh, no. Please, please be here." She muttered to herself, trying not to cry at the thought of losing it or having thrown it away in her rampage. She opened the bedside table drawer and sighed with relief at the little box. Taking the box out she opened it and slid the glittering ring out onto her palm. She stroked it gently with her finger.
Ding.
The oven timer went off and she slipped the ring on her finger and hurried into the next room to get out the rolls.
Jane glanced at the clock and then away again. It was half past seven. He was about an hour late. Why had she thought he'd come in at his usual time? What was there for him to see? She supposed most of the time he saw her sleeping and that was boring and probably irritating. So, she sipped her wine in silence and then flinched as a memory arose.
"Eat it." Klaus snapped and she slapped the plate aside. "Jane." He warned, but she turned away from him. He took a calming breath.
"You need to eat, love. You've not eaten in days."
She shook her head and he sighed, coming to sit in front of her. "Then take some blood. You have to have something."
"No!" She snapped and glared at him. "Go away."
"Not until you have something. Either you drink or you eat."
"Go away!" She screamed.
Klaus growled at her. "I'm trying to be patient. I understand-"
"You understand!? Really? You feel empty without a baby in you?! I carried that baby for almost seven months! She was mine and you," She pointed at him, hissing aggressively. "You did this. You let your ego get in the way of our baby. You selfish, son of a bitch. Get out of here!" And with that she launched herself at him. She hit everywhere she could reach and he tried to gently toss her off him.
"Stop it!"
"Shut up!" She hissed and he growled, knocking her off him where she landed against the bed. "I hate you!" She screamed.
"Good!"
Jane grabbed a shoe and threw it at him. It hit his hip. "I hate you! It's your fault she's gone!"
"I know that! You don't think I know that?!" He snarled blocking the other shoe that was flung at him. "I'll admit I was selfish and now our child is gone! But that's not a reason to starve yourself!"
"I don't want to live!" She screamed at him and he faltered, losing some of his anger. "I don't want to be here! I hate this place and I hate this room and I..." She clenched her fists so tightly that he knew she'd hurt herself. "And I hate...me." She turned to the window, almost as if nothing had occurred. "I feel so alone. So...inadequate." She wrapped her arms around herself, bloody spots on her palms from her nails breaking skin. "I couldn't even keep a baby alive." Her voice broke.
"Don't say that, my love." He moved back over to her, reaching to touch her. "You're not inadequate. It was an accide-"
She whipped around, moving out of his reach. "No! Don't you get it? I am done."
"Don't say that!" He snapped at her, grabbing her arms and she fought with him. "Don't you even think it!"
"You don't tell me what to do or what to think! If I want to die, then I'll die! Now get out and stop touching me before something happens to you too!" He released her, shocked.
"Jane...Sweetheart, the baby didn't die because of you, love."
She flung her hands up and covered her ears. "Stop! Just go away!" She flung her hand and he was sent flying out the door by a gust of wind and the nursery door swung shut with a slam.
Klaus came inside and shook off his coat, hanging it up before freezing. The aroma of pasta, candles, bread, and a familiar shampoo filtered through the air. Frowning, he glanced at the little kitchen and saw nothing out of place, but he could tell someone had cleaned recently. There were dishes drying on the rack. He knew the cleaning service only came in the morning so that meant... He glanced at the table and saw that there were candles set up and stepping closer he could tell that they had been recently lit. He spotted brown grocery bags near the counter and grew more confused. She had woken up and left? Had she cooked for him, expecting him to come home? He winced at the thought of her waiting for him and he had missed it. Would she be angry with him? Or had she reverted back due to his absence?
Then he smelt blood and antiseptic. Small hints of it, but strong enough to make him alert. He heard the television going in the bedroom and walked toward it slowly. The smell of blood was stronger and it brought back an unbridled memory.
Klaus was the first of his group to emerge from the darkened trees, brushing past the remaining werewolves and New Orleans witches both of which were on edge and confused by the sounds coming from further ahead.
