Disclaimer: I do not own The Originals, all credit goes to the writers and creators.

.


Chapter Fifteen


"Davina,"

Davina almost flinched at the sound of her name coming from Kol's voice, still she kept her head down and focused on the book in front of her pretending that she didn't hear him. She wasn't ready to talk to him, there was so much hurt that she had to sort through before she could put into words what she felt.

Kol felt unsure of himself when Davina didn't turn to acknowledge him. He didn't know how to make this right. How to explain what he had done, he failed to know where to start his explanation. He couldn't even rationalize this to himself. It had been cruel of him to allow her to grieve when he was clearly alive but at the time his thought had been on Nik and the situation that had happened.
It felt horrible to admit but Davina had never really crossed his mind. It was only when he saw her again that he felt the gravity of what he had done. "Love,"

Davina was surprised her head didn't roll off her shoulders at the speed she spun around to face him. "Don't call me that! You lost the right when you allowed me to think you were dead."

Kol gave a very slight nod. "Fair call." He took a step further into the room. "I'm sorry Davina, truly. I did not mean to..."

"You didn't mean to what?!" Davina's voice got slightly louder. "Torture me into believing you were dead? A little late for that." She slammed her book shut. "You know, Kol, it really didn't take much to pick up the phone and made a call."

"I was grieving, Nik."

Davina glared at him, last night she had cried, quiet possibly enough tears to sink a ship. That sadness she felt was turning to anger. A lot of anger. "You think you were the only one? I grieved for you and I grieved for him. For what he was missing. If you called I could have informed you of all the details but like usual you had to deal with everything on your own, and because of that you missed the opportunity to help bring him back."

Kol felt gutted at the look that crossed her face, she wore a pained expression. "Davina, I love you, that never changed."

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have put me through all of that. You would have come home to me."

"Davina, darling...I..."

"You can't say you love me and expect it to fix everything. Sometimes love isn't enough." She pushed past him, heading out of the room. She needed a change of scenery, needing wide open space around her...or in other words to be far away from him. Davina needed to hide from him that the sadness was starting to shift back in. She didn't want Kol to be aware that she felt sad about their current circumstances.

"Davina,"

"Leave me alone." She called out over her shoulder.

Kol sighed, his breath heavy as he dropped into the sofa. He didn't know how he was going to fix this but he sincerely hoped that he could. He loved Davina, and with her he had been the happiest. He had found someone that loved him despite his history, and his family. Only now it seemed as though he had lost her.
Placing his head into his hands, he tried to steady the feeling he was finding in his heart.


Freya fidgeted nervously, her fingers running along the cast in a forward and back motion but did nothing to calm how she felt sitting in the enclosed car with Klaus by her side. They had not spoken a word since she had closed the door and placed her seatbelt on. He had not acknowledged her presence. A part of her was relieved that he wasn't speaking, knowing that she would break down the moment his anger released. The other part of her was bundled up in a ball of nerves. Where was he taking her? What was he going to do to her? Her heart was pounding, the unknown possibilities circling around inside of her.
All the things Elijah had told her were buried in her mind. He had told her all the possible things that Klaus would do to her if he had ever found her or them. A few she could not shake from her head.

"He won't hesitate to kill you Freya."

"Sister, if you ever cross paths with Niklaus again, he will tear you apart. Blood means nothing. You'd be his victim as he drains you dry."

"Your heart will explode if you continue to panic." Klaus's grip tightened on the steering wheel, anger at having to speak to her but knowing that if she continued to work herself into a state she would have a panic attack, and he did not have the patience to help her work through an attack. "Breathe. You'll be no use to me if you're wrestling yourself." He hated to admit that he knew what was occurring, she was battling inside of herself as he often did. He was furious that he could identify with that.

Freya closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. Use to him. He wanted something from her. She tried to focus on that. If he needed something from her then he wouldn't kill her, at least not yet. Her fingers kept running along the cast as she tried to calm herself. She had to do this, she had to do this for Klaus, she owed him that much even if she ended up dead in the end.

"I'm not going to kill you, Freya." Klaus admitted, his voice sounded exhausted, laced with a little bit of bitterness. He might have wanted to do it, knowing that his life would be easier if she was gone. He wouldn't have to stare at her and remember it all. Killing her would be easy yet realistically he knew it wouldn't be satisfying. In the end killing her would fix nothing, it would help nothing. He'd still feel as rotten as he did now. "Despite what you may think I do not kill family. Outcast, yes. Kill, no." Her punishment for her wrongs could not be death, but he would come up with something. It would just have to be later.

Freya sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. Elijah's words and now Klaus's filling her mind. She didn't want to believe Elijah, and she wanted to believe Klaus but her mind had it's own thoughts.

Klaus cast a glance at her, he didn't want to ask but he knew he didn't have a choice. He wanted to be made aware of all possible angles. "Where is he?"

Freya shivered, his voice cutting through her. "I don't know."

Klaus growled softly, not the answer he wanted. "The truth?"

"Yes. We left him. He's not who we thought he was." Freya mumbled the last part to herself, Elijah was a completely different person then who he portrayed himself to be when they first met. If anything, he was worse then he ever claimed Klaus to be.

"I suppose that is one thing we will agree on." He placed his foot onto the gas urging the car to go faster.


