Warnings: mentions of abortion.

Chapter 9
Eavesdropping
Klaus POV

A storm has moved in over the manor. Oxsanna tells me it's Roxy, and not to worry. The mortals won't be able to see it because the protective bubble that keeps them from witnessing magic.
"Now what did you do to her?" Rebekah demands.

"I can think of something."

"I bet you can. Where is Hope?"

"Nap time. The triplets are down for a nap too. She's out in that weird stone hedge thing, laying around like a corpse. Does she really sleep on her back like that?" Hayley asks me.

"Yes."

"Niklaus, perhaps you should give her time to cool off first? Let her adjust. She needs to and the harder you push, the more she's going to fight you. It's in her nature. I swear she's part maenad." Oxsanna tells me.

"More like part Minotaur. A Maenad causes insanity, which she does not. They're also followers of Dionysus. Which she isn't." Logan comments from her spot on the sofa where she and Kol are in an intense battle in Call of Duty. "Minotaur's are protective and demolish everything in their path. That sounds more like her."

The weather is clearing up and that's only because she's fallen asleep.

"You don't have to hound me, Elijah. I'm not going to hurt her."

"It's her hurting you I'm concerned about. You saw what she did to Dalilah."

"She had it coming."

"True. But it is none the less frightening."

Especially when I was lead to believe she was a nonpracticing witch with no education or experience on spells and all that.

Elijah does not follow me up the stairs like I expect him to. I take her inside and up to one of the bedrooms that smells faintly of her. When I attempt to let her go, she tightens her hold. Does she realize it's me? Nevermind. I don't care. I'll take what I can and I lie down beside her, pulling the blanket up from the foot of the bed to cover her.

"I love you, Rox."

I don't care if she can't hear me.

Eventually, I fall asleep too.

When I wake, she is gone. I knew she would be. I go downstairs and freeze when I see Hayley in the kitchen doorway. Elijah is there with her, but out of Roxy's sight.

"Hey Roxy, can we talk?"

"I've nothing to say to you."

"Then at least listen to me? You don't have to say anything but I've got things that I want to say."
"If I say no, are you gonna nag me?"

"Yes."

"Go on then."

"I know you feel like it's not true, but we have no history. It was a one time thing that we both regret and he loves you. The only link we have is Tyler, Hope and Elijah."

"I've heard."

"Trust me, I'm not into Klaus. He was available when I was lonely. If Elijah or anyone else had been there, I'd have just as easily jumped them instead. It was once and nothing has or will happen since. To him, I'm a mistake and he even refereed to me as an incubator, but you can't expect him to regret his daughter. That's not fair and it would be just as cruel and unfair to make him choose between her and the triplets. My parents gave me up. I never had siblings and I know you hate me, but I don't want her growing up alone like I did."

"You done?"

"No. I never told him but that was a lousy lay."

At this Elijah snickers silently.

"It was short, unsatisfactory, I was still on the boat when it was over, he looked horrified and kicked me out."

"I don't need details."

"I never knew you existed. I thought he was missing Caroline. He's never mentioned you to anyone."

"Of course not. Why would he?"

"Because he knew you'd be a target if he did. He's a psycho and I doubt he's capable of loving anyone but those biologically related to him, but if he is, it's you. I've seen him with Caroline. He's never looked at her like he does you." Hayley sighs. I can tell she thinks she's getting no where with Roxy and I think she's right.

"It was a mistake. One thousands of people make and if they can get over it, so can you and Klaus. You think he was thrilled I was pregnant? He wanted me to get rid of it."

"If you don't like him so much, why keep it?"

"It's half of me too, y'know. I didn't have someone looking out for me. Granted her father's a psycho with enough enemies to fill the state of Louisiana, but she's still my daughter too. Why'd you keep them if you thought he ran back to me?"

"They were already born."

What?

"Would you have gotten rid of them?"

"I don't know."

What? Roxy! No. No!

"He loves you. I know you're not thrilled to have me around but it was a mistake. One we all have to live with. Don't throw away what you have with him."