There was too much blood. He could see that was from he was among the crowds of witches, vampires, and the undead. There was also the alarming sign of stillness from everyone and everything and while that startled him that's not what bothered him the most. It was the screams. Jane was screaming. The sound was both eerie and bewitching. It was an unearthly cry that was drenched with grief and immense sadness, and it silenced the forest that surrounded the field. It set Klaus' teeth on edge and made him aware of why the others around him seemed so stupefied. He knew then without having to see it for himself why she was crying like that.
Poking his head around the door, he immediately saw that she was deep asleep, half propped up by a pillow. She was wearing one of her silk nightgowns instead of the layers of clothing he had gotten used to seeing her in. Was she feeling more at ease now?
Glancing down at the carpet, he could see that someone had recently cleaned there. Moving his eyes upward, he blinked in confusion. He was sure that there had been a matching lamp there...
He turned off the television and got into bed, being careful not to disturb her. To his shock, and intense excitement, she turned and cuddled into his side. The first time she had sought him in a while. He held still, apprehensive, as he waited to see if she'd realize her mistake and flee from him. When she didn't move away, he slowly and hesitantly put his arm around her lightly.
"Klaus?" She said groggily against his chest.
"Yes, go back to sleep, love." He murmured and pressed his lips to her head. She smelt of vanilla and wine.
"Tried to...wait up." She yawned and lifted her head to look at him, blinking sleepily. "Where did you go today?"
Klaus stroked her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear before stiffening when he saw the bruise that darkened her left temple. He tilted her head back to look at it closer.
"What happened? Who harmed you?"
Jane averted her eyes. "I...um...I fell out of bed."
He sighed and closed his eyes with relief. Part of him was angry with himself for leaving her and letting her get hurt and the other half was worried as to why she fell out of bed. A vision or a nightmare?
"Here and there. I didn't mean to stay out so late. You should have told me you got hurt."
She shrugged before answering, not as sleepily as before. "You didn't know...And I didn't want to bother you." She tried to duck her head, but his fingers trapped her chin.
He gripped her lightly, shaking his head. "You couldn't bother me, love. I was the one who didn't come back in time. I should be apologizing to you. You set up a nice dinner that I didn't attend. You ate alone." As he spoke his eyes looked her over, making sure she didn't have any other injuries. He found the bandage around her hand and frowned lightly.
"I wasn't sure if you'd be back in time, anyhow." Jane sighed and then smiled slightly. "Be glad you didn't. The wine tasted better than the spaghetti." He laughed and she reached up to cup his face. "I've missed you." She whispered and stroked his face with her fingers. He shut his eyes at the sensation, savoring the feeling of her touching him.
"How did you hurt your hand?"
"The lamp broke when I fell out of bed." She sighed. "I had a…bad memory."
Klaus nodded, holding her hand gently in his fingers.
They were silent for a moment.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered in the dark.
Klaus shifted beneath her and opened his eyes to look at her intently.
"Whatever for?"
She looked down, hair falling to hide her face once more.
"Running you off. Making you watch me fall apart. Not responding." She counted off, sounding ashamed. "I was horrible to everyone...including you."
He shook his head and brushed her hair away to tilt her face back up at him. There were unshed tears in her guilt-ridden eyes, and he cupped her cheek.
"You were in a dark place, sweetheart. I wasn't exactly pleasant either."
"I hurt you." She said, a stray tear slipping down her cheek. He wiped it away instantly.
"Not beyond repair." He smiled softly. "And I wasn't running away from you."
She gave him an incredulous look. It had been a long time since she had given him that look and he almost laughed.
"You disappear before I wake up and then come back when I'm asleep."
He heaved a sigh. "I'll admit it started out that way. I was giving you space as you had asked. Then it became a habit."
"You didn't want to watch me sleep. It was boring, I'm sure."
"You didn't sleep at all the first few nights." He said quietly. "Don't you remember?"
