Chapter 36

A lot of people were gathered in Klaus office, making the space feel less than usual.

Elijah and Freya were occupying armchairs, Kol was sitting on the sofa, his usual mischievous air restrained. Marcel and Enzo were also part of this meeting.

Klaus was observing the group from behind his desk, fingers absently toying with the glass of amber liquid in his hand.

"Tomorrow. We will move against the Salvatore tomorrow." He finally announced.

All of the people present expected it and weren't taken by surprise, but now that the time had come the atmosphere turned solemn. A fight always comported risks.

"Is everything ready ?" Freya asked calmly. Her back was straight, head up, steel in her eyes. It wasn't the first time the Mikaelson family faced such situation where their lives were in danger, they always rose to the challenge and emerged victorious. This time would not be different, she had to believe in that.

"Yes. I don't want any surprise tomorrow, do any of you have anything to add ?"

No one else spoke. Marcel furrowed his brows, but didn't speak at this moment.

"Then, tonight do whatever you want, tomorrow we march to war." Klaus brought his glass down on his desk.

-O-

Before the meeting, Freya had seen Henrik come out of Klaus office with a dejected look on his face. She hadn't had the time to ask what was wrong then, but she was worried about her youngest brother.

The first thing she did when back home was to look for him. After some search, she finally found him in the backyard, sitting knees up, arms around them, looking depressed. She went to sit next to him.

"What's wrong ?"

"I asked Klaus to let me fight with them too, but he refused." He said after a moment of silence.

"I would have done the same in his place."

"But you're my big sister your supposed to worry about me, but Klaus should understand, I'm a Mikaelson man too, I should be out there like my brothers, not be left behind like a child to be protected." He said frustrated.

"If Klaus dared agree to take you, I would have beat him over the ears, he might be the head of this family, but I'm still all of you guys elder sister. And in our eyes Henrik, you will probably always be someone we want to protect and spare from the darker things outside." Freya put her arm around his shoulders who were now even wider than hers. He'd grown again recently.

"Although I don't remember as much as you all how bad it used to be before because I was too young and you all shielded me, but I still remember Father when he was angry, I remember Klaus often looking beaten up, Elijah and Kol too sometimes, I remember them covering for me and being punished in my place when I made a mistake. I hate Father, even though he never hit me, I still hate him for what he did to Klaus and the way he treated Elijah, Kol and sometimes even Finn and Rebekah."

Freya looked down hearing that, Mikael had left a shadow in most of her sibling's heart. She had always been his favorite child, his eldest girl, and beside Henrik had suffered the least from him, a part of her had still grown to resent him each time she had to patch up one of her brothers or comfort a crying Rebekah. The caring father, she remembered from her childhood had left place to a bitter, hard man. That's why even if she still loved him as a father and he treated her well, when Klaus came back one night bloody and eyes shadowed but with a spark of exultation in them and announced Mikael was dead, she didn't blame him, couldn't, and accepted Klaus as the new head of the family easily.

All of the Mikaelson children relationship with their parents were complicated. Her own relationship with her mother was strained. Henrik was mostly raised by her, Elijah and Klaus.

"Sometimes I wanted to grow up faster so that you don't need to protect me anymore, instead it would be my turn to protect my family." Henrik continued speaking, breaking Freya out of her thoughts.

"We don't want you to grow faster than you should, most of us had to, that's why we tried so hard to give you a better childhood, same with Rebekah. I'm happy that you want to help and protect your family, but right now, you, staying safe is the best way to do that." She leaned her head against his shoulder and felt Henrik lean into her as well.

"But I don't like staying home, only able to wait, not knowing if one of my brothers will not come back."

"I always feel the same, I have known this feeling for years, but in a family like ours sometimes all you can do is sit and wait for them to come back home and if necessary patch them up and pray they won't need anything more." Freya said a bit helplessly, that was the reality they had to accept.

Henrik thought over his eldest sister words and wondered if he could learn to help to patch them up. But if they were hurt more than that...

"Do you think I could become a doctor or something, so if anyone in our family is hurt I can help."

Freya smiled widely hearing her gentle brother say that, it was very Henrik like, he wasn't made for a violent life of crimes, even if his life had to be bloody it was better for it to be from healing people.

"I think it's a wonderful idea."

-O-

Davina was in her and Kol's bedroom, flipping through the pages of a book without absorbing any of its content, music playing in the background. She felt worried and restless since hearing the news that the confrontation between the Mikaelsons and Salvatores would happen tomorrow.

Kol found her in this absent-minded state when he entered the room. He knew what was on her mind. He'd long been used to the bloody and dangerous life their family lead, every time he had to go out to fight, he only felt exhilarated, the thrill of the violence almost an addiction. But today, it was the first time he didn't feel like grinning while walking into danger. He knew what had changed, now he had Davina. He didn't want to leave her. However, he was a Mikaelson and he would stand with his family.

Kol stepped further into the room, he picked the book from Davina's hands and throw it on the bedside table. Davina looked up at him, finally noticing his presence.

"Kol."

Instead of answering, he smiled and reached out to take her hands in his and pull her up.

"Dance with me."

Davina easily began to sway to the rhythm of the music with him, neither talking for a moment. She knew he wanted to take her mind off tomorrow, so she let him. However, it stayed there in the back of her mind, and being in Kol's embrace her emotions felt more and more apprehensive. She knew he could feel it because he stopped their movements.

"Close your eyes." He told her. She looked into his eyes for a moment before closing her eyes.

She felt his hands cradling her head and Kol warm breath ghosting over her face before he kissed her forehead. Suddenly her eyes were sore, as if by opening them, tears would come pouring out. But she felt warm inside at Kol's intimate action. A lot of their relationship was expressed physically, from the start they had amazing chemistry, but sometimes words were needed, today she felt it was such a time.

Opening her eyes, she looked straight at Kol, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Come back home to me, please, I love you Kol Mikaelson." Tears finally escaped and rolled down her cheeks.

Kol felt as if lightning had just struck him, his heart was painfully beating against his ribcage, his breath felt short, however, except for Davina there was nothing that could enter his eyes or mind at this instant.

"Well, in that case you best kiss me before I go." He smiled at her softly.

That night they mostly kissed and held each other as if it would be the last time.

-O-

Caroline woke up to Klaus drawing patterns on her skin with his fingertips.

Opening her eyes a crack, it was still dark outside, it probably was still very early. Remembering that today was the day of the confrontation with the Salvatore she tightened her grip on Klaus, unconsciously showing her reluctance to let him go.

Noticing that Caroline was awake, Klaus kissed the crown of her golden head.

"It's nearly time for me to go."

Fearing that she would say something she shouldn't, she only hummed to let him know that she understood.

Klaus got up, unabashedly naked, giving time for Caroline to admire his body before he clothed himself with a smug look at his lover's blatant appreciation.

Caroline didn't stay in bed, getting up too, she busied herself making sure Klaus didn't have one hair out of place or that his clothes were wrinkled, unbefitting of his Don image. Once he was ready, he kissed her before breaking the tranquil silence.

"Wait for me at the Mystic, to come for a celebratory drink." Then he turned around and started to leave.

Caroline knew that from Klaus attitude he was confident, and she didn't intend to interfere, but she couldn't help herself from calling out to him.

"Klaus."

Quickly she had reached him and thrown her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately, Klaus gave back as good as he got. Finally out of breath she took a step back, letting her arms drop to her sides.

"I'll be waiting at the Mystic."

Klaus gave her a smirk, and she watched him walk away with a purpose.

Thanks for the favs, follows and reviews as always.