A/N: Mikael is alive. And Genevieve is dead. A mysterious being follows Mikael around as Mikael in turn follows his sons around.

I've written summaries of the next few chapters already, it looks like this story will be a long one as the action is just building up. As usual this is AU, although I tried to pick some parallels with the current TO, by bringing Mikael into the story (which by the way I thought was fitting since they had featured him in earlier TO episodes) but as we progress the story will veer away from TO totally.

Thank you again for the kind reviews, i hope you continue to love the story as it picks up in the next three to four chapters.

Happy reading!

Chapter 8

There had been activity in the last few days at the Mikaelson Mansion, vampires and witches had been in and out regularly during the day but during the night time, the courtyard had been tightly guarded by daywalkers. The onlooker was particularly focused on two individuals who where residents of the Mansion, Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson. He had learned from compelling a useless vampire that Rebekah was currently out of town, therefore only two Mikaelsons remained in the Quarter.

He was surprised to see a familiar face in the dark skinned vampire who he had encountered before when he and his daughter had led him to New Orleans to kill Niklaus. The fact that this vampire was alive and still seemed in good terms with Niklaus was intriguing to the onlooker.

There were also young women who were constantly in the company of the Mikaelsons, a young frail brunette and a blond haired girl. While the brunette was usually quiet and subdued, the blond was always smiling and had an air of positive energy around her. He had to find out who these girls were and why they where residing in the Mansion. Mikael wanted to know everything his sons were up to.

He had the opportunity to end Niklaus with a white oak stake when they were last in Mystic Falls, almost three years ago but once again he was beaten by his bastard son. This time he vowed to himself he would be the victor, he needed to find some allies or at least compel himself some.

Mikael however couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by someone or something. He liked to stalk so he knew the feeling of being stalked. It was another thing he would get in the bottom off, whatever it was vampire, witch or another being he was determined to get rid of it before it messes with his revenge plans.

Klaus, Caroline, Davina and Elijah had been lounging in the study after dinner when a knock was heard and the door to the study opened. Marcel's stood at the doorway glancing around the room, smiling at Davina, nodding at Elijah, then a brief glance at Caroline who smiled back at him before fixing his gaze on Klaus.

It had been a day since that fateful night. Elijah and Marcel had both recovered from their 'sleep', with Elijah recovering sooner than him, Elijah being an Original. By the time Marcel had awaken, only Elijah and Davina were present in the room. He had been informed that Klaus had tended to Caroline therefore had immediately left for upstairs.

He had the opportunity to talk to Marcel that night and recalled the conversation he had.

Davina had been beside him as he was lying down on the couch, "Marcel, you're awake."

Marcel was a little disoriented before he focused on his surroundings, a second later he knew he was at the Mansion, glancing to his right he saw Elijah sitting comfortably on a chair, Marcel sat up, "Elijah, is Caroline alright?"

Elijah raised his brow, "yes she is, at least that's what Davina said, I was daggered just as you were."

Marcel nodded to himself, "good, that's good," smiling at Davina, "how are doing?"

Davina was about to answer but Elijah spoke before her, "Marcel, it seems you don't take threats that I or my brother make seriously enough if you are still in the French Quarter. I would have thought you of all people would know I don't make empty promises."

Marcel slowly stood up as Elijah did the same, "I had every intention of leaving the Quarter, and I did for two days, but I couldn't stay away much longer, for Davina, I had to see if she was okay even just for awhile."

Elijah walked closer to Marcel, "and putting your life at risk for Caroline? What was your intent?"

Marcel sighed, "I asked myself the same thing, and honestly the only answer I could come up with was it was spur of the moment. Rebekah told me about the baby vampire, about why she was here when we talked before she left. I felt I owed it to your sister, and to Klaus."

Elijah raised a brow, "and by saving Caroline, what do you hope to achieve?"