She didn't. She vaguely recalled a "Friends" marathon playing in the background of a dark room, but not much else.
She voiced it to Klaus who nodded. "Yes. You seemed comforted by the characters and familiar banter."
"My mother and I used to watch it. Phoebe was her favorite."
"You listened to it for hours on end, but never slept. You were always awake when I saw you."
"I'm sorry." She said again and he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"You were alone. Here with a ghost. I don't blame you for leaving...Why did you stay?" He could understand some of her confusion. Their last lucid conversation before she had shut herself off had been very unpleasant. Accusations flying from both and hurt over the loss of their child had clashed horribly.
"Because I love you." He said so warmly and sincerely it brought tears to her eyes and his as well. "Always and Forever, my love. No matter what."
"I love you too. And I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so angry...so scared." Tears spilled down her cheeks and she gave a sob. Klaus sat up and tugged her gently into his lap.
"No, love. Don't cry." He ran his fingers through her hair, holding her against him. "Don't be upset. I wasn't myself either." She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder and he cradled her closer, pulling the blanket further up to warm her.
"I just woke up suddenly today, remembering everything. All the anger and hurt feelings...I said I hated you, blamed you for what happened. It wasn't you. You tried to help me and I was so-"
She cut herself off again, crying into his shoulder and hanging onto him tightly as if he'd disappear on her.
He pressed his face into her hair and shook his head as he gently rocked her. "No, my love, I never for a moment blamed you for the way you were feeling. The loss was hard on you."
"On you too." She sniffed. "It wasn't fair of me to be so selfish. To be..." She fell silent for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "I didn't want to die. Not really."
He nodded and pressed his face into her hair. "I know, sweetheart. I know."
Jane leaned back, stroking his face with her fingers and then she leaned her head up slowly, hesitantly. She wanted to kiss him but wasn't sure how it would be received.
"I never want to be without you. I love you." She whispered instead. Klaus felt extremely warm all over.
"And I you, my love. Always and forever. My mate." His eyes darkened and he lowered his head slightly. Their noses touched.
"Klaus..."
He wasted no time in drawing her into him and kissing her deeply. They instantly felt relief flood through them, the tenseness both had built up being apart fading into nothing.
She sighed and relaxed, her arms going around his neck and her fingers in his hair.
He pulled back slightly, looking at her anxiously. "Perhaps-"
"No." She shook her, unwilling to part from him as she tightened her fingers and moved to straddle his hips. "Please don't stop, Niklaus." He groaned and tugged her closer. She pulled back rather, abruptly and he looked up at her in concern.
"Love?"
She was biting her lower lip. "Um…Do you think it's okay to? Its been…a while..."
He cupped her cheek, stroking her with his thumb. "We'll take it slow, if you're not comfortable we'll stop."
"Okay." Jane chewed her lip. "…I'm sorry."
He shook his head.
"No, love. Never apologize for that." He looked rather chagrined. "It didn't occur to me."
Klaus watched her smile fade and a familiar look cross her face.
"Jane?"
She shuddered against him, eyes rolling upward as the vision began. He sat up, pulling her into his lap protectively. She gasped aloud, clenching her fists, and stiffened. He cupped her cheek in hopes of catching whatever she was seeing.
All he saw was bits and pieces. Nothing too coherent, but the flashes he saw and heard, disturbed him.
Jane went limp, though still conscious, she leaned against him with exhaustion.
"I think we have to go home." She whispered at last.
"We don't have to do anything, love. We can stay here." Even as he said it, he knew what her answer would be and what he knew had to happen.
"We can't avoid it forever. And I know you miss it."
He looked down at her, taking in the apprehension in her eyes. "Are you certain, love?" He'd forgo it if she asked it of him. He'd let her decide. Let her live in the present a few weeks longer, months longer if she wished it. Anything to prolong diving back into the past. Back into the city they both loved, but also hated.
She nodded. "It's waiting whatever it is. We have to go back to New Orleans."