"Had. And you speak as if this is something as trivial as breaking someones favorite plate. I'm a pessimist, I'm cynical and I'm a realist. Could you- would you be able to trust your spouse alone with someone he created life with?"

"And you talk like he came running back to me and we got history! It's not like that!"

"How do I know this?!" Roxy barks and Hayley flinches. "You were but a cliff-note in the history he has with Tyler! I wasn't there for any of that! I don't know you! Obviously I don't know him if he's willing to run off and hump the first thing that'll bend over for him because he's lonely! And you expect me to just let shit go? Could you let that go?! What if Elijah had a child with someone else? And then expected you to just let it go and we'll live together like one big happy extended family? Could you trust him alone with her? Or with anyone?"

"I don't know. Probably not."

"Exactly. So do not come in here barking at me to let it go and get over it if you yourself don't know if you're capable of doing such things."

"You're right. I shouldn't. I've never been in your position. I hope I never am and I'm sorry you are, but sooner or later you're gonna have to make decisions. What I do know from different experience is that eventually I get tired of being miserable and decide to be happy and just let things go and life goes on. I know you probably expect me to be that girl, but I'm not. I'm usually the one that loses to that other girl."

Roxy sighs.

"Then that makes two of us."

She must be stress baking. I can smell apple pie.

"I don't hate you. I don't know you. I hate this situation. I'm beyond pissed that my life's turned into some smash up of Jerry Springer meets Maury."

Springer she'd watch because it made her feel better about her life. Maury she hates because she never wanted to feel the anxiety, pain or despair of not knowing who the father is or that your lover is using you.

"It shouldn't be this way." Her voice is a higher octave so I know she's trying not to cry.

"Life isn't fair. Most of the time it sucks. But the fact is, I'm more happy now than I've ever been. I have Hope and Elijah, and it's oddly comforting to know if someone messes with her, Klaus will tear them apart. And the financial security is a real perk. Are all you immortals loaded?"

"It's a lotta time to collect shit. I may be immortal now but I am not as old as you may think."

"Just try. I don't expect you to like me or that we'll ever be friends, and that's fine. I weigh pros and cons and look ahead. It makes things easier. And there's always Elijah."

"Yes. Elijah."

"You don't like Elijah?"

"He masquerades as a good guy. Y'know the problem with good guys? They're snakes. They know what you wanna see and show it to you, but that's not true. I see myself in him and I don't like it."

"Sounds like you don't like yourself then."

"I'm a misanthropist and a sociopath. What is there to like?"

You're still kind. You're still generous. You still do good things even though others think you're wicked. You are a chaotic good and you don't realize it.

"Klaus obviously likes something."

"He likes that I'm a hybrid like him. Why do you think he sought me out to begin with?"

"But you're a tribrid."

"He didn't know that at the time."

"Wow. Klaus didn't know something. Call the papers, and don't forget to have them announce how the big bad hybrid found his mate."

"I have a blender in my hand. I can't kill ya with it, but it'll suck the hair right off your head."
Hayley laughs. "Be serious. I don't like Klaus but I gotta agree with Elijah that you two are meant to be."

"What makes you think that?"

"Elijah knows his brother better than I do. I trust his judgement and I see how Klaus looks at you. I'd kill to have a guy look at me like that."

"If you say so."

"I know so."

"Sure you do. Now fuck off. I'm busy. I want this done before the horror show gets up. I'm not cleaning up the mess if they get in to this."

"Nice way to talk about your kids."

"Just wait until she starts walking and talking and touching EVERYTHING."

"I actually can't wait for potty training. Werewolf nose was bad but hybrid senses are too much. I long for the day when diapers don't make me throw up."

"Oh yeah? Try having to change a boys diaper and hope he doesn't pee on you."

"What? Oh! It's that sudden breeze and there he goes."

"Times two and diapers times three. I'm now capable of holding my breath for up to four minutes. New record. Now out."

"Alright, I'm going. Maybe you can do with another nap, ya cranky ass."

"This isn't me cranky. You want cranky? Cause I can do cranky."

"No! I'm leaving."

