We all stared. I sank down in my chair, hoping he wouldn't notice me. His eyes were sweeping the room without really seeing any of us properly as we stared, unsure of what to do. Elijah broke the silence first.

"Niklaus. We weren't expecting you." He got to his feet and moved to stand between the table and his brother. Rebekah got up and joined him.

"Particularly since when we saw you last, we made it clear we didn't want to ever see you again," she growled. It was strange seeing Rebekah address him with actual malice. I'd seen her angry at him before but that was always different. Her voice was full of venom and hatred infected every word.

"Well I heard that there was some miracle vampire pregnancy occurring in the city and like a wise man I came to see if there was any truth to it. Is there?" Rebekah and Elijah exchanged glances. "Oh? Really? It appears my trip was not in vain. Who's the lucky girl? I'll have to pay her a visit."

"No need." I said, getting to my feet. "I'm right here." Kol grabbed my arm, trying to keep me in place but I shrugged him off. I walked around the table and between the two siblings until I was stood in front of Klaus. I locked eyes with him.

"Elena…"

"Niklaus."

"You're…"

"Not dead? I know. But then again, you never saw the body. You didn't even look for it. You just decided… I wasn't worth searching for."

"You're pregnant."

"Yes. I am. I'm also in the middle of something right now and since you've walked in, uninvited, you can walk right back out and stay out until we are finished here." He didn't move. I sighed and turned back to the table.

"I understand if this unexpected arrival has ruined people's appetites and you're under no obligation to stay for something that will most likely be quite unpleasant." No one moved. I gave them a grateful smile before turning back to Klaus. He was still staring at me as if in shock. I folded my arms and he blinked, looking at his brother.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because we didn't want you to know," Rebekah said. "Because we all hate you."

"Be that is it may, I had a right to know if Elena is carrying my child."

"It's not your child," snapped Kol.

"And even if it was, which it's not, you don't…" I paused and looked over at Jeremy. "Cover your ears." I turned back to Klaus. "You do not get an automatic right of access just because you spent five minutes on top of me one time."

"It's my child and you should have told me."

"How can you just assume that it's your child?"

"Of course it's mine. Werewolves can have children. Vampires can't. I have wolf DNA. Ergo, it must be mine. Now, why didn't you tell me?" I rolled my eyes, ignoring his deductions.

"Let's review the actions that might have stopped us from telling you Klaus. You abandoned me for dead. You daggered all of your siblings. You drove Elijah insane, you made Finn starve himself and you turned Kol into a drunken wreck. Are you getting the picture?"

"Not to mention turning Tyler against his will," added Caroline, coming over to stand with me. Tyler followed her. "Or trying to sacrifice us"

"Or killing my aunt and uncle," said Jeremy, coming to my other side.

"Or possessing me," said Alaric, joining us.

"Or trying to kill me." Bonnie was at my side.

"Or actually killing Elena. Or kidnapping my brother. Or kidnapping Elena, twice." Damon put his hand on my shoulder.

"As well as generally terrorising us and our town" finished Matt.

"Exactly," I glared at Klaus. "So leave. And if you go now, without causing a fuss, I'll consider letting you be part of their life. If you don't, we will remove you forcibly and I will ensure that you never get to see my child." He scoffed.

"You really think your little ragtag group can stop me?" I looked over to Elijah.

"Can I…? I really want to."

"Yeah, go ahead."

I stepped forward closed my eyes and took a deep breath, summoning the magic inside of me. I didn't strain for it, I just opened my body to it and felt the warmth spread through me. When I opened my eyes, Klaus was watching me with an eyebrow raised. I lifted my hand slowly, considering what to do, and curled my fingers into a fist. Klaus let out a strangled growl of pain, clutching his head. I watched him, feeling the power radiate off me. He fell to his knees, blood beginning to drip from his nose. I looked to Elijah and Kol and gestured for them to remove him. They dragged him out and locked the gate behind him. I sat down, feeling exhausted.

"Remind me not to piss Elena off," said Tyler.

"It's not that impressive," I said. "Bonnie can do that one too. And she probably doesn't feel so shitty afterwards."

Everyone returned to the table and started picking at their desserts although the mood had been ruined.

"So I'm guessing it's not… confirmed that you're the father?" Alaric asked Kol.

"Those details are at Elena's discretion to disclose." Kol said.

"And Elena would prefer it if we did not discuss her sex life over dessert." I said.

"Alright, how about we discuss your hybrid problem instead? Since I very much doubt that Klaus will stay away and you might not be able to hold him off next time." Damon said. "And your guards are all vampires, who can easily be dispatched with one bite."

"Well… maybe, if Klaus was just a vampire again you could keep him at bay?" Caroline asked.