Marcel shrugged, "contrary to what you might think, I didn't plan to save Caroline in exchange for any favors, like I said, it was spur of the moment." Looking squarely at Elijah, "do what you must do, but as long as Davina is safe and taken cared off, I can make peace with whatever your verdict will be."

Davina stood up to stand beside Marcel as they both looked at Elijah. Elijah glanced at Davina before looking back at Marcel, "whatever will be done, shall be done, but none of it will be tonight. Go now Marcel, this matter is best settled with my brother present. Come back tomorrow night."

Marcel nodded to Elijah then kissed Davina's forehead before leaving the Mansion.

Elijah stepped forward, "Ah Marcel, just on time," beckoning him to step further into the room, "I don't think you have officially met Caroline," gesturing to Caroline who started to get up from the couch she was sharing with Klaus but Klaus stood up quicker to block her progress as she intended to walk toward Marcel, standing firmly in front of her.

Caroline rolled her eyes and tried to walk around Klaus, at Caroline's actions both Elijah and Marcel stifled grins both of which were caught by Klaus who growled, "Marcel is there something hilarious?"

Caroline effectively ended whatever was to come next when she tiptoed to kiss Klaus' cheek before walking toward Marcel once again, this time she was not stopped by Klaus. "Hi Marcel, I'm think I owe you a thank you for what you did," smiling at him tentatively.

Marcel flashed his winning smile and was about the touch Caroline's hand, most probably to bring it to his lips but he heard a very low growl and stopped whatever he was planning to do instead he just said, "anything for my sire and my sire's friend."

Elijah finally caught everyone's attention when he suggested to no one in particular, "maybe Caroline and Davina best retire for the night," turning to Caroline, "my dear, my brother, Marcel and I have things t discuss."

Caroline eyed Elijah, looked at Marcel before fixing her stare at Klaus, "Elijah, can all of you give Klaus and I a moment alone."

Elijah eyed his brother who looked at Caroline for a moment before giving a subtle nod to Elijah. Elijah in turn, led Davina and Marcel outside of the study.

All alone with Klaus, Caroline led Klaus back to the couch to sit down as she sat down beside him, "I know you feel extremely wounded by Marcel, for what he did. Elijah told me what Marcel had meant to you in the past, how you have always thought of him as family."

Klaus shook his head, "thought of, past tense, not anymore, never again."

Caroline breathed out, "but he is family, like anyone he may have made mistakes in the past. But mistakes can be set right. I'm not saying this because he saved me, I'm saying this because he meant something to you in the past," taking his hand again to hold it between both of her hands, "you're a King now. King of New Orleans, King of the Supernatural. Be a true king and show mercy," recalling the last time Klaus had talked about mercy with her as she caressed his cheek, "but this time don't do it for me, do it for you," finishing by kissing him in the cheek.

Klaus exhaled, "Caroline, this won't work everytime. You can't keep using what I feel for you against me."

Caroline bit her lip, "I don't,' Klaus lifted a brow, "I won't."

Klaus kissed Caroline on the lips, "this time, I will show mercy. Now go, let Elijah and Marcel back into the room."

They had been skirting around the main issue of what to do with Marcel for about an hour and Marcel was getting tired of the brothers' delaying the handing out the verdict on what they plan to do with him, "much as it pains me to break up this reunion, I think it's best that you hand out your verdict on what to do with me now."

"Ah Marcellus, always so eager, but sadly my sister is not here to defend you this time. I should be furious with you, have your neck," flashing to Marcel and choking him, lifting him high above, "I should kill you, "pressing his windpipe until Marcel couldn't breathe, "but regretfully, I have made a promise to show you mercy." Klaus shook his head, "how you could be so lucky to have two saviors, first my sister, now Caroline, defend you….. I cannot comprehend. But this is a one-time mercy I show you," nodding to Elijah who acknowledged this subtly, "now, there will be no more going behind my back, no talk of rebellion, no whisper of threat that you are the cause of, you will at all times follow my lead, or Davina will pay the price."

