A.N.- Shoutout to CayCay1996! Please check out her Klaus/OC story, "Betrayal Knows My Name" :)

I'm going back to school this week :/ not fun. I'll still be able to upload every weekend like I do now. There's not too much left in this story so soon I'll be starting a new one. Suggestions are welcome. Please review and enjoy.

Song: Morning Parade - Speechless (Acoustic)

Messy, dirty curls fell around her face, shrouding her from the pale-faced monster with sharp teeth and blood-red eyes. She hid under the table while it lurked in the corner of the room, hiding in the shadows. All she could see were its glinting white teeth and eyes.

It looked like her, only older and covered with blood. There was blood on its hands. Its face. Its clothes. Every exposed surface was splattered crimson.

"Go away." Her soprano voice shook with fear as she looked into the monsters eyes. "Leave me alone."

The monster growled and stepped out of the shadows, into the only beam of light in the room that came from the cracked door. It crept toward her slowly, the floorboards creaking under its feet.

Belle tried to get away, to run, but was frozen in fear.

She blinked her eyed as tears started to fill them, and suddenly the monster was gone. Her eyes darted from left to right and she blinked again. It was no where to be seen.

Suddenly the floor creaked behind her. Slowly she turned her body to look, and was met with the same red eyes she feared. They seemed to stare right into her soul, chilling her from the inside out.

A scream escaped her lips as it flipped over the table and pinned her to the floor with its bloodied hands.

She screamed as loud as she could, but no one heard. No one came to her rescue.

"What do you mean, Elijah?" Klaus sat in a cushioned chair next to the bed where Belle lay unconscious. "How can that man be my father. Mikael killed my father."

"How can our mother be alive? Or Mikael? There's a very good chance that this man is telling the truth. If he is, we should listen," Elijah insisted, putting on his very-serious-big-brother face.

Klaus rolled his eyes and failed to stifle a scoff. "And why, brother, would we do that?" He turned his head to face Elijah, sitting up taller, but not standing. He hadn't left Belle's side since she had been home.

"Because he can help her," Cal interjected. He too had refused to leave Belle in her unconscious state. "That's what you want, isn't it? To help her: the woman you love, the mother of your unborn child, my daughter?" He crossed his arms firmly over his chest and locked his eyes with Klaus'.

Much like his daughter, Cal wasn't afraid to butt heads with Klaus. He was stubborn and obstinate when it came to what he wanted. Klaus had noticed the similarities between the two - Belle and her father - and couldn't help but agree with him.

"Fine," he relented, staring at his shoes. "Bring in the man who calls himself my father and we'll hear what 'help' he has to offer." His eyes met Elijah's. Elijah nodded and stepped out of the room.

Moments later Elijah reentered with a strange man behind him. Klaus immediately recognized him. A thousand years ago he had found this man in the woods, after Mikael had raided the village and murdered everyone in it, stabbed through the middle with a tree trunk. He recognized him by the tattoo on his forearm - three encircled crescent moons.

Klaus stood from the chair, but didn't take a step toward the ghost that stood before him. That's what he had to be - a ghost. He couldn't be here, in the same room with him. "Father," he whispered, not realizing he was saying the word aloud.

"My son," the man said. It was a greeting. He knew who the man before him was - as did Klaus.

"Ansel, could you tell Klaus what you told me," Elijah said, breaking the silence that followed Ansel and Klaus' words.

Ansel's eyes darted around the room, meeting Cal's for a moment, and glancing at Belle's almost motionless form, before meeting Klaus'. "Ester used the same spell to put Mikael to sleep many times, years ago. I would find the orchid for her to both put him down and revive him."

Klaus narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Orchid?"

Ansel nodded. "The marelock orchid. I can retrieve it for you so that you can revive her." His eyes flickered to Belle.

"Why don't you just tell me where it is so I can go and get it myself?"

"Wouldn't it be easier to just go with him?" Cal suggested.

Klaus glared at him. "Stay out of this."

"She's my daughter, I should have a say in how to help her."

"He's trying to help us, Niklaus. You agreed to listen," Elijah added.

Klaus headed for the door. "And I think I've heard quite enough. I'll go find the damned thing myself." He pushed past Ansel, knocking shoulders with him, and walked quickly downstairs.

First Mikael crawls back from the grave, them his mother shows up at their door, and now his father shows up claiming to want to help him. Klaus didn't believe it. Ansel loved Ester, which meant that he would do anything she wanted. He knew she was using Ansel in her plot to make her children human. He wouldn't give in.

After trekking through the dense, humid woods for a solid hour it was safe to say that Klaus didn't have the slightest idea where he was going.

