Chapter Forty One

'I'm going to check on Hayley and the rest of the pack with Elijah.' I said, tying my hair into a bun on top of my head.

'Love, the entire place was just bombed. I don't know if I feel comfortable with you being around that.' Nik murmured into my ear, his breath tickling my neck as his head rested on my shoulder.

'The babies and I will be fine, and the pack need some support right now.' I reminded him, leaning to the side and kissing his jaw comfortingly.

'Why don't I come with you?' He suggested, turning me around and resting his hands on my ever-growing baby bump.

'Because Kieran is getting crazier by the hour and Cami needs your help,' I reminded him, my hands moving gently though his curls.

'Why must you volunteer me for such things.' He rolled his eyes and leaned into my touch while I laughed lightly.

'You know you care about her, Nik. Of all people, you can't fool me.' I told him, catching his lips in a sort but passionate kiss, 'I have to go. Let me know how everything goes with Cami.'

'I will do, love.' He assured me, gently kissing me cheek before I left.

Hayley had called Elijah this morning, in complete panic because someone had driven to the Bayou on a bike as a suicide bomber. The casualty count hadn't been too bad, but I had a feeling things had the potential to get a lot worse, so when I arrived I told Jackson that until the campsite could be deemed safe again everyone needed to evacuate. He agreed and put my plan into motion, and everyone seemed to be alright with it, aside from one person. Oliver. I had a bad feeling about that certain individual, but decided to put it on the backburner until the whole bomber danger was over and done with.

'What are you thinking?' Elijah asked me as we ushered the last pack members towards Jackson's grandmother's house.

When everyone was gone, Elijah and I hung back along with Hayley.

'That it doesn't make any sense. If you're going to target a werewolf pack with bombs then why would you do it at the quietest time of day with hardly anyone around? Unless…' I led off cocking my brow in Elijah's direction as I waited for him to connect the dots.

'Unless they weren't the targets.' Elijah realised, looking over to the trailer where Hayley usually slept, I followed his gaze and saw the bomb strapped to the bottom of it the same time he did.

'Kim! Hayley!' Elijah yelled, grabbing us both and flashing us away just before the explosion went off.

'Shit.' Hayley gasped, noticing the black cloud of smoke coming from the direction of the campsite.

'Whoever it was, was after you and Jackson.' I informed her as I leaned against a nearby tree; the sudden exit had made me a little dizzy.

'Oliver made a comment about vampires being behind it.' Hayley said, looking angrier by the second, I sent a wave of calm towards her out of reflex.

'I can assure you, no one in the quarter-,' Elijah started but Hayley cut him off.

'I'm not talking about anyone in the quarter, Elijah. Marcel has had a problem with being banished and after that stunt he pulled at the party, I wouldn't be surprised if he was behind this too.' Hayley huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

'If he is the one who was behind this, I can assure you he will be dealt with-,' the oldest vampire was cut off again by the pissed off werewolf.

'We should go and see him.' Hayley insisted, leading us towards where I had parked the car I had drove here.

'Sure.' I shrugged, I had a feeling that Marcel wasn't the one who was behind this, but I could feel Hayley's anger and I would prefer to not be on the receiving end of it, so I decided to keep quiet and let her ride it out.

When we reached the apartment across the river, I told Elijah to stay in the car seeing as the last time he had been in the same room as Marcel, he had killed his best friend. Elijah tried to protest, but I had given him a look that told him not to argue. As Hayley and I entered the apartment I gripped her hand, amplifying the calm I was sending towards her, with the hope that I could diffuse the situation before her werewolf temper got the best of her.

'Well, well, well, I knew I should be expecting you, Hayley. But… Kimberly this is a pleasant surprise.' Marcel smirked, filling up two glasses with whiskey and handing one to Hayley, 'I would offer you a drink, but I don't have anything expecting mothers can have.'

'I wouldn't have accepted anyway. Just tell us what you know about the bombings in the Bayou and we'll be on our way,' I smirked right back at him and crossed my arms over my chest.

'I have to say… I am fascinated by this impending child.' Marcel ignored that I had spoken completely, 'tell me… how is that even possible? You're both immortal and even if you had been pregnant before you were turned the baby wouldn't have survived.'

'It's killing you isn't it?' I grinned, walking slowly forward and coming to a stop a step away from him.

'I'm looking into it. It's only a matter of time before I figure it out, sweetheart and if you play nice I can stop the others from finding out.' Marcel bargained, gesturing with his hands as he spoke.

'Are you blackmailing me?' I laughed, genuinely amused.

'I'm bargaining with you,' he deliberately forced his tone to sound casual but I could practically smell the curiosity and deceit coming from him.

'Well I'm not interested, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have the balls to say any of this if Nik were here.' I paused to read his expression and was pleased when I saw his smile slip a little as the fear grew within him, 'and just because I refrain from getting violent doesn't mean I won't stoop to it if it's necessary.'

