A/N: Hey everyone! Another chapter! Because we all need to remember the beauty of Klaroline and why we will always ship it!

/

Klaus sighed as he walked down the abandoned back alley that led to the docks, Caroline and Elijah had dispersed after he told them about his deal with Marcel and Klaus couldn't blame them for wanting to be as far away from him as possible. Caroline could barely look at him after he told her and as she left the room she told him she needed time to sort her head out. He respected her decision, he always did, but there a little voice in the back of his mind that said he had already lost her. Caroline wasn't weak, she wouldn't pander to him because he asked her to and that was one of the many reasons he loved her. She agreed to fight with him, to deal with the situation as a family but Klaus knew he was the one with the most at stake. Caroline knew it too, she just didn't want to say it.

If he had never met her in that coffee shop, never spoke to her and fell in love with her his life would be easier. Marcel wouldn't be betraying him because he thought Klaus had gone soft. Niklaus Mikaelson would still be the most feared name in Chicago, his masterpieces turning up all over town, leaving the police stumped and angry at themselves for not catching him sooner. He wasn't meant to have a love like Caroline, a family, a prospect of happiness.

Klaus thought back to all those times as a child when his father would tell him he was useless and worthless. It was the main reason he turned to a criminal life, a way of rebelling against his father, an outlet for his hatred. Klaus was definitely ruthless before he met her. Then Caroline changed everything, bringing out that little bit of humanity he had left. It was when he was with Caroline that he felt the complete opposite of what his father thought he was. She had seen the good in him, had given him a chance. She didn't even run when he told her what he was, the things he was capable of.

She was everything to Klaus.

Liam only added to his love of her, she had given him a son and a family of his own and she watched as he unknowingly threw it all away. She didn't have to let him back in, let him be a part of Liam's life and Klaus had to admire how difficult it was for her to do. She was pushing all her fears and insecurities about him away so he could have a relationship with Liam. Klaus never thought about how difficult it would be for her, to hear nothing from him for five years and have him turn up on her doorstep one day declaring to get her back at all costs.

Of course she was freaking out.

Then to top it all off he dragged her back into his old life. The life he vowed to leave behind to start over with her and Liam. He was breaking all his promises to her in a short amount of time, it suddenly became clear to him why she was having such a hard time trusting him. Yet, she was strong enough to stand beside him when he asked, to offer him the support he needed to protect their family.

Klaus knew better than to make the same mistake twice, he wouldn't lose her. Maybe he didn't deserve her, but he'd be damned if he was going to let her go. The feelings they had for each other didn't just disappear because she didn't want to think about them. He just needed to make her realise that.

He also had to deal with Marcel.

He was Niklaus Mikaelson and he wasn't about to let Marcel walk all over him. He definitely wasn't about to sign up for a job if he couldn't trust anyone around him. There was too much at stake this time, too many things were dependant on this going off without a hitch.

He was already dialling a familiar number from his past by the time his thought process had ended, a sigh heavy in the air as he listened to the phone ring out.

He smirked as he heard the voice at the other end of the line, "Hello?"

"Hey, mate. How soon can you get to Chicago? I need a business partner and I seem to remember a time when we worked well together."

/

Klaus knew something was off the minute he walked into the office at the docks, Marcel and his men gathered together clutching beer bottles. Some of the men were faceless to Klaus, new faces he hadn't seen before but there were a few he remembered Marcel worked with before. Marcel was the first to notice him, a smile forming on his lips as he announced Klaus' presence to the rest of the room.

"Klaus!" He said loudly, "I was just telling the guys that you were back. A few of them aren't happy about your departure though."

Klaus smirked drily, "Well, It's a good thing I could care less what they think then."

"Now don't be like that, I taught them about the consequences of someone turning their back on us. The guys here think you deserve the same treatment." Marcel explained as he put down his bottle walking over to where Klaus was standing.

"You've been giving your followers the wrong lessons," Klaus smirked, "The right lesson would be what would happen to them if they dare to challenge me."

One of the men in the room piped up, "We are loyal to Marcel." He called out and Klaus vaguely remembered his name as Diego.