He nodded and she wiggled down to hug herself to him. He kissed her forehead as she yawned. "Sleep some more, my love. I'll call the airlines."
A loud crash came from outside the hotel room door and Jane gasped, grabbing onto Klaus.
"What was that?!"
The vampire frowned and then gently extracted himself from her arms.
"Stay here."
He grabbed a shirt, jerking it on as he stalked out of the room.
Jane listened as he opened the door and then heard more sounds. These were sounds of a fight. A loud crash of glass and a snarl from Klaus had her leaping out of the bed. She slipped on a bathrobe as she ran to the door of the bedroom. Peering out, she saw Klaus standing over a body tensely. There was a broken lamp and the glass table in front of the couch was busted to pieces, blood spatters everywhere.
"Klaus?"
He turned to her, and she gasped at the darkened stain on his Henley, a rip showing that he had been stabbed with a sharp object. Of course, being a vampire, he was already healing, but she was still shocked.
"What happened?!" She shrieked and rushed over to him, stepping around the downed man's legs and being care of the blood pooling into the carpet. "Klaus, what-" She began, but her eyes wandered back down to the dead man, and she changed her sentence. "That's the doctor that came by this morning."
She turned to look at Klaus, now frowning suspiciously at the body. He glanced at her, seeing her panicked expression.
"When?"
"The-the butler came in with the maid. They helped me when I almost fell. He called that man."
Klaus knelt near the body, lifting the stake Jane had just noticed near the man's hand.
"He knew you were a vampire?" She whispered and he scowled.
"So, it seems…."
Jane saw that the door was wide open, an overturned cart in the middle of the carpeted hall. It was obvious, that the cart had been the loud crash, meant for Klaus to come investigate. When he had opened the door, the man had attacked him.
"What are we going to do?"
Klaus shut the door and locked it.
"Pack up and leave quickly. In case there are more." He took her elbow and gently moved her toward the bedroom. "Today was the first time you've seen him?"
She nodded. "First time I'd seen anyone really." Her words made her bite her lower lip. Could she have been visited by several people and never known? He seemed to think along the same lines and tensed guiltily for leaving her all alone day after day.
"I'm scared." She whispered.
He turned and engulfed her in a hug, holding her close to him.
"It's all right, my love." He pressed his face into her hair. He frowned in thought. "But we'll have to be extra cautious in order to be certain we leave without anymore visitors."
Jane hugged herself closer to him, nodding her head.
Jane tried to keep busy packing their things and not dwell on the fact that the "doctor", if he really had been one, had known about vampires. Maybe not about Klaus specifically, since he only came armed with a stake and a tiny vial of vervain.
He was currently on the phone with Elijah discussing the best plans for coming home, while pacing at the window.
Jane hurried into the living room to get their coats from the coat rack when a sound made her pause. Near where the doctor was lying, a cellphone was ringing. She waited when it stopped and then it came again. Jane hurried back inside and up to Klaus who had just finished his call with Elijah.
"His cell phone is ringing." She said to Klaus who raised an eyebrow at her. "It keeps ringing. What if someone comes looking because he's not answering?"
He understood what had upset her and sighed.
"It can't be helped, my love. Although…" He stood and went into the living room, Jane followed him. She watched in puzzlement as he crouched next to the man's body and dug in his coat pocket.
Klaus pulled a card key from the pocket and then stood up again.
"He came from a room on the floor above." He glanced curiously at the ceiling as if he could see through it.
"Stay here, sweetheart. I won't be long."
Jane shook her head, feeling panicked. "Don't leave me here alone."
Her words hadn't meant to make him guilty, but he winced all the same. She hadn't seen him wince and continued.
"I'll be careful. Please Klaus. Don't leave me here."
He sighed and then nodded in consent. "All right, love. All right. Come along then."
Jane stayed back as Klaus swiped the card key into the lock. The light turned green and he cautiously opened the door.
The first room was dimly lit by a small lamp in the living area. Klaus stepped inside, waiting and moving slowly in case the man had set an alarm or trap. After a few seconds, he turned and nodded at Jane to enter. She went inside and shut the door quietly.
