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Klaus walked over to his brother, and clasped his arm in his with a firm shake.
"It's good to see you again, my brother." He whispered with a small smile.
Elijah nodded, and returned the shake. "Likewise." He whispered with a smile.
They dropped their arms, and Klaus turned back to the window. "I gather you have been told the news." He replied, solemnly.
Elijah nodded. "I have." He returned, walking up beside his brother. "Marcel is on his way." He added, quietly.
Klaus nodded. "I should have killed him when I had the chance." He whispered, his eyes becoming distant.
Elijah shook his head. "You didn't know, Niklaus. You can't blame yourself." He replied, softly.
Klaus shook his head. "I can blame myself. I'm the reason Marcel is the way he is, and I'm the one who has to pay." He stated, his eyes growing dark.
Elijah smiled. "There was a time when you would never have admitted that." He whispered, glancing at Klaus.
Klaus sighed. "That's what love does." He whispered, in a strained voice.
"Caroline has changed you, brother, and for the better I would say." Elijah remarked watching his brother carefully.
Klaus remained quiet, and continued to remain stoic.
Elijah watched his brother carefully. "Niklaus." He whispered, when he brother didn't say anything.
"I tried to get her to leave, Elijah." He whispered, moving away from the window.
Elijah nodded in understanding. "I take it she objected." He remarked watching his brother's body tense.
Klaus wheeled around. "I was trying to protect her!" He shouted, throwing his arms outward. "She told me that she wouldn't leave, even if there was the smallest possibility that she could die." He ranted, his face turning to anger. "She said, we are stronger together, and she would stand by me, no matter what." He added, letting out a breath. "She's so stubborn." He added in a whisper.
Elijah smiled, and shook his head. "You knew that when you married her, Niklaus." He replied, stepping closer to him.
Klaus nodded. "I know, but I thought she would mellow out, especially when our son is concerned." He replied, lifting his arm towards the door.
"Niklaus, could you stand to be away from her?" He asked, watching his brother carefully.
Klaus inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes. "No, I couldn't." He whispered, looking away.
"Then how can you expect Caroline to leave when you can't stand it yourself?" Elijah asked, sternly.
"If it was for her safety, then I would try." He whispered in a stubborn tone.
Elijah shook his head, and let out a small chuckle. "Do you remember when you were separated from each other?" He asked, softly.
Klaus glared at his brother. "How could I forget?" He stated, harshly.
Elijah nodded, and clasped his hand on Klaus' shoulder. "Then try to remember how you felt then, and try to understand why she won't leave you." He replied in a stern tone.
Klaus sighed, and turned his head. "She said that we were stronger together, than we were apart." He repeated, softly.
"She's right, Niklaus." Elijah remarked, with an understanding tone. "Family is strength." He added with a soft tone.
"I can't lose her, Elijah." Klaus replied, in a broken tone.
"I know." He replied, watching his brother nearly tear apart.
"If Marcel gets to her, I don't know how I would live." He whispered, stepping back to the window, placing his hands on either side of the window pane.
Elijah sighed, and watched his brother, carefully. He knew the havoc Marcel could conjure, and he knew the vendetta he had against Klaus. He also knew that whatever Marcel did to this family, Klaus would retaliate, and what he did to Tyler was the least of what Klaus could do. The only thing was, if Klaus unleashed his darkness, would lose himself or worse, Caroline.
"Well, then, we'll just have to make sure he doesn't get that far." Elijah stated, in a calm dangerous tone.
Klaus glanced at his brother, but didn't say a word as he nodded in agreement.
~David's Playroom~
Caroline smiled as David picked up a small wooden toy and lifted it in the air, trying to show his mother.
"What have you got there?" She asked, leaning forward on her knees to take the toy from her son's hands.
David giggled as his mother opened her mouth in an O.
"Can I have it?" She asked, holding it to her breast.
David bounced up and down, moving his arms up. He let out small gurgle, as he reached for her.
"You want it?" She asked, holding it out to him, but laughed when he shook his head, and reached for her. "What do you want?" She asked, moving her head to the side, with a smile.
David placed his hands down on the ground and began to move forward only an inch. He grunted as he moved to his mother.