Lizzie skidded to a stop on her rollerblades, stopping just before she bumped into Hope who was coming out of her bedroom. "Hope!"

Hope turned around, eyes widening when she realized how close Lizzie was to her. "Hi Lizzie, what are you doing?"

"I was gonna build a jump. Want to help?"

Hope looked skeptical. "Did your mom say it was okay?" It was very clear to her that Lizzie was a daredevil and it did scare her a little. She didn't want Lizzie to get hurt, and she almost did when she bounced the basketball off the ceiling and it almost crashed really hard back into her face.

"Yes."

"No." Josie countered from behind her twin.

Lizzie glared, though it held no real malice. "Josie." She whined, grumpy that Josie spoiled her plans.

Josie rolled her eyes. "Lizzie, you know momma wouldn't like it. You're not wearing your helmet." She blushed a little when she saw Hope looking in her direction, talking to her twin was easy, talking to strange adults was really hard but talking to kids wasn't to bad. She could do it. She could talk to Hope. "Hi,"

Hope smiled at her, remembering the words her dad had said. "Hi Josie," She looked back at Lizzie. "Abandon the jump and we can watch a movie together."

"Horror?"

"Lizzie," Josie whined. "No."

Hope shook her head. "No Lizzie. We can't watch a horror movie."

"I'm not watching Barbie." Lizzie told her twin with a determined expression. "Or any princess movies...but maybe Moana."

Hope watched the blonde twin talk, she clearly wanted what she wanted, and she didn't want to compromise. "Lizzie,"

"Hope," Lizzie mimicked.

Josie looked between them. "Let's get snacks and then we can pick the movie." She reasoned with them.

Lizzie huffed. "Fine, but I'm getting ice-cream."

"Good luck. Your mom said no more treats."

Lizzie sighed, looping her arm through Hope's. "I got a lot to teach you, if you want something and momma already said no then you ask Aunt Kat and if she says no then you cry and you ask Uncle Stefan." She grinned at Hope's dumbfounded look.

Josie joined them in their walk down the hall, holding onto Lizzie's arm so she didn't roll away from them on her blades. "And if Uncle Stef says no then you ask me, cause I can get anything." Josie gave a shy smile, but it held a sense of underlying mischief, something she didn't really show ever, to anyone.

"You two really are twins." Hope giggled. "Let's get ice-cream!"


Klaus let her up the stairs, he knew that without telling her, she would know their whereabouts. There was no reason for her to be afraid yet he could sense that she was. It was very clear that Freya expected he would lash out at her, she deserved it and he certainly did think of a few very choice words he could say to her but didn't. Perhaps the unknown was a better punishment, the silence a better fitting punishment in itself. He had assured her that he wouldn't kill her and he was true to his words. He needed her alive, for Josie.

"Remind me why I am stuck babysitting?" Josh stepped out of the bedroom, meeting Klaus's eyes for for an explanation.

Klaus shook his head. "Not babysitting. She is free to move about the quarter." He finally looked in her direction, she was standing by the door, cradling her broken arm. He reminded himself to bring that up with Kol later, just like he would bring up with her Kol's capture. It would need to wait though, he needed to get out of this room. He needed to breathe in the fresh air without her in his space. "Do not drop by the compound unannounced. When I am ready for your help, I will come to you. Understood?"

Freya shivered. "Yes."

"Perfect. I'll leave you in Josh's capable hands." He glanced back at the male. "Don't torture her, I need her." He spoke with a bitterness to his voice, and then he left. He couldn't bring himself to be in her presence for a moment longer.


Finn studied her from across the room, her eyes were constantly flickering around and looking for an escape despite the rather large gap that he had kept between them. He did not know where he was going with this, or what he wanted from her. All he knew for sure was he felt the need to keep her here with him, away from New Orleans and far from Niklaus. He wasn't concerned for her safety. Despite that others might have been, he knew that Nik would never kill his childs mother. The reason he felt the need to keep her here was to allow his brother time, after all this woman had taken from him ten years, the least he could do was keep her busy, buy this brother a little time.

Hayley felt uncomfortable, he hadn't approached a conversation since his opening statement, instead hauling Elijah's body into the trunk of his car before turning to her.

"You want to know what I meant, when I said my mother plans to end the Mikaelson line." Finn spoke, his eyes waiting for a reaction that he did not receive. "I am not privy to all of her plans. You see my mother doesn't like to place her eggs in one basket. I can only assume they she has engaged with multiple streams to ensure the same outcome."

Hayley stood froze, arms crossed over her chest in a defensive stance. "You are working with her?"

"No." His reply sharp. "I am only interested in her plans. I've never been part of this family in the way my siblings are, that is not of their fault or mine entirely. It was just destined to be this way. I bore witness to things and stood silent when I should have been a voice." He paused, eyes darting to the ground. "I allowed my parents to tear this family apart when I as the eldest should have spoken up. It was my responsibility to stand when they could not and instead I stood back and watched as my parents attempted to kill my brother, and then after years of this life I acted with my mother." Finn had the decency to look ashamed. "I have much to atone for." He let his eyes meet hers. "It seems you do to. I'd like for you to help me, consider it step one in repairing the damage you have caused."

"My daughter..."

"Is in the safest hands. Niklaus would never let any harm come to her, if you knew anything about him Miss Marshall, you would know that Niklaus's love for his family is above all." He took a step towards her. "I would like you to stay along side me. Protect them from the outside until the time comes that..."