Within a second I had him pinned to the brick wall by his throat. I heard Hayley gasp in surprise before she made her way over to us.

'Now, tell us what you know about the bombings in the Bayou.' I said calmly.

Marcel laughed and held up his hands, 'okay, okay. It wasn't any of my guys, last I heard the guy who blew himself up owed a lot of money to Palace Royale casino, but as of today his debt has been erased.'

'The same Palace Royale casino that's owned by Francesca Correa?' Hayley asked from my right.

'The very same.' Marcel confirmed, seeing as I could sense that he was telling the truth I released my hold on his throat and let him slowly slide down the wall.

'Great, thanks see you around.' I said, turning to leave and grabbing Hayley's hand to assure she came with me. We had just reached the door when Marcel called out over to us.

'People are going to come to see you, you know. They will want to see the miracle baby with their own two eyes, witches will be interested, some even threatened. You're going to need all the firepower you can get.' Marcel said, and surprisingly I could sense concern coming from him.

'Be careful,' I said, glancing at him over my shoulder, 'you almost sound like you care.'

'When it involves wacked up witches coming to my town I do care.' Marcel retorted, and I could tell he was telling the truth in that sense.

'If that happens, we'll handle it. We always do.' I gave him a half smile before turning and leaving, hand in hand with Hayley.

'Well that was interesting.' I huffed as I slid into the passenger seat, 'to Francesca Correa, please Elijah I'm anxious to meet her.'

'Kimberly, I'm not sure if that's the best idea given your condition.' Elijah said as he turned on the engine and began driving.

'Okay, Elijah first of all I can handle myself and second of all if it gets violent I'm more than happy to delegate that responsibility to you.' I smiled and elbowed his side encouragingly, when Hayley laughed at my actions, I saw Elijah's lips twitch into a smile.

'Besides, we need her; she can help us tell if she's telling the truth.' Hayley pointed out, taking my side.

'Fine, but if Niklaus complains about this I will let you deal with him.' Elijah conceded.

I rolled my eyes in amusement but agreed to his terms. Ever since I had told Elijah and Nik that the latter and I were having twins, we had decided to keep it a secret. If Genevieve was connected to the ancestors, one of them being Ester, we decided that them only thinking there was one baby could work in our advantage. Both Mikaelson men had been incredibly attentive since finding out I was carrying multiple babies, but I let them get on with it because I knew they were coming from a good place. They cared about me and I wasn't going to yell at them for that, though I was missing the times that they didn't think I was fragile.

'You two take this, I can get a read on her from here.' I muttered, moving the chair so that I was lying down, ignoring the amusement that was coming from the other occupants of the car.

I heard two doors slam and concentrated on the conversation that was happening about ten feet from where I was lying.

'Good evening Francesca.' Elijah greeted, forever the gentleman.

'Elijah. This is an unexpected surprise,' Francesca replied, sounding a little apprehensive, I assumed she had noticed Hayley, 'is their something wrong with the humans?'

'No, your management of the humans has been marvelous.' Elijah said, and I frowned, my eyes still shut; I hadn't known that she had stepped in for the human species of the quarter.

'We're here about the bombings in the Bayou.' Hayley cut in and I was surprised to feel her jealousy as well as her anger, 'the suicide bomber owed a lot of money to Palace Royale casino and as of this morning his slate was wiped clean.'

'Call it a gift of good will,' Francesca responded, but I could smell the lie from where I was.

'I don't think it was,' Hayley retorted.

'Hayley,' Elijah seemed to be warning her and I wondered idly what was going on.

'I think you paid him to blow himself up. And I think you planted the other bombs around the campsite to make us think it was vampires with the hope that we would start a war.' Hayley said, sounding incredibly threatening.

I could feel Francesca's concern that Hayley was on to her plans, and if I didn't have my empathetic abilities, I would have been thrown off by her confident tone, 'if I were behind that, I can assure you I wouldn't have missed.' She continued, probably reading the confusion I could feel coming from Hayley, 'it's obvious they were after you. The new Queen of the Crescent Pack, though I wouldn't be surprised if the first bomb was to draw the pregnant hybrid in for the storm.'

'Are you suggesting that Kimberly was the intended target?' Elijah's voice was overly calm in a way that made his enemies' hair stand on end.

'That's exactly what she's saying,' I muttered, sitting up and stepping out of the car.

Three pairs of eyes rested on me as I made my way down the walkway, coming to a stop next to Hayley.

'Hi. I'm Kimberly Mikaelson I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting.' I said, my tone sickly sweet in a way that made Elijah stand alert- while he sounded calm when he was bloodthirsty I sounded sweet.

'I don't believe we have.' Francesca smiled, though I could feel that she was a little afraid.