"About time. I swear no one around here listens! Like when I say don't eat the fucking strawberries if you want cake! And now there will be no cake!"

There's a soft chorus of aw from the other room.

"There's still gonna be pie though, right?"

"Yes."

"Thank-you!"

"Don't thank me yet. I have full intention of shoving this in your face like a clown."

"I heard that."

"I know. Now the suspense can kill you. When will I do it? Before dinner? After dinner? Or maybe it'll just be one piece and as I'm giving you the plate it'll magically find it's way up your nose."

"You're wicked, Roxy." Bree tells her.

"Witch of the east coast." One hybrid adds.

"I heard that."

"I know."

Followed by him and the hybrids singing the chorus of I Put A Spell On You and making her smile.

"Guys, when this timer dings, pull the shit outta the oven and turn it off."

The last of it must be in there.

"What are you gonna be doing?"

"Having a power nap so when the heathens are awake I can run them until they collapse and fall asleep at nine o'clock."

"That's it?" Bree asks.

"Having a power nap so I won't turn into the devil and punch you in the dick."

"Ten minutes! Take Klaus out of the oven and turn it off. How did you manage to fit him in there?"

"Very carefully."

I watch her check on the triplets in the den, growling softly behind the backs of Elijah and Hayley to make them uncomfortable, and then continues to the solarium. Logan is in there clipping from the herb garden when she drapes herself across the chaise.

"What's wrong? You all stress-baked out yet?"

"For the moment and do you want the list? Cause I was gonna try to nap."

"So you know you're reincarnated. It's not like you're not the same person."

"Then why do I feel different?"

"Because you've got experience and knowledge that's new, but trust me, you're still you. When are you going to tell them who their father is?"
Roxy groans louder.

"When are you and Klaus just gonna deck each other, have hate sex, make up sex, and get on with life?"

"I don't do hate sex. When I hate someone, I hate them and sex isn't on the table. As for decking Klaus, I'd like to put a foot in his ass."

"So do it."

"Because it won't change anything."

"No, but it might make you feel better."

"Neh."

"At least try it. If not, then Klaus will at least have a broken nose."

Roxy sighs and doesn't move.

"I just want a nap right now."

"What are we gonna do about Carrick? He knows you know who he is now."

"I bet he does, and he can shove it up his ass."

What's Carrick got to do with anything?

"What'd you and Hayley talk about? I caught her leaving the kitchen alive."

"In short, you need to get over this, I don't want my kid growing up alone, you need to let it go and move on. And Klaus was a lousy lay, she didn't get off, and that he looked horrified and kicked her out afterwards."

"Do you believe her?"

"I don't trust her so, no and I don't trust him so, no. And Elijah," She snorts. "he really thinks he can play the concerned good guy card. We devils in prada can see eachother." She turns so she is laying on her side on the moss covered stone bench and I have the lovely outline of her from behind. "I trust him as far as I can spit."

"Maybe they're telling the truth and you're unable to accept the truth because of your history with guys?"

"Lets see, if he doesn't die on me, he cheats on me. Excuse me for not being so trusting. Granted what he did was when we weren't together, but fact is if this were the other way around, and I wanted there to be an us again, Klaus wouldn't give me the light of day and if he did, he'd be forever doubting me which would lead to our ruin. So why bother?"

"Because Miss Cynical, it can either be nothing or everything and if you do nothing, you get nothing. You can always compel it outta Tyler or Hayley. There is that one hex we can put on Klaus where he can't lie for 24-hours. Remember when we put it on Sophia?"

"I laughed so hard I cried and she peed." Roxy laughs softly. "Then she stabbed me with a pair of kitchen sheers." She sighs. "It's not a bad idea though."

"What's not?"

"Compelling answers outta her."

"Then what's stopping you?" Logan asks exactly what I want to know.

"It's one-sided answers and I don't relish looking for this Tyler. If he wants Klaus to burn as much as I think he does, I'd be forced to kill him if he decides to try something stupid."

"What's your gut say about this whole thing?"
She doesn't respond right away. "That two years is a long time and it makes me question if it wasn't the first time."