"You expect me to walk away from my daughter." Hayley raised her eyebrow, disbelief clouding her eyes. "She is my daughter I need to be with her. I have to explain..."

"No." Finn interrupted her. "You need to give her space. Niklaus space. He deserves the chance to be a father."

Hayley still looked uncertain, unsure if she could leave her daughter alone. She needed to explain herself, to make sure Hope understood what she had done. To make sure her daughter wouldn't hate her.

"Miss...Hayley, you need to leave Hope be. At least for now. The best thing for you to do would be to secure Hope's safety." He tilted his head towards the car where Elijah lay. "You made a rather large mistake. Do this, try to rectify things."


Klaus found Kol lying on the sofa in his art studio, not at all a strange place for his brother to be found. Kol knew that this was a safe place to come when needed. Once he saw the bottle of liquor in Kol's hand, he immediately understood that his little brother was drowning his sorrows and he certainly knew why.
He grabbed a glass and poured himself a drink before walking over to take a seat in the arm chair. "I take it your talk with Davina went sour?" He knew his brother was attempting to fix with Davina today, trying to settle the tension between them. He hadn't expected that things would go well, there was a lot of anger on his daughters part and it was justified. His brother had done wrong.

"She hates me." Kol moaned, lifting the bottle to lips to take a sip.

"Rightfully so."

"Hey!" Kol snapped, tilting his head in Klaus's direction. "You are supposed to be on my side."

Klaus raised his eyebrow. "I think you know better then to assume that, little brother. You are old enough to make your own choices, you know that if I don't agree with that choice I won't defend it. Davina didn't deserve what you did."

"Niiiiik!"

"Whining my name will change nothing." He was certain if Kol was human then he would have blushed at that. "You had a phone Kol, at any point in time you could have used it. Allowing her to grieve you was a bloody stupid decision." He took a sip and leaned back, observing.

"I wanted to avenge you."

Klaus frowned at the omission. "Avenge me? How?" Did this have something to do with where he had actually been, Klaus wasn't stupid he knew that his brother hadn't simply been drowning his sorrows. No, it was every clear that Kol was keeping something from him and he would eventually know the truth.

"It doesn't even matter. I thought you were dead," Kol sat up, his grip on the neck of the bottle tightening. "I wanted them to suffer, like you did and Hope was. I don't like admitting it, but Davina was the furthest thing from my mind."

"The betrayal she feels isn't going to disburse over night. If you want the relationship you had, if that is even a possibility. You are going to have to work for it, you owe her a lot. Actions, Kol, that is what Davina needs, not unsupported words, they mean nothing." He gave his brother a leveled stare. "She's not just your girlfriend, she is not inconsequential. Davina is a very valued member of our family. Mine and Caroline's daughter. From this point forward you need to be mindful of that."

Kol closed his eyes, hanging his head. "It's...everything has changed."

Klaus hummed in agreement. "Yes. I think one of Davina's point is you would have known of these changes if you had just called."

"I'm sorry I didn't."

"And yet the thought never crossed your mind till she said it." Klaus flashed Kol a knowing look when his brother's eyes darted to him. "Give her time, allow her space. You can't force it Kol."

"I love her."

"If you love her then you'll give her what she needs. Take it from experience brother, I gave Caroline space, I left her in Mystic Falls and I openly chose not to try and force a relationship between us." He let a brief smile cross his lips. "Now she is here, by my side, helping me to raise a family. Sometimes space is the best possible scenario."

Kol breathed heavily but gave a slight nod of his head. "Space. I can do that."

"Ah, you believe you have a choice." He teased lightly, catching the cushion that Kol threw at him but once their eyes connected, he gave Kol a very serious look. "I'll only say this once, you broke her heart, and if by some miracle she gives it to you again, you will not break it. Understood?"

"Yeah, Nik, I got it."

Klaus gave his brother a slight smile. "I'm glad you're here, little brother."

"I am too." Kol leaned back into the sofa. "Where did you go this morning?"

"To get Freya." He almost chuckled at the wide eyed look his brother gave him, anger presence along with confusion. He studied the reaction, the way Kol's hands tightened around the neck of the bottle, and his other hand clenched into a fist. He saw the expressions that flittered through Kol's features, and the how his eyes darkened with hatred. "You're angry."

"Damn right I am! Why would you bring her here?! She's a traitor. She manipulated and tore our family to shreds. I should have killed her when I had the chance." Kol's words were spat with fury. "You put her in a position to snatch Hope and run, Nik, why would you..."

Klaus held his hand up, attempting to stop his brothers rant. "So many things to address. I brought her here for Josie. She will not snatch Hope, I would never allow that, no one in this family would."

"Nik,"

"I can't forgive what she did, Kol, this isn't me washing that under the bridge. This is me doing what is best for my child. I've changed. I can be angry with Freya but I will not let that anger take over. I have to much good in my life to disappear into the darkness. You should think about that." He stood up and approached his brother. "You are better then revenge, worth more then reducing yourself to that."

Kol felt the confusion settle over him. Who was this person? This was not who Nik was, at least not hybrid Niklaus. This was human, Nik, the brother he had known before they were changed. Kol was puzzled, why wasn't his brother more angry? Why wasn't he out hunting their siblings, surely he wanted them to pay for their betrayal. "You're going to let them get away with what they did, aren't you?"