Caroline's eyes lit up. "Oh, are you trying to crawl?" She asked in an excited tone. She moved back a foot, and smiled as David moved with her. She let out a cry of glee, and wished Klaus was there.
"Oh, your father is going to be so proud of you." She exclaimed, reaching for her son, and picked him up with a laugh.
"His mother's proud of him too."
Caroline looked up at the door, and sent a small smile to the person standing at the door. "Yes, she is." She whispered, holding her son close for a moment, before setting him down on the floor, so she could stand.
"Katherine." She replied with a nod of her head.
Katherine clasped her hands together in front of her and slowly stepped in the room. "Your Majesty." She replied, softly, bowing her head.
Caroline shook her head at the formality. "We're family, Katherine." She whispered, moving her arms outward.
Katherine nodded. "Yes, we are." She whispered, shifting on her feet.
"How is your little one?" Caroline asked, after a moment of silence passed.
Katherine smiled. "She's wonderful." She answered, moving her head out the door. "Esther is watching her." She added, softly.
Caroline nodded. "She never seems to tire of taking care of her grandkids." She replied with a laugh.
Katherine shook her head. "No, in fact she told Elijah that she wanted more." She stated, with a laugh.
Caroline laughed and nodded. "I can imagine." She said softly.
Katherine nodded, and entered the room further. "I came here to apologize for my behavior for the past year." She replied, in a soft tone.
Caroline lifted her hands and shook her head. "There is no need to apologize, Katherine." She replied, in understanding. "I complete understand." She added, sadly.
Katherine shook her head. "No, I told you before it happened that I was prepared for my sister's death, because I knew it was inevitable for what she did, and then I went and blamed you for killing her." She replied, with tears in her eyes.
"Katherine, just because you were prepared doesn't mean that it didn't hurt, and for me to kill her…" She trailed off with tears in her eyes.
Katherine shook her head, and crossed the room to grasp Caroline's hands in hers. "You did it in self-defense, Caroline." She replied, tears falling down her face. "There was nothing you could have done." She whispered, squeezing her hands.
Caroline shook her head. "I keep seeing her face when the knife went in her chest, and I keep thinking what if I had just knocked her out or just…" She replied, unable to finish.
Katherine inhaled deeply. "Caroline, there was nothing you could have done." She repeated softly, tears falling down her face. "Elena decided her fate long before you…" She trailed off. "I understand that, and I accept it." She continued with a smile. "You survived, and if you hadn't, that little one would not have been born." She paused, motioning to a playful David. "Nor would Klaus, not completely." She added with a stern look.
Caroline sniffed and lowered her gaze. "I know, but I never wanted to kill anyone." She whispered, closing her eyes.
Katherine nodded. "I know which is why I accept it. If it could have been done differently, then it would have been, but it wasn't, you just have to believe that." She replied, with as much voice as she could muster.
Caroline nodded, and glanced down at her son, before looking back at Katherine. "I truly am sorry for killing her." She whispered, searching Katherine's brown eyes.
Katherine smiled and nodded. "I know." She whispered.
Caroline let go of Katherine's hands and wrapped them around her neck. Katherine laughed through her tears as she wrapped her arms around Caroline in return.
They hugged until David began to laugh. Caroline pulled back, and bent down to scoop her son up in her arms.
"David, this is your Aunt Katherine." She began, as David began to reach for the brown haired woman.
Katherine laughed as she took David in her arms. "It's nice to meet you, David." She replied, glancing at Caroline.
Caroline smiled at the interaction. They were healing, even though they weren't completely there, they were almost, and it was enough.
~Later that Night~
Klaus hadn't been to see her or David since the news of Marcel had rattled him. Caroline had done her best to calm him down, and she thought she had succeeded, but then he didn't show up when it was time for bed.
She hated sleeping alone, since the first time she and Klaus had made love. She loved sleeping in his arms, and waking up knowing he was there watching her.
Tonight was the first time since they were reunited that he didn't show up. Caroline had gone to bed, thinking he was just catching up with Elijah, and he would come when he was finished, but when she woke up at around midnight, he wasn't there.
After she had gotten up, she wrapped her robe around her, and headed to the place she knew he would be.
