Alright, thank you so much for your reviews, favorites, and follows. I constantly check for them and do a little happy dance when they arrive. This will actually forward the plot somewhat. I'm a bit unsure whether Klaus is in Character in this one or not. I'll try to keep them as in character if I can. I also have a habit of making these things to sappy. Tell me if I go overboard. In any case, enjoy.
AU
Esther felt the weight of another day settle back on her shoulders. She took a moment on the bed to cry and mourn, wishing for the days when troubles laying on her back could be rubbed away by her husband's loving hands. Mikael used to have a way of calming her down, taking away her worries. He took the responsibility for both of them. She wished she had woken up before Niklaus had killed him. She knew her betrayal had hurt both of them, but she wished others did not have to suffer for her mistakes. She should not have slept with the werewolf. And she should have gotten rid of Niklaus the moment she found out she was pregnant. But she was weak, she had loved that child.
And he had disappointed her. Driven the pain of all her victims into her spirit. She had writhed in agony as he tortured, maimed, and killed. Making his brothers' and sister's loyalty wane as he strove for something he already had, but did not trust.
She purposely forgot Klaus' art, his odd protectiveness of his siblings, his love for that one baby vampire, so much like Finn's love for a certain redhead.
She shook her head, this was going to be so much harder to do without any of her family by her side. She schooled her features as she reminded herself there was no time for crying or second thoughts. It was time for action. She stood up angry at herself. She exited to room to face a room full of silent and accusing witches. Each one taking her measure, knowing the woman was about to tell them why they could be summoned at will, why all their power's seemed to have almost disappeared.
She took a deep breath and smiled.
"My sisters, lend me your ears. Ask for your forgiveness, and your help."
She paused, taking the in the vague looks from the crowd.
"I wish to rid the world of vampires."
##
"Elena is the best person you will ever meet. Though her death wish rival's mine." Caroline smiled as Klaus growled.
"Do you know what she wrote in the letters to her family, the Salvatore's, trying to say why she abandoned them?"
"You locked your family in coffins, Klaus. I really don't think you have room to talk."
"You didn't read her letter to the vampire hunter. I'm glad he didn't get to read it, I have never heard so many sappy excuses."
"I, " she said stressing the I, "helped her with that letter, she was crying too hard to type."
"She cares to much."
"It's better than not caring at all."
Klaus leveled a look at Caroline that would send all, except Elijah, into a panic, yet it only made her calmer. He stalked forward and pulled up Caroline's hand, and pressed it to his chest.
"Are you telling me it is better to feel this constant ache, than nothing at all." He whispered dangerously.
"The only reason it hurts so much, is because you have never felt that joy, that light, that comes from people loving you in return. And knowing that no matter what they find out about you, they will still love you. And that blame, does not totally lie with you." Caroline covered the hand clenched around her wrist , "I think that I'm finally able to forgive you Klaus. I may never forget, but I'll forgive. Will you give me a chance?" Klaus stared into those eyes expecting some sort of trick, but could find no lies, none of those old walls that were there when she was just trying to distract him ,in these new eyes.
This made him angry. He wanted to win her, he wanted to fight for her, and here she was saying he didn't have to. She was going to accept him without coercion. It was maddening. But then he realized that was the way it was supposed to be. He was supposed to fight for her no matter what. Whether or not she was going to be obliging.
Those silly human vows "for better or worse" ran through his head.
He was still while he was pondering this, and as he was thinking Caroline patiently waited, secretly glad she was still able to through the big bad hybrid for a loop.
He looked into her eyes, and said-
"You're not getting out of being bound to me in any way possible."
Caroline laughed.
##
Kol was bored.
And a bored Kol is a dangerous Kol. He twirled his bat, flipping up into the air, catching it as it fell, as Jeremy flipped through the channels. The "adults" were having a discussion that did not involve them. Elena had put up a good fight, and was able to get into the locked drawing room, but Jeremy, Matt, and Kol had no interest in joining the meeting that would plan Esther's eminent demise and the musings of the missing witches. And the endless unanswerable questions. They would come up with a plan that could go wrong. It was inevitable, or they might succeed only to bring about disastrous consequences. Though it was entertaining watching Elena try to get in.
Kol would just do what they said, and hope he got some fun out of it, and get to see his brother's face when it failed.
Those were looks worth remembering.
As it was the TV was getting annoying. It wasn't interesting him, the bat wasn't even entertaining unless it was causing some sort of destruction.
He glanced between the TV and the bat, and made his decision.
He flung the bat at the TV, causing a massive smash and boom. Glass and cables flew everywhere.