'Well I'm sure we'll get along fine as long as you don't send anymore bombers after… well anyone,' I held my hand up as she attempted to deny it, 'we both know you're the one behind it. If I get the smallest inclination that you have been up to anything that may endanger the lives of the people in this town, you will be punished accordingly.'

'Which you're well aware of seeing as you signed to the agreed terms on behalf of the humans.' Elijah pointed out, coming to stand in between Hayley and me in a protective gesture.

'Like I said… If I were behind the bombings,' she eyed me up and down before finishing her thought, 'I wouldn't have missed.' Before we could respond she was gone, closing her front door behind her.

We were walking back to the car when I suddenly felt like someone had dropped a bucket of ice water over me. I suddenly wished I had a jacket or Nik; he was like a radiator and didn't mind me snuggling up to him.

'You're cold?' Elijah said, taking off his jacket and draping it over my shoulders.

'Thanks Elijah,' I murmured climbing into the passenger seat.

Elijah dropped me off at the compound before leaving to take Hayley out to the Bayou. I went straight to the bedroom; the urge to take a bath was overwhelming; I still felt cold to my bones. I had been in the bath for five minutes when a sense of calm washed over me, bringing a certain Hybrid's presence to my attention.

'Hello, love.' Nik murmured huskily from the doorway.

'I'm so glad to see you,' I grinned, indicating for him to join me and in a flash he did, gently pulling me towards him, my back resting against his chest. I heaved out a sigh, finally completely relaxed.

'How was the Bayou?' He asked, his hands gently rubbing up and down my arms as I tilted my head where it rested on his shoulder to place a kiss onto his neck.

I told him everything that had happened: the other bombs, Marcel's involvement- threats and all- Francesca being behind the bombings and her obvious threat to me. I finished with the sudden drop in temperature and Elijah giving me his jacket.

'Well you've clearly had quite the day.' Nik murmured, kissing my hair, his hands resting on my bump, thumbs moving back and forth comfortingly.

'Definitely.' I snorted; I was just about to ask him what had happened with Cami and Kieran when I felt his concern blossoming. I rested my hands on top of his; amplifying the comfort I was sending towards him as I tilted my head to meet his worried blue orbs, 'what's wrong?'

'It appears that there has been a sudden fluctuation in the amount of people who want you and our children dead.' Nik said so quietly that I almost didn't hear him.

'We'll deal with it, Nik,' I assured him, my hand resting on the side of his jaw, my thumb moving back and forth comfortingly, 'we always do, as a family. Always and forever.'

Nik met my eyes and I saw the cloud of worry in his eyes disperse, revealing a clear gaze.

'Always and forever.' He agreed, resting his forehead against mine and placing a tender kiss on my lips.

He then told me everything that happened with Cami and Kieran. Nik feeding Kieran his blood at the blonde's request, Cami getting her final goodbye, the hex taking over Kieran again and leading him to try and kill his niece. With Cami's permission, he killed Kieran and granted Marcel twenty-four hours access to the city to help Cami deal with her grief. The funeral was going to be tomorrow, and Nik had already told her we would be there, knowing I would want to give Cami my support. After putting in a call to check on Davina, I curled up in bed with Nik, on the verge of sleep, me being the little spoon in the cuddle.

'Have you thought about names?' Nik asked suddenly, his breath tickling the side of my neck.

I turned over onto my back so I could meet his gaze, my hand entwining with one of his, 'I have. What about you?'

'I've had a few thoughts.' He admitted, kissing the back of the hand he was holding.

'Care to share?' I said, amused that he was nervous to tell me his baby names.

'Well for our little girl, Elijah said something to me that stuck,' his other hand moved gently over my bump, 'what do you think of… Hope?'

His eyes were unsure but optimistic.

'Hope Mikaelson,' I mused, testing the name on my lips, 'I love it.'

He grinned making me smile and kiss his lips softly.

'For the boy.' Now I was the one that was nervous, 'I was thinking about Henrik.'

I met his gaze, reading the different emotions that passed through him as well as sensing them: the shock, the wonderment until he settled on adoration.

'It's perfect,' he murmured, his tone and eyes soft with emotion.

'I'm glad you think so,' I said, my eyes closing when he kissed my forehead.

Later that night

I coughed again, wondering what the hell was wrong with me. The more I coughed, the more concerned I became; I was a supernatural creature getting sick wasn't normal. I smiled up at Nik as he slid into the booth beside me, he returned the gesture but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He had a nightmare last night, about Mikael and the babies and he had been on edge since. Hence the face that he had a bottle of bourbon while I was stuck with iced water. I placed my hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles into the dip of his spine, knowing he needed a moment to sort out his inner ramblings. When Cami slid into the seat across from us I gave her a sad smile and reached over with my free hand to squeeze hers.

