DISCLAIMER is in chapter one.

.:Chapter Two:.

April 10, 2010

"Good morning, Ryne. How did you sleep?" Jenna asked as her boyfriend's son joined her in the kitchen for breakfast.

Ryne smiled shyly at the blonde.

"I slept well. Did you hear from Dad this morning?" Ryne asked, accepting the glass of orange juice Jenna passed to him along with a plate of scrambled eggs that seemed to be a little on the burnt side.

Jenna winced a little in apology, but Ryne started eating anyways. It was the thought that counted.

"Not yet. Did he mention to you what time to expect him back from his meeting?" Jenna questioned and Ryne shook his head 'no' as his mouth was currently full. "Hm…strange, but I guess this means you're my little helper today."

Ryne grinned. He liked Jenna and hoped that the relationship between her and his dad works out.

.:oOo:.

"A son?" Klaus questioned Katherine, his presence currently possessing Alaric Saltzman's body.

Katherine nodded, unable not to as Klaus held a picture frame that contained an image of a young Alaric cradling a newborn in his arms.

"Yes, the result being right out of high school," Katherine answered, swallowing thickly.

Klaus glanced at the vampire that had caused him so much rage and grief throughout the centuries.

"And where is this…son of mine?" Klaus asked, slightly amused and just a little bit annoyed at the unforeseen information.

Katherine glared at Klaus, but ultimately sighed in fake reluctance.

"Ryne is with the doppelganger's aunt," Katherine stated nonchalantly, picking at her nails.

"Ah…tell me more about this Little King," Klaus commanded, appearing in front of Katherine with a sharp smirk that had fear chilling down the brunette's spine.

.:oOo:.

April 11, 2010

Jenna bit the inside of her cheek as she glanced at her phone to see if there was a missed call from Alaric. Seeing nothing, she pressed his contact number. As the phone began to ring, Jenna waited for the other line to answer. It was going on half past midnight and the man had not called or shown up to pick Ryne up. Ryne was currently asleep upstairs in the guest room for a second night.

"Hello, darling. Mighty late in the night for a call, isn't it?" Alaric's voice sounded from the other end.

Jenna's brows furrowed as her frown deepened at Alaric's strange way of speaking.

"Late? Of course, it's late, Ric. Where are you? You were supposed to pick Ryne up this evening, but you never showed up or called to say why. Is everything okay?" Jenna asked, worried for the man despite him not sounding as if he were in any trouble.

"Oh yes…my son. How is little Ryne?" Alaric asked, his tone heavily amused as background noises sounded from his end.

Jenna's lips parted and she actually lowered her cell phone to look down at her phone to see if she did, in fact, call the right number.

"Ric, you're being weird. Ryne is really worried about you. I had to coax him to sleep tonight with how worried he is," Jenna stated, her voice soft as she tried to explain to Alaric the situation. "You always keep your promises, Ric…so Ryne understands only something extremely important would prevent you from making it back today."

Silence echoed on the other line, so Jenna continued.

"His birthday is tomorrow…well today, so please, Ric," Jenna mentioned quietly. "Whatever it is…just handle it and be here for Ryne."

With that, Jenna ended the call and made her way upstairs to her room. She peered in on Ryne as she went to pass the guest room. Seeing him sleeping undisturbed, she carefully shut the door and went to her room.

.:oOo:.

Klaus frowned as the doppelganger's aunt ended their call. This would make the Hunter's son thirteen if what Jenna Sommers stated about the boy's birthday being today is correct.

"I believe you failed to mention something, my dear Katerina," Klaus declared with a smirk as he turned to face the suddenly nervous vampire.

"I didn't know. I never paid much attention to Alaric's kid," Katherine tried to explain.

Klaus tilted his head in mock understanding, lacing his fingers together behind his back. The expression using Alaric's body seemed disturbingly more menacing as the History teacher never seemed to take that stance before.

"What's the big deal anyways? You could compel or dispose of the boy at any time you like," Katherine spoke quickly, leaning away as Klaus stalked closer.

"You would have me kill an innocent child?" Klaus asked, amused.

Katherine's brows furrowed.

"Another innocent on the list shouldn't matter to you, Klaus," Katherine murmured, before suddenly finding herself pressed up against the wall with her feet off of the ground.

The fingers gripping her throat tightened and Alaric's hazel orbs glared murderously into Katherine's dark browns.

"This body seems to be highly displeased with your statement," Klaus stated, not having moved on his own accord. "Greta, Maddox, your spell needs improving."

Klaus did not stop his fingers from tightening around Katherine, ignoring how her fingernails dug into his wrist in an effort to break his hold.

.:oOo:.

The sight before him almost brought Klaus to his knees. There running towards him with a brilliant smile was his youngest brother Henrik. Blood did not stain Henrik's body and he did not appear maimed in any way. The boy's heart beat steadily within his chest and his cheeks were flushed with the blood pumping through his veins. Klaus barely caught the boy as arms were flung around him in a hug.

