This chapter has mixed emotions for me, and it might for you! Just a warning!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT TRULY MEANS ALOT TO ME!
Please remember to review at the end! :)
Four Months before Present; Two Months before Klaus' Capture
It was the first time they had been to the park in weeks, and for the first time in days, Klaus relaxed with his family.
He caught the Frisbee with his right hand, and turned his body slightly to throw it to Caroline, who smiled brightly as she caught it, and the preceded to throw it to Joey, who jumped to catch it.
It was in the middle of February, and though it was cold at 54 degrees, they were all sweating in their coats. Klaus smiled as Joey threw the Frisbee towards him, and he reached to catch it, but it flew threw his hands.
"Sorry, dad!" Joey called, through Caroline's laughter.
Klaus picked up the disc, and sent a playful glare towards Caroline, who continued to laugh. For a brief moment, he was struck by her beauty. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but still had little ringlets framing her face. Her blue-green eyes sparkled with laughter, and her smile seemed to brighten the day even more. He dropped the disc to the ground, and began to march towards his beautiful wife, and she immediately stopped laughing, but the light didn't go out of her eyes.
"Klaus," Caroline began, with a mild scold, as she backed up, lifting her hands in a defense position.
He smirked, devilishly, as he came within reach of her, and grasped her, but she managed to elude him.
Joey's laughter could be heard as Klaus continued to chase his wife, but neither was listening from their own laughter.
Klaus' arms reached around Caroline, and pulled her towards his body, with her back hitting his chest. She laughed loudly, and joyously as her hands landed on his, and leaned her head back.
"Got you, love." He whispered, devilishly in her ear, sending a mild shiver through her body.
"So you did, but only because I let you." She whispered, turning in his arms, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He smiled, and leaned forward, gently placing his lips on hers for a soft, passionate kiss. She hummed against his lips, and ran her fingers through his curly hair.
Joey watched his parents with a big smile on his face. He crossed his arms over his chest, and watched them as they slowly separated and placed their foreheads together. He bowed his head, and bent to grab the Frisbee from the ground, and stood up, just in time to hear a whiz fly above him, missing his head.
A sound of a gunshot rang through the air, and Caroline reached for Joey, frantically, mentally checking if he had been hit. She sighed with relief, and looked up to Klaus, and frowned as she saw blood coming out of his jacket. "Niklaus!" She shouted, reaching for him.
Klaus looked down at his upper arm, and frowned, but checked quickly, and sighed. "It's just a graze." He replied, bending over them, his eyes focused on the area around them.
Caroline sighed, and held her son close to her, hoping that another shot would not be heard. "We need to get out of here." She whispered to Klaus, who nodded in agreement.
"Let's move, now." He demanded, hustling his family towards the pile of bushes, where it would give them the perfect cover, just as another bullet sounded through the air.
Joey felt his heart slam in his chest, and fear gripped him as he gazed at his parents. Someone was after his family, and that both terrified and angered him. "Mom," He began in a questionable tone.
Caroline glanced down to her son, and pulled him to her side. "It's going to be alright." She replied, kissing the top of his head, briefly.
He nodded, and took her words as a promise, and quickly wrapped his arms as much as he could around her.
Klaus moved his eyes to his wife's, and in a brief moment, conveyed all he needed to.
"Damn, the car's on the other side of the park." Klaus muttered, peeking through the bushes for a brief moment, before rocking back on his right knee and left foot.
Caroline sighed, and held her son, closer. "We need to get out of here." She whispered, demandingly.
"Trust me, Caroline, if we could, we would, but as of right now, we are stuck, unless you have a better suggestion." Klaus stated, roughly.
Caroline sighed, and shook her head. "Could we try to circle around?" She asked, feeling Joey's head peek up to look at his father.
Klaus sighed, and moved his eyes around. "We could make it halfway, but I imagine he's got the car covered." He replied, shaking his head.
She sighed, and bowed her head. "I say we try to make it halfway." She stated, after a moment.
Klaus nodded. "Agreed," He returned, looking at his son. "Joey, you're going to have to stay low, and do exactly what we say." He stated, roughly.
Joey nodded, and straightened up to look at his dad. "Yes, sir." He said in a voice that held his fear and anger.
Klaus nodded, and leaned forward to run his hand through his son's hair, and quickly kissed Caroline. "Stay low, and crawl." He whispered, watching his family nod in understanding.