"And your head?"

"Two years is still a long time and Klaus has the same issues John did. Maybe it was just a fluke. And for revenge I should just hump Kol and make sure he walks in on it."

"Harsh, Roxy. And your heart?"

"Set him on fire and make him burn."

"Roxy."

"I'm serious. You know how I am. Someone hurts me and I never let it go. I'm incapable of it. Why do you think I have so many failed relationships? If I can't trust you, I'm not going to waste my time on you and I'm not going to live in paranoia and fear."
Logan breathes in deeply. "For all your good qualities, I don't understand how you're so incapable of letting things go. Things like this happens all the time."

"Uh-huh. And do you trust Steven alone with his ex-wife?"

"You and Klaus are not Steve and I."

"That's right. Because Steve didn't drop you on your head and have a child with someone else, and basically demand you be okay with it. You can't apply your life with Steve to Klaus and I because it doesn't apply. They're in 2 different ballparks."

"Even if they are, I do know what it's like to question how someone else feels about me and what's true. Truth is you've only ever been hurt and I get it, but you did eventually get back with Johnny. Why can't you try with Klaus?"

"It was years later I got back with John."

"Then let it be years. We're immortal. I think you can spare a few years."

"It's not the same!"

"Johnny gave you chlamydia and whored around with his groupies."

"And for it I cut him outta my life. Chlamydia is curable and the reasons he did it are different. What happens the next time Klaus is lonely? Or he feels neglected? If he can't come to me about it, what damn point is there? If this were me, I'd be viewed as a clingy whore."

"Well it's not the other way around! It is what it is and both of you got so much trust issues it amazes me you were together at all! Sooner or later you're gonna get sick of being miserable. You can't wallow in this. Those kids are gonna get older and not be oblivious to adult stuff."

"I know."

"Then do something! Your problem always was you think too much and never leap."

"Off a cliff. Ow!" Roxy hisses when Logan throws the clippers at her. "Did you just throw clippers at me?"

"Yes! You're being stupid and it's annoying me! Thousands of people have these same issues every day and they manage to get over it and be happy!"

"I don't know how!"

"You're telling me outta the past few hundred years you've learned nothing?!"

Their arguing turns into a screaming match that also results in them slapping each other. Back and forth, back and forth, until Roxy decks her.

"What's going on in here?" Elijah speaks softly not to disturb them.

"They were talking. It escalated into an argument and now this."

They have each other by the hair and are still slapping each other.

"Hybrid women still fight like girls." Kol snickers.

Roxy trips backwards and it forces her to sit at the edge of the pond, and Logan forces her backwards to push Roxy's head under the water.

"Have you let go yet?"

Roxy spits water in her face so Logan holds her under again. When she brings her up this time, she's laughing and it disturbs Logan. I can see it.

"Why are you laughing?"

"This-," Roxy breathes in deeply. "Reminds me of that time," She gasps. "In Montana."

Logan pauses and she's laughing now too. So much that they're on the floor just laughing. It's so good to hear her laughing again.

"Oh my god. There is something wrong with us."

"Lets see, I'm incapable of letting things go and you're a necromancer who falls in love with ghosts that can't be seen by anyone but another witch. I'm sensing a fear of- ow! The hell, Logan! You don't pinch a woman in her- oh you bitch."

"Moo."

"Fuck off."

"Moo!" Logan moans louder. "Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore! Let it go, let it go! Turn away and slam the door!" She sings that annoying movie that Hayley has on repeat for Hope.

"Shut! Up!" She's climbed up the stairs to the second floor and purposely slams the door.

"Harder!"

The door flies off the hinges and lands on the stairs.

"Not that hard!" Logan barks.

"Do you often attempt to drown your sisters?" I inquire.

"Do you often eavesdrop? Or is this a new habit you've developed?"

"She won't talk to me. How else am I to know what's going on in her head?"

"How about you try asking?"

"Logan?"

"What?"

"Roxy and I, have we met before? Previously?"

She smirks, "A few times."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Again, why don't you try asking her?" Logan hisses as she leaves.