'What's wrong with him?' Her chin jutted in my mate's direction and before I could respond Nik glared over to her, making me roll my eyes.

Cami didn't back down and instead rephrased her question, 'I'm in a crap mood because my uncle just died and people are partying like its Mardi Gras. What's your excuse?'

Nik poured some more of the amber liquid into his tumbler, but still seemed hesitant to answer. I took the rest of the bottle while he was distracted and dumped it onto the table behind us; I didn't want him to get to a point that he was stumbling drunk.

'Klaus, seriously what's-,' Cami tried to gently push him and Klaus cut him off with his answer.

'I've been having these dreams,' he looked up to meet the blonde's eye and I realized then and there that they had formed some kind of friendship, 'about my dead father.'

Cami leaned back, her elbows moving from the table and resting on her legs as she regarded the hybrid in front of her. I was starting to wonder if I should be jealous but when I felt the worry similar to what a friend would have for another friend, my reservations simmered.

'No diagnosis necessary, sweetheart.' Klaus rattled off before she could comment and I realized that he was probably used to being assessed by her, 'I've already got this one covered. My fears of fatherhood, of scarring my child as my father scarred me are manifesting as nightmares. So horrifically cliché.' He scoffed, downing the amber liquid in his glass and moving to reach for the bottle. When he realized it was gone he frowned in confusion.

'I'm cutting you off.' I told him gently, offering him some of my water. He didn't look pleased, but he took a sip of my drink before putting it down in front of him nonetheless.

'Truthfully I'm surprised to hear you acknowledge aloud that you're going to be a dad.' Cami said, smiling softly as she regarded the both of us.

'He's going to be a great one.' I said, not an ounce of doubt in my tone. I felt him squeeze my thigh gratefully under the table.

'I know more about the trials of fatherhood than you might imagine, Camille.' Klaus murmured, looking over to the bar. When I followed his gaze and noticed Marcel. I barely bit back a growl.

Cami followed his glance as well and turned back to Klaus, 'and it worked out so well for you the first time. Why change a thing?'

My eyes narrowed at her sarcasm and I was about to give her a piece of my mind when I felt Nik's hold on my thigh become more restraining. I huffed but understood; she was burying her uncle today. She didn't need me biting her head off. But I would revisit that sarcastic comment at a later date. Cami pushed off from the booth and made her way over to Marcel. I turned back to Nik, noting the sad look on his face and bought my hand to his cheek, turning his head so I could rest my forehead against mine.

'We got this.' I assured him, placing a soft kiss to his lips, relieved when he responded.

He regarded me for a moment, I don't know what he was looking for but he must have found it because he nodded and kissed me again. It wasn't long or short, but it was as passionate as we could get in the middle of a crowded bar. I heard someone joining us in the booth again, and Nik must have too, because we both reluctantly pulled away from each other. I looked over to Elijah, giving him a small smile as I rested my head on Nik's shoulder my arm linked around his waist, while his linked around mine.

'Seems rather uncivilized,' Nik said, foregoing the usual greeting and accepting the glass of amber liquid that Elijah pushed his way, 'to laugh and dance around the body of a loved one.'

Elijah finished pouring the bourbon into his glass, screwing the lid back on and placing it on the table before answering him, 'yes. Far better to practice your process of grief, Niklaus. Denial, rage and hording coffins in basements.'

I snorted in surprise, nearly choking on the sip of water I had taken. Elijah came across as all serious and as someone who never laughed, but he had one of the driest senses of humor I had ever come across. Nik patted my back gently, half-heartedly glaring at me, but I could tell he wasn't really mad. Ever since Nik had handed over the daggers, Elijah and the rest of the family let go of the resentment they may have fest towards their sibling. It was often joked about, but Elijah's humor had a habit of sneaking up on you. Said person was looking over to me with mirth in his gaze and a small smile twitching on his lips.

Hayley slid into the booth next to Elijah and before she had even said a word Elijah mock whispered to her, 'I will warn you, Hayley, Niklaus is in a spectacularly foul mood today.'

'Sod off.' Nik answered, taking the bottle from in front of Elijah and pouring himself another glass. I took the bottle when he was done and placed it on the table behind us again.

'What's the deal with these moonlight rings?' Hayley asked, glancing around to make sure no one was listening, 'Oliver's trying to start a revolution every five seconds. People are scared, angry and frankly, I'm tired of stalling.' Hayley glanced between all three of us and I held my hands up.

'Don't look at me, honey. You know this wasn't my idea.' I muttered, running my hands through Nik's curls, not missing the soft sight that escaped him as I did.

'It's a day of peace, Hayley.' Klaus murmured, meeting her eye, 'try and enjoy it. I will get the moonlight rings. I will live up to my word. But for now I'm going to finish this bottle,' he grabbed a bottle from a passing group of people, 'and the next in the hopes of drowning the demon that has chosen today to haunt me. Cheers Mikael, impeccable Freudian timing.' He held the bottle up and moved to drink it but I snatched it from his hand before he could and held it out of his reach.