"Ignorant and stupid," Klaus commented, "What have I told you about bring back riff-raff?" The last statement was directed at Marcel but the other men in the room weren't happy by the implication.

"Who made you King?" One shouted out causing the others to cheer in agreement.

Klaus smiled devilishly then, "Finding Marcel in a gutter and making him what he is today for one." He replied, "And how I deal with problems and threats against me. Do you remember that group from Indiana, Marcel? Now that was a masterpiece. The town square was flowing with blood, it ran all the way down to the church."

"The people thought it was a sign from God." Marcel nodded without humour.

Klaus laughed, "The press had a field day with that one. I laid the scene out so creatively too, it took a lot of thought to get it looking just right."

Sometimes it felt too easy to slip back into this man, the one that was capable of doing such things to people who betrayed him. Who found art in the murder of his victims and creativity in the methods of torture he used. The man Caroline was disgusted of, the man she would never admit to fearing. That thought made the bile rise in his throat.

No, that wasn't him anymore. It hadn't been since he met her and as long as her and Liam were in his life, he wouldn't become that man again.

"Still, that was a long time ago. The guys need payback and I did promise them it." Marcel sighed, "Nothing personal, Klaus, just business." He smirked as he walked out with nothing more than a wave over his shoulder.

Klaus wasn't a fool, he knew from the moment he stepped foot in his room what was going to happen. Marcel had always been a bit cliché and predictable, his men would simply follow his orders. This one in particular was suicide for them but Klaus didn't think it was fair to mention that. Marcel wanted a show, he wanted to know he could manipulate Klaus. For Caroline and Liam's sake as well as his own Klaus had to play along, he had to let Marcel believe he had the upper hand.

If it was a show he wanted, Klaus would make it the best performance he could.

He waited for a moment, acutely aware of the other men in the room, his eyes trained on the little details. Some were shaking, some were cocky and over confident, clearly not having witnessed Klaus' anger first hand. Other were cautiously waiting, abiding there time until they made a move to follow Marcel's order.

To attack Klaus.

After the first one advanced, the others soon followed and even though he was severely outnumbered Klaus was holding his own. He dodged punches and kicks effortless, the fights from prison having taught him a few new moves that these men wouldn't see coming. Klaus took a punch to the gut, the motion winding him before he reeled back, throwing his own punch at the nearest man. He smiled as he heard the satisfying crunch of bone beneath his fist and he knew he had broken a jaw.

The hits kept coming and Klaus made sure his counter attack was as good as he got, some men were already sprawled on the floor and Klaus hoped for their sake's they were smart enough not to get back up again. A kick to his chest had him stumbling back, a faceless man slamming Klaus against the wall with force. Klaus quickly head butted him, sending the man crashing to the floor as two more advanced on him.

His head was pounding and there was too much adrenaline in his system for Klaus to even focus on pain right now. His instinct was fight, so he fought. His attacks were vicious ad sharp, mercy not a word he had ever learnt to practise.

He didn't see the man sneak up behind him with a broken bottle but Klaus felt the sharpness cut into his flesh. He didn't make a sound though, gritting his teeth as he turned round, grabbing the bottle in the man's hands before he could blink. He shoved it hard into the guy's stomach, a smirk across his features as the guy gasped, blood pouring between them as Klaus threw him to the ground.

Klaus could feel the blood on his face, a mix of his and Marcel's men along with his blood soaked shirt which was sticking to him and the wound on his rib from the bottle. Klaus' eyes were fixed on the men on the floor, some dead; some unconscious; none he felt guilty about.

The ones that were still able to fight weren't attacking him though, their eyes were wide as they watched him. The Hybrid, the man who had single handedly beat their friends and allies. The fear was clear across their features and Klaus merely smirked at them. Marcel wanted the Hybrid, that was exactly what he got. He should have known better than to use his own men as bait, Klaus didn't do mercy.

"Who's next?" He asked innocently, his hands raised.