"Dad, you're okay," Ryne voiced happily, grinning up at him with his shining umber orbs.

Air whooshed out of Klaus as he gave into the need to kneel down, his arms pulling Ryne against him securely as one hand buried in thick mocha locks. Ryne tightened his hug without hesitation.

"I told you that your dad wouldn't miss your birthday," Jenna called out from the front porch of her home.

Ryne pulled away from Alaric with a grin, aiming it at the blonde woman who had watched over him for the last two nights. Klaus cleared his throat, the strange prickling at the corners of his eyes taking him by slight surprise. Seeing the reincarnation of his youngest brother caused a throb in his chest. What else could the boy be but Henrik reborn? Henrik's exact copy. Did Elijah know? The thought had Klaus' jaw clench; the action only relaxing when umber orbs were gazing up at him.

"What are we doing today, Dad?" Ryne asked and Klaus felt his mouth curve up into an honest smile, something that has not happened in centuries.

"Anything you want, Little King," Klaus stated and earned an exaggerated eye roll from the boy and an amused snort from Jenna.

"Dad," Ryne whined, but his eyes reflected his own amusement at the nickname Alaric no doubt called him before.

Klaus' grin widened.

.:oOo:.

April 27, 2010

"Greta," Klaus said as he walked into the living room of Alaric's apartment.

The witch appeared at his command and waited for instruction.

"Do you have what I requested?" Klaus asked and Greta nodded, pulling a cloth-wrapped item out of her jacket pocket.

Taking the item and unwrapping it, Klaus took in the black obsidian ring he had made and enchanted for Ryne. It would protect him as the Gilbert ring protects the doppelganger's brother. The entire band was made of black obsidian. Tiny runes ran along the inside of the band, acting as an anchor for the protection magic Greta enchanted the ring with.

"Magnificent," Klaus praised and Greta straightened up with pride.

Turning away from the witch, Klaus crossed the distance of the living room to Ryne's bedroom where the thirteen years old currently slept. Stepping inside, Klaus silently made his way over to Ryne's bedside before kneeling down. Taking Ryne's right hand in his, Klaus slipped the ring onto Ryne's pointer finger. Ryne shifted in his sleep and blinked his eyes open.

"Dad?" Ryne whispered hoarsely, his tone confused and drowsy.

Klaus smiled and brushed a hand through Ryne's disheveled locks.

"Go back to sleep, Ryne," Klaus murmured softly and Ryne's eyes closed again as sleep pulled him under.

Leaving the room, Klaus motioned for Greta and Maddox to get his real body ready. Moments passed as magic filled the room as the two witches chanted over a box holding the body of the most feared vampire in existence. As the spell ended, the box opened and Klaus stepped out in all his glory.

"Now that's more like it," Klaus voiced with a smirk, glancing down at Alaric's collapsed form.

A groan of pain sounded and Klaus' smirk widened.

"Up you get, Hunter. You have a message to deliver," Klaus stated, flipping Alaric over onto his back with the heel of his boot.

Hazel orbs glared murderously up into dark blue-green gems and Klaus chuckled.

"Easy there. We don't want to wake Ryne, now do we?" Klaus asked teasingly and Alaric's jaw clenched at the thought of this monster being around his son.

.:oOo:.

April 29, 2010

Something happened. Ryne was told Jenna and John, Elena's and Jeremy's Uncle, was in an accident that resulted in them no longer being here. Ryne bit his bottom lip, his hand tightening on his father's as he fought to contain his tears. Alaric return his son's grip, clearing his throat as a lump tried to form. Ryne did not know John Gilbert, but he did know Jenna Sommers…he was also aware of the pain that follows the death of a loved one.

Ryne liked Jenna. He was even beginning to love her and see her as a possible mother figure as she and his dad grew closer with each passing day. Glancing around at everyone in attendance of the funeral, Ryne sniffled before looking back down at his feet. He swiped the back of his other hand over his cheek. Taking a deep breath, Ryne focused on being strong for his equally grieving father.

.:oOo:.

May 1, 2010

Klaus shifts back into his human body, cracking his neck with a grin after having spent the past two nights as a wolf. Every kill, every life taken remembered in clear detail. He glanced at his elder brother, snatching the clothes Elijah tossed to him out of the air and putting them on.

"How long have you known of our darling little Ryne?" Klaus asked, his exhilarated grin dropping at the edges as he mentioned the one topic he had been wanting to bring up only after the ritual was successful.

Elijah tucked his hands into the pocket of his slacks.

"Since the end of March," Elijah answered truthfully.

Klaus nodded as if in understanding.

"And you failed to mention him to me as soon as you discovered Ryne's existence, why?" Klaus growled, stepping close to his elder brother.