"It would certainly make the task easier," said Finn, "But I'm not sure we'd be able to."

"Your mother did it once… surely we can just repeat the spell?" I asked.

"Isn't that the spell that requires your death?" Jeremy asked.

"No that's how it gets undone."

"But if you put the spell on him that requires you to be killed to undo it, surely he will just do the same ceremony that will undo it. And kill you in the process."

"Well there's got to be another way to bind his wolf side." I said.

"In the meantime," Elijah said. "It would be a good idea if-"

"If that sentence ends with a suggestion that I don't leave the house, I will blast you out of that door to join your brother."

"Try sealing her in. It's worked before," said Damon. Elijah ignored him, focused on me.

"Well there is an angry hybrid after you." He pointed out.

"Angry hybrid can get into the house. As previously demonstrated. So staying inside achieves nothing." I turned to Jeremy. "Are you guys leaving tomorrow?"

"No, we're staying a few days. We figured we may as well enjoy the town while we're here."

"Awesome. I can show you around?"

"Sounds like a plan." Elijah made a disapproving noise.

"Come on, I'll be surrounded by vampires, a vampire hunter, a witch and a hybrid. I'll be fine." He didn't look happy about it but nodded reluctantly. We finished up our meal and everyone said their goodbyes. I directed some of the vampires to follow them and make sure they made it to their hotel without Klaus interfering. I helped tidy up and then headed up to my room. The siblings looked like they wanted to talk about the night's events but I waved them away. I lay on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. I had a sour taste in my mouth. My evening had been well and truly spoiled. I picked up my makeshift spell book (the collection of spells I'd gathered and that Kol had given me) and flicked through in an effort to distract myself. Maybe I could find something to strip Klaus' wolf side… make him less of a threat…

I considered for a minute. I could always do the moon reversal spell and trap him as a wolf for most of the month. I mean, I had the spell for that one and how much damage could he do like that? Resolved, I put the book down.

I lay in bed listening to the siblings downstairs until the noises faded and gave way to silence. I closed my eyes and was beginning to doze off when I heard a strange noise coming from my bedroom door. I sat up, cocking my head slightly to listen. It went silent for a minute and I was beginning to think I'd imagined it when I heard the sound again. It was a scratching noise, claws on wood. I got up and walked towards the door, stopping beside it. The noise cut off. I waited. It only took a few minutes before it started up again. I could see now shadows moving on the other side of the door, the strip of light between floor and door being cut off intermittently as whatever was there scrabbled and scratched.

I opened the door. A wolf was stood on the other side. When I opened the door, it let out a startled yelp and retreated a step.

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "We're doing this this way?" The wolf cocked its head to the side, looking up at me. I sighed. "Fine, come on in then."

I stepped aside. The wolf ran past and into the room. It leapt up onto the bed and lay there, resting its head on its paws.

"Make yourself at home why don't you." I came and sat on the bed beside the animal. "This conversation would go a lot easier if you could participate in it." He didn't move. "Look I know you're mad at me. If I'm honest, I'm mad at you. And I have a lot more reason to be. It's natural for you to want to be involved in your child's life but… I don't think it's a good idea. You're just… not… good. I used to think you were completely evil and I know now that's not true. You're just a product of your own screwed up parenting. But you have to admit that you have your flaws. You're selfish and cruel and you terrify me sometimes… I don't want that for my children… I don't want you to be another Mikael." The wolf whined. "You know you're a lot easier to talk to like this." I reached over and, after a moment's hesitation, gently ran my fingers through his fur. "I know you probably won't listen but please… please don't ruin this. I'm happy for the first time in years. I want my children to be happy. And I don't know if that can happen with you."

The wolf licked my hand. I lay down and he moved to lay beside me, resting his head against the curve of my belly.

"It might not even be… I mean, I've had vampire and witch symptoms… no werewolf symptoms though." I played with the fur around his ears. "I'm sorry about what I said, but you really did hurt me. I used to think you were a monster… and then you made me care about you… and then you abandoned me." I felt tears on my cheek. "Why would you do that?"

The wolf whimpered and nuzzled against me.

"Why can't you be like this all the time?"

He nipped my fingertip lightly and I smiled sadly. This was more like the man I had come to know and care about, the sweet hurt man that hid beneath the monster he presented. It was funny that I felt closest to him now when he was furthest from human. I closed my eyes, lightly running my fingers through his fur. I found the action soothing and the feeling of his hot breath through my pyjama t-shirt was oddly comforting.

"Please think about it," I murmured. The tears continued to run down my cheeks as I lay with the wolf, arms wrapped around his slim furry body.

A/N: I can't guarantee happy chapters for the rest of the week. Would you guys rather I wait until it's more likely to be happy or just let me post sadness?