Sobbing echoed down the halls of the Mikaelson mansion; heart wrenching cries that alerted the two remaining original brothers. They had been enjoying a drink in the study, recalling their most precious moments with Niklaus's beautiful daughter when they heard that first curdling wail.

Elijah had made it to the stairs first but Klaus had grabbed a firm hold on his dress shirt and yanked, ripping him out of the way as he sped to his daughter. Hayley was already holding her when the double doors to Regina's room were thrown open.

"Papa!" Regina threw herself into her father's arms and he pressed a hand into her crown, holding her head tightly against his stomach as he stopped slightly to get a hold of her.

"What's happened," Klaus demanded and looked to Hayley for answers.

"It seems your sister has taken an absence from New Orleans. She left you and Elijah letters to explain," the wolf handed the brothers their notes and watched Elijah tear into his; Klaus just rocked his daughter until he decided to lift her up into his arms and soothe her.

"Why must Aunt Bekah leave us," Regina asked in between sobs. "Are we not enough?"

Surprise and hurt for his daughter as well as the anger toward his sisters were readily displayed on the hybrid's face and Hayley moved so that her daughter could see her face. "Honey, you know how much Aunt Bekah loves you," Hayley admonished her. "She'll be back again, but you'll see as you grow older that you'll want to go out on your own and see the world; meet new people. You might even want to have a family of your own," Hayley shot Klaus a look when he growled at her before turning back to their daughter. "It doesn't mean she loves us any less. It just means we're going to get very nice presents the next time we see her," she gave a goofy smile and Regina begged out of Klaus's grip.

"Are you ready to go to bed, little princess?" Klaus tucked her in and kneeled on the floor.

"Daddy, where has Aunt Bekah gone? Will she be safe without you to protect her," Regina asked, still worried about her Aunt's welfare.

"I don't know but I'm sure we'll hear from her soon. Don't you worry about your Aunt Bekah; she can take care of herself," he told his daughter and kissed her good night.

Shutting the doors behind him, he came face to face with his brother and Hayley. "When I find the little strumpet I'm going to string her up like a Christmas goose," he hissed.

"Daddy," Regina chastised from the other side of the door and Klaus had the good grace to blush. He often forgot about his daughter's abilities. Moving downstairs to the study, Hayley bid them goodnight and retired to her room.

"Where do you suppose she's gone," Elijah asked.

"Where ever it is won't be far enough to keep me from putting a dagger in her heart. Did you see what she's done to my daughter?"

"Hush now, Klaus. Regina will be fine but I doubt she'd forgive you for hurting her favorite person.

"Don't you think it's time you finally allowed our sister to have her own life? Rebekah has a large heart that you have been constricting for too long. If you apply anymore pressure you will blow out her carotid artery and we will lose our sister."

"You know as well as I do that Bekah's biggest enemy in love is herself."

"It certainly doesn't help that anytime she's tried to be independent you have killed whoever she cares for at that point in time. It's been ten years of peace among us, Niklaus. We have watched and aided you in building and protecting your family. When will you allow us to do the same for ourselves?"

Klaus turned to stare at his brother. "Why," he grilled, "are you thinking of settling down now brother?"

"At the end of the day, what is immortality worth if it's not to spend it with the person you love?"

"And who exactly is it that you think you love," Klaus implored. "Katarina? It's been ten years so at least the age gap has closed a bit, not that you can have eternity with her like you once hoped. We both know that if you were to try to turn her that the cure would stop her from returning as a vampire."

"Katarina is not who I had in mind," Elijah swirled his drink. "I don't know who might love me but I'd like to be given the opportunity to share my life with more than just my brother and sister."

"Love is overrated," his brother told him.

"Is that why you're still waiting for Caroline to come to you," Elijah rebutted. "What happened when you went after her five years ago?"

"I've finally come to the realization that I was mistaken when I thought I could love her. I was just looking for a reason to care about my miserable life back then. I know better now. "

"Then why not move on? You have a daughter you love and a woman who has remained by your side for a decade; working with you and taking your side on every matter we've ever argued over."

"You mean for me to love the one I'm with, but guess what brother. I'm not with anyone. We have a common interest and over the years we've become friends. Nothing more."

Elijah heard the footsteps in the hallway and realized that his brother was as oblivious to them as he was to Hayley's feelings. "She trusts you above all others and yet you still doubt—"

"—doubt what," he downed his drink and stared at his brother.

"You doubt that anyone could love you; that you are worthy of love, but look around you Niklaus. You have two siblings who have stood by your side for the majority of a millennia, a daughter who loves you more than anyone else in the world and a woman who would kill to protect you. Even if you don't think you're worthy of it, how can you deny that you are loved?"

"If you're so concerned with romantic notions, why don't you go search the world for that woman you seem so sure has been built just to love you," Klaus seethed. "By all means, I could use another sister who might appreciate all I've done for this family."

Elijah stared at his brother before putting his glass down. "Don't mind if I do." He walked away from his brother and left the next morning after saying goodbye to his niece.