Chapter Twenty Six: Stay

"Round and around and around and around we go
Ohhh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay…"

Ooo0ooO

I fell asleep in Klaus's arms. When I woke up, I was still curled on the chair while Klaus was standing up, watching Caroline pace in the kitchen.

The blonde vampire was holding her phone to her ear, and with my supernatural hearing, I recognized Elena's voice on the other line.

Apparently that hunter's sword was needed for the whole deciphering the mark deal, and it was going to be Blonde's job to go find it.

Klaus shifted, his movements reminding me of a caged animal- then I snorted softly with humor. Klaus and Caroline glanced in my direction and I blinked at them innocently, barely keeping myself from cracking a smile.

Caroline then started walking towards the front door, her stride full of purpose.

"Need my help with anything?" Klaus asked easily. I eyed him, sensing he was either being sarcastic or he was very angry at this plan.

"Nope," Caroline replied firmly, shutting the front door behind her. I watched the door for a few seconds before giving Klaus a bland look.

"That's quite a thank you for, you know, saving her life and all," I commented. Klaus looked over at me, his eyes bright with dark humor.

"It seems no matter how many times I save her life, she always turns her back on me to help her friends try to kill me," he replied. I frowned, sitting up straighter.

"Bitch," I said darkly. I felt my wolf growling in the back of my head. Neither of us was exactly pleased with any conversation relating to Klaus dying.

Klaus chuckled before walking over to me, holding out a hand. I took it and he drew me to my feet. I smiled up at him and he leaned in slowly to kiss me. I sighed against his lips.

"Good morning," he said when he pulled away. I giggled a little.

"I'll say." I leaned up, holding onto his shoulders, before placing my lips against his. Klaus's arm encircled me, pulling me gently against his firm body. I enjoyed his wiry strength, and ran my hands up from his shoulders through his hair lightly.

We pulled apart and I pushed my forehead against his. To my delight, he nuzzled me and I wrinkled my nose while giggling again. I saw that for the first time in a long time, his eyes were warm, content. They were a lovely shade of blue, rich and deep.

"I'm going to make breakfast," I said. "Do you want anything?"

"No thank you, sweetheart," he answered, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I blushed slightly as he nudged me towards the kitchen.

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Annabelle began singing softly while she cooked. I watched her with fascination, enjoying how the sun's soft rays brought out the rich color of her hair, the smoky color of her eyes.

"You can go

You can start all over again

You can try to find a way to make another day go by

You can hide

Hold all your feelings inside

You can try to carry on when all you want to do is cry…"

Her voice, so soft and soothing, washed over me like a calming sea. I felt like I was in a trance, held to the Earth by her siren song.

"And maybe someday

We'll figure all this out

Try to put an end to all our doubt

Try to find a way to make things better now

And maybe someday

We'll live our lives out loud

We'll be better off somehow

Someday…"

Annabelle looked up at me and saw that I was staring. Her cheeks turned rosy with her embarrassment, which seemed foolish to me, since I had heard her sing before. But then again, Annabelle did have rather odd quirks I had yet to figure out myself.

I listened to her as she continued her song. It was a hopeful tune, one that bled through her tones, reflecting on her face. I nearly smiled to myself. This woman was truly amazing; in how she never gave up me and believed I could change for the good.

I felt my love for her swell gently in my chest. She filled the empty gaps inside my dead heart.

Once the song was over, she sat at the table and ate her breakfast. Her eyes focused on me, glowing with humor.

"You sure you don't want anything? Elena has a few blood bags in the fridge," she offered. I shook my head. My thirst was the very last thing on my mind at the moment.

When Annabelle was cleaning up, the front door opened. I turned and saw Caroline walk in with Tyler trailing behind her, carrying the sword wrapped in cloth.

Annabelle walked over and saw the couple. I saw her shoulders stiffen a little and she smoothly blocked their path towards me. I felt a trickle of surprise as well as smugness.

She wolves.

Ooo0ooO

I watched Caroline and Tyler warily, feeling my wolf's hackles rising at the sight of them.

"Well if it isn't little orphan Lockwood? Come to showoff how laughably impediment you are against me?" Klaus asked sarcastically. I nearly rolled my eyes.

What was up with guys feeling the need to call people names, or feeling the need to show off their superiority over them?

I shot Klaus a look and he just gave me a smug look and with that, I did roll my eyes.

