AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello my lovelies, is anyone still alive after our ship became canon the other night? And does Julie really think that we are going to be sated by that one bout of hot hybrid sex? She doesn't know us very well does she?

Anyways, again huge apologies for taking so long to update. I've been having a bit of writer's block and then all of the anticipation for the last episode killed my concentration. But neither of those are good excused for leaving you guys with such a cliffhanger for so long. Speaking of which, I'm in the running at the Klaroline Magazine for update of the month so if you feel so inclined, go over and vote for me please!

Thanks to klarolineepiclove, hybridlovelies, a-little-blonde-distraction and jomosfamilyjewels for their betaing help!

I'll shut up now and let you read.

Part 55

Caroline's body was consumed by an all-out terror and she found it difficult for her to breathe. She had taken them, Tatia had her kids and they had no idea where she had gone with them. Twenty minutes wasn't long but in many ways it was an eternity. What was she doing? Was she planning to leave Boston? Was she doing this because Klaus had told her that he wouldn't let her see them? Was that all or was it something else? Maybe to hurt Klaus and if that was her motivation, would she hurt them? She didn't know and she felt her heart speed up, beating so fast that she wouldn't be surprised if it came out of her chest.

"Caroline? Are you okay?" Ms. Agnes asked, noticing the paleness in the woman's face and the way her hand seemed to tremble. "Caroline?"

Caroline heard her name called and it snapped her out of her thoughts. Her eyes focused on Ms. Agnes' concerned ones and she suddenly realized that panicking wasn't going to help or get the twins back. "Ms. Agnes, call the police, immediately. Tell them that two kids have been abducted."

"Abducted?" Ms. Agnes repeated, clearly confused. "But their aunt…"

"That wasn't their aunt; it was their mother, her twin. I'll explain more but after you call the police." Caroline ordered before she pulled her own phone out of her pocket. She needed to call Klaus; he needed to know what was going on. It rang twice before she heard Mindy's voice on the other line. "Mindy, where's Klaus? I need him."

"Sorry Caroline, he's in a meeting but I can have him…"

"No." Caroline snapped. "I don't care what the hell he is doing right now or what priceless piece of art he is restoring to its former glory, pull him out of the meeting right now, it's the twins."

No further argument came from the other line as Mindy went to do as ordered. From the first days of taking care of the twins, Caroline had been told that Mindy was under strict orders to get Klaus immediately, no matter the circumstances, if any crisis with the twins came up and this was definitely a crisis.

Caroline could hear Ms. Agnes relaying information to someone on the other end of the line as she spoke to the police before Klaus' familiar voice filled her ear. "Caroline? What's wrong?"

"She took them Klaus." Caroline declared. "The twins."

"What? What do you mean she took them?" Klaus asked, the disbelief and fear clear in his voice.

"I came to pick them up from school and they're gone. Tatia has Henry and Lexi." Caroline explained.

"I'm on my way." Klaus replied before she heard the line disconnect.

She found herself somewhat surprised that he had cut short their conversation, thinking that he would want to know everything but also worried that he might get in an accident or something on the way. He would be worried about the twins and his mind wouldn't be on his own safety. He was no use to the twins if he ended up in the hospital. Before she had more time to think about Klaus, Ms. Agnes was done with her phone call and and relayed her conversation with the police.

To the outside observer, Klaus looked as if he was just any other crazy Boston driver, weaving in and out of traffic carelessly but nothing could be farther from the truth. He was a man on a mission and that mission was to get to his destination as quickly as possible and damn anyone who got in his way.

As soon as Mindy had barged into his office, Klaus had known something was wrong, which she confirmed when she told him that Caroline needed him urgently on the phone. But that warning had done nothing to prepare him for the horror that went through him when Caroline had told him that Tatia had taken the twins. He had been catapulted back eight years to the day she had left and he had thought she had stolen them away before. He quickly shouted out an explanation to Mindy before rushing out of his office.

During the short drive, a million and one thoughts rushed through Klaus' head. He didn't want to believe that she would hurt them, but he hadn't considered the idea that she would take them either. He did know that if she hurt one hair on either of their heads, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from letting his temper take over and he would not be responsible for his actions. The twins' scared faces floated into his mind and he was surprised he didn't crack the steering wheel. It was a small comfort but he was glad that they had each other at least.

He screeched to a halt in front of the twins' school, his eyes taking in the two police cars before he jumped out of the vehicle and bolted to the front door, Kol hot on his heels. His brother had been with him in the meeting and had heard first hand what had happened, then followed after him. They did not make it far once they went through the door before an officer stepped in front of him. "I'm sorry sir but…"

"Klaus!" Klaus heard Caroline call out to him before he saw her barreling down the hallway towards him. He caught her in his arms as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder. He hugged her tight, one of his hands cupping the back of her head while the other was around her waist.

"Their teacher thought that it was Katherine who picked them up." Caroline explained. "But I was on the phone with her and knew it wasn't her...I knew it was Tatia."

"Mr. Mikaelson?" He heard someone say. He pulled away from Caroline enough to look up at the police officer standing in front of him. "I'm Lieutenant Shane, Atticus Shane and I am the officer in charge here."

Klaus nodded in acknowledgement before speaking. "Have you found my children yet?"