She stopped just outside the door, and listened. Not hearing anything on the other side, she slowly opened it, to find him standing at the window, like a statue.
She closed her eyes for a moment, before she walked up to him. Placing her hand on his back, she searched his features when he turned his face towards her.
"Caroline?" He asked, looking around him. "What is it?" He asked, looking back at her.
"It's midnight." She stated, simply, as if he would know what that meant.
He closed his eyes as it hit him. "Oh, love, I'm sorry." He whispered, opening them to look at her.
Caroline smiled. "You had me worried for a time." She whispered, touching his chest.
He sighed, and closed his eyes. "I should have come." He stated, softly. "Elijah came." He added, his eyes hardening slightly.
She nodded. "I know. Katherine came to see me." She replied, tenderly.
He stiffened. "She did?" He asked, watching her reaction.
She nodded. "Yes, we discussed Elena, and we both decided that it could not have been avoided." She replied, with a small smile. "What did you and Elijah discuss?" She asked, watching his face close up.
He swallowed. "Marcel." He stated simply.
She nodded and lowered her gaze. "Have you come up with a solution?" She asked, playing with his tunic.
He sighed and shook his head. "Only that we will do whatever we need to protect this family." He stated, roughly.
Caroline nodded, and lifted her gaze. "I know you will." She whispered, searching his eyes. "What else has you withdrawn?" She asked, watching his face close up once more.
He jutted his jaw forward, and turned around. Silence began to engulf them, as he walked over to a chair across the room, and grasped the back.
"Klaus?" She asked, tilting her head. "Please talk to me." She whispered, walking towards him.
Klaus clamped his eyes shut, and pursed his lips. He had to tell her. She had to know. It was her life too, and she deserved to know.
"My hands aren't clean, Caroline." He whispered, feeling her hand on his back.
"Neither is mine, Nik." She whispered, watching him.
"Mine is worse." He stated, shoving away from the chair, and away from her. "When I was in the Crusades, I killed so many people, and I have never gotten their blood off my hands." He stated, lifting his hands to her.
Caroline leaned against the chair, and watched him. She knew she needed to comfort him for he needed it, but she also needed to listen. She could tell he had so much pain inside of him, and he needed to let it out.
"One day, we were attacking a village, and I came across a young man, he was about seventeen or eighteen at the time." Klaus replied, watching her but his mind traveled back. "Elijah and I took him in, and taught him to fight, against the approval of our Captain." He added, turning away from her. "He became a strong fighter, and a surrogate brother to us." He continued with a smile on his face.
Caroline nodded in understanding. "Marcel." She whispered, watching him nod.
"Marcel." He agreed, with a hint of malice. "He traveled with us for months, until we were assigned to attack a village just outside of Jerusalem." He continued, with a sorrowful tone. "Marcel helped destroy the village, and it was then that I began to see what he was capable of."
Caroline stepped toward him, until she stopped a few feet away from him.
He turned around, and she could see the pain in his eyes. "I created a monster, Caroline." He stated.
"Nik…" She whispered, closing the distance between them.
Klaus shook his head. "No, that's not the end. I have to finish this." He stated, vehemently. He took a deep breathe, and focused on her face. "One day the Captain sent me and Elijah off on a mission. He wouldn't tell the rest what it was, only us. We didn't even tell Marcel." He continued with a shrug of his shoulders. "There was a family living on the outskirts of the city, who had escaped the siege a few days before. We were sent to destroy them." He replied, in a strong tone.
"Klaus…" She whispered, touching his chest softly.
"I killed every single one of them, Caroline." He stated, though she could see the pain in his eyes. "And I even enjoyed it at the time." He added with a cold smile. "There was an elderly woman, a young girl, not much older than Marcel had been, and a young boy, about three, and I killed them all." He concluded, with a scoff.
Caroline closed her eyes at the pain. Her husband was a murderer. He had killed innocent children, and had even enjoyed it.
"Elijah helped me burn down the house, and after we had finished, we returned to camp." He replied, watching his wife's face fill with pain. "We found out later that the family had been Marcel's." He added with a shake of his head.