"I'm just trying to help my friends find the cure. Found this in your attic," Tyler said. He pulled out sword from its wrappings. It was obviously old, but still shone in the light. I raised my eyebrow at it curiously.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned my weight on one leg. "Okay, so what's the point of bringing it here? Is there something wrong with your house? Or Blonde's?" Caroline glared while Tyler's lips thinned slightly.

I heard Klaus's quiet chuckle.

"And you think finding the sword…brings you closer to the cure?" Klaus asked the dynamic duo.

"You tell me. I was playing around with the handle on the ride over…and I found this." Tyler unwrapped the hilt of the sword, showing us the carving etched on it. I narrowed my eyes and stepped a little closer. The markings looked vaguely familiar.

"And what do you think this is?" Klaus asked flatly. I ignored his voice, focusing on the strange writing. Then I realized what it was.

"It's called a cryptex," I said at the same time Caroline did. Tyler gave his girlfriend a weird look. Caroline shot me another look and I raised my brows at her. Her eyes narrowed before she continued.

"I've seen the Da Vinci Code. You turn the different sides to different symbols to get the translation on the other side." She turned, picking up some pictures. They were of Jeremy- or more specifically of the mark on Jeremy's body.

"And with the magic of the internet, Elena set over these. So now all we have to do is cryptex away," Caroline said briskly, sitting down. Then her green gaze focused on myself and Klaus.

"If you happened to want to help, we wouldn't stop you," she said, even thought by her tone I figured she still wouldn't be too thrilled with the idea.

"Right, well, might I suggest using the magic of the internet to purchase an Aramaic to English dictionary from your nearest retailer," Klaus commented.

"What's Aramaic?" Tyler asked, looking at the three of us.

"It's a dead language," I explained, eyeing the sword. "It hasn't been used since Biblical times. My grandfather had a few books written in Aramaic that were passed down from our ancestors." I turned to look at Klaus curiously. "But why is it on the sword?"

"Ketsia's native tongue, I'm guessing," Klaus said to me. He looked over at Tyler and Caroline. "You know, even if you had the best dictionary in the world, it could take days to translate. Perhaps weeks."

To my surprise, he murmured a sentence in what I assumed was Aramaic. To me it sounded vaguely like a cross between Spanish or Italian with Latin.

"What does that mean?" Caroline asked, obviously dumbstruck.

"If only you spoke Aramaic." Then, as usual, he smirked.

Ooo0ooO

Annabelle gave me a considering look, the slight frown on her face indicating she was impressed.

"I didn't know you could speak Aramaic," she said. I chuckled.

"I speak many languages, love," I replied easily. She walked over and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"You never told me you knew Aramaic as well," I pointed out.

"A little, thanks to my grandfather. Other than that, I can only speak English, obviously, and enough Spanish to get by. Maybe sometime you could teach me another language…" she murmured, smiling. I leaned down, pressing a firm kiss to her lips.

"Of course," I said softly.

"Do you think you guys could tone down the PDA? I really don't want to puke all over the photos," Tyler said bitterly. Annabelle snickered at the young Hybrid.

"Sorry," she said sarcastically. She shifted before kissing my neck. I tightened my grip on her and gave her a scolding look. She fluttered her eyelashes at me.

"I'm going to really be sick," Tyler moaned. I chuckled with Annabelle, while Caroline swatted Tyler's arm.

"Focus!" she barked. Anna leaned her head back against my shoulder and I sat on the arm of the couch so she could lean on my lap. I pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Ooo0ooO

Klaus and I entertained ourselves with watching the dynamic duo struggle over translating the marking from the tattoo.

Klaus traced patterns on my arm absently, leaning his forehead against my back, inhaling the scent of my hair. I traced on his other hand on his palm. I smiled when I felt him draw a heart. It was so pathetically cute, but I still laughed at him.

After a few hours, Caroline sat back with a huff.

"Okay, this is it. We've translated all the symbols on the tattoo. 'Passage inside', 'requires a young senator', and a 'pretty flower'. None of this makes sense!" she exclaimed, frustration heating her voice.

Klaus nudged me from his lap, so I could his seat on the couch as he walked to where the barrier was. He folded his arms behind his back before speaking in Aramaic again.

"Requires a powerful witch and a hunter in full bloom," he translated.

"What are you doing?" Tyler demanded. I saw Klaus's hand tightened into a fist, so I stood up to move by his side. I gently took his hand in mine, pleased how he relaxed.

"I don't need to tell you my reasons," Klaus told Tyler in a biting tone. "Caroline, bring my sword over here." The blonde vampire obeyed, holding it up so Klaus could read it clearly.