He paused and leaned against a tree, staring up at the thicket of leaves and branches overhead that nearly concealed the blue sky. Sometimes his stubbornness could be a real curse. Perhaps he should've let Ansel help him in this wild goose chase for some magical orchid.

Apparently Ansel had the same idea because Klaus heard a branch snap a few yards behind him and caught a hint of his scent.

Klaus pinned him to a tree by his throat, noting the blade clutched in his right hand. "Stop following me."

Ansel stared back at him, his face expressionless. He said nothing.

"I don't know what exactly Ester has put you up to, and I have no intention of finding out at the moment." Klaus tightened his grip and narrowed his eyes, which were a shade or two of blue darker than Ansel's, and full of anger and frustration. Ansel's were calm. "Now fuck off. I'm in a hurry, if it isn't obvious." Klaus released his grip, trusting Ansel's head back slightly, and started walking away.

"Let me help you Klaus. Without me, you'll likely be searching for quite some time. Months, perhaps. And I know you don't have that kind of time. Every minute we waste arguing is another she spends suffering."

Klaus' eyes shifted to the trees around them as he realized that his father was right. He let out a deep sigh. "Where would you suggest we look?"

Klaus glanced at Ansel to see a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "The west. Come." Ansel motioned for Klaus to follow him.

"Son of a bitch!" Colton's voice echoed through the trees as Klaus and Ansel approached a clearing.

"I told you not to touch it," Cal said.

Of course they came. Klaus rolled his eyes.

Klaus soon saw what "it" was. The tree which housed the orchids was surrounded by vervain. "Of course," he muttered.

"How the hell are we supposed to get it?" Colton rubbed the healing burn on his fingertips as he looked to the other men for suggestions.

"I'll retrieve it for you," Ansel said, a hint of smugness in his voice and on his face. Of course he would, he was only one that safely could since he was the only one who wasn't a vampire.

"How convenient," Klaus mumbled. Ester always found a way to get what she wanted. She wanted Ansel to help, and now he was.

Without warning, Ansel threw his blade at the ground and stepped toward Klaus, his eyes burning with anger and pent up frustration. "Your mother did not bring me back from the dead to do her bidding. How many times must I tell you this? I'm not lying, Niklaus." His voice softened. "We could stand here and argue your suspicions further, or I could get the marelock."

Klaus stepped toward him, not the least bit intimidated - or so he seemed. "Gather the orchids."

Ansel backed off and turned toward the tree, picking up his blade to cut down the plants. Colton and Cal stepped aside, exchanging an uncomfortable expression after witnessing the argument. He delicately cut a few orchids from the vine that wrapped around the tree trunk.

Thought he'd never say it aloud, Klaus was grateful. Not just because Ansel was helping them, but because maybe now, after a millennium, he could get the father he had always longed for. Maybe he wouldn't have to be the son of Mikael anymore.

The sun had taken its leave for the evening, bathing the forest in black, aside from the glow of the waning crescent moon and the fire that flickered before them. The four supernatural men sat around the fire on fallen tree trunks, each one equidistant from the other. They looked like a group of kids at camp who really didn't want to be there.

Colton chewed his nails as he watched Ansel cut the flowers with his blade. "Well this is...kinda like camping." He chuckled. "Right guys?" He looked around at each of them, waiting for an answer, but was only given silence.

"How much longer will that take?" Klaus snapped; the anxiety in his voice was evident.

Ansel glanced up at him as he worked. "Not long."

Cal cleared his throat and started fishing around the pocket of his leather jacket. "Well, might as well pass the time," he said as he pulled out a silver flask. He took a quick sip and passed it to Colton.

Colton took the flask and sniffed it cautiously. He was one of those men who act like they drink a lot, but actually don't. "What is this?"

"Scotch."

He sipped it warily and winced at the taste. "Damn," he muttered in between coughing fits. "That's strong." He extended his hand to Klaus, offering the drink to him.

Klaus took it without hesitation and drank, likely draining half of the flask. He held it in his hand for a few seconds, watching the flames dance on the reflective metal. He turned to Ansel and extended his arm, flask in hand, toward him.

Ansel shook his head. "I'm fine." He returned his attention to his work.

Klaus shrugged and took another swig before handing the flask back to Cal.

Once Ansel finished preparing the orchids they rushed back to the compound.

Klaus and Cal stood by Belle's bedside. Klaus took the pieces of the orchids that were crushes into a near powder form and rubbed it carefully onto the side of her neck, moving her hair out of the way with his thumb. She twitched slightly at his touch but didn't awaken.

"Maybe I should try to enter her thoughts and pull her out," Cal suggested.