"Rebekah's going to kill me." Caroline stated, with a frown.
Klaus tilted his head, and she smiled, with a shrug of her shoulders. "New jeans." She remarked, causing him to smirk.
He shook his head, and ushered his family forward, just as bullets began to ricochet through the bushes, whizzing above them. Klaus sighed, and continued to give them support as the bullets rang behind them. They made it to the edge of the bushes, and they all leaned back, all panting from the rush they were receiving.
"I can see the car, dad." Joey whispered, lifting his right hand.
Klaus nodded, and moved the leaves of the bushes, slightly so he could see out, and nodded. "I think we're good, but we still need to keep low until we get into the car." He stated, firmly.
Caroline nodded, and grasped Joey's hand. "Okay." She replied, wishing she had her gun with her.
Klaus recognized the look on her face, and smiled. "You can shoot him later." He whispered, touching her face.
She smiled, but a devilish look appeared in her eyes. "Next time I see him." She vowed, angrily.
He nodded, and kissed her lips, quickly. "I love you." He whispered, pulling back.
She smiled, and kissed his lips once again. "I love you." She returned, smiling.
He smiled, and looked at Joey. "I love you." He whispered, causing Joey to nod, and whisper back his love. "Now, on the count of three, head towards the car, and don't look back." He stated, his demeanor changing into a professional tone.
Caroline nodded, and held her son's hand tightly in hers.
"One," Klaus began, all of them rocking onto their feet. "Two," He added, touching his wife's face, tenderly. "Three," He finished, as they all began to race towards the car.
He felt a bullet graze his right leg, and he grunted as he continued to run behind his wife and son. He limped as he made it to the passenger door, with Caroline in the driver's seat, and ducked below, glancing backwards to the backseat with Joey hunkered down on the seat.
"Hang on!" Caroline called out, cranking up, and sped away until she got to the road with bullets ricocheting behind them.
~XXX~
Katherine sat in the car, and stared out of the window, studying the building before her. She bit her bottom lip, and bowed her head.
"We can wait, if you wish." Elijah remarked from the driver's seat.
Katherine shook her head, and smiled. "We waited long enough." She said, reaching for the door handle.
Elijah smiled as she climbed out of the car, and followed her. He made it around the car, and reached for her hand, as she waited for him beside her door.
"Our son," She whispered, heading across the street with the man she loved by her side.
Elijah nodded, and squeezed her hand for reassurance, as they approached the steps of the house, and slowly walked up towards the door.
Elijah raised his hand, and quickly knocked on the door, waiting for only a brief moment until the door opened, and a small little girl stood on the other side. Elijah smiled and nodded towards her. "Hello, there, we're looking for a Ms. Camille." He replied, as the little girl nodded, and opened the door wider.
"Cami!" The little girl hollered, rushing off towards the living room where a few children were watching TV.
Katherine sighed as she gazed at the children, and her eyes searched for any sign of the boy she yearned for.
Footsteps broke her away from the gaze, and she turned to find a casual, yet professional blonde haired woman walking towards them. "Hi, I'm Camille." She replied, holding out her hand.
Elijah shook it, firmly, and smiled. "Elijah and this is Katherine." He replied, nodding towards Katherine.
Camille nodded, softly, and clasped her hands in front of her. "What can I do for you?" She asked, firmly.
"We are looking for a young boy; he would be about five years old." Elijah replied, professionally.
Camille sighed, and nodded. "You have just described half of the residents here." She remarked, softly.
Katherine moved her right hand to her pocket, and pulled out a picture. "This is what he would look like." She replied, handing the picture to Camille.
Camille took the picture, and smiled. "Oh, Khristo," She whispered, with a sigh. She lifted her eyes, and saw the look she often saw in mothers. "You're his mother." She replied, with knowledge.
Katherine swallowed, and bowed her head.
Camille nodded, and motioned for them to follow her. "When Khristo was brought here a last year, I was told that his parents were killed, but he never believed it." Camille replied, softly. "He always said his parents would come for him." She added, turning her head to look at the couple.
Katherine squeezed Elijah's hand, and leaned towards him. "Does he remember anything?" She asked, lowly.
Camille smiled, and paused at a door. "He talks about a woman in his dreams, but he never goes into details." She replied, lowly. "Look, I don't know why I was told his parents were killed or why I was told that he was to be kept away from other children." She began, sadly. "I never agreed with the rules, and I knew when you called, Mr. Elijah, that rules were meant to be broken." She concluded, with a smile.
