Hi friends! This chapter is brought to you by the inspiration I received by reading the latest chapter of "Silent Sentinel" by . It cemented my Salvatore hate. So, let's do a recap:

The Mikaelson-Black family was enjoying their time together, playing with Teddy, torturing Damon, you know, normal stuff, when Stefan arrives to make a deal for Damon's release: the white oak stakes for his brother. NO DEAL! Because Stefan, dear, you didn't bring all the stakes, did you? Some threats are exchanged, then Eris has had enough, and she dictates the threat to end all threats. The Salvatores and Co. must give up all the stakes, sans magic spells, or heads will roll. This excites Klaus. Anyway, the Salvatores tell their team of the stipulations of the exchange of stakes, and while Caroline, Jeremy, and Ric are happy to just live and let live, the rest of Team Scooby is still trying to stir the pot. This won't end well… for them. Dun dun DUNNNNN…

Oh btdubs, this is a direct continuation from last episode… I mean, chapter.

"Um." Said Teddy, as he played with his blocks while his parents were talking. His mum seemed a little upset, but his da seemed to be calming her down. Sure, he only knew the blonde man for a few months but, he made his mum happy, smelled like pack, and was a wolf like him. Little Teddy was pretty sure that made him his da. All the evidence was right there. Teddy pointed a block to his mum.

"Ma!" He said.

"Yes, Teddy-love?" Eris asked, shaking herself out of her funk. She was totally intimidating, the Salvatores were just too stupid to realize. Teddy then pointed his block to Klaus.

"Da!" Had Klaus been drinking something, he would have spit it out. As it were, he froze as if he were a deer in headlights and his eyes widened to the point that it had to be uncomfortable.

"Uh- Well- The thing is-" Klaus stuttered out, caught flat-footed for the first time since meeting Eris.

"Yes." Eris said, slyly, "Very good, Teddy." She smiled at her son and stroked his cheek, getting a dimpled smile back. Teddy returned to playing with his toys, unaware of the emotional turmoil he just threw the man he deemed "father" into.

"Ah, are you sure, love?" Klaus asked, finally putting himself back together. "I mean, I don't have the greatest track record. You've even met my mother." He finished in distaste.

"I have. And thank the Goddess that you're nothing like her." She said with a grimace, waving her hand as if waving off an errant thought. "I'm sure you don't hear this a lot, but your perfect just the way you are."

"You're right about that. I don't hear it nearly enough, though I know that it's true." He replied, smirking.

"Then it's settled. You're mine. He's mine. And together, we're a whole family." She smiled, brighter than he'd seen before.

"I'd be honored, love." He agreed. A sliver of a frown made its way onto her forehead.

"Now we just need to find a way to break this to Sirius." She said.

"Or not. We could just wait until it's revealed organically. Maybe in a couple of years? After our second child? Who really knows?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh, someone has been making plans."

"Of course, sweetheart. Plotting is part of my nature."

Meanwhile, at the Salvatore Boarding House

"Have you made any headway on that spell, witchy? Clock's a-ticking." Prodded Damon.

"I'm very aware, Damon." Spat Bonnie. "Maybe if you were helping me look for a spell instead of lazing about on the couch…we would be home free by now."

"Hey now, I'm recovering from being tortured." Damon retorted. Bonnie mumbled something underneath her breath.

"Ok guys," started Stefan, "I get that tensions are running high because we only have-" he looked at his watch, "an hour and a half before we need to hand over the stakes, but this is really when we need to come together and-"

"This is a terrible idea guys." Caroline interrupted. "I'm sorry, but I had to say it. Again. To reiterate, Eris – the witch who called upon Death and demolished Esther without a sweat, promised to kill both of you, if any spells were used against the Originals. What is it exactly that you're looking for right now? Perhaps a spell to kill an Original?"

"Well, to be correct, she actually said any spells on the stakes would result in our deaths, so…" Damon added.

"And you don't think continued plotting against her family will result in the same thing?"

"Not if we do it right." He shrugged, carelessly.

"Right." Said Caroline, gathering her things. "Well then, carry on, but I'm not going to be a part of it past this point. They gave us a way out and I'm gonna take it."

"Care. They're threatening our livelihood. We can't just let them get away with it." Elena preached.

"As I've said before, since Eris arrived, they haven't threatened anyone at all, least of all us. Listen, I love you Elena, but I already died for you once, I won't do it again." Caroline left.

"Yeah, well," started Jeremy, "I have to get to the Grille for a shift."

"And I have papers to grade," chimed in Ric, both men emboldened by Caroline's speech, "I'll give you a ride." They left, leaving Bonnie, Damon, Elena and Stefan as the only inhabitants of the house.

"What a bunch of wusses." Damon said, rolling his eyes.

At the Black Manor

"I'd like to show you something." Eris said, leading Klaus into one of the more used studies on the property. They had just put Teddy down for a nap and Sirius was nowhere is sight. She walked over to a lovely carved box, about a foot in each dimension. "Now," she continued, resting her hands along the lid of the box, "I hope you don't think me too forward for talking about this, but I mean, we have already had the mate talk, and I did just claim you as family…" she trailed off. Klaus raised an amused eyebrow.

"Now, love, what's in this box that has you all worked up? I have to admit, I'm very interested in seeing what it is if it requires that much of an introduction." He moved to open it himself. She let him. The magically greased hinges made not a sound as they opened. "Ah." He looked over to Eris. "What exactly are we looking at here?" He asked, in confusion.

"Well, these were gifts from the Goblin King, in return for services rendered to the Goblin Nation. Goblins are renowned for their metal crafting, you see. Any weapon of theirs is sure to never rust, to never dull. Now their jewelry on the other hand, has other properties. These particular items," she said, running her hands along the jewelry, "are warded against ill-intent, charmed for luck," she met his eyes, "for truth in love, and probably other little surprise spells and whatnots to help their wearers along in life."

"They seem to be a set." Klaus said, smirking, eyebrow still lifted.

"You'd be correct."

"Forgive me if I'm reading the signals wrong, but… are you proposing to me?"

"Something like that." She laughed. "This is bonding jewelry."

"And the difference between that and marriage?"

"Bonding is a little more…permanent."

"You know, Eris love," he said, smiling, "usually is the man that does the asking in these sorts of situations."

"First of all," she started haughtily, "I never asked you anything. I just showed you some couples' jewelry I happen to own. You jumped to your own conclusions. Secondly… I'd say yes in a heartbeat." She smiled. His smile widened.

"Well, I guess I know what my answer is then. How does this work is your culture? I imagine there is some sort of ritual or ceremony."

"Yes." Eris said, joy practically radiating from her, "The bonding ceremony itself is very private. There's the normal exchange of vows, the placing of the jewelry, some sex magic to pull everything together…"

"Sex magic you say?"

"But if you're interested in a more public event, we can do that afterwards. Something for family and friends to celebrate with us." Klaus took Eris' hand in his own.

"I would be honored, my love."

"Good, let's plan for the next full moon."

Salvatore Boarding House

"I've got it!" Bonnie yelled in triumph, prompting the others in the room to gather round. "We may not be able to spell the stakes and get rid of the Originals that way, but we can unlink their sire lines."

"Meaning…?"

"One, we won't be the only ones up for killing them, and two, once we find another weapon to kill them with, no one else's life will be in danger."

"Good job, Sabrina. So when can we do this?"

"The spell says it must be completed on a new moon."

Eris froze.

"What's the matter, love?"

"Someone is digging their own grave."

Ok. Shorter than I wanted it to be. But I wanted to put something out there while I had it. At least this means you all won't be waiting too long for the rest right? Idk. Things are happening tho.