The men were stumbling over each other to get to the door, fighting amongst themselves to get out of the slaughterhouse that had become Marcel's office. Klaus did nothing, letting them run back to Marcel and tell him of Klaus' actions.

The best way to prove the Hybrid was back was to show Marcel exactly what he wanted to see.

Klaus picked up the nearest beer bottle, taking a swig from it as he walked out into the crisp night air. Now the fighting was over he registered the pain from his injuries. His head was pounding, his vision dizzy as he stumbled down the street. That was nothing compared to the pain exploding through his side. He could feel the blood drying against his shirt, the wound stinging with every step he took.

Klaus was use to pain, his father use to beat him, prison only furthered his torture. This was nothing to him really, but pain always felt worse when he was experiencing it. He didn't let it show on his face as he zipped his jacket up and began the walk home, ignoring the pain coursing through him as he did.

/

Caroline sipped her wine slowly, her feet stretched out on the couch in front of her as she watched a mindless reality show on TV. It was a very rare moment of peace in her busy life, Liam was staying at Rebekah's tonight as she was taking him to the zoo the next day. Elijah was still at work and Caroline guessed he wouldn't be back for some time judging by the stressed out looks on his and Damon's face as she left the office earlier. She didn't even what to think about what Klaus doing, the thought was scaring her and worrying her in equal measure.

Sometimes dealing with Klaus was exhausting, every time they took a step forward there were three steps back. It was her fault as much as his but with all the push and pull between them it wasn't easy trying to figure out what she wanted.

Marcel definitely didn't help matters either. She had never met the man personally, Klaus never wanted her to get involved with Marcel and she was more than happy not to meet the man encouraging Klaus' criminal life. She accepted who he was, she loved him enough for it not to matter but that didn't mean it didn't scare her sometimes.

Some nights she would lie awake, staring at the ceiling waiting for Klaus to come home. She needed to know he was okay before she could even think about getting any sleep, she needed him curled up with her so she could see for herself. Marcel scared her more than Klaus ever did, maybe it was because she had never met him but from the way Klaus talked about him and his recent actions, Caroline couldn't help but wonder if they was anything Marcel wouldn't do for power.

Klaus had a limit, it didn't make him a better man but it helped, there was a certain point he wouldn't go to. Granted that limit was a lot greater that most and she had listened to him tell her about things he had done that shocked her on more than one occasion. She knew Klaus would stop, he didn't crave power as badly as he used to, especially not anymore. The same couldn't be said for Marcel.

She had seen it many times, represented thousands of different people and she knew it didn't matter whether they were guilty or not. To a jury all the mattered was how far they believed the defendant would go in that situation to get what they wanted.

Caroline heard a fumbling sound outside the front door, the sound of a key struggling in the lock. She knew it was either Klaus or Elijah and placed her wine down to open the door for them.

She gasped in shock and horror as she opened the door to reveal Klaus, he was sweaty and covered in blood, his eyes drawn as he looked at her.

"Klaus?" She whispered, her voice wavering slightly.

Klaus tried to give her a weak smile but it came out as a grimace, "You should see the others guys." He tried to joke before stumbling. Caroline helped him up, one of her arms around his waist to support his weigh as Klaus placed his arm round her shoulders.

"What happened to you?" She asked as she guided him in the house, Klaus stopped her though, his eyes scanning the stairs.

"Liam?" he asked, not wanting his son to see him like this.

"He's with Rebekah. I'm the only one here." Caroline told him. The answer seemed to calm Klaus slightly as he let Caroline led him upstairs, his grip on her tightening with each step until they reached the bathroom.

"Klaus, what happened?" Caroline asked again as she helped him sit on the toilet lid before running the hot tap, filling the sink up with clean water.

Klaus gritted his teeth as he zipped his jacket, the action jostling his ribs, "Marcel's men. Marcel wanted me to prove I was back."

"Marcel did this to you?" Caroline asked softly, her eyes meeting his.

"It's nothing, sweetheart. I'm fine." Klaus promised.

Caroline let out a short laugh, "You're not fine, Nik. You're bleeding."

"Caroline," Klaus said, drawing her attention from his side to his face, "I'm okay."