'No. You are not doing this, Mikael is dead, and instead of letting his memory make you think that you're the weak boy he believed you to be, you are going to wake up, remember that you are Klaus Mikaelson. The original hybrid. Mikael isn't here to control you anymore, Nik, and he can't unless you let him so stop it.' By the end of my speech I had crushed the bottle I had been holding away from him as the anger towards Mikael had bubbled up inside of me. I cursed when I realized I had blood trailing down my arm and glass imbedded into my palm. I could feel Hayley and Elijah were impressed with my speech, but Nik's feelings were all that I cared about in that moment.

Nik was staring at me, open-mouthed as if he couldn't believe that I had just said what I had. I could feel how much my words meant to him and how much he had needed to hear them. I felt his resolve as it settled in, and his determination to believe he was strong. He placed a soft kiss to my forehead and started to gently remove the shards of glass from my hand, he had just finished when Elijah spoke.

'Elaborate.' He simply said, continuing when he noticed everyone's confusion, 'have you dreamt of our father?'

'Go ahead. Have a good laugh.' Nik muttered, and I slapped his chest when I felt that Elijah was actually afraid when it was confirmed.

'I assure you there isn't a piece of this, that I find even remotely amusing, Nikalus,' Elijah snapped, his eyes becoming grave, 'especially considering I've been dreaming of him too.'

We were all shocked by this information, I could feel it. I noticed a long tear trailing down Nik's cheek as emotion overcame him and I gently wiped it away with my thumb.

'What?' Nik breathed.

'If you are also seeing him…' he trailed off as someone caught his eye and I glanced over and saw Genevieve just joining the festivities, 'perhaps our elusive unknown enemy is orchestrating a further attack.'

I growled and I was about to go and nicely ask her if he was behind this, but Nik refused to move and seeing as he was essentially blocking me in, I was stuck.

'Easy, love.' Nik murmured, soothingly stroking my arm as his arm wrapped around my shoulders, while he too followed Elijah's gaze, 'what better way to punctuate a day of peace, than by killing someone?' He smirked, waving to the red head with his free hand and placing a kiss to my temple reassuringly when he felt the flare of jealousy that stirred within me.

They went to threaten Genevieve while I remained in the bar with Hayley- I was sure if I followed I would probably end up ripping the bitches head off. Everything that seemed to be going wrong lately, the dreams, me being attacked in the bayou, not to mention the vision I had of her saying she was going to kill our babies… it all went back to her. Pretending we didn't know she was out to get us was the smart thing to do, which was why I was staying behind so I didn't give the game away.

'So how are you holding up?' Hayley asked me, taking a sip of her own iced water.

'Okay I guess.' I stroked my stomach, I habit I had picked up during the pregnancy, 'I talked to the witches, humans and vampires about the introduction of the moonlight rings and people are antsy.' I shrugged, not really surprised.

'They're bound to be; everyone is with something that's new. Remember the initial suspicion with the treaty? When everyone sees that we just want the rings so we don't have to break every bone on a full moon, and so we don't feel like the only species at a disadvantage, it will all blow over.' Hayley assured me, but I could feel she was nervous about this herself.

'You don't think it's a good idea.' I stated, continuing when she looked surprised, 'you're going along with it because Jackson is. Don't get me wrong, just because I'm nervous about the idea, doesn't mean I don't understand why the wolves would want the rings. It offers power, a chance to no longer be the species that is overlooked and tossed aside. If Nik had come to me about the idea instead of going behind my back I would have been behind it, and the only reason it's still going ahead is because I am behind it. Wolves deserve some strength and freedom from the moon. You were right, Hayley it will work out.' I offered her a smile that she returned after squeezing my hands on top of the table.

We talked and laughed for a little before I made my way back to the compound and Hayley went to the Bayou. I was just about to get ready for bed when I heard and felt a familiar but unwelcome presence. Deciding I didn't want to be in the same room as her, I sat on the edge of our bed and listened.

'I asked around. It's not just your father. The purgatory, where supernatural souls are trapped is disintegrating.' Genevieve said.

'What do you mean disintegrating?' Elijah asked, his shoes tapping softly on the floor.

'She's right, more or less. It's actually imploding.' Nik joined in the conversation and my heart skipped a beat; I hadn't seen him since I had gotten back.

'I made a call to a rather reluctant Bennett witch in Mystic Falls, who said the same thing… the dead are being torn away into nothingness. And they're not interested in going quietly.' Nik continued, and I wouldn't have been surprised if he were making elaborate hand gestures as he explained.