Katherine glanced at Elijah, and smiled.
Camille nodded, and reached forward to the door, and quickly turned the knob.
Katherine held her breath as the door opened, and she gazed upon the face she dreamed of for five years.
~XXX~
The door to the house thudded open, and Joey entered, first, making way for Caroline, who was helping Klaus enter the house.
Rebekah gasped as she saw her brother stagger in with his leg and arm bleeding. "What happened?" She asked, glaring at Caroline.
"We were attacked at the park." Caroline answered, stiffly with anger leaking into her words.
Joey sighed, and wrapped his arm around the other side of his dad, helping them into the living room.
"Rebekah, can you bring me some warm water, alcohol, needle and thread?" Caroline asked, though her tone was more demanding.
Rebekah nodded, and grasped Joey's shoulders. "Come with me, Joey." She replied, as Joey looked back at his dad, who was taking off his grey Henley shirt.
Klaus smiled at his son, and nodded. "Go with your Aunt." He replied, encouragingly.
Joey nodded, and followed Rebekah out of the room.
Klaus grunted as he lifted his arm, and it pulled his wound. "I never knew you could drive like that." He replied, as she examined his right arm.
She smiled, and shook her head. "Well, at the Academy, they train you to drive like a wild person, although my mom taught me a few things that they didn't." She replied, wiping his wound with a dry rag.
Klaus grunted, and turning his head to look at her. "It's just a graze." He whispered, taking in her worried look.
She nodded, and placed her hands on his bare shoulders, as she moved to stand in front of him. "I know." She whispered, lowering her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, studying her face.
"He could have hurt Joey or worse, Klaus." She stated, shaking her head.
Klaus sighed, and bowed his head. "I know." He replied, turning his head when Rebekah entered with the objects Caroline asked for in her hands.
"Joey is distraught." She stated, placing the stuff beside her brother. "What the hell happened?" She asked, in a demanding tone.
Caroline sighed, and began to wet a rag, and cleaned up the wound on Klaus' arm. "We were playing in the park with Joey when bullets began flying." She answered, stiffly.
Rebekah shook her head, and clenched her fists. "What possesses a man to fire bullets at a young boy?" She asked, rhetorically.
Klaus shook his head and Rebekah saw the anger flash in his eyes. "I don't know, but I want him dead for trying to hurt my family." He stated, lifting his head to look at Caroline who was focusing on the wound, only to lift her eyes to his.
Rebekah nodded, and placed her hand on his right leg. "I'm just glad that you're okay, Nik." She whispered, stepping back. "I'll go check on Joey." She added, walking out of the room.
"You should talk to him." Caroline replied, stitching up Klaus' arm.
Klaus nodded, and grimaced at the pull of his skin from the stitches. "I will." He replied, a frown on his face.
Caroline shook her head. "This wasn't your fault, Klaus." She replied, finishing up the last stitch.
"I know, and yet it was." He replied, as she cut the last stitch.
She sighed, and moved to his leg. "Take off your pants." She replied, watching him smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes.
He stood up as she went to close the door, and returned to him, as he sat back down. He watched her as she began to work on his leg.
"You're lucky. An inch lower and it would have nicked an artery." She replied, shaking her head.
He nodded, and watched her face become solemn. "Hey," He replied, lowly, causing her to look up. "I'm fine." He added, softly.
She nodded, and lowered her eyes. "I know." She replied, continuing her work.
"Are you?" He asked, after a moment, his eyes searching her face.
She smiled, but it didn't last long. "Yeah," She answered, nodding.
"Caroline," He scolded, stilling her hand with a touch of his hand.
She sighed, and dropped the needle and thread, before she could sew the wound. "I'm fine, Klaus, really." She replied, lifting her eyes to his. "I'm just angry, angry that he could get to my son and my husband!" She stated, in a near shout.
Klaus smiled at her fire, and caressed her face, gently. "It's alright, love." He whispered, but she shook her head, and stepped back.
"No, it's not!" She shouted, her eyes flashing. "Since I came down here, I've been tortured, shot at, threatened, and lost our baby!" She continued, tears filling her eyes, along with anger.
Klaus swallowed, and lowered his eyes. Caroline saw the pain in his eyes before his eyes lowered, and she stepped towards him. "Klaus, I love you. I don't regret that, and I don't blame you. I never did." She replied, touching his face. "I'm angry at my father because no matter what I feel or how happy I am with you and Joey, he does everything he can to destroy what is the best thing to ever happen to me." She stated, stroking his face.