Marcel nodded his head, "No need for threats Klaus, I have said it before, this time I will say it one last time, I swear allegiance to you and your family with my life."

Klaus got into Marcel's personal space, "I do hand out third chances easily, I genuinely hope you mean it this time."

Caroline had been waiting for Klaus, sitting on the bed with her back leaning against the headboard. She had tried to focus on reading a book she had picked out from the library in the first floor earlier. But instead her thoughts circled around Klaus. She had noticed the changes in him, slight as they may be, it was detectable if one were keen enough. His behavioral changes weren't only directed toward her, but she discerned changes in how he dealt with Elijah and even Davina, although not too much to the other people surrounding them.

She knew she was the main if not the only reason he was changing, adjusting or at least attempting to adjust for her sake, he was true to his word. He was consistent in his commitment to try to be better because she deserved better, and he loved her enough to try.

When she thought of Klaus this way, she also thought of how she was evolving herself. Gone was the neurotic and insecure old Caroline who knew she wasn't worthy of being front and center. What Klaus had given her with his declaration of love was the confidence that she needed to finally be her own person. Someone who believed she was strong, brave and resilient not because someone said she was but because she knew she was. For the first time whether as a human or a vampire, she was self-assured and confident in herself and what she could become. Despite her earlier apprehension, she was also loving New Orleans, the famed capital of the supernatural. With all its mysteries and danger, she was slowly coming to see herself in the center, maybe not quite leading, but poised enough to interact with the beings and holding her own.

With all the talk about her helping fix Klaus, the unexpected realization that he had given her this in return caught her by surprise. That while she was not quite broken, she had been floundering in search of a purpose. She belatedly accepted that while she thought her sole purpose had been to play second to her friends, the doppelganger and the witch from a legendary bloodline, in the end, she had the greatest role to play. She was redefining herself, what she will be in the future, was still a mystery to her, but she knew she was getting there and she accepted that Klaus had played a very big part in her realization and was sure to play an even bigger part in her future.

She also examined her emotions for Klaus. She had progressed from hate, to questioning, to like, to care, and pretty soon she knew it would graduate to love. She was not about to fool herself about this, she knew enough scrutinizing the quickening of her heartbeat, her heightened senses, her sudden shortness of breath when he was near her. He was getting to her, and this time he wasn't even trying as hard as when they were in Mystic Falls with all the courting. All he did was try, try to be more open, more his human self, more the man she could learn to love for all of eternity.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his entry into the bedroom, as he spotted her leaning against the bed headrest deep in thought he walked toward her and she broke out of her brooding to raise a brow at him and without even speaking he knew what her look was about and answered her unspoken question, "no love, I didn't kill, exile or torture Marcel. In fact, what we did was sort out some priorities that have to be dealt with especially with the witches. I couldn't have them, especially the witch who now calls herself their leader threatening you again."

Caroline gave him her brightest smile yet and open her arms to him for him to be enveloped in her embrace, he hardly heard the quiet thank you she said, still reeling from the sensation of being in her arm, the kiss she gave him on the cheek was enough to once again overwhelm him with emotion as only Caroline was capable of doing to him. He changed position, with him now rested against the bed frame and her between his legs with her head resting on his chest. He couldn't help himself from expressing what he was feeling that moment anymore, "When I have you like this as we are now, with you in my arms, I feel at peace, I feel as if I am home. Caroline, I love you. I hope the day will come that you would be able to say the same words back to me."

Caroline entwined her hands with his as she quietly whispered back, "sooner than you think…"

As Klaus heard the words she had quietly whispered, he tightened his arms around her for a moment before kissing her head and saying, "sleep now my love, tomorrow we have much to do."

This time, no cliff-hanger just a tender moment to end with. The action picks up in the next few chapters. Next one will be up by next weekend.

As usual, reviews please.