Chapter Song: Mirrors by Justin Timberlake

A/N: Sorry I have not been updated weekly It's just been a busy few weeks. I do have the plot done for the next several chapters, I just have to sit down and actually take the time to write it. I do hope to finish this in the next couple months and cap it at 30 chapters so please bear with me.

Disclaimer: One of the scenes here is inspired by the webtoons "I Became a Maid in a TL Novel" and "Inso's Law". And I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals. This is purely a work of Fanfiction.

Chapter 23: Love & Hate (Part 1)

MYSTIC FALLS. 2010 A.D.

Elijah fiddled with the ring on his finger as he waited. The ring he was supposed to give to Faith but never had the chance.

He was early for his meeting and had decided to grab coffee. He took a sit in one of the single couches facing the window.

Outside, the streets were bustling with people coming and going. As he took a sip of his coffee, he let his thoughts wander.

He thought about all the women he'd ever loved. There were several over his lifetime. Each woman was unique, and he loved them each in his own way. Finally, his thoughts went back to the first person he ever loved. Faith.

From the first time he met her, she had incited feelings of protectiveness in him. She wasn't the greatest of beauties but with each passing day she became more and more beautiful to him. True to her name, she believed in people. She placed her faith in people even when they did not deserve it.

At least, that was what he had thought.

She had betrayed them. She was the very reason they lived such a cursed existence.

And yet…when he saw her at the ball…all his feelings of love for her came back. That is, until he remembered her betrayal. Then the feelings of affection quickly turned to hate.

Even now, as he thought about her, mixed feelings of love and hate surges up within him. He couldn't stop thinking about her.

His Faith.

He loved her and he hated her.

But…what kind of man would he be if he didn't try to find his Faith beneath the façade of the woman who had betrayed him?

She sounded so desperate after the ball. Her eyes filled with pain when she said sorry. After all this time, had she changed? Or had he?

Should he not give her a chance? Afterall, she had once taken a chance on him.

As Katerina had once said, "Life is too cruel, if we cease to believe in love, why would we want to live?"

Or perhaps it was easier to believe that she betrayed them. Better to think that she was someone who betrayed them rather than believed in them. Better to think that she used them rather than loved them.

Had he given up on love too soon?

No, he should not be thinking about her. He should not be making excuses for her. He should not even contemplate forgiving her. He had long given up on love.

Thinking about her only brought up feelings he did not like. Sadness with tinges of guilt. Love blinded by hate.

He shook off such thoughts from his mind and glanced at his watch. She should be here any minute now.

"Elijah"

He felt her before he heard her. He knew instantly whose voice it was. He looked up to see the beautiful woman in front of him.

"Katerina."

~TGITW~

Klaus stood at the entrance to the cave of writings. His hands tucked in his jacket as a chilly winter breeze blew around him. This cave was the place that he and his siblings spent a lot of time in. It was also the place that he had visited several times over the centuries. And now he found himself back here again.

He still remembered the day he had buried Faith in it. It was a painful day. The day he lost the woman he loved and had to leave her behind. By the time it was safe to go back for her, the barrier was already up, and no vampire could get to her. He could not retrieve her body and put it in a coffin like he did his mother.

Of course, he supposed he could have compelled a human to go in and get her body. However, he did not want to risk anyone knowing about her and using it against him. Not even his siblings knew about it.

He knew it was a contradiction. He carried his family around with him and even had Elijah and Rebekah with him. And his family was his weakness. But he didn't particularly like sharing this secret. Not even with his family. And especially not with Elijah.

So, time and time again, he would visit Mystic Falls. Every hundred years or so, he would find himself outside the cave looking in. He longed to see her, but he contented himself with standing at the entrance.

In the same place, he had talked about everything that's happened since his last visit. He talked about Elijah, Rebekah, Mikael, and everything that happened. He talked as if she was still alive and listening.

He had treasured those moments. He quite liked the idea of having her all to himself. It was nice her being in the same place that he was born. She felt like a home to go back to.

So, he would stand at the entrance looking at it longingly. He would talk for hours, sometimes even days, then he would leave reluctantly. No one else would know.

And now, here he was again. Back in Mystic Falls. But she was no longer in the cave.

Suddenly, he heard a crunch behind him. He grinned wolfishly, recognizing the scent of the woman he loved. Faith.

"What can I do for you love?"