Klaus searched her eyes. "He won't win, Caroline." He vowed, shaking his head. "I promise you."
She smiled, and leaned forward to place her forehead on his. "I know." She whispered, placing her hands on his bare legs. "I'm sorry for my outburst." She added, softly.
He smiled, and rubbed his forehead against hers. "You have nothing to be sorry for, love." He replied, softly.
She pulled back, and sighed. "I better sew you up." She replied, picking up the needle and thread.
"I think about him too." He stated after a moment. When she looked up for a brief moment, he continued. "Our child, the child we would have had." He added, his words stilling her movements.
Caroline felt tears burn her eyes and she tied off the thread, and cut the thread. She sniffed, and Klaus brushed a blonde ringlet from her face. "I keep thinking he would have had your blonde hair, and your smile." He began, with emotion.
She smiled, and stroked his face with her right hand. "Your eyes and dimples," She added, a stray tears falling down her face, which he promptly wiped away. "He would have been perfect." She added, with a small laugh.
Klaus nodded, and cupped her cheek. "You said, you wanted to try again." He began, holding her eyes.
She sniffed, and stepped back. "Klaus," She began, turning away from him. "There is nothing I want more than to have a child with you, but now…" She began, shaking her head. "With my father trying to destroy our lives, and a killer trying to kill us, a child…" She paused, bowing her head.
Klaus sighed, and carefully pulled on his jeans before walking towards her, and grasped her upper arms. "Caroline," He whispered, as she closed her eyes, before turning to face him.
"A child would be dangerous, Klaus." She whispered, sadly. "We are being hunted, so to speak." She replied, shrugging her shoulders. "You want me to arrest you." She began, placing her hands on his chest. "How would a child fit into that?" She asked, shaking her head.
Klaus rubbed her upper arms, and held her eyes with his. "It could work." He began, searching her eyes. "We have Joey."
She smiled and shook her head. "Joey is different, Klaus." She stated, backing away. "He's a ten year old boy, not a baby." She replied, folding her arms over her chest.
Klaus studied her for a moment, and narrowed his eyes. "What if we could make it work?" He asked, watching her tilt her head to the side. "What if we could have a baby, and destroy your father at once?" He asked, approaching her.
Caroline lowered her eyes, and he could tell she was trying to think over his words. "Klaus," She began, shaking her head.
Klaus sighed, and grasped her upper arms, before looking into her eyes. "Just think about it, love." He replied, with a smirk. "I know that it'll be difficult, but I believe we can make it work." He added, softly.
She studied his face, for a brief moment. "You really think we can do this." She replied, searching his eyes. "Even with everything going on?" She asked, shaking her head, lightly.
He smiled, and touched her face, gently. "I believe we can do anything, love, especially if we do it together." He replied, softly.
She smiled, and nodded, stepping closer to him. "Then let's do it, together." She replied, moving her hands up his chest, and around his neck.
He smiled, and bowed his head, placing his forehead on hers. "Best idea, I've heard yet." He whispered, kissing her lips, lightly.
Caroline smiled, and tightened her hold around his neck. "I do love you." She whispered, as they pulled back.
"I love you too." He whispered, rubbing her nose with his.
She smiled and kissed his lips, before hugging him tight against her. "You still need to talk to Joey." She whispered, after a moment.
Klaus sighed, and nodded. "I'll go, and talk to him." He replied, stepping back to look at his wife. She smiled at him, and stroked his scruffy face.
"I'll go and fix us something to eat." She replied, softly.
He smiled, and grabbed his shirt, slipping it on before approaching the door with Caroline by his side. He grasped her hand as they left the room, and together they walked towards the kitchen, to find Rebekah standing in front of Joey, who was staring at the table.
When he heard his parents enter the kitchen, he lifted his head, and stood up to quickly ran towards his dad, and hugged him.
Klaus smiled, and hugged his son in return, glancing at his wife, before stepping back. "Let's go for a walk." He recommended, watching his son nod his head, before they walked out into the backyard.
~XXX~
Katherine stepped further into the room, and the little boy sitting on the floor lifted his head.
Elijah stayed in the doorway with Camille standing beside him.
