The Price of Family

This is me being evil again. For Kristen because she encourages my evil. Klaroline, Kalijah, Klelijah. Angst.

If he had known…. if he had known he would like to think that he would have stayed his hand. That he would have shown Katherine mercy, though she was hardly deserving in his opinion. Not even for the sake of his brother, not with the way things had gone, but to save the girl that he loved.

Caroline. Her sunlight smile. The way she challenged him and made him want to be better for her and only for her. The way he had come to love her, amidst everything, and he had hoped, and he thought maybe, just maybe, she genuinely cared for him as well. He missed her. He missed her with every breath he took, every waking moment, every dream he had. Life without her in the world, with her gone because of a foolish impulse of his to have his revenge, was painful. Every breath was labored. His heart ached for someone he could not have. And he couldn't even bring himself to avenge her death. That was the worst part. He felt he should; if it had been anyone else, he would have, but he couldn't. Not with his brother.

When he killed Katherine, he hadn't realized how Elijah had felt for her. Hadn't realized that he would react in the worst way possible. Klaus had known things would end badly when he tore the heart out of Katherine's chest, an immense feeling of satisfaction coming over him, when he heard his brother's shouted "No!" The way he sped away from the mansion immediately after, and something, something had drawn Klaus to follow him. A part of him wished he hadn't; another now realized the justice in Elijah's actions, though he still wouldn't, couldn't, ever accept them. He watched, too far away, always too far away to save her, as Elijah plunged his hand into Caroline's chest, her scared eyes meeting Klaus' for one split second, and then she was gone, dead as Katherine was.

He had rushed forward, lifting her body up into his arms as Elijah tossed her heart away. The brothers stared each other down, each conveying their anger and pain through a single glance, and then Elijah turned away, flashing back to Katherine Klaus assumed. He realized then that his brother must have truly cared for her, as he loved Caroline, but he could not bring himself to feel guilty for killing her. Only that his actions had led to Caroline's death.

He let himself cry for her there on her front porch, and when her mother returned, sobs coming from her as he tried to explain what had happened, it hit him. She was really gone. And there was no way he could save her this time.

He did not speak to or see Elijah or Rebekah for weeks. He only stayed in Mystic Falls long enough to attend Caroline's funeral; and then he left. They found him though, easily enough in New Orleans, what with the rather large trail of bodies he had left behind. Always businessmen wearing suits. He couldn't kill his brother, no matter what he did he would not lose another sibling, but any love he had held for Elijah was gone. And Klaus felt that the sentiment was much returned on him.

Rebekah tried to get them to talk, saying that they only needed each other and not those foolish girls. She stopped trying when they stopped talking to her as well.

They all left each other after that. The brothers could not be around each other without seeing red, coming to blows nearly every time, and Rebekah was tired of the fighting. So they went their separate ways, always aware that the person who had caused them all the pain they were feeling was out there in the world. And they could not bear to bring themselves to find a way to end the other. It was an impossible situation. They had both loved their girls in their own way, but the bond of family was also sacred to them. Doomed to hate each, and yet born to love. Impossible, horrible situation, and each could not help but think that they had somehow brought this on themselves. They should have done more to protect the women that they loved.

And they could never bring themselves to see the other again.