Caroline opened her eyes and saw the pain in his eyes. Could she hate him for what he had done? No, she couldn't. Could she turn her back on him? No, she couldn't. Could she blame him? No, he was following orders, but he could have saved them.
"The young woman had been his intended, and the young boy was his brother. The elderly woman, I was told later had been Marcel's grandmother." He stated, in pain.
Caroline shook her head. "You didn't know." She whispered, searching his eyes.
Klaus clamped his eyes shut, and shook his head. "I could've stopped it, Caroline." He stated, grasping her hand, which was still on his chest, and was thankful that she didn't cringe away. "When Marcel found out, he vowed he would get me back. A few months later, Elijah and I ended up in the prison, courtesy of Marcel and Sophie." He replied, pushing away from her.
Caroline watched as he walked over to the fireplace against the wall, and placed his hands on the stones. She wanted so much to take his pain away, to turn back time and keep him from killing, but she couldn't. All she could do was walk over to him, and wrap her arms around him, and let him know that he didn't have to face this alone, and that is just what she did.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and softly kissed the back of his neck. She felt him relax slightly.
He straightened up, and slowly turned around. She saw his eyes had narrowed as they searched hers. "Why do you still love me?" He asked, watching her.
She smiled, and brought her hands up to his face. "Because I've seen your goodness." She answered, with tear filled eyes. "I know you have done some horrible things, Klaus, but that was your past." She continued watching his eyes fill with tears. "Yes, your past is bloodier than mine, and yes, you did enjoy killing, and you still do, but I see your pain in knowing that." She whispered, with a smile.
Klaus closed his eyes, and then let out a grunt as he gathered her in his arms. "I thought you were going to hate me for all the death I caused." He stated, letting his tears fall. He realized then, that there had been a time when he would have never voiced his emotions and fears, but with her, he could do it.
She let out a small laugh. "How could I hate the man I love with all my heart?" She whispered, nuzzling his neck.
He sighed, and held her tight. "I'm sorry, Swan." He whispered, closing his eyes until he felt her pull back and he searched her eyes. "I'm sorry for bringing so much death to our door." He added with a sincere gaze.
She shook her head. "I don't blame you, Klaus. Some people just don't know when to let go." She said, smiling.
Klaus smiled sadly.
Caroline pulled him closer until their lips almost met. "I love you." She whispered, before she closed the distance between them.
Klaus held her tight as her lips collided with his, and slowly began to deepen the kiss.
Caroline smiled as she pulled back, noticing how Klaus' eyes had darkened with passion. "Let's go to bed." She whispered, stepping out of his embrace. "Or better yet…" She whispered, tugging the knot from her robe to come undone.
Klaus' eyes widened as the robe revealed the perfect naked body of his beloved swan.
She smiled as the robe fell to the ground, and she stood in front of her husband. With a gleam in her eyes, she turned and locked the door of the library before returning to Klaus.
Klaus' eyes roamed over her body, and he felt himself harden at the sight. She was perfection, and he could never get enough. Closing the distance between them, he picked her up, and carried her to the chair in front of the fireplace, where he sat down with her in his lap.
Caroline tilted her head, and smiled at his thoughts. "You know this hardly seems fair with you still clothed and me in the nude." She whispered, kissing his lips softly.
He chuckled, the previous mood disappearing, as he returned her kiss, fervently. He pulled back when she was reaching for his tunic. After she pulled it off, he smiled as her eyes washed over him. It faded slightly, as he touched her face. "Not that I'm complaining, love, but why is it that every time I reveal something about my past, we always make love afterward?" He asked, searching her eyes.
Caroline tilted her head, and placed her hand on his bare shoulders, as she shifted in his lap to straddle him. Her eyes became serious as she gazed into his. "There are many reasons." She whispered, lowering her gaze slightly. "One is I love you, and I love making love with you." She began with a small smile. "Two, or three, however you want to look at it, is I feel like you need this, and…." She trailed off when his finger hit her lips.
"Swan," He began, glaring at her. "I would never use you like that." He stated, moving his finger down from her lips to her chin. "I love making love with you, but I would never use that as an excuse to get over my pain. I would never cheapen what we have like that." He added, searching her eyes.