Klaus flicked the kitchen light on and froze.
Jane peered under his arm and gasped.
There were dozens upon dozens of printed pictures, blown up to show who the subject or subjects of the photographer. Klaus was in most of them, circled sometimes in red ink amongst a crowd or at the bar. There were quite a few of him, some of him draining people of blood, getting onto the elevator, going into the hotel room, etc. Some appeared to be taken from a security footage of the hotel.
While those were alarming, the most disturbing pictures were those of Jane.
Most of her photos were her lying in bed, so close that he had to have been in the same room. It sent chills down her spine, and she rubbed at her arms.
"How'd he get in?" She whispered.
"I don't know." Klaus scowled, deeply disturbed. "He must have been following me or having me followed to see when I'd leave."
He stepped closer to one of the pictures of Jane. She was sitting up in the bed and she was looking facing the camera.
"I looked at him? I don't remember doing that."
"No, your eyes were closed."
"Oh, my god…What if I had looked at him? Would he have attacked me?"
Again Klaus shook his head.
"I believe he assumed he was saving you."
Jane frowned. "What?"
Klaus ripped one of the pictures from the tack on the wall. She stepped closer to see. The man had written a few words at the bottom.
They read: "Drugged. Kidnap victim. Vampire's next kill."
Jane chewed her lip. "When he saw me today, he must have thought you hurt me."
He grimaced in response and moved on to keep looking through the photos. Jane went to the kitchen table and looked through the stack of papers there. She kept seeing the same logo and words over and over. Kingmaker Land Development. She frowned and started to ask Klaus if he had heard of it when there was a commotion outside the door.
Someone was trying to open it.
Klaus switched the light off and in one swift movement, gathered Jane and hid them inside the hall closet. The closet door was slated so they could see both the kitchen doorway and the front door. It was a small closet, hardly big enough for them, but Jane was small enough that she didn't take up much room.
Jane pressed against Klaus, not daring to make a sound, and she bit her lip as the door opened.
"Hey, George, you in?" A man asked as he stepped inside. "I really think you ought to wait before going after that vampire."
Klaus stiffened as the man closed the door and walked near the closet door. Jane pressed further against him.
"George?" The man called and then shrugged. "Not home, oh well." He turned toward the closet and Jane had to press her mouth to Klaus' back to keep from screaming or gasping. It was the friendly butler.
He started toward the closet door, hand outstretched to open it. His fingers brushed the knob and Klaus readied to move if need be.
The butler's phone went off and he stepped back, holding the cell to his ear.
"Yeah, it's Smith. No, George hasn't answered, sir. Probably off spying again. I told him to leave the girl alone." There was a pause. "He might have went after it. Idiot. I told him, you said that vampire wasn't one of the typical ones. Yes, I know sir. Bloody moron only had a few stakes. We couldn't find that other thing you asked for. What was it? White Oak?"
Klaus stiffened and Jane gripped his shirt.
"I'll go check on him. He's a bit of a chicken really. Probably still lurking in the girl's room. Not that I blame him, she's a pretty one." The man stiffened. "Um, apologies, sir. I'll check and let you know." The man ended the call and then dialed a number into the cell. It rang briefly.
"Hey, Leroy, it's Smith. You working today?" He nodded to himself. "Good, I'll head down to yourself office now. I need to check and see where George went. He's not here in the apartment." The butler went to the door and then stepped out, shutting it behind him.
"He was the butler that came to my room yesterday. Oh, my god. Klaus, they've been watching us! And they know you're a Hybrid." Klaus took her arms.
"Take it easy, sweetheart." He said rapidly. "It's going to be all right."
"He's going down to the lobby. He'll see that his friend went in and not back out. And they'll see where we are."
Klaus nodded. "We've got to leave. Now."
It was lucky Jane had already packed. They grabbed their bags and went for the emergency stairs.