Katherine held back her tears as the little boy's face brightened, and he stood up. "I knew you would find me." He stated, rushing to her, as she knelt down to his level. "I remember you." He replied, happily.
Katherine let the tears fall down her face, as she held her son for the second time in his life. "Oh, my little boy." She whispered, holding him tight. "I found you." She cried, standing up, taking him with her.
He leaned back, and gazed at her with big brown eyes. "You've been looking for me?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.
Katherine nodded, and touched his face. "I never gave up." She replied, shaking her head, tears falling down her face.
He smiled brightly, and hugged her with his little five year old arms wrapped around her neck. "A bad man told me that you left me." He replied, sadly. "He said that you didn't love me."
Katherine shook her head, and pulled back to look into his eyes. "Oh, my little one, I loved you from the moment you were born, and placed into my arms, and I never stopped." She replied, touching his face.
He smiled, and nodded. "I knew." He replied, moving his eyes to the man standing in the doorway. "Is he my father?" He asked, softly.
Katherine nodded. "He is."
Khristo stepped back from Katherine, and raced to Elijah, arms opened wide. "I have a family." He stated, hugging his father for the first time, glancing at Camille, who was crying at the touching moment.
Katherine moved towards them. "Can we take him home?" She asked, sniffing from the tears she had cried.
Camille nodded, and smiled. "Your friend sent over the correct papers, and since he's your biological son, I don't see why he can't." She replied, happily.
Elijah smiled, and caught Katherine's eyes. Khristo pulled back from Elijah, and reached for Katherine once again, who happily took her son in her arms once again. He turned to Camille, and sighed. "I trust you remember the arrangement we discussed." He replied, firmly.
Camille nodded. "No one is to know about this." She agreed, remembering a strong altercation with the bad man who had come to visit Khristo a year ago. "Trust me; no one wants happiness for this little boy more than me." She paused, smiling. "I won't tell anyone." She replied, nodding.
Katherine and Elijah nodded, Khristo pulled back. "I've got a home." He replied, happily gazing at his mother.
Katherine nodded, and felt tears fall down her face once again.
He smiled, brightly, and hugged her once again, not wanting to let go of the woman he remembered from his dreams.
Neither did she.
~XXX~
Klaus sighed, and gazed at his son. "I know today was hard." He replied, not really knowing where to start.
Joey sighed, and nodded. "Are we going to move again?" He asked, lifting his eyes from where he sat on the bench.
Klaus nodded, and sighed. "I'm afraid so."
"Aunt Rebekah said you were going to turn yourself in to the police." He replied, looking at his father, softly.
Klaus nodded. "Yeah, I am."
"Why?" Joey asked, shaking his head.
"Because I have to protect you and your mom." Klaus answered, firmly.
"Is it because of the man trying to shoot us today?" Joey asked, innocently, yet with wisdom.
Klaus nodded, and lowered his eyes. "Yes," He answered, lifting his eyes to the blue sky above them.
"Is it the same man who hurt mom a few months ago?" Joey asked, sadly.
"It is." Klaus answered, with a twinge of anger.
"So why are you going to turn yourself in?" Joey asked, calmly.
"Because I have to draw him out, and in doing so, I will be protecting you and her." Klaus answered, firmly and with certainty.
Joey seemed to think about the answer for a brief moment, before lifting his eyes to his dad's. "Are you going to stay in prison?" He asked, holding his dad's eyes.
Klaus shook his head. "No," Klaus stated, simply.
Joey nodded, and sighed. "Good," He returned, standing up, and moved to his dad. "Because we need you, dad," He added, with a childlike innocence.
Klaus slowly nodded, and smiled. "Not as much as I need you, both." He whispered, taking his son into his arms.
Holding onto his son as if it was the last thing he would do.
~XXX~
"You pathetic excuse for a hit man!"
Enzo held his phone away from his ear as his employer yelled. "It wasn't my fault that he had the reflexes of a cat, not to mention your daughter." He stated, roughly.
Bill sighed on the other side. "Next time, so help me, Lorenzo, if you fail me, you will lose something of vital importance." He stated, before ending the call.
Enzo growled, and slammed his phone against the steering wheel. Next time, he wasn't going to fail, and he was going to make sure. He just needed the right leverage.
And he knew just where to get it.
Please be kind!
I had mixed feelings about Katherine and Elijah's scene with their son. I hope you enjoyed it anyway.
Only three chapters to go! And then on to the sequel!
Until Next Time...