'So you're saying that our father, faced with permanent extinction, has decided to spend his remaining time tormenting us.' Elijah paused, mulling over his own words before dryly saying, 'how delightful.'

'Well on the plus side, we'll soon be rid of his abhorrent soul forever. And what a good riddance that will be.' Nik sounded delighted about that, and honestly so was I.

'So am I in the clear, Elijah? Or is there a new conspiracy you two would like to threaten me over?' Genevieve said, rather snarkily for my taste.

'Nothing springs to mind at this precise moment.' Elijah answered, his tone made me outright laugh and when I felt their amusement I knew they had heard me. Due to my laughter, I had never heard her reply but I when I felt Nik join me in the bedroom, I knew she must have left.

'Something funny love?' He asked, amused himself.

'Elijah has a wicked sense of humor.' I told him plainly, stepping to place my hands on his shoulders, closing my eyes in pleasure when his hands started to gently move through my hair. We had his father tormenting us from the other side, witches-both dead and alive- looking to kill our babies and humans blowing up the bayou, but he managed to make me forget all of that with a single touch and I loved him for it.

The following day

'You look…' Elijah started from my left but I cut him off.

'Like death?' I finished with a cough, leaning into Nik's side when he placed a comforting arm around my waist.

'I was going to say lovely,' Elijah retorted with amusement as we walked down the street.

I rolled my eyes at him but offered him a thankful smile as a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me.

'I'm going to talk to Cami.' I murmured, giving Nik a soft kiss before making my way to the front of the line.

'Hey Kim,' Cami greeted me with a sad smile that I returned.

'How are you holding up?' I asked her, squeezing her hand and amplifying the comfort I was sending towards her.

'Not great. With him gone, I don't have anybody, you know?' Cami said, wiping tears from her cheeks.

'You have me. If you ever need anything, just let me know.' I assured her and I meant it.

'Thanks,' she smiled brightly.

'Just be careful- Francesca Correa was behind the bombings at the Bayou so whatever you do don't trust her.' I squeezed her hand, trying to convey how serious I was.

'Thanks for the warning. If I hear she's up to anything I'll let you know.' She smiled.

We shared a hug before I went to make my way back to Nik and Elijah, but I was overcome with a sudden coughing fit and was alarmed when I saw blood on my hand. I felt a huge pain in my abdomen and gripped my stomach, panicked, but I still couldn't stop coughing. I could feel Nik's worry and knew he was making his way over to me before I blacked out.

Klaus' POV

'Kim!' I yelled moving as fast as I could to get to her side as soon as the abdomen pain started. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.

When I saw her lying in a heap on the floor, my entire body went ice cold. I scooped her into my arms, ignoring whatever the red head was saying to me. Thankfully, Elijah noticed my impatience and kept the witch away from me as I walked as fast as I could to the compound, without using my supernatural speed; there were too many tourists around. When we reached our home I flashed her over to the table, laying her down gently after Elijah had pushed away the crockery that had been in place.

'What is going on?' I demanded, glaring at the suspicious witch.

'I don't know, but I can help.' She stepped forward and started chanted under her breath, but I growled protectively and flashed my eyes in warning.

'Brother, let her see if he can help.' Elijah murmured, I looked over to him and the concern around his eyes made my temper fizzle out just a little. I nodded over to Genevieve, silently giving her permission to step forward.

The witch had been chanting for a few moments when I had become frustrated with the lack of results and flashed to the other side of my mate, biting into my wrist and tilting her mouth open. It didn't work; the blood just ran down her chin and neck. Nothing was working.

'I can hear the baby's heart beat. But not hers,' Elijah murmured so quietly I almost didn't hear him, and when I focused my own hearing I realized he was right.

'How is this happening?' I demanded, throwing one of the dining room chairs against the wall with enough force to make it shatter, 'I can't lose either of them, Elijah.'

'And you won't.' Elijah assured me, though he didn't exactly sound sure of that himself.

'There's a spell I can do. If it is magic that did this to her it should identify the exact spell so that I can reverse it.' The witch said, her eyes assessing my brother and me.

'Well get on with it!' I yelled, frustrated. Thoughts of losing her, of losing our children were flashing through my mind so fast and unreserved that I was powerless to stop them. If I lost her, it would destroy me, more than anything ever had in my thousand years on this earth. She had to be all right. It was the only option.

Kim's POV

I blinked, trying to remove the blurriness from my vision. It took me a moment to remember what had happened and when I did I shot up from where I was sitting, well I tried to; the colossal bump that was my midsection made it near impossible. The best I managed was moving to my side and swinging my feet to the floor of the compound.

How had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered was being in the crowded streets of New Orleans, coughing my guts up. There had been a blinding pain in my abdomen; blood on my hand and then everything went black. Nik must have found me and bought me home, but the icy chill travelling down my spine told me that this wasn't home, at least not exactly. There was no sound, none coming from inside the house, none from the usually lively streets that surrounded the compound. There was nothing but the sound of my own breathing and it was making me nervous.