Having been almost inactive for almost three months, Jane felt exhausted by the time they reached the third flight of stairs. She didn't dare complain. They couldn't afford to stop or pause, the fear of being followed and found was too close for comfort. She was mentally exhausted as well as physical, especially after the vision she had earlier.
She knew Klaus wanted them to move quicker, but she wasn't a vampire. True, she could probably put on a bit more speed with her elemental side, but she hadn't tried it in so long she was afraid it wouldn't work. Truthfully, she felt a little hungry for a blood bag. It might perk her up, but again she refrained from asking. Now was not the time.
Klaus forced the door open when they reached the bottom and glanced at Jane. He could see she was exhausted and could barely hold her bags or herself up. Another round of guilt went through him. He was pushing her too hard. He wanted to let her rest, but there was no time. The recording would show them leaving. They had no choice but to keep going.
It was near sunrise when they finally got on a plane and were far above the ground. They had been cautious as they could be, going from place to place until they had arrived at the airport. Even then, they had to remain on the move. Now on a private jet that Elijah had sent for them, they were safe.
"Yes, we'll be touching down soon." Klaus quietly into his phone and he glanced down. Jane was sleeping soundly next to him, unable to stay awake any longer. "Yes, she'll be happy to see you all. She was worried about someone following us there." He smirked at Elijah's words. "Yes, I know, but you know her. Tell Rebekah not to throw a party. The less who know we've come home the better."
Three months had passed since the attack of the mort-vivants. The factions were finished with the necessary repairs to the city and the French Quarter. The witches had been more than helpful to the vampires, which all of them found suspicious, but their help was appreciated all the same.
As for the werewolves who had helped during the battle, they were still looking for a place along the factions. Neither of the groups wanted to give them a spot, but they put up a fair argument. Without the werewolves help, Laurent's witches would have survived and perhaps regrouped and tried again had they not tracked each one down and destroyed the entire coven. A worthy cause to be redeemed by a spot on the faction council.
Marcel and Elijah had taken the reins in running the city. Things were slowly getting back to normal though they were sure to include Klaus in all that went on, though he was taking a break from ruling but that didn't mean he was out of it. Davina was accepted back into the world of witches, though her heart wasn't fully into it. Something, she had told Marcel and Kol both, still felt wrong. However, she couldn't pinpoint why just yet and it made her uneasy.
Marcel, at the moment, was sitting behind the desk in the study, reading over a newspaper in his hands. He glanced up at the presence of Elijah who entered the room as he ended a phone call.
"Was that Klaus?"
The Original turned to look at him with a wan smile. "Yes. They'll be arriving in a few hours."
Marcel smiled back. "They're coming home? Is she better?"
Elijah frowned. "She's feeling a little better, but as for the reason they are coming home…" He explained what Klaus had told him and Marcel scowled.
"Somebody was watching them. That's not a good sign."
"No, no it's not." Elijah replied quietly.
Down the hall there was a flurry of activity.
"I want all the dust out." Rebekah scowled. "I want the whole house clean before she gets here." She turned and walked away muttering "Imbeciles." Under her breath. One of her older brothers came down the hall.
"Bekah?"
With a smile, she turned to him.
"Jane and Nik are coming home, Kol."
Kol smiled brightly. "Are you throwing them a welcome home party, Bex?"
"Unfortunately, no." She sighed disappointedly, before a frown creased her brow. "Apparently, someone was trying to murder Niklaus."
"When is someone not?"
"Not funny, Kol." She snapped. "They were watching Jane too."
The humor fled immediately. "Suppose they left rather abruptly then?"
"Yes. Elijah just spoke to him, and they should be arriving in few hours. They were switching flights to be sure no one was trailing them."
Kol shifted. "I'll go get them."
Rebekah smiled. "I think that's a good idea."
He found her again, further ahead, kneeling in the grass with her hands outstretched. Kol was attempting to calm her, but she paid no heed to him, her powers shoving him backward when he came too close.