Klaus shook his head. "No, and even if I was going to, Caroline wouldn't allow it. They all will need to atone for what they have done." He looked out the window, letting his thoughts cloud his mind. "If I hunt them down and deliver anything close to what I felt, then I am no better them, Kol. This violent circle will never end."

Kol frowned, thinking back to Finn's words. This is where this family goes wrong. It seemed like Finn and Klaus had the same thoughts, surely not, that didn't seem right. "Inviting her back,"

"No. Not inviting her back. This isn't about family dinners and spending quality time together. This is about giving my daughter what she needs in order to feel safe and secure, so that her life, and her sisters can be saved." He turned back to his brother, seeing the unease. He thought it might be difficult for Kol to hear. "I don't want revenge to consume you, or me. I don't want it to consume anyone in this family. I've been there."

"Nik,"

"I lost ten years, Kol. I won't lose another moment, not to darkness."


Caroline felt her heart tug when she found Hope standing in the kitchen staring down at Lizzie's homework, the blonde twin was no where in sight, clearly having abandoned the task in favor of doing something potentially reckless.
Her eyes flittered over the puzzled look in the ten year olds eyes as she skimmed the work in front of her.

She didn't know much of Hope's life with the other side, she knew the basic from Klaus's retells of things he found out but Hope hadn't really divulged much, she kept things guarded. Caroline couldn't help the small smile at the resemblance of that between father and daughter.
What Caroline did know was that she was homeschooled and she couldn't help but wonder how far the girls academic knowledge would extend.

"Hope," Caroline broke the silence by gently calling the girls name, not wishing to startle her.

Hope stepped back from the table, eyes darting up to Caroline's. "Hi," The words were spoken softly, almost shyly.

Caroline gave her a soft smile to help settle the little girls nerves. "Lizzie is gone?"

"She went to play with Josie." Hope responded, moving back towards the kitchen island where her drink was sitting.

"Lizzie doesn't particularly like homework." Caroline moved around to grab a cookie out of the pantry so that she could give it to her, a sneaky treat. "Your dad said you were homeschooled, so I guess you never really had homework, right?" She offered the cookie to the little girl which she took hesitantly.

"No homework." Hope let out a little huff.

Caroline noticed it but she didn't push for information on that. "What was your favorite subject?"

"Uh, history I guess."

Caroline frowned, history at ten years old, that was an interesting subject to fall in love with. Her daughters would both say they enjoyed seeing their friends at school. "Hmm, history. What kind of history did you like to learn about?"

Hope shrugged. "It was more just stuff that dad...um, I mean Uncle Elijah would tell me or sometimes things that Auntie Bex would."

"Well I am sure your dad has a few things he could tell you." She saw the little light in Hope's eyes but it quickly dimmed. "What is it, sweetie?"

"I'd like to learn more about the other things too."

Caroline masked her face so that she wouldn't frown in front of the girl. Surely, she had been given the opportunity to learn all the other subjects. Perhaps it was a case of how much time they had given to those. "Yeah, of course. You'll be able to learn all the subjects, especially at school. You'll even get your own homework to bring home."

"I get to go to school? Like really?" Hope knew that her dad had mentioned it but she didn't think she would actually get to go.

Caroline gave a nod. "Yeah, honey; of course. You'll go to the same school as the girls. I take it you like that idea."

"Yeah, I do." Hope responded with a bit of shyness seeping into her voice, as if she was afraid that it would change Caroline's mind.

"I'll let your dad know. If it's something you want your dad and I will make it happen. Okay?" Caroline knew she wasn't Hope's parent and in normal circumstance she probably wouldn't be apart of this but Klaus was her partner, they had made an executive decision to treat all the kids as theirs. She knew he wouldn't have a problem with Hope going to school, in fact she was certain be all for it.

"Thanks Caroline," Hope smiled brightly. "I have always wanted to go to school."

"You're welcome, honey. Do you know what grade level your homeschool was?"

Hope bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. "No, sorry."

Caroline only smiled. "No need to be sorry, we will figure it all out." She glanced up as Bonnie came into the room. "Hey,"

"Hey, Josie doesn't want part in the magic lesson." Bonnie couldn't help the frown, she was worried about Josie not wanting to use her magic, worried about the effect it was having on her. The outburst was still fresh in her mind, the power she had felt from her niece.

Caroline sighed, disappointed that Josie didn't want to partake but she also understood how freaked out the little girl had been the other day so it was understandable. Her eyes flickered to Hope, she could see that the little girl was intrigued by the conversation. "Bonnie, why don't you take Hope with you? She could take Josie's place in the lesson."

Hope's eyes lit up. "Wait. Really?!"

Bonnie raised her eyebrow. "Is Klaus gonna be pissed?"

"Since when has that bothered you?" Caroline teased. "But no, he'll be fine with it." She looked down at Hope. "Go with Bonnie, but make sure you listen to everything she says, okay?"

Hope nodded, a serious look crossing her face. "I will. I will." She moved around to hug Caroline quickly. She honestly couldn't believe it, that Caroline was letting her do this. No one in her family had ever encouraged her to do magic. Never. This was something she had always wanted. "Thankyou!"

"What's going on?" Klaus stepped into the kitchen, he couldn't help but smile at the scene before him. His daughter and his partner.