I heard the steps creek and whipped in that direction as fast as I could. When I was met with a man I knew to be dead, I took a step back in worry and dread. Worry because if I knew him to be dead, then did that mean I was too? Dread because I knew what this man was capable of, I knew how much he hated Nik and how much he would hate me by default.

'What the hell am I doing here, Mikael?' I demanded, refusing to be intimidated by him; the fear he inspired in Nik helped me stay strong. I hated this man for what he had done to the man I love.

'It seems the witches here in New Orleans aren't very fond of you, my darling,' he taunted, stepping towards me while I stepped back, 'my darling wife has them after your baby.'

Before I could blink, he was behind me, his arm wrapped around my neck and his free hand pulling at my hair.

'Well it's a shame it won't work out for her isn't it?' I muttered, easily removing his grip from my neck and using it as leverage to spin around and kick him in the abdomen with enough force to send him flying into the wall.

'I'm not as breakable as I was the last time you saw me, asshole.' I sneered, not taking my eyes off him for one second, 'whatever this is, Nik and Elijah will find a way to stop it. Me and the baby will be fine.' I told him, careful not to tell him that I was actually carrying twins, if he didn't know it then I wasn't about to grace him with the information.

Mikael laughed darkly as he flashed over to me, but I had anticipated his move and jumped onto the first floor landing.

'I'm amazed you have so much faith in the bastard, darling. He isn't capable of loving anyone other than himself. And he certainly will not make a good father. Nothing will save that atrocity festering in your womb. Klaus will destroy it one way or another. Better it dies now.' His voice boomed and echoed off the compound walls, but his words didn't make me angry because I knew they weren't true.

'Nik will be an amazing father, you know why?' I punched him in the nose when he tried to sneak up behind me, my hit stunned him giving me the opportunity to escape his clutches before I finished my sentence, 'because he is amazing, kind, gentle and compassionate despite your attempts to snuff those traits out of him for so long. Those are things that will help him be the best father and the abuse he had to endure from you will help him keep from becoming the monster he was "raised" by. Our baby is not dying by your or anyone's hands.' I could help but use air quotes around the word raised, because in my book, emotionally and physically abusing your children didn't count as raising them.

'How dare you stand by him? He is a walking symbol of weakness!' He yelled in outrage.

'How dare you! Nik and the rest of your children are the strongest people I know. They had to become that way to be able to survive running from you for so long. And now they're free.' I snapped his arm in half when he tried to stab me in the stomach with the leg of a nearby chair, when he fell to his knees I whispered into his ear, my voice venomous, 'they are free to live their lives without looking over their shoulder wondering if their devil of a father is going to turn up and ruin everything, all because he blamed the boy of an affair. Personally I would have been more angry at your wife.'

'He was the abomination!' He protested, wincing in pain when I snapped his femur with a vicious kick to his leg.

'He never was, nor will he ever be an abomination. He's different, the first hybrid to ever walk the earth, none of that was his choice, nor is it a bad thing.' I told him, just about to give up talking to him and snap his neck for some bloody peace and quiet when the world was yanked around me and I was jolting awake in the same place, but a different plane.

I gasped for the second time, jolting up and about to get defensive when I sense the people that are actually around me.

'You're alright, love.' Nik murmured in my ear, his warm breath tickling and soothing me all at once.

'I saw him.' I said, the shock from the whole ordeal catching up with me.

'Saw who?' Elijah asked, confused and holding one of my hands. I could tell that what had happened had terrified both brothers and I didn't think twice before sending comforting waves to the both of them.

'Mikael. He was trying to kill the-,' I cut off amended my next word when I noticed a certain red head standing near by, 'baby. What are you doing here?'

'She bought you back.' Elijah told me, squeezing my hand and silently telling me to play nice.

'Thank you.' I muttered, even if it was a little reluctantly.

'You're welcome. I'll leave you all to recuperate.' She forced a smile and I can't say I was sad to see her go.

'You do realize that witches were behind this, right?' I said, shuffling off the dining room table with a hand from each Mikaelson. Once I was on my feet Elijah released me and Klaus gently pulled me to his side, planting a kiss to the top of my head and inhaling my scent.

'I know love. Trust me we will find out who was behind it.' Nik vowed, looking me up and down of any injuries, 'did he do anything to you?'

'No.' I shook my head, sending him a reassuring smile, 'he tried, but I'm not as docile as I was the last time I crossed paths with him.' They didn't miss the meaning behind my words, both of them trying to fight smiles. When Nik's attempts revealed his dimples, I couldn't resist leaning forward and kissing them both.

'I would have loved to have seen it.' Elijah chuckled dryly.