"Little love, please." His brother said gently. "It's going to be all right. Just put it down."
"NOO!" She screamed in fury and pain and launched him back into a tree which shook from impact. He knew he had to stop her before she seriously injured herself further or hurt someone else. Her hands were stained in blood, as was most of her dress. Blood around her mouth suggested that she had either messily fed or vomited. He had a feeling it was former, judging by Desmond Laurent's body lying crookedly a few feet away and near Dorian's body.
"Love." He said softly. The Original Hybrid took in Jane's bloodied body and her paleness. Then he noticed Sage nearby. She was holding something small, wrapped in a blanket.
"She's extremely upset." She murmured softly and met Klaus' eyes. He glanced down at the bundle in her arms and then closed his eyes, she didn't have to tell him what she was holding. "It was a placental abruption. I had to get the-the baby out and... There wasn't anything I could-" She couldn't finish, tears in her eyes and Finn, having heard, put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry." She said, trying to hold back her tears.
Klaus nodded numbly and Sage carefully handed him the bundle. He took it from her gently, cradling the tiny form. Finn wrapped his arms around Sage, his face grave, and she buried her face into his chest.
"She won't let anyone near her." Finn said quietly. "Kol got her to calm down for a second, but then she felt the need to protect herself." He nodded at the four black cloaked witches that were hanging in midair. He hadn't seen them before now, having had his full attention on his distraught mate. They appeared to be stuck in the air, dangling by invisible rope, a few of their legs twitching occasionally, to signify what life was still fighting inside them.
Rebekah, Freya, and Elijah emerged from the darkness and then abruptly stopped.
"Oh...Nik..." Rebekah whispered, taking no time in understanding what had happened. Elijah grimaced sympathetically.
"My love." He said warily, stepping at the very edge of the little circle she had made. It was what kept Kol from stepping up to her. "Jane."
Without lowering her hands, she turned her head to look at him. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her eyes the elemental black.
"...gone..." It was all she could manage to utter, and he nodded, feeling a sting of his own tears.
"Yes, I know." He said softly.
"Hurts."
Again, he nodded. "Yes, love. It will for a while."
A strangled sob escaped her mouth and he tried to take another step. It was blocked.
"Sweetheart. You need to let me in."
She shook her head wildly. "No. No. No."
"Jane." He said gently. "Let me in, my love."
Rain began to pelt down, and the wind picked up around them. He realized that it was coming from her. She was getting extremely upset and unable to stop.
Klaus sighed. "Love, let me in." He saw that she was close to collapsing. "Jane, you're going to hurt yourself. You can stop now, sweetheart."
The girl shook her head wildly, clamping her hands over her ears to block out their voices. He could hear her muttering "no" over and over.
"Freya?" He heard Rebekah say softly. "Can you help?"
Klaus turned his head as the witch stepped closer.
Freya looked at Jane and then heaved a sigh.
"I can break through the barrier, but she won't like it." She looked at him to get his permission and he nodded.
Klaus turned to Rebekah, handing her the tiny bundle.
Holding up her hands, Freya began muttering something and Klaus walked toward the circle Jane was in. He found that he could enter and was now inches away from her.
"My love." He said quietly and she whipped around to face him, confused and upset. "Easy, love. Easy." He soothed as she shook her head again. He felt her trying to push him out.
"No..."
"Jane." He touched her arm and she screamed, thrashing against him. "Stop it, love." He said sharply when she attempted to bite him. "It's okay now."
"No!" She screamed at him.
A nearby tree burst into flames as if stuck by lightning. Freya grimaced and turned to Elijah.
"She can't control it. She's too upset. If this continues…it could get much worse. She might start targeting others." She didn't have to mention who might be getting the flames or something worse next. She'd go for anyone nearby attempting to calm her. Including Klaus.
Elijah seriously doubted that she knew what she was doing. There was another scream of rage from Jane and the cloaked witches were suddenly flung into the flaming tree, necks snapping simultaneously.
