Chapter 13 – Siblings

"Hello Niklaus. Interrupting your busy night am I?" Elijah asked.

"Charming as always Elijah, what brings you here?"

"Father of course. Why else would I be here?"

Klaus turned away and walked into the kitchen, pouring himself a drink before silently heading to the living room, switching the lights on as Elijah followed him. While Klaus fell onto the couch with a thud, Elijah walked casually and slowly over to a chair and sat down, seemingly to settle in for the evening.

"What does Mikael want you to talk to me about this time?"

"Oh the usual. Your lack of responsability. What a dissapointment you are to him. Oh and the small matter of you not turning up to work. You know he keeps an eye on the family business, even a job as far down the pecking order as yours."

"I quit a few weeks ago Elijah, as you're well aware and I have no intention of returning to work for that man. He has never wanted me around let alone acknowledged me as part of the family. I'm just the child whelped by his wife. I'll never do right in his eyes."

"What a curious choice of words for our mothers indescretion Niklaus. And you're right about that. Father will never go easy on you."

"He's not much easier on you Elijah, why do you stay loyal to him?"

"I wouldn't call it loyalty. And I only stay for Kol and Rebekah."

At the mention of his younger siblings, Klaus took a long drink from his glass. He was close to Rebekah in a protective way. She'd always stuck by him, or at least she had defended him against Mikael, who had always seemed his step-fathers favourite. But like all siblings, she could be annoying and she knew just how to stick the knife in to maximise pain. Kol he tolerated, much as someone tolerates an annoying pet that won't stop following you around.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he looked back to where Elijah was studying him. "You just have to tell him I'm done. I don't intend to return, he doesn't need me nor can he make me come back and work for someone like him. I am sorry to put you in that position Elijah but you're always very diplomatic when it comes to dealing with Mikael."

"He seemed different this time Niklaus, like there was a reason you had to come back."

"I can't think what that would be" Klaus lied. "He loathes everything about me, I'm glad to wash my hands of him."

Standing up he indicated the door. "And now that you have delivered your message, you should be off."

Elijah stayed put, turning his head slightly to the side and watching Klaus for a moment longer. "What's up with you brother?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, I've had a long day and I'm heading up to an early night."

"No painting past midnight while you contemplate your navel? I saw a particularly delicious piece that you seemed to be working on."

"Leave it Elijah" Klaus snarled walking up close, his face only inches from his brothers. "My private life stays private."

"Oh you have a private life? Do tell Niklaus. Is that what's sending you to bed so early? Is there even a romantic bone left in your body after what Tatia did to us both?"

"Don't ever mention her name to me. And if you want to remain in my life in any capacity Elijah, you will stay out of my private life. I won't have our family ruining any more of my future."

"Of course brother. I have delivered Mikaels message for all that was worth and I don't blame you for not returning. Just know that it won't go well for you by not doing what he wants."

"It wouldn't have gone well for me either way Elijah" he sighed again. "Now go, so I can have some peace."

Elijah rose and headed towards the door, casting only one parting shot as he opened it. "Blonde or brunette brother?" and he laughed as Klaus lurched forward, slamming the door closed.

Growling, he stormed up the stairs and threw himself onto the large master bed. An unbelievable last few days topped off by the most amazing time with Caroline (dead body not included) and now Mikael had to rear his ugly head and banish all good thoughts he'd managed to have.

Feeling his phone beeping in his pocket, he pulled it out to read the message that had just come through.

"So Klaus, I've been thinking. I have an hour free for lunch tomorrow. If you can meet me at work? It already feels like too long. C"

With a smile plastered firmly back on his face, he text back his reply. "I have an hour free now if you can meet me on my bed? K"

He lay there, grinning like a teen at his reply and waited for an answer. It didn't take long. "I think my lunch hour has now become fully booked. Sleep well Mr Mikaelson."

"Hmmm... have I pushed it too far?" he wondered. Clicking on the call button, he phoned her back. It rang and went to voicemail. Swearing, he tried again and had the same answer machine message. "Was she ignoring him?"

Trying one last time, she picked up just before the machine got it. "Yes?"

"Sorry love, I thought it was funny. Since you clearly felt like an hour away from me was too long, I do have solutions to fix that."

"Oh you're very funny Klaus. It's all about your obvious charm and me wanting desparately to fall into bed with you isn't it? Is that what all your women have done, fall at your feet and swoon for the indescribable Mr Mikaelson? Well, I'll tell you something... I'm kind of feeling something indescribable myself right now and if I did act on it, I think you'd be very happy. Now goodnight" and she clicked off the call, leaving him open mouthed, some-what confused and with a half goofy smile on his face. Then half a minute later his phone beeped a text message again. "So, back to the original question, lunch was it?"

He smiled. 1 point to Caroline, 0 to himself. "Yes love. I'll be there at noon. Sleep well, dream well."

"Night Klaus. Oh, and I don't usually sleep in much on a warm night like this. So, yes I'll be very comfortable. Dream well yourself."

Klaus threw his phone back next to him, put his arm across his eyes and smiled. She was going to be a handful but he was already relishing the challenge.