"Caroline said I can do magic with Bonnie." Hope exclaimed, but as if suddenly realizing who she was speaking to she stopped and her eyes held a sense of reserve to it. "Uh, is that okay?"

"Of course, sweetheart." He immediately agreed with Caroline. He could see in Hope's eyes at she clearly had expected him to say no, the surprise that was registering within her only made him angrier at Elijah, at Hayley, at his sisters.
He glanced down at Bonnie, and he saw the slightly questioning look in the witches eyes. He knew that she was silently asking if he trusted her with his. They might banter but he knew that this was a decision she would respect. "Take care of her," He told Bonnie quietly, before looking back at Hope. "Make sure she teaches you something cool."

Hope grinned. "I will." She skipped towards Bonnie, and together they left the room leaving Caroline and Klaus alone.

"Nik,"

Klaus grinned. "Sweetheart, don't." He walked over and gathered her in his arms. "I trust you, our kids, you remember?"

Caroline placed a kiss on his shoulder. "Good, because I told her she could start school."

Klaus chuckled. "Ah, a woman who can make her decisions for our children without a need for my approval. That is just what I need."

"Good, that is what you've got." She giggled when he lifted her up and slid her onto the counter top. "Nik,"

"Love," He mimicked, placing his lips on hers. "I am going to marry you."

"Promises. Promises."


"What are you doing here? Thought you'd be at home. Big family reunion now that Kol is home." Josh slipped into the booth across from Marcel.

Marcel grunted at the sound of Kol's name. "I needed a drink."

"Hmm, I am sure Klaus has a whole range of beverages at the compound." Josh grabbed a beer that the bar attendant placed on the table top.

Marcel shrugged, not acknowledging that he could of had a drink or a dozen at home. He had come to the establishment to get away from the people at home. Away from the memories that Kol's return had dragged up. He hated how the younger Mikaelson's return made him realize that even though he buried how he felt all those years ago, it was easy for all of that to reemerge.
Klaus was his father, his family. He had rescued him and raised him, made him apart of his family. As a young boy he had once wanted Kol to be a friend, admired him from a distance but it was very quickly determined that the younger Mikaelson did not like him.

"Nik! Come on, what is not to like?"

"I would love to attend, Kol; it is just not possible. I have a prior commitment with Marcellus." Klaus looked down gave a the small boy a smile, he was curled up in a chair reading a book. "We are attending a play."

"A play?" Kol scoffed. "This is a gathering, women, drinking, perhaps even some gambling."

Klaus raised his eyebrow. "Another night, Kol." His voice quiet firm. "I am going to gather my coat, then we'll leave, Marcel." He breezed passed his brother, giving him a small tap on the shoulder.

Marcel sunk his teeth into his bottom lip when he noticed Kol sneering in his direction, eyes dark and filled with fury. "Hi,"

"Don't speak to me!" Kol snapped at him. "He's always with you. Stupid child."

Marcel frowned at the memory, that hadn't been particularly bad, but it was the insults that came after that day. Every time Klaus made a commitment to him instead of Kol.

"You're not a Mikaelson."

"You're not blood."

"You will never be his real son."

"You'll never carry the Mikaelson name. You'll never be real part of his family."

"Turn you? Absolutely not. He will never make you into a vampire. One day we will leave you behind. You'll be old and you'll die."

"Keep falling for Bex. The more you fall, the worse it'll be when Nik finds out. He'll punish you and her. Oh, it'll be a wonderful day."

Those words shouldn't have cut so deep, after all they were just words but it hit Marcel harder then he could imagine. He'd already lost the only family he had, to lose Klaus, that had terrified him.

"Marcel?"

"I'm fine." Marcel muttered. "Just needed a moment to myself."

"Don't like him do you?" While Marcel had never openly said it, it was obvious from the last time Kol had been in New Orleans, when he had first met Davina. It had irritated Marcel then, and the return of the youngest Mikaelson clearly irritated him now.

Marcel emptied his glass. "Not particularly."

Josh nodded at the confirmation, that was what he suspected. "If I may ask, what is it he did to you? What makes you hate him?"

"I don't hate him." Marcel corrected, that was a strong word. He wasn't even sure he truly disliked Kol, it was more his actions and what he represented.

"Marcel."

Marcel shook his head. "I don't hate him, Josh." He leaned back against the chair of the booth. "It's just a lot of insecurities that I cannot seem to shake. It's stupid."

Josh raised his eyebrow. "You are anything but stupid, Marcel." He leveled his friend with a stern look. "Okay, I don't think I have ever said this aloud but you are Klaus's kid." He saw Marcel didn't smile at that thought. "What? Don't you believe that? Has he given you any reason not to?"

"No." Marcel admitted. "Which makes this irrational but you weren't there, Josh. Not all those years ago when I first met the Mikaelson's, not through the years I lived with him, and not after when I was left behind."

"Didn't they think you were dead?"

"I suppose," His eyes flicked over to the bar, itching to go and grab another drink. "Kol is threatened by the connection I have to Klaus and I am threatened by his."

Josh sighed, leaning forward. "Klaus isn't the same man who went into the ocean. Now, I never thought I'd say this either but the guy clearly loves you Marcel, he isn't going to cast you aside."

"And logically I think I know that but it's how Kol makes me feel when we stand in the same room. The look he gives me. He will always make me aware that I am not blood."