"Silas rests on the far side, with means of his destruction at his hands." I saw him glance over at the laptop, where a picture of Jeremy's shoulder was open. "Turn the cryptex to the right." Again, Caroline obeyed.

"Stop," Klaus commanded. "The top of the hilt reveals a key to a nautical map. Turn it to the left." I watched the pieces move, revealing more writing. I didn't recognize any of it and frowned in disappointment.

"Now turn the other piece. There's something else." Klaus leaned back and suddenly a slight smile spread across his lips. He spoke one more sentence in Aramaic.

"What does it mean?" Caroline demanded. Klaus's smile shifted to more of a smirk. I elbowed him impatiently.

"Klaus! What does it mean?" I asked. Klaus looked at me and I saw triumph flee across his eyes. Then he turned his attention to Tyler and Caroline.

"Now, now. What fun would it be if I spoiled this secret?" he asked.

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The tension in the room was so thick; you could carve it with a knife. The only one that didn't seem too fazed was Annabelle.

"Secret?" she asked tonelessly. I nodded and heard Caroline make a sound of annoyance. I looked at Anna with amusement and she shook her head at me, sighing.

Caroline drew out her phone and called someone.

"Hey it's Caroline, we have the translation of the tattoo, we're emailing you pictures of the map and instructions right now." Then I heard Rebekah's voice on the other side of the line.

"Got it, thanks," Rebekah said.

For whatever reason, Anna took my hand again and squeezed. I looked at her curiously but she just gave me a pointed look from under her lashes.

"Actually, it was me," I said, knowing Rebekah would be able to hear me.

"Nik, you helped?" she asked incredulously.

"You sound so surprised little sister," I replied. I saw Anna's brow flicker, while questions formed in her gray eyes.

"Shouldn't I be? I mean, you don't want me to be human, you don't want any of us to be human- why would you help us find the cure?" Rebekah asked.

"Maybe I finally realized the longer I stand in the way of what you want, the longer you'll continue to hate me. Perhaps I want my sister to finally know happiness," I told her. Anna's lips curved and her hand squeezed my own softly. I squeezed back.

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me a hundred times…" Rebekah trailed off, her message clear. I felt a pang of guilt echo through me.

"No more fooling. No more games," I said seriously before sighing. "I hope you get to live and die as you wish."

Anna looked up at me, approval shining clear in her gaze.

"So do I," Rebekah answered after a pause. Smiling, I looked back at Tyler and Caroline, who were both watching me closely.

"There is one more thing, Rebekah. There is only one dose of the cure you need to find it first and take it, it's the only way you'll-," Even though I had spoken in a rush, Tyler lunged for the phone and ended the call.

When they both looked at me, I shrugged and gave them a mildly smug look.

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Feeling a little lost, I looked at Klaus again.

"So basically, whoever gets to it first, gets to take it, right?" I asked. "And everyone else who wanted it is basically screwed?"

"Precisely," Klaus said.

Tyler shoved away from the couch, storming outside. Caroline gave Klaus and I a dirty look before following him.

"And now," I realized. "He can't use it against you… And she thinks you'll kill him."

"Yes." I stepped away from Klaus, narrowing my eyes.

"You want to kill him?" I asked heatedly. Klaus moved past me to sit back down in the leather chair. He reached over to take my hand, pulling me to his lap.

"I know you don't want me to, however-," I cut him off with a growl.

"Niklaus," I hissed. Before I could continue, Caroline walked back in, her eyes full of fear and misery. I felt a surge of sympathy for her.

"You can't kill Tyler," Caroline said. Her eyes flickered to me. unspoken female understanding passed between us and I laid a hand on Klaus's arm.

"Not only can I, I have to. I have a reputation to uphold. Moreover I want to," Klaus said firmly.

"Niklaus Mikaelson!" I exclaimed with disapproval, smacking him. Caroline just gave him a tired look.

"I'm not asking you to forgive him, all I'm asking is that you let him live, somewhere far from here."

Klaus pushed me off his lap so he could stalk towards Caroline. I watched him in shock, then crossed my arms across my chest with a huff.

"So he gets to live a happy life after he turned all my Hybrids against me. After he tried to kill me. After he made it his life's mission to find the cure so he could use it against me."

"We all want the cure!" Caroline cried.

"Do we? Do you?" Klaus sneered.

"It doesn't matter. There's only one so it's not like I'm going to get it anyway."