~TGITW~

Faith had recruited Klaus' help in finding Elijah. By that time, the Mikaelson siblings had separated and only Klaus remained in town. Klaus was also the only one with the resources and the willingness to help her search for the noble Original.

Unfortunately, it had been weeks and they still had no solid leads on Elijah Mikaelson.

She grabbed a throw blanket and wrapped it around herself before stepping out unto the deck. It was a frosty morning, and she could see her breath leaving her lips. She gazed at the sky and settled into the quietness of the morning. It was early enough in the day that she could still see the moon in the sky. Looking up at the moon, she recalled events of last night.

She had been sitting by the bonfire and watching the stars. In her hand was a cup of hot chocolate with those tiny marshmallows she loved.

Klaus came up and sat beside her. She extended the blanket covering to him. She didn't have to. He was a vampire and didn't feel the cold. But she offered it anyways.

For a while, he said nothing and they both watch the flames dancing in the air.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"Does it have to be Elijah?"

"What do you mean?" She asked in puzzlement.

"I mean, is there anything else that would make you happy?"

She shook her head.

"Ok, apart from him," He ventured hesitatingly. "Is there anything else you want?"

She looked deep in thought.

Klaus drew closer to her and whispered, "I can give you whatever you want…just ask…"

She answered him in a quiet voice, "I don't ask because you can't give me what I want."

"What is it?"

"A family." She half spoke half whispered.

He looked at her as if wanting her to explain more.

She sighed then continued, pausing after each statement.

"An older brother like Stephen.

A younger brother like Jeremy.

A sister like Rebekah.

A cool aunt like Jenna and an uncle like Alaric.

Maybe even the "bad sheep" cousin like Damon." She chuckled as she made the open close quote motion with her fingers.

She had a smile on her face as she imagined the picture-perfect family.

Klaus looked at her thoughtfully before turning away.

"I'm sorry…but the way you are now, you can't give me what I want."

She couldn't see it, but she knew he had a hurt expression. She knew he agreed with her. And she needed to be honest with him.

Inside, the phone rang drawing her away from memory of last night's conversation. Klaus had picked up the phone and was talking urgently with the person on the other line.

She made her way back inside and came face to face with an excited looking Mikaelson.

"We found him!"

~TGITW~

They arrived at the small town an hour later.

Faith got out of the car and began looking anxiously around with Klaus trailing behind her.

This was the moment she had been waiting for. These past weeks, she had been searching everywhere for Elijah hoping to amend things with him – with Klaus in tow. Now, it seems their search was finally over.

She stopped as she sighted him across the street. He was inside a white gazebo dress in his usual suit and tie. Her face brightened and she was about to shout his name when she saw a person come up to him. It was Katherine.

Faith swallowed, a lump in her throat. Elijah was looking at Katherine tenderly. He held out a hand and caressed Katherine's face affectionately. He looked liked he was saying sweet nothings to her before he kissed her.

It was just like the scene in TVD with Elena and Elijah. Except this time, it was with Katherine. Faith would recognize Katherine's mannerism anywhere.

In an instance, it all came flooding back to her. All the insecurities. All the hurt. All the pain. And her heart ached.

Times like these the anxiety I thought I left behind comes back and reveals it has never disappeared in the first place.

She remembered Tatia. Katherine. Elena. She remembered all the times where she was not enough. Faith saw that kiss and was heartbroken.

Klaus saw Faith and finally caught up to her after being separated. He followed the direction of her gaze and realized what was causing her pain. He saw her hand clenched her chest and he felt a stab through his heart. This was worst then being stabbed by the white oak dagger.

"You shouldn't have to see this." He said softly.

But Faith was oblivious to all else but the scene before her.

As if it would protect her, Klaus lifted his right hand to cover her eyes without touching her. It was his feeble attempt to block her view of Elijah and Katherine.

Goodness knows how long they stayed like that.

Faith rooted to the ground. Tears streaming down her face and her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Klaus watching her as she cried. His hand still over her eyes protectively.

His heart broke as he saw her in pain.

Her hurt was his hurt.

If only he could take her pain away.

~MEME~

(The scene where Faith sees Elijah kiss Katherine.)

Faith's expression changed. Her face contorted in pain.

Klaus raises his hand to cover her eyes.

Suddenly…

Pwooooot

Faith had too much breakfast that morning and was feeling constipated. Finally, she was able to release all that gas.

Relief fell on her face.

But now, it was Klaus' turn to contort his face in pain having smelt Faith's fart.

(Lol, couldn't resist making that a meme 😊)