"Neither is Davina."

"Kol loves her. If she wasn't family through Klaus then she'd be family through him. He'd never outcast her."

"Neither are Caroline's children."

"Klaus loves Caroline, he'll marry her. Kol would never stand in the way of that." Marcel countered. "I know this irrational, Josh but I cannot help how he gets under my skin."

Josh tapped his fingers against the table. "Talk to Klaus."

"No." Marcel muttered. "I can't bring this to him. It's childishness. He wants us to get along. I just don't know if that will ever be possible."


Davina took a quick step away from the exit when she noticed a shadow, her heart thumped in her chest as she waited for Caroline or Klaus to step out of the shadow and ground her for eternity. She was supposed to be upstairs sleeping, not sneaking out.

"And where might you be going?"

Davina frowned when Katherine stepped out of the shadows with a sly grin. "Uh, no where."

"Please kid, I'm Katherine Pierce, I could spot your shady behavior a mile off. Where might you be going?"

Davina closed eyes, trying to think of a somewhat reasonable excuse except she couldn't think of any valid reason she would be sneaking out at 10:30 at night. "I, um, have to get a book from my friend for an assignment."

Katherine raised her eyebrow. "At 10:30 at night? Cool, let me drive you."

Davina tried to mask her surprised expression "Uh, I can walk."

Katherine laughed, steering her outside into the cool night air. "Trust me kid, Caroline would skin me alive if I allowed you to walk this late at night. What is the address?" She asked as they climbed into the car.

"Katherine,"

"Aunt Kat," Katherine corrected, she knew exactly what she had Davina was doing. She was an expert in shady behavior, and despite the long coat the child was wearing Katherine knew that she certainly wasn't wearing lounge wear under it. "You cannot fool me, sweetheart, you are not going to pick up study material. Where is the party?"

Davina's eyes widened slightly as she buckled up. "You are going to take me?" She quickly typed the address into the gps, not wanting Katherine to change her mind.

"Sure," Katherine agreed, sticking the car in gear. Bonnie had filled her in on all the details, everything she needed to know in regards to their family, so she understood that the teenager was going through quiet a bit and looking to blow off some steam. Katherine took her role as Auntie very serious, she was fiercely protective of her nieces but the best part of being an Aunt was getting to be a fun one. "I'll take you but if Caroline asks I will deny any involvement."

Davina grinned. "You're pretty cool."

"Oh, I know I am cool, sweetheart. There is no doubt." She gave Davina a side look. "It's been a rough two days, hasn't it?"

Davina shrugged, looking out the window. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I can understand that. You want to let loose, forget about him."

"As if that would be possible." Davina huffed, Kol was clouding every thought, every waking moment was filled with him. She hated that. She hated him for what she was going through.

Katherine saw the sorrow, she heard it in the girls voice. "It'll get better. It might not seem like it now, but I promise, one day it'll be better."

Davina turned to her, eyebrows shooting up at the words. "Caroline didn't say you were this soft."

Katherine sent a playful glare her way. "Soft?! I assure you, I am not soft." The car entered a silence as they drove towards their destination. She didn't want this young girl to think that drinking was the answer to her problems, because it would in fact only make it worse.
Pulling up in front of the house, Katherine looked over at the teenager. "I'm generally the one to be caught blowing off steam, I drink a lot and I party but I would be a terrible Aunt if I told you those things will make this pain go away." She noticed the frown on Davina's face. "The only way to help yourself would be to talk about it, process it and I am here if you need someone to vent too. I'll listen, I supply you with tissues and then I won't let you wallow in self pity." Katherine smiled softly. "And I can certainly kick his ass if you would like,"

"I'll keep that in mind but I don't want to talk, I don't want to think."

"Okay, then go ahead. I just don't want you to make a mistake, sweetheart." She motioned to the door. "No alcohol," Katherine warned. "I sense it on your breath and I'll ground your ass for a month. Got it?" She didn't want Davina to go to the party, but she also wanted the teenager to understand that this was her choice. She could either go down a rabbit hole and sink or she could choose different, choose better.
Fact was if she hadn't been there and seen her sneaking out, Davina would already be inside and drinking. The words in the car, well, she hoped they were enough to give the teenager different thoughts, to get her to understand there was a different way.

Davina's eyes widened, clearly not having expected that. "What? Ah, okay..," She paused. "Wait, I came to let loose and it's a party. You can't be serious..."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "One. No more."

"Three?" Davina countered.

"Two and that is my final offer."

Davina nodded. "Two, thankyou."

"You're welcome." Kat looked out at the house. "No drugs either."

"Certainly not." Davina agreed easily.

Katherine giggled to herself. "Not sure what Caroline whines about, I can be responsible."

"You did let me sneak out for a party...not quiet responsible."

Katherine raised her eyebrow. "Sorry? Did you want to go home now?"

Davina shook her head. "No...No, you are responsible." She backtracked causing Kat to smile.

"Go on, I'll give you an hour. I'll wait right here." Katherine told her, leaving wasn't an option. She wanted to be here incase she was needed.

Davina reached over and pulled Katherine into a surprising hug. "Thankyou, Aunt Kat."

"You're welcome, kid." Once the door closed, Kat leaned back, eyes closed. "Caroline's going to kill me..." She suddenly sprung forward. "Fuck! Klaus is going to kill me!"