She didn't say anything at first, shaking her head to try and get her emotions together, "We need to get these off." She replied instead.

She pushed the jacket down his arms gently, letting it drop to the ground before her hands found the hem of his Henley, they both ignored her shaking hands. Caroline lifted it slowly, the material peeling away from his skin, inch by inch. Klaus groaned as it separated from the open wound by his ribs, ignoring the pain as he lifted his arms to help Caroline remove his shirt.

"Why is it whenever I get injured it results in you seeing me naked?" Klaus smirked, "You know you could just ask, love."

Caroline glared at him, "Don't worry you can keep your pants on this time."

She cleaned the wound as gently as she could with a fresh cloth, Klaus still flinched with every dab though. Caroline bit her lip, one hand on his leg to calm him while she cleaned the rest of the blood from his torso and chest.

She didn't look at him, her eyes trained on the task at hand. She hated how good she was at this, dealing with him when he came home covered in blood. It was the first time she realised just how dangerous he was, the first time she realised how different the Hybrid was from her Klaus.

It was two in the morning when she opened her door to find Klaus in the entryway. He was covered in blood, splatter marks all over his face and his clothes were stained in it. His eyes were locked on her but hers where fixed on the blood that clung to him.

"Caroline," He called gently, "I didn't know where else to go." He sounded lost and a little shaken and Caroline knew he was letting her see him vulnerable.

She didn't say anything, she couldn't. Her eyes still trained on the blood stains.

"I can go," Klaus said, "I don't know why I came here. You shouldn't have to…"

"Did you kill someone?" Was the first question out of her mouth, her voice sounding curious instead of scared.

Klaus looked down, "Yes."

"Who?" It didn't matter now but she still wanted to know.

"A man who killed a friend of mine." Klaus replied and Caroline nodded once, "I shouldn't be here."

"You're not going anywhere, Nik." She responded as she grabbed his hand, leading him inside her apartment, past her bedroom until they were standing in her cramped bathroom.

Klaus met her eyes for the first time that night, "I'm a monster, Caroline. You can say it."

"You're not a monster, Klaus."

"How can you be so understanding? I just told you I killed someone, stop being understanding." Klaus burst out suddenly startling her.

Caroline's voice was louder, "What do you want me to say? That I'm freaking out? That I'm scared of you? Of course I am! You're covered in blood that clearly isn't yours so no I don't understand."

"Then why did you let me inside?"

She sighed, "I love you." Her voice was softer now, "I love you so much it scares me. I'm not scared that you would hurt me, Klaus, I'm scared I'm going to lose you. I'm scared that you have this effect on me, like you consume me or something."

"Trust me, love, you've turned my life upside down." Klaus said, taking a step towards her, "So much so I'm not sure about anything anymore other than how much I love you."

Caroline smiled, "You need a shower." She said gently unbuttoning his shirt softly. Klaus let her, his eyes closing as her hands glided over his chest, pushing the shirt off his shoulders. They snapped open as she undid his pants, pushing them and his boxers to the floor so he was naked in front of her.

Caroline turned on the hot water in the shower before stripping down herself. She took Klaus' hand and led him under the spray before grabbing soap and a sponge, busying herself with the task of cleaning the blood from his skin, watching as it turned the water pink.

After their shower Caroline pulled him into her bed, pushing him down on her mattress. Klaus did what she wanted, climbing under her covers without a word as Caroline turned off the light. She crawled in next to him, her body melting against his as she wrapped herself around him.

"Don't leave me." Klaus said so quietly Caroline barely heard it.

She smiles sadly in the dark, wondering how broken he really is underneath his tough surface, "I'm not going anywhere." She promised as he held her tighter.

/

So what do you think? A rather dramatic chapter! Thoughts/feelings?

Favourite line/scene? Let me know!

Please review! I am so in awe of the love and support you guys give this story and it really inspires me to write!

Thank you!

Next chapter we see a Caroline/Elijah talk, some more Liam, Klaroline getting closer and the identity of Klaus' help is finally revealed!