"But if you could…you wouldn't, would you? You prefer who you are now to the girl you once were. You like being strong, ageless, fearless." He stepped closer to the younger vampire.

Growling, I strode forward and inserted myself between them. I flashed my gold eyes in warning at Caroline.

"Okay, enough. He won't kill Tyler, Caroline," I stated firmly. I glared at Klaus who was glaring back.

"Show me," Caroline requested. Her green eyes looked up at Klaus. "You know how much I love Tyler; you can see how scared I am to lose him."

Klaus opened his mouth to reply but I cut him off by placing a finger to his lips. He eyed me and I shook my head. Turning to Caroline, I reached for her hand like I had the other night. She flinched but didn't pull away.

"I understand. I'm sure if Klaus was in your shoes, he would be just as scared. Caroline, you and I are not that different. We both don't want to lose the men we love."

"If you and I are so similar, then show me your compassion." Again, she focused on Klaus. "Show him the mercy that I would show you."

"Mercy…for Tyler. Very well, tell him to leave town immediately. And tell him to run and hide in a place I will never find him." I looked back at him and gave him a small smile of approval.

"Of course," Caroline whispered, her hushed words expressing her relief.

"Tell him that this is the mercy I extend to him for your sake… That I will give him a head start before I kill him."

I gasped while Caroline, who had been turning to go outside, turned to look back at Klaus.

"Not again, Klaus," I groaned. I turned to face him.

"Why do we keep circling back to this?"

The front door slammed closed but I ignored it. Klaus just stared at me, his expression dark and unreadable.

"I need to," he said simply. I threw my hands in the air with frustration.

"No, you really don't," I said, choking on a slight laugh full of disbelief. "You're just being a stubborn asshole." Klaus's jaw clenched.

"Name calling is below you," Klaus said quietly. My fists clenched then relaxed. I took a deep breath, turning my back to him. I walked over to the shuttered front window.

Caroline and Tyler were sitting on the swing outside, talking in hushed voices. Caroline was crying and Tyler looked like he was holding in tears of his own. I felt my heart roll in my chest, blooming with compassion.

I looked back at Klaus and knew he could hear them as well.

"How could you do this?" I asked, suddenly feeling drained of energy. "Can't you just do the right thing?" Klaus flinched. He gave me a dark look and I just stared at him. I willed him with every fiber of my being and felt the lines on my wrist warm my skin again. I saw Klaus's arm glow and he shivered.

"Please," I said simply.

Without waiting for an answer, I opened the door and walked outside. Tyler passed me and gave me a tight nod. I stopped him, laying a hand on his shoulder. We shared a brief looking and again, he nodded. Squeezing his arm, I let him walk away into the darkness.

Approaching Caroline, I sat beside her. To my surprise, she turned to bury her face on my shoulder, sobs racking her body. I put my arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly.

"I won't let him hurt Tyler," I murmured very quietly. "I'm going to get through to him eventually." Caroline sniffed and pulled back to look at me in the eyes.

"If anyone can, it's you," she whispered. A pained smile flittered across her face. "I hope you do." I patted her arm gently.

"He just has a warped sense of what it means to protect me. I think one day he'll figure out that protecting me means him not killing anymore."

We turned at the sound of the front door opening. Caroline stiffened and I gawked as Klaus walked out of the house.

"How did you get out?" Caroline and I asked together again. Klaus gave us a bland look.

"I feel something awful has fallen your friend Bonnie."

Klaus walked towards us and Caroline stood nervously.

"Don't worry, you know I'd never hurt you," he said reassuringly. To be safe, I stepped slightly in front of Caroline, resting a hand on her forearm. I watched Klaus, my eyes warning him to not do anything stupid.

"You've done enough," Caroline said accusingly.

"I've done more than enough; I've shown kindness, forgiveness, pity…because of Annabelle." He looked at me with stormy blue eyes.

"It was all for you."

He watched me and Caroline for a long period of time before turning and walking away.

"Thank you," Caroline said softly. I sensed her relaxing. I turned to look at her, giving her a tired smile.

"I better go talk to him," I said. Caroline nodded and giving in, I reached out to hug her. The blonde stepped into my arms and began crying helplessly again. I soothed her, letting my sister instincts take over.

Finally, she stepped back and giving me one last weak smile, she disappeared.

Sighing, I went to find Klaus.

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Author's Note: Hellooo everyone! What did you guys think of that episode?! Who cried? I know I did. I cannot wait for next week's episode!

Well, let me know what you thought of this chapter! I might post another bonus chapter later!