Davina stood at the front door of the house, her hand reached out to open the door but she didn't. A party, she had been so certain that this was what she wanted. To let loose and drink herself into a state where she couldn't remember Kol's voice, his name but she wasn't sure any amount of alcohol could fix that.
Her eyes darted back to the car, to Katherine. Was she right? Would she still feel this pain even if she drowned herself in alcohol?
Davina knew this wasn't a good idea, she didn't even like the taste of alcohol, she didn't even like the girl that was throwing this party and she hadn't liked sneaking out but at the time it had sounded like a good idea.

She couldn't talk to Klaus about this, and she didn't want to tell Caroline and then ask her to keep it from Klaus. She was lost, her friends wouldn't understand because she couldn't tell them the truth. They could never know the facts, the details which meant they would never understand.

Davina closed her eyes, her heart was heavy and so was her mind. She needed things to stop but logically she was smart enough to know that this wasn't the way.

Katherine was twirling her phone in her hand when the car door opened again and Davina slid in. "Wrong house?"

"It's not ours." Davina mumbled, buckling up. "Do you think we could find somewhere that has pizza this late?"

Katherine nodded. "Yeah, kid, I think we could."

Davina breathed deeply. "Thankyou, Auntie Kat; for bringing me and letting me make my own choice."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Let's get some pizza,"

"Can we talk?" Davina mumbled quietly.

Katherine smiled. "Yes, we can."


"Kat's not here." Stefan told Bonnie when he opened the door of the bedroom, looking into the eyes of the witch.

"You always assume I'm after Kat, selling yourself short Stef." Bonnie teased. "But I know. She is busy aiding our niece in her sneak out."

Stefan raised his eyebrow. "Ah, so that is where she has gotten to. Caroline's going to kick her backside."

"Maybe,"

"Unusual. You are normally quiet happy about the thought of Caroline yelling at Kat." He didn't imply that Bonnie was mean to Katherine, merely that she found it entertaining when Caroline was yelling at Katherine, and Kat was throwing back comebacks and excuses.

"I..." Bonnie had worked up the courage to get herself here, to ask the question that she wasn't sure she wanted the answer too but was also desperate to know. "How is he?"

Stefan wasn't surprised by the question that left her lips. He had been waiting for this since they arrived. Logically he knew that Damon was fine, he had his children that he placed all his time into. It was them that made Damon's life with Elena worth living. "He's doing okay, Bonnie." He noticed that the tension in her shoulders didn't leave, nor did the look in her eyes. "I thought you were past caring."

"He was my bestfriend, Stef; that didn't disappear." She wanted to hate him for the decision that he had made, infact she had hated him for a good few years until that feeling didn't seem worth it. He'd made his choice, no amount of feeling on her part would change that. "I didn't stop caring about him. I just didn't let it consume me." She gave Stefan a small smile. "I'm glad his okay,"

"I am too," He admitted, pushing himself off the doorway. "So you and Marcel, huh?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "There is no me and Marcel," She told him. It was true that she had been hanging out with Marcel, enjoying his company but they hadn't given themselves any labels. She liked him, really liked him but she wasn't sure if she was ready to make a commitment. "I'm not sure if I am ready for that." She told Stefan, finding it easy to divulge the information to him. "Look at all my past relationships, Stefan; anything I begin with Marcel is doomed."

"That's not true." He stepped out of the room forcing her to take a step backwards. "Come on, I need a drink. I'm sure you could use one too." He threw his arm over Bonnie's shoulder and pulled her down the hallway with him. "Marcel would be a lucky guy, if you decide to give him a chance."

"Why ruin a good thing by making it a thing?" Bonnie sighed, she couldn't handle losing someone. Not again. Not after she'd bared her all and lost it all.

"Marcel isn't Damon." Stefan reminded her softly. "He can't make the same mistakes."

"Can't he? Rebekah is Marcel's greatest love, just like Elena is Damon's."

Stefan glanced down at her, Bonnie was more then just a friend to him, she was practically his sister. He loved her as though she was blood and cared for her, he was protective and critical of any guy she laid eyes on. He didn't know much about her relationship with Marcel, he barely had a chance to witness them together but he did see her smile, the way her eyes lit up when he entered the room. He was certain that Bonnie wasn't aware it happened, wouldn't allow herself to be happy. "If Rebekah was Marcel's greatest love then he'd be with her Bonnie and I think you know that." He guided her into the kitchen. "The choices that Damon made we will never fully understand, but when he walked away from you he gave up any right to a hold on your life."

"Stefan,"

"So maybe don't label it, if you're not ready; but don't turn him away and lose something that could potentially be great."

Bonnie dropped onto the stool. "Since when do you give relationship advice?"

Stefan grabbed two mugs out of the cabinet. "No idea, but I'm pretty good at it. Relationship therapist, that could be a future career, don't you think?"

Bonnie laughed freely. "I'd quit while you're ahead."

He shot her a half-hearted glare. "For that, you will not receive marshmallows in your hot chocolate."

Bonnie placed a hand over her heart. "Oh no, how will I survive?" She listen to his chuckle as he turned away from her. "Thanks, Stefan."

"Anytime B."