"What was that for, man?" Jeremy shouted. He and Kol had, surprisingly, become somewhat friendly in the past two years once they had gotten over the whole, "I would kill you if I was given a chance" problem.
Matt just rolled his eyes trying not to smile. There had been too many instances like this for him to be bothered and went back to his texting.
"I'm bored " Kol said as if this was the worst crime the world had to offer. "Is there anything to do in this town?"
"The Red Sox are playing the Yankees at four." Matt said absentmindedly forgetting what happened the last time he and vampires went to a sporting event.
"We haven't got tickets," Jeremy reminded him.
Kol snorted, "Like you need them with me around. Let's go." He got up, jumping over the TV debris. Matt and Jeremy shrugged and followed him.
"Going out Nik," he yelled. Not even waiting for the standard reply of "Don't come back" from Rebekah, Kol slung on his coat and motioned the boys to leave. He then picked up his bat at flung it through the heavy oak doors that lead to the dining room.
##
Elena was seething. Her future was being decided in front of her and she wasn't allowed to say a word. And she could feel Elijah's smirk from behind his newspaper as he pretended not to be interested in what was going on. Caroline had a ridiculous smile on her face as she read her friend's face. This was driving her crazy, but it was the only way she was allowed in the room. Not that it was funny the men were trying to control their lives, but that Elena had that wet kitten look. The one that made it impossible for her to be taken seriously.
And, to quote Damon, "Every suggestion you have seems to make me believe you have a death wish, you will add nothing to this conversation. We already know you want to be a martyr. "
Caroline had never seen Klaus laugh that hard. He was almost weeping at the look Damon was getting from Elena for telling her no. She was also not getting any support from anyone else.
She had watched Elena battle her pride, before she looked at her with those puppy dog eyes. She sent her the look.
The one that reminded her of a time when trust had to be earned.
She watched Elena nod at her and then agree to Damon's terms.
##
"None of my witches are returning my calls." Klaus opened up with that fact.
"What did they get tired of being threatened?" Stefan asked. Rebekah snorted.
"I have already hunted down relatives and friends, and even they can't get a hold of any of them," he replied, ignoring the disapproving look from Caroline.
"What I would like to know, is how mother isn't dead. Wasn't her life dependent on the Bennett witches? There are only two left in Georgia, I believe, and she was channeling from that Bonnie girl. "
"Yes, what happened to your witchy friend? I expected her to be with you." Klaus asked, and was disturbed by the anger that lit in Elena's eyes. She looked like she was about to stand up and yell at Klaus when Elijah's arm shot out and dragged her back down. He was also concerned with the sadness in Caroline's voice when she said,
"Bonnie died, the day before we left."
She sounded so small, so vulnerable, that Klaus wanted to do something, anything to make her forget that sadness. But he shook himself out of it.
Even Elijah put his newspaper down in respect. Rebekah grimaced. Stefan and Damon looked from one girl to another in sympathy. They hadn't known.
"Esther killed Bonnie."
The originals looked at each other, eyebrows raised. Rebekah spoke up.
"You must be mistaken," she said gently, "Witches don't kill other witches. There are horrible consequences for the witch who defiles nature like that."
Elena looked up again ready to argue, but she remembered Caroline could explain and she wasn't allowed to talk. So she leaned back, arms crossed, eyes closed, trying to ignore Caroline's voice.
"Her heart stopped, she got marks all over her body, and she slowly turned to dust." Klaus was hit with that insatiable urge to comfort again, and had a hard time ignoring it this time.
Elena shuddered. Elijah mistook this purposely and shrugged off his coat and put it around her shoulders. She gave him that small smile of thanks and a pang went through his chest, reminded of a similar woman's smile. He ignored it and went back to his paper, but was aware Klaus could sense his reaction by the roll of her eyes.
"Bonnie gave up her life for mine and Elena's" Caroline continued. Klaus made note to leave flowers at the witch's death sight.
"And then she tried to make Caroline commit suicide," Elena said quietly, breaking the promise not to talk. Klaus froze.
"Both of you outside," Damon said. He and the rest of the men needed to regain some composure without having to comfort to clearly hurting women. Elena tried to give the jacket back to Elijah, but he simply said, "Keep it."
Caroline put her arm around her friend as they left without arguing. They didn't want to be seen crying by those men.
##
The boys had had a bit too much to drink in the VIP box. So they were totally unaware when they were looked in by the witches. Matt and Jeremy were cussing at the players on the field, ignoring Kol who was sipping some blood and cheering for the Yankees.
Traitor.
This was how Esther found them. Too sedated to put up a fight when stabbed and bound.
Then Esther's eyes became as a vampires.