He sighed and looked at away from Jane and Klaus. The distraught girl still fighting against his brother's grip.
"Can you calm her?"
"I can put her to sleep for a while. She's exhausted already."
Kol sighed. "Best do it now."
Freya went into the circle.
Klaus turned in time to see her utter a spell at Jane.
Seconds later, the girl's body crumbled and he caught her. The wind died down, the rain stopped, and the flaming tree extinguished automatically.
Freya stepped back. "I'm sorry. I had too. She probably would have killed anyone nearby without meaning too or herself."
Klaus merely nodded at her and stroked Jane's hair from her face.
Jane opened her eyes to see Klaus frowning lightly in his sleep. She wasn't sure how, but she had seen what he had been dreaming about. Reaching up she gently, smoothed the frown lines from his forehead.
Klaus felt fingers along his face.
He groggily thought it a dream, a far better one than what he was previously having, and tried desperately to remain asleep, to keep this beautiful new dream. However, the fingers never stopped stroking him and he smiled. It was real. He was here in her arms. No more bad memories and things he'd rather not think of at the moment.
He opened his eyes and, raising his head, looked down at her. Sometime during their flight, she had moved into his arms. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep.
"Hello, sweetheart."
"Hey." She smiled back and Klaus, cupping her face with a hand, leaned down to kiss her.
"You look like you feel better."
She nodded. "A little. Are we almost there?"
Klaus nodded. "Yes. You can rest more when we arrive."
"I'm sorry."
He gave her a confused look. "I know what you were dreaming of."
His face softened and he gave a small sigh. "You weren't yourself, love."
"Close enough. I just…I didn't mean to hurt any of you."
"I know, sweetheart. And they know it as well. Not one of them blame you."
She didn't reply, only tucked her head under his chin. He tightened his arms around her.
"Do you think…"
"What, love?"
"Do you think all this has happened because I woke up? Something woke me up, Klaus."
He frowned. "No, it was obvious that they were planning for sometime-"
"It's just so coincidental. I don't like it."
Klaus gazed out the window. "I swear to you that I won't let anything happen to you again. I'm going to keep my word this time, you'll see."
Jane frowned and lifted her head. "Klaus, I-"
The sign for seatbelts came on as did the dinging noise. She didn't get a chance to ask him if he felt as if all of it was his fault as they were landing.
As they exited the plane, Jane noticed his demeanor had changed. He was no longer relaxed. He was tense, unsure, and she suddenly wished they were back in New York. Something had his agitated, but she couldn't understand what it was. He was texting someone on his phone rapidly, a deep frown on his face.
"Are you okay?" She asked him as they entered the airport. He led the way to the baggage claim.
"Fine." He replied rather tersely, and she frowned. "Come along now."
"Something is clearly wrong. What is it? Who are you talking too?"
"What's wrong is that you're asking me a thousand questions and not moving along." He snapped out. She planted herself firmly in the doorway to the baggage claim. Not many people were in at that hour. Klaus turned to look at her.
"So sorry for inconveniencing you." She snapped. "I'll try to move my limbs faster."
He sighed deeply, guiltily. "I'm didn't mean it love." He apologized. "I'm gotten some news I'd rather not hear about."
She continued to stare at him and he held his hand out.
"It's nothing to be concerned about, my love. I promise."
Jane sighed. "Okay, just don't take it out on me. I'm…tired." It was the only word she could come up with. In truth, she didn't feel like herself. Not completely.
He shifted, swallowing guilt.
"Come on, love. Let's get our things." He said quietly and she took his hand.
Kol met them outside the baggage claim and Jane and embraced him immediately, apologizing profusely over and over for her absence and her behavior.
"I'm just glad you've come back." He said, patting her gently. "You too, Nik." Klaus snorted in amusement.
"I'm sure."
As they exited the airport and got inside the car, Klaus couldn't help but think of what he had been sent to his phone by an unknown number.
Welcome back. The elemental is where she truly belongs. I'll be seeing you both.
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