Klaus shook his head. "I'll do it." He bent down and placed a hand gently on her arm. Her skin was cool and glistened with sweat.

He got down on his knees to whisper in her ear. He took a deep breath, relaxing a little as he inhaled her familiar scent. "I'm not sure if you can hear me, but if you can please wake up. We need you here, with us." His voice broke a little and his breath got caught in his throat. He quickly regained his composure, mostly because he wasn't alone in the room. "I need you," he whispered even softer.

Klaus closed his eyes and cleared his mind, which wasn't easy, and entered hers. There was a forest, dark and dense. And screaming. A little girl screaming in the distance. Her screams drew closer, so close that he swore she was right beside him, before he was pushed out of her thoughts abruptly. Everything he had seen disappeared in a flash and he was once again looking at her immobile form.

Something wet and warm was pooling under his nose and dripping around his lips. He brought a wary hand to his nose, realizing that it was bleeding. He groaned under his breath and walked in a fit of frustration to the bathroom to clean up.

Once the door closed behind Klaus, Cal seized the opportunity to try his hand at pulling Belle from her hell.

He bent down beside her, as Klaus had, and placed a careful hand on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and took down the wall to his thoughts, letting hers flood his mind.

Cal found himself standing in a forest at night. His eyes darted from left to right and he saw her, though she wasn't like how he had expected her to be. She was a child again - maybe nine. She breathed in and out heavily like she had been running. And from the frightened look in her eyes it looked as though she was running from something. What?

"Belle," he walked over to her, getting down on his knees so he could look her in the eyes directly. He reached out to hug her with one arm, but she pushed him away.

"She's coming." Her eyes anxiously looked around like she was waiting for something to pop out at them without warning. "We have to leave! Father, we need to go." She took a few steps, grabbing onto his arm tightly and pulling.

"Who's coming?" He stood his ground, trying to calm her down.

"The monster. She's coming. We need to leave, now!" Cal could see fearful tears start to slip down her cheeks. "Please daddy, don't let her hurt me."

He pulled her to his chest, resting his chin on her head. He held her arms down at her sides as she tried to pull away. "Shhh, nothing will hurt you, Little Bear. I promise. You need to come home. Please." He pulled away, keeping his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her pale blue eyes and wiped away her tears with his thumb. "You're so strong, so brave. No one will hurt you."

She smiled weakly and nodded. The fear in her eyes waned.

Suddenly he was pulled from his thoughts - her thoughts.

Belle was stirring under his grasp, tossing and turning roughly. Klaus was back on the other side of the bed, anxious eyes watching her every movement. Cal released his hold on her and got to his feet.

Seconds later her eyes flashed open and she shot straight up, taking in fast and shallow breathes. She looked around, confused. Her eyes met Klaus' as he moved to steady her. "Where the hell am I?"

After showering and changing into a fresh pair of clothes, Belle sat at the foot of the bed, clutching the bent up sonogram picture with both hands, holding it delicately by her fingertips like she was afraid it would disintegrate.

Klaus sat down beside her, eyes locked on the picture. "When did you get that?"

Her eyes flickered to his face for a second before moving back to her Little Klaus. "Before...everything." She forced a half smile. She turned and handed him the photo. "Do you want to know whether it's a boy or a girl?"

He nodded as he looked over the black and white photo in his hands. "Of course."

"It's a boy." She laughed quietly to herself. "We're going to have a son." She could still hardly believe that it was true. She was tempted to pinch herself to see if maybe she was still asleep, stuck in the comatose state she had just awoken from.

She didn't look at him, but she was sure that Klaus was grinning ear to ear.

She however, felt numb. Despite being conscious, her mind wasn't entirely with her. She was still stuck in her nightmare.

Of all the things that could've plagued her thoughts, the demon that chose to haunt her was herself.

She stood as she locked eyes with the stranger that stared back at her from the mirror across the room. Its eyes were a pale, icy blue. Its moments matched hers perfectly. It was her in every way, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it. The face that haunted her thoughts couldn't be her own.

As she stood face-to-face with the monster in the mirror all she could do was think about how much she wanted to get away from it. She couldn't bear it.

Her fist hit the glass before she had another second to think about what she was doing. The glass shattered onto the floor, some of it sticking into her knuckles. She barely felt its sting as blood oozed from her wounds.

She smiled when she looked back at the mirror - the monster was gone. It couldn't taunt her anymore.

"Nothing will hurt you, Little Bear. I promise."

Something in the doorway caught her eye - her father. She met his eyes - eyes she had missed for hundreds of years - and smiled. He was right. Nothing would hurt her, not anymore. She was a bear: strong, motherly, brave. And, most of all, protective.

No one would hurt her again. No one would hurt her son.