"You look surprised to see me. So it wasn't you that removed the dagger from my chest?" Elijah asked looking at the two of us.

"No, it wasn't us." I told him.

"You look like you could do with a drink. And we have a lot to discuss, so shall we?" Nik asked cautiously. Last time he'd seen Elijah, his brother had tried to kill him. Suddenly Elijah used his vampire speed and attacked Nik, making him fly through a window.

"Easy. I just finished renovating and I have a baby sleeping upstairs." Nik told him, making Elijah pause. "You know you have every right to be mad at me. But I kept my word, I reunited you with our family." Elijah attacked him again forcing them both in the coffin room where K=Nik undaggered another brother and threatened Elijah.

"Don`t make me do this to you again Elijah!" Nik begged him. Elijah held his hands up in a surrender position.

"Come on. Use it. I dare you. You'll have Kol to deal with." Elijah reminded him.

"Mikael is dead." I told him, hoping to stop this fighting. Elijah turned his head to me, shocked.

"What did you say?" he asked. Nik released his grip from his elder brother's neck.

"I killed him. With his own weapon. He's gone Elijah. Forever." Nik told him.

"Why do our family remain in these coffins? Finn for over 900 years, Kol for over a century." Elijah asked him.

"Because of Stefan Salvatore. He holds the one thing keeping me from freeing them. There are things that you do not know about our past, Elijah. Our mother's death. Things I never wanted you to know but I`m ready to tell you now. I only ask that you remember the oath of loyalty you once swore to me." Nik said, dipping the tip of the dagger into ash.

"What are you doing?" Elijah asked him. Nik daggered his brother, Kol, and turned back to Elijah.

"Always and forever. I need you to stand by my side. Be my brother. Help me destroy Stefan and I promise you our family will be whole again." Nik closed Kol's coffin lid and we all went into another room to talk. Nik told him everything he needed to know from Nik killing their mother to the current situation with Stefan.

"You said you had a baby sleeping." Elijah stated.

"Yes, Nikolas is upstairs sleeping right now. I'd bring him down but he can be quite a handful being put back to sleep." I told him.

"Of course. Tomorrow morning then?" he asked me. I nodded, trying to read him. He kept everything close to the chest. "Now Niklaus. Someone pulled the dagger out so it must mean they want something."

"It must have been Damon. He was the last one with the coffins before we found them." I told Nik.

"I agree. What is it you think he wants?" he asked.

"Other than you dead?" I asked him.

"To make a deal." Elijah spoke up, drawing our eyes to him.

"What kind of deal?" I asked him.

"Like you said, the goal he's after, the goal they are all after, is my brother dead. So he must be wanting to make a deal about this other coffin." Elijah said.

"Do you think they believe the last coffin holds a weapon that could kill him?" I asked Elijah.

"It's possible." he told me and I glanced at Nik to see him deep in thought.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked him.

"If the Salvatore boys want to make a deal with Elijah, then perhaps you and I can strike a deal first." Nik said looking at his brother.

"What kind of deal?" Elijah asked him and Nik smirked. Nik told Elijah the deal and I watched him think it over. "And if I should go along with this?"

"You'll have what you've been asking for." Nik answered.

"How can I trust you after you used the dagger on me and broke your word?" Elijah asked him.

"They have the dagger he used on you." I reminded Elijah. "If he wants to dagger you he has to undagger on of your other siblings, who might be even more upset than you are."

"She has a point brother." Nik told him.

"I trust her, Niklaus, not you." Elijah told him.

"I give you my word, I will hand our family over to you after I get my coffin back." Nik told him, choosing his words carefully. I watched as Elijah thought it over.

"I agree."


That night as we got ready for bed I went and checked on Nikolas and saw him sound asleep, making me smile. He hadn't woken from the fighting downstairs between his father and uncle. I frowned as I thought about our families. Aunt Jenna had really taken to Nikolas quickly, giving him everything he wanted that she could offer. Elena hadn't really interacted with him because of his relation to Nik and Jer wasn't here because she had Damon compel him to leave. As for his family, I didn't know Kol and Finn and that made me nervous. Rebekah was my friend and Elijah was a good man, I think they would both be happy to have a family.

"Are you alright?" Nik asked, wrapping his arms around my waist. I leaned against him and smiled at him.

"Of course I am. I'm just thinking." I told him.

"What about?" he asked me.

"If your family is going to except the two of us." I told him.