The silence around them was peaceful, no one was talking to them or interrupting the silence. It was nice to be able to listen to nothing. Caroline grabbed her side of the covers and peeled them back to climb into bed, eyes lingering on Klaus as he did the same.
This was something she had only dreamed of, having someone to climb into bed with at night, curl up and discuss their day, or sometimes not. Sometimes it was nice to enjoy the quiet, only that was not tonight. "Our littles are asleep. Our daughter snuck out with Katherine. Our son is out drinking with his friend. Stefan and Bonnie are talking. Kol is drowning his sorrows."

Klaus raised his eyebrow in amusement. "Do you track everyone's location?"

Caroline rolled her eyes, it wasn't like she stalked the whereabouts of her family, she just liked to know where they were at the end of the day, so that she could go to bed knowing that everyone was safe. "No, I'm a mother." She grabbed her lotion bottle off the side table.

Klaus leaned back against the head board. "Davina snuck out?" He waited for the anger to rise in himself but it didn't, not after he saw Caroline's reassuring look.

"Hmm, don't worry, Katherine will have it handled." She dropped a drop into her hand before shutting the bottle and placing it back. "We'll discuss it with our teenager tomorrow. I don't suspect it'll be a regular thing." She took note of his frown, he was clearly worried that Davina was getting herself into some mischief. "Kat's a wild one, but she would never let anything happen to Davina. And if things get out of control, she'll call." She smiled softly when he relaxed a little.

"Sneaking out is..."

"A topic for tomorrow, I think with all that has happened we can probably cut her a little bit of slack."

Klaus grimaced but nodded, if Caroline wanted to give their teenager this moment then he would oblige. "And you know where Marcel is?"

"Of course. I do talk to him, Nik." She rubbed her hands together, glancing in his direction. "Worried?"

"About everyone? Of course, all the time, love." He pulled her towards him, tucking her into his side and burying his face in her hair.

Caroline breathed in his scent, laying an arm over his stomach. "How did it go with Freya?"

He couldn't help but frown, noticing that they were doing the same thing as every other night. It had only occurred to him a few nights ago that this was becoming a regular pattern. Of course it was nice to have someone to debrief with, to share his concerns and thoughts of the day but he had think about if there was a line. Was it necessary to do this every night? To let it consume the only time that was truly theirs? "Do you notice that at night we catch up on everyone else, that our time is not devoted to ourselves?"

Caroline tilted her head up to catch his eyes, the thought surprised her. She knew that at night they caught up on the family, it was just something they did, it was routine. "With a family like ours and all that is going on, it doesn't surprise me."

Klaus tightened his grip on her, needing a closer connection. "Kol asked me why I wasn't hunting our family down, why I was letting Freya be involved." He heard Caroline hum, indication that she was listening. "I don't want the darkness to consume me again. I want to hold onto the light. To our family. To you."

"I want that for you too."

"I love our girls, our son. Time with them is precious." He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. "But Caroline, I need time with you, that I can devote to you. Not just little moments that we steal in between kids and family members."

"Nik," Caroline frowned confused.

He pulled away just slightly so that he could stare into her eyes. "I want to take you to dinner. Tomorrow night. Just you and me, no kids, no family members, no drama."

"I..." Caroline tore her eyes away from him as the door flew open and Josie came sprinting into the room. "Josie," She shifted on the bed to make room for the child as she crawled up onto the bed and proceeded to wedge herself in between her mom and dad. "Honey, what's happened?"

"Mommy," Josie whimpered, burying herself into Caroline's arms. "Bad dream."

"I'm right here baby." She gathered her little girl into a tight hug.

Klaus met Caroline's eyes over the little girls head, his point seemed to be made. "Sweetheart,"

"Tomorrow night. I cannot wait." Caroline confirmed.

" eyes meeting Klaus's over their daughters head. "Tomorrow night. I can't wait."

Klaus smiled, looking down when Josie's hand latched onto his. God, he loved his girls but they needed this. A moment to themselves, it was long overdue.


"The white oak stake cannot kill him." Esther interrupted Alaric's rant, and she saw the surprise register in his eyes. Alaric had been the first person she had told this news too, and judging by the look on his face he was stunned. It only gave her a satisfied feeling knowing how her children would feel once they found out the truth.

"He cannot be killed?"

"Not by a stake." Esther confirmed. "Though they believe he can be."

"He spent years running from his father who was attempting to kill him with the stake. That was all for nothing?" Alaric scoffed, leaning on the coffin that contained Rebekah.

"If my children bothered to learn anything about themselves, then he especially would know that he cannot die by the stake. He is the original hybrid."

Alaric's eyes had widened slightly, stunned by this information. "Klaus believes he can die."

"Yes," Esther smiled. "So he should. Imagine his arrogance if he knew the truth."

"This is why you needed my daughter, isn't it? This is why you helped me."

Esther's smile only brightened. "Yes, Alaric; I cannot kill my children with my bare hands despite my feelings on their lives." Despite her hatred for her children, they were still her blood and she couldn't bring herself to use her own power to kill them. To stand in front of them while they die. No, this was a better way, this way they would never see it coming.

"You want other people to do your dirty work?" Alaric scoffed, unsurprised by this.

"Well I am the one making the plans, giving the people what they need. Like you, Alaric, I gave your daughter what she needs to defeat her sister, in return she is to kill Niklaus and by using the power inside of her. He will never live again." Esther's smile was filled with a darkness. "He will be erased from this Earth. This life. It'll be as if he never existed."


What did you think?

Much Love. x