Caroline smiled and felt her cheeks heat up at his words. "I know you wouldn't. It just seemed that you are always calm after…" She replied, with a shrug of her shoulders.
Klaus smiled softly, and rubbed his thumb over her chin. "I'm always calm after I make love to you. I always feel complete." He whispered, though his eyes remained on hers.
She smiled and moved her right hand to his face. "So do I." She whispered, with a slight blush.
Klaus smiled as his hand ran down to her breasts, and softly fondled them. His smile slowly turned into a smirk as she began to moan in pleasure. Bending his head, he captured her right breast in his mouth, and slowly began to suck on it.
Caroline felt her body ignite with a burning fire. Throwing her head back, she moaned and gasped when he moved his lips up and over to her other breast.
"Oh, Caroline, I could make a meal of you." He whispered in a gruff tone, after he pulled back. He lifted his gaze to her eyes, and smiled when, instead of desire, he saw love pouring out of her eyes.
Slowly her hands trailed up his chest to his face, and grasped it lightly. Still seeing the slight pain in his eyes from moments before, she smiled and kissed his lips lightly, and moved her lips to his ear. "Shall I show you how much I love you, and how my love will never leave you?" She whispered in a seductive tone.
Klaus swallowed and closed his eyes for a brief moment at her words. Drowning in her words, he couldn't help but only nod, for his voice seemed to have escaped him. Opening his eyes, he found her gaze locked on his as she moved from his lap, and began to slowly push his pants down until she had completely removed them and his boots, all the while never moving her gaze.
She crawled back onto his lap and gasped as she felt him underneath her. With a smile, she leaned forward and kissed his lips as her hands moved down his chest to the scar on his abdomen. She moved her lips down his throat and smiled as she felt him moan against her lips.
Lifting her body, and her face, she slowly descended onto him, taking him deep within her. They moaned in unison as the feeling of completion filled them.
She felt his hands on her waist, as hers stayed on his chest. Their eyes locked, when she began to move. She smiled when she felt him pushing upwards, trying to fill his need.
Before she could lose control, she leaned forward, and smiled. "You are not alone, Nik, as long as I draw breathe, and even after that, you will never, ever face the dangers alone." She stated in between her pants.
Those words seemed to undo Klaus right then. Crushing his lips on hers, he gave into the passion that was enveloping them both.
His fingers clutched at her waist, and pushed her deeper, and he smiled in satisfaction as she cried out, though he wasn't far behind.
Caroline smiled, watching her husband come undone underneath her, and felt so much pride at seeing him that way, pride in the fact that only she could make him come apart like that.
She groaned and bit her lip when she felt her body becoming light. She wasn't going to last much longer, and she knew neither was he.
Steadying her gaze, she moved her body forward and kissed his lips. "Finish this, Klaus." She whispered, feeling brazen and so wanton.
Klaus growled, pushing up into her body, as he slammed his lips onto hers. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but think that she was talking about Marcel than her own pleasure at the moment, and he, inwardly, smiled at the thought.
As they came apart together, Klaus realized the truth. He did need her there to calm him and to shower him with the love she carried for him. He smiled as he placed feather light kisses on her sweat covered face, and rubbed his hands over her bare back.
"Thank you, Caroline." He whispered, taking a deep breathe.
Caroline lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. "For what, Nik?" She asked, playing with his long hair.
He smiled, and brought his left hand up to gently caress her face. "For loving me."
Caroline smiled, and moved her eyes over his face. "Always, Niklaus, always."
~X~
The door opened quietly to the nursery, and soft footsteps entered the room. With a candle in hand, the light shown onto the sleeping child's face
So innocent. So pure. So wrong.
How could such a gift from God be given to man who killed so many? He didn't deserve this child, but someone else did.
As the light faded out the door, little David moaned in his sleep, unknowing of the danger he was about to face.
What did you think? PLEASE NO HARSH COMMENTS!
I want to apologize for the long wait, but I've been going through some personal issues, which caused my writing to take a little longer than expected. I thank you all for your patience.
Coming Soon: Who is after David? Will Klaus be able to protect his family? What is Jean's connection to Sophie? Who is working with Marcel? Keep reading to find out...
Until Next Time...