"They'll except both of you with open arms. I know they will." he told me, tightening his hold on me.

"How can you be sure?" I asked him.

"Because we're family. And we'll make it through this together. Just like we'll make through everything." he told me and I smiled again.

"When did you get all sentimental?" I asked him and he laughed at me.

"Over a year ago. When I met this girl in a bar." he told me and I laughed.

"I remember. You should know that when she met you, she was completely different than how she is now." I told him.

"How so?" he asked me.

"If I was still her then I would be seducing you, making sure you stayed focused on this instead of that coffin. And here I am, worrying if your family will like me and our son." I told him. "I'd be making sure that I found a way to kill you, instead of loving you as much as I do."

"You know Elijah can hear you." he told me.

"You're point?" I asked him, smiling.

"No point." he told me and I laughed lightly.

"Good. Now time to go to bed." I said spinning in his arms to look at him.

"Just bed?" he asked me.

"Yes, just bed." I laughed. We changed and crawled into bed where he held me until I fell asleep.


"Hey." I said smiling at Elijah as he walked back into the house. "Where were you?"

"Just out viewing the town. Seeing what changed." he told me.

"Trust me, nothing has changed in the few months you've been daggered." I told him and he nodded. "Are you ready to see your nephew?"

"Of course." he said smiling at me. We walked into the family are where Nikolas was in a bassinet. I picked him up and handed him over to Elijah. "Nikolas meet your Uncle Elijah. Elijah meet Nikolas." I smiled as I watched him carefully.

"You don't have to be so nervous, Nicole." he told me and I laughed.

"I'm a first time parent, Elijah." I told him. "It's my job to worry." he laughed at me.

"Well you're doing a wonderful job of it." he told me, making me laugh.

"Why are you nervous?" he asked me, bouncing Nikolas slightly.

"I'm sure you heard Nik and I talking last night." I said.

"I didn't listen in on a private conversation." he told me and I smiled.

"I was right." I said. "You are a good man. I'm nervous about meeting the rest of your siblings."

"Why?" he asked me.

"I don't know your brothers and Bekah has some anger management issues. Those three people are going to be around my baby and I'm worried and scared." I told him before smiling more. "But that's family. Elena wont come near him and my brother doesn't know him." I started tearing up. "But at least your family will know him. Oh, god. Why am I crying?"

"Do you want me to call Niklaus?" he asked me. Nik was out preparing for something both men were trying to hide from me. I'd find out. I always did.

"No. I don't want to worry him. This will stop in time for whatever it is you two have planned." I told him and he gave me a curious look. "Don't give me that look Elijah. I'm not an idiot. My Hybrid boyfriend and his vampire brother are planning something and try to hide it from me, the only human of the group. You two don't do secret planning very well, do they Nikolas?" I asked my son smiling up at Elijah.

"How do you know we are planning something?" he asked me.

"Because you two are Originals. You're always planning something." I told him. "You seem to be loving Nikolas." he looked down and smiled at the baby in his arms.

"He'll grow up in a wonderful home with a excellent mother." he said handing Nikolas back to me.

"Thank you." I put him back in the small bed. "So, what are you planning with your brother?" I asked him and he offered me a small smile.

"The Salvatore's requested a dinner with my brother and I here." he told me.

"And where was I going to be during this dinner party?" I asked him.

"Niklaus said he would make sure both you and Nikolas were safe." he told me.

"I'm going to be there Elijah." I told him.

"It might not be safe for you or your son." he told me.

"I will be there. As will my son. Maybe a human and a baby will make you all remember to behave." I told him.

"That's not safe for you Nikky." I turned and saw Nik making his way to us.

"I don't care, I will be at the dinner with you, Elijah, Nikolas, Stefan and Damon." I told him.

"With what Stefan pulled with you..." he tried telling me.

"What did Stefan do?" Elijah asked.

"Nothing. I'm fine." I said trying to bring the attention away from me.

"He tried to kill you." Nik reminded me.

"I was there, I remember." I told him.

"He tried to kill you?" Elijah asked, shocked and I sighed.

"He wanted to hurt Nik by taking away any means of family. He nearly drove off Wickery Bridge with me." I told him "No, boys, I'm giong to get ready for tonight." I left them to talk about their plans while I searched an outfit. I dug through my closet and found a black dress Nik had bought me for one of our dates. (poshmark listing / 52a90286fb666a4dc6041ef4 (.com after poshmark and a / after that no spaces)) I dug some more and found some black strappy black heels. I took a shower and started getting ready. I straightened my hair and pulled it back into a simple bun before putting on my dress and heels. I did my makeup lightly before going downstairs as Elijah opened the door, revealing Stefan and Damon standing outside.