I felt the corners of my eyes tighten in anger when I remembered the words he had said, and smiled innocently when Nik gave me a questioning look.

'What did he say to you?' He gently placed his index finger under my chin to force me to meet his gaze.

'Nothing true,' I assured him with a soft smile, bringing my hand to the side of his face and rubbing my thumb back and forth gently.

'You can tell me anything, you know.' He threw my own words back at me with a small smirk and I huffed a little but smiled regardless.

'That man's already hurt you enough; I'm not subjecting you to the bullshit he's just been spouting. You've heard enough to last you a life time.' I ran my hands gently through his curls.

'You know he will just keep asking until you tell him.' Elijah said, his tone amused but happy as he watched us both interact. I was surprised to feel Elijah's intrigue over what had happened as well.

'You both want to know?' I asked, looking in between the both of them. When they nodded, I sighed in defeat and sank down in the middle of the three-seater sofa, patting the cushions either side of me. When I nodded my assent they both placed a hand on either side of my face, and I relaxed into my seat, allowing them to enter my mind.

I couldn't quite describe how it felt letting someone into your mind, the place that was your own personal solitude, and feel them taking control of what happened. I could feel them sifting through my memories, not pausing too long on any that weren't what they were looking for, as they searched for the correct one. It was like reliving it again, but I could sense Klaus and Elijah watching over me as it happened. I felt the confusion, anger, worry and frustration all over again. As well as that, I could also sense exactly how Nik and Elijah were feeling as they watched the whole scene. Their joined fury over his words, their panic when he tried to attack me, their pride when I gained the upper hand and their absolute adoration as I stood up for our family. They both came out of my mind together, and I had to force myself to open my eyes; the day's events were starting to catch up with me really fast. I was exhausted.

'You stood up to him.' Nik murmured so quietly that I wasn't sure I heard him correctly.

'Rather gallantly I might add.' Elijah sent me a proud smile.

'I will always stand up for you,' I squeezed Nik's hand before I continued, 'and this family. Always and forever.'

'Let's get you to bed love.' Nik stood from the sofa and offered me his hand, gently pulling me to my feet. I sent him an appreciative smile; I was close to being dead on my feet.

'Night, Lijah',' I murmured as I passed him, ruffling his hair and laughing when he shot me an unimpressed look.

We made our way up to the third floor slowly and quietly. I could feel that Nik had gone emotionally numb, and with everything that had happened in the past twenty four hours, I couldn't say I blamed him. When we reached our room, I gently tugged him over the threshold and locked the door behind us. I was silent while I carefully changed into my pajamas- Bekah had been nice enough to ship me some maternity clothes after saying that her "brothers may be excellent protectors, but they won't even think about a pregnant woman needing a wardrobe that accustomed to her growing frame". The nightgown I was currently wearing was a soft grey and made of silk. Nik had told me I looked like a waterfall when I had first worn it, and I had woken up to him painting me the next day, I was a late riser so when I had realized what he had been doing he had already been putting the finishing touches on it.

'Nik?' My voice was quiet as I bought my hand to the side of his face and gently forced those stormy blue eyes to meet my gaze once we had gotten comfortable in bed, 'talk to me.'

He stared at me for a long time, and I was starting to wonder if he was having another episode similar to when I told him I was having twins. Just as I was about to yell for Elijah, his hand covered mine where it rested on the side of his face and he let out a sigh that caused his shoulders to buckle in defeat.

'I thought Mikael was gone forever and now-,' He stopped with a stuttered breath, I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to his lips, amplifying the comfort and reassurance I was sending towards him. When he relaxed, his muscles fell into the mattress as he became calm rather than anxious and I felt relieved.

'He will be. The other side is falling apart and it won't be long before we never have to worry about seeing his sorry ass ever again.' My hand tangled into his hair, and tugged gently as a devilish grin formed on my face, 'you're a big bad original hybrid remember? Nothing can come up against you and win, Nik. You should know that by now.'

His ocean blue eyes regarded me for a moment as he considered my words. I knew he was paying attention to my feelings as well, to see if I had meant my words behind my teasing tone, and I had. He was strong, powerful and basically invincible. Mikael's emotional abuse made him forget that, but I had no problem reminding him. When he still didn't seem sure, I placed a kiss to his cheek, lingering for a moment as I whispered against his skin.

'You're the strongest person I know, Nik. You make me strong. Without you I wouldn't be able to face most of the problems we've had since we came to New Orleans. You keep me grounded and you make me strong enough to fight.' I told him, meaning every word. I could tell that he needed to hear that, he needed to know that he was strong enough for me to draw my strength from him, because in the next moment, he captured my lips in a passionate, thankful and startling kiss.

'You are everything to me, Kimberly.' He whispered against my mouth, his eyes staring into mine.

'And you're everything to me.' I assured him.