"Know that I wanted to take Ryne from Mystic Falls and meet up with you and our family as soon as I saw him, Brother," Elijah said truthfully, placing his hands on Klaus' shoulders. "I could not tear him from a father who cherishes him so strongly and would die in place of protecting Ryne."

Klaus sneered, ripping away from Elijah's touch and smacking a near-by tree hard enough for it to crack under to force.

"HE IS OUR BROTHER!" Klaus shouted, twisting back around to face Elijah.

"No, he is a perfect reincarnation of our brother," Elijah argued back, standing his ground when Klaus stalked forward with a menacing look.

"Ryne is ours. He belongs with us, his family," Klaus snapped through gritted teeth.

Elijah frowned and he shook his head 'no'.

"Klaus, Brother, he is with his family," Elijah voiced carefully. "This does not mean we cannot get to know Ryne and develop familial bonds with him."

Klaus glared, biting back a curse and looking away from his elder brother's hopeful expression.

"Not with him still posing a risk to our family," Klaus stated, speaking of their father Mikael. "First, though, I promised to reunite you with our family…and I always keep my promises."

Elijah sighed, relieved that Klaus was going to hold up his promise to him. Pain blossomed in his chest wide orbs blinked down at the dagger piercing his chest with disbelief. Elijah fumbled, slumping to the ground. Klaus caught him before he could fall completely.

"Once Mikael is dead, I promise to un-dagger all of you."

.:oOo:.

Ryne looked around his new room he would be occupying within the Gilbert household. There was a cot set up on the other side the room, one his father said he would be using while Ryne took the bed.

"Why are we staying here?" Ryne asked, still confused about the change of living arrangements.

Alaric sighed, setting his duffle bag on the floor by the cot before taking a seat on the edge. The look on his face was so serious and Ryne shifted under the weight of his father's stare.

"Come here, Ryne," Alaric voiced quietly, holding out a hand to his son.

There was no hesitation in Ryne accepting his father's hand and taking a seat next to him. Ryne leaned his head against his father's shoulder.

"Your mot—your step-mother…she had a daughter before she and I got married, but I only just learned of this information," Alaric said gruffly, unsure of the exact words to use when explaining to his son. "Elena…she's your step-sister."

Ryne's eyes grew and he looked at his father's face for any deception.

"Does that mean Jeremy is my brother too?" Ryne asked, his brows furrowed in a similar way Alaric tended to do while in deep thought.

It brought a smile to Alaric's face.

"Well…not exactly. He's more of a step-cousin?"

Ryne nodded, but all of this was still so new to him. The sound of the doorbell ringing brought the two Saltzman boys to their feet with Alaric leading the way to the front door. He only opened the door when he noticed Stefan standing on the other side.

"Hey, Stefan, is everything okay?" Alaric asked, meeting Stefan's blank gaze.

"Don't take this personally," Stefan stated monotonously, right before grabbing Alaric and snapping his neck.

Ryne stared at his father as Alaric dropped to the floor in a limp thud, not moving an inch. As Stefan stepped into the house, Ryne slowly looked up at Stefan, his eyes growing moist. Ryne took a hesitant step back, his eyes going back to his father's still form. Before he could think of what to do, Stefan was kneeling down in front of him with cool hands cupping flushed cheeks.

"Everything is okay, Ryne. I'm here to pick you up. Your dad gave you permission to go on a little summer vacation with some friends of his. You will not have the urge to call or check up on your dad. As far as you're concerned, everything is fine and all you are to do is focus on having fun and enjoy your summer," Stefan compelled the thirteen-year-old without pause, not an ounce of remorse showing on his face.

Standing up, Stefan took one of Ryne's hands in his.

"Come along, Klaus is waiting."

.:oOo:.

"Ric, stop! Stop it!" Damon shouted, grabbing hold of Alaric as the man threw a bottle of bourbon across the room where it shattered against the fireplace mantle, a cry of anguish escaping the older man.

"He has my son, Damon! That bastard has Ryne!" Alaric yelled, his chest aching with the thought of losing the one most precious to him. "My son!"

Damon slid to the floor with Alaric, the raven holding onto the sobbing man with a broken expression. He was unsure of how to comfort Alaric, not being one to handle grief well himself. Damon caressed the back of Alaric's head.

"We'll get him back, Ric. We'll get him back," Damon repeated over and over, glancing up over Alaric's shoulder when footsteps entered the Salvatore boarding house.

Damon's blue eyes met Elena's sad gaze. For once, he wanted nothing to do with the girl, her presence being unwanted in this moment of grief Alaric was showing him. Damon nudged his head in a silent order for her to leave. Elena took a hesitant step forward, but Damon's glare stopped her in her tracks. She finally, after a moment of pause, turned and left. Damon stayed on the floor holding Alaric long after the sound of Elena driving away died off.