"Niklaus, Nicole, our guests have arrived." Elijah called to us.

"I see that." I said walking down the stairs. The boys turned to me as I made my way down the stairs and walked in front of them to Nik. A table had been set up with five places for us all to sit and eat.

"Damon. Stefan. Elijah tells me, you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilised men, shall we?" Nik asked them grabbing my hand and motioning me to stand behind the chair meant for me.

"It's better to indulge him." Elijah said walking to my other side.

"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told, I had to cause you would hear us out." Stefan told him.

"Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours." Nik said pulling my chair out for me to sit next to him. He had made a place for Nikolas to be in his small bed close to us. Eventually the rest of the party sat and joined us. Everyone was eating except for Stefan.

"Thank you, love." Damon said as a waitress poured him some wine.

"You lost your appetite." Nik said looking at Stefan.

"Eat. I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home." Damon told his brother.

"That's the spirit. Isn't it nice? Five of us dining together? Such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother?" Nik asked Damon.

"Well, I know how he felt about you, so I figured the more, the merrier." Damon told him.

"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the century. But we always make it through." Nik said smiling at the younger brothers.

"Kind of like you and Rebekah, right?" Stefan asked and I looked down at my plate in sadness. "Where is she, by the way? Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."

"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." Nik told him.

"He came clean about a great many things to Elijah." I told them, trying to keep some of the peace.

"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgment until dessert." Damon told him.

"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses." Stefan reminded his brother.

"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself." Damon told him.

"Oh please do." I said smiling at them.

"Stefan. Where is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah asked and Nik started laughing.

"And now another fire." I mumbled, knowing they all heard me.

"I don't know. Ask Damon." Stefan told Elijah.

"I'm sorry, you've missed so much. Uh- trouble in paradise." Nik told his brother and Elijah who looked between the two younger vampires.

"One more word about Elena and this dinner's over." Stefan warned us.

"You know what, probably best just to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile." Damon said.

"Agreed." I said looking at Nik.

"You're both probably right." Nik said.

"Yeah." Damon said.

"It's just the allure of the Petrova doppelgänger, still so strong. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?" Nik asked his brother.

"Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" Elijah asked him.

"Well, given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line. Not only that but the beautiful Nicole is possibly curious about her heritage." Nik told him.

"I have to admit, I am very curious about her." I told him.

"Well, we're not going anywhere Elijah. Please, do tell." Damon said taking a sip of wine.

"When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia, she was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she'd had a child by another man. And none loved her more than Niklaus." Elijah told us.

"I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much." Nik said smirking at his brother. I looked between them, understanding a little more about both.

"Wait a minute, so you both loved the same girl?" Stefan asked them.

"Our mother was a very powerful witch. She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where our mother performed the spell which turned us into vampires. Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time Niklaus and I... grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, we even came to blows, didn't we, brother?" Elijah asked his younger brother.

"But in the end we realized the sacred bond of family." Nik said.

"Family above all." Elijah said as he and Nik raised their glasses.

"Family above all." Nik repeated and they clinked their glasses together.

"And now our family is growing." Elijah said smiling at me, which I returned. "So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?"

"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges. Nicole and Nikolas are allowed to return every so often to see family, but nothing more." Damon proposed.

"The deal sounds fair, brother." Elijah told Nik.

"I don't think you understand, Elena and Nicole's doppelgänger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave either behind." Nik said before getting up and starting to pace.

"Then use Nicole to create your hybrids." Stefan said looking at me.

"No." Nik refused his offer. "Let's say we do leave her here, under your protection, what then? How long before one of you turns Elena into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is... the two of you." Damon stood at his words.

"I'm gonna get some air." he told us.

"Let me deal with this." Elijah said, getting up and following him.

"All this talk has made me thirsty." Nik said and a blond girl came up and stood next to Nik. "What do you say Stefan, can I interest you in a little after dinner drink?" Nik bit into her neck and drank her blood and I turned to watch Stefan. Nik fed until she was dead before he dropped her to the floor. "Delicious. Aged to perfection."

"Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening, Klaus, is to drive a wedge between me and my brother." Stefan said to Nik.

"Oh no, you're doing that well enough on your own. Because of Elena, you're gonna lose your brother and you'll only have yourself to blame." Nik told him when Damon and Elijah re entered the room.

"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon said. I stood and moved close to Nikolas behind Nik.

"Okay. I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot. And to fall in love with a human, maybe that nice football player, you know the blond one?" Nik asked turning to me.

"Matt Donovan." I told him.

"Really?" Damon asked him.

"Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Nik told him.

"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan asked him. "What about Nicole? She's already given you a son and from him will be a long line of Petrova's."

"I will not use my family so lowly." Nik told him. "Consider Elena's future children a small return on my investment in her well being. See after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life, you know it's what's best for her." Nik walked towards Stefan, stopping in front of the fire. "So, what do you say Stefan, do we have a deal?" Stefan walked to him, meeting him in front of the fire.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked him. Nik held out his hand to Stefan and Stefan grabbed it, smirking.

"Nice try, Klaus. But no deal." Stefan told him. Nik quickly breaks Stefan's arm before kicking his leg and breaking it. Nik pushed Stefan's hand in the fireplace and I watched as it began to burn. Damon attempted to rush over to him, but Elijah pushed him against the wall.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked him as Nik continued to hold Stefan in the fire, the burn going up his arm. "Stop!"

"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." Nik told him.

"I'll get it." Damon told him.

"Go with him, brother, you keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family." Nik told Elijah and they both left.

"Go ahead and kill me, I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin." Stefan said and Nik finally released him from the fire.

"You really have given up, haven't you? Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?" Nik asked pushing Stefan, who pushed back. Suddenly Elijah and Damon re entered the room. "Elijah... why haven't you left?"

"Where are you manners, brother? We forgot dessert." Elijah said. One of the waitresses stood beside him holding a plate with a piece of cloth on it. Elijah took the cover off the plate. Two silver daggers lied on the plate.

"What have you done?" Nik asked him.

"What have you done? You see I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now." Elijah told his brother. One of Nik's other brother's, Kol, entered the room.

"Kol."

"Long time, brother." Kol told Nik, smirking at him. Nik started to back away towards me but not to close. Suddenly the other brother, Finn, appeared. He grabbed a dagger and stabbed Nik through his hand and I had to force myself not to run to him.

"Finn, don't!" Nik begged him. I suddenly gasped at a sharp pain in my back.

"How does it feel, Elena, to be stabbed in the back?" Rebekah asked me cruelly.

"NO!" Nik shouted and Elijah rushed to me before pushing her away from me.

"This isn't Elena, Rebekah." he old her before biting his wrist and feeding me his blood. I saw her eyes widen before quickly glancing around the room. She rushed to Nik and I pulled away from Elijah in time to watch her stab him.

"This is for our mother." she told him. Nik fell back into Kol's arms and he restrained him. Elijah helped me up before looking to the Salvatores.

"You're free to go. This is family business." Elijah told them and they left. Elijah left my side and moved to stand in front of Nik. Kol finally released his brother and joined him.

"I like what you've done with the new place, Nik." Rebekah told him before picking up a vase and throwing it into a painting.

"I wanted it to be for all of us. A place we could all call home. A place we could all be a family. None of us would ever have to be alone again." Nik told them.

"Well you're right, none of us will be." Elijah told him.

"You and your new family are staying behind." Finn told him before he joined his siblings.

"We're leaving you, Nik. Right after I kill that doppelgänger wench, then you will be alone. Always and forever." Bekah told him.

"If you run, I will hunt all of you down." Nik threatened them.

"Then you'll become everything you hate. Our father." Elijah told him.

"I'm the hybrid! I can't be killed! I have nothing to fear from any of you." Nik told them.

"You will when we have that coffin." Elijah told him and I watched them all. There was no way I could do anything against them. We all hear a door open and looked to see a woman walk in. She wore an old, simple dress and wore her long blond hair down.

"Mother?" Rebekah asked, shocked and my eyes widened. How was she alive. Their mother walked towards Nik and I watched, my heart tightening. Nik was avoiding her gaze.

"Look at me!" she ordered and he did as commanded with tears in his eyes. "Do you know why I'm here?"

"You're here to kill me." Nik said quietly.

"Niklaus, you are my son and I am here to forgive you." she told him before turning and looking at all of us. "I want us to be a family again."