"Unfortunately, no." The Lieutenant answered. "My team and I have spoken to Henrik and Alexandria's teacher Agnes Dubois as well as Ms. Forbes to gather all the information needed. In the interim, photos of the children from Ms. Forbes as well as the adult they were last seen with were radioed to officers throughout the city and surrounding areas. Officers are on the lookout as well as searching various areas."

"What about the bus station or airports?" Kol asked, speaking for the first time.

"They have been alerted as well as a request for an Amber alert as well, it should be granted shortly. The first twenty-four hours are the most important in any abduction." Lt. Shane replied.

"However air travel or any public form of travel with two children who may or may not be willing would not be easy. I have been informed that the woman is your ex-wife who has no custodial rights and is not familiar with your twins?"

"That's correct." Klaus answered. "She had had no contact with me or my family for almost eight years until yesterday."

Lt. Shane nodded. "That is what Ms. Forbes stated as well that Mrs. Mikaelson and yourself are divorced?"

"Yes, after she left I filed for divorce and sole custody." Klaus explained trying not to cringe at the reference of Tatia being called Mrs. Mikaelson. "She asked to see the twins but I rejected her request. She did not take well to the rebuff but I didn't think she would go this far."

Lt. Shane nodded. "What of your children? How do you think they will react to this situation?"

"The twins are smart, and are some of the most level headed kids I've ever met but I don't know." Caroline answered looking at Klaus for confirmation.

"If they had phones or some other electronic we could use it to track them." Lt. Shane commented. "As it stands, we have been searching for cell phone listings for a Tatia Mikaelson or Pierce as well as searching hotels in the area."

"What can we do?" Klaus asked.

"Volunteers for search parties would be greatly appreciated." Lt. Shane stated.

Klaus nodded quickly, "My family and staff are rather large and at your disposal. I can have them here in less than an hour and we can..."

"I'm sorry Mr. Mikaelson, I understand your wish to help but I cannot allow it. We need you and Ms. Forbes to return to your home in case your ex-wife contacts you."

"You just want us to sit at home while Henry and Lexi are missing?" Caroline exclaimed.

"The best thing for you to do is to go home; a couple of my officers will accompany you, they will stay with you in the event that you are contacted." Lt. Shane clarified. "Just rest assured that we will do everything we can to bring your children home to you."

They both nodded; however, Caroline knew that none of them would be able to rest until they had the twins back.

/

Lexi watched out the window as the unfamiliar streets passed by. She had no idea where they were, she didn't recognize anything. She knew she wasn't an adult who would know the streets and where they were going because of driving but years of riding in the backseat, staring out the window Lexi knew what the streets should look like. And what she was seeing wasn't it. She pulled her gaze away from the window and glanced towards the front of the car where their aunt sat driving. When she saw that she wasn't paying attention to them, she turned towards her twin. He was so engrossed in his book that he didn't even notice the scenery outside.

"Henry." Lexi whispered, making sure her voice couldn't be heard over the music that was playing. It took him a moment to respond and she was about to elbow him when he paused in his reading and looked up at her. "What?"

"Where are we going?" She asked.

Henry just shrugged. "Ask Aunt Kat, she's the one that said Dad sent her to get us so maybe she's taking us back to her and Uncle Elijah's. I bet Dad and Caroline are doing more wedding stuff and that's why she came to pick us up."

"But why didn't Caroline tell us when she dropped us off at school?" Lexi queried only to be answered by a shrug. She was about to comment to Henry about how she didn't recognize what she was seeing out the window when the car slowed, turned and then stopped.

"We're here!" Their aunt called out, before hurrying out her door and swung open the door next to Lexi. They were barely out of the car when she started pushing them towards the small house that Lexi was pretty sure she'd never seen in her life.

"Come on you two, let's get inside." Aunt Kat ordered as she continued to urge them forward, looking around a lot as she did.

"What's the rush?" Henry asked.

"Well it's quite cold out here, don't you think?" She replied. Within a few minutes, she got them inside and the twins could see that it was empty.

"Where's Daniel and Baby Logan?" Lexi inquired as she looked around. There wasn't a lot of furniture or anything on the walls; it looked nothing like Uncle Elijah and Aunt Kat's house. It looked more like some of the places their dad rented when they went on vacation but not as nice.

"Um, they're not here. Actually they aren't going to be here." Their aunt answered before smiling. "Now that I've got you here, I have a secret to tell you!"

"A secret?" Henry repeated.

"Um uh, I'm not your aunt." Tatia exclaimed. She watched the kids stare at her in surprise at her announcement and her smile got bigger before she continued. "I'm your mom."

The twin looks of surprise changed to shock and confusion as they absorbed her words. Tatia wasn't sure what Niklaus had told them about her, but she could see by the lack of uneasiness, as they looked at her that he hadn't poisoned them against her. She wouldn't make the same mistake.

"Seriously?" Lexi exclaimed, unable to stop herself before the words tumbled out.

"Yes. I'm very serious. I'm your mother." Tatia acknowledged.

"But that's not…I mean, Dad said…" Lexi tried to say but couldn't get the words out. The person in front of her wasn't her aunt but the woman who grew her and Henry in her stomach for nine months. She had imagined something like this a hundred times, and had dreamed about it until a couple of years ago and now here it was real. Lexi didn't know how she felt about it all. She looked over and saw that Henry was having a similar reaction.

"I know what your dad said," Tatia responded though she had no idea but she needed them to trust her. "He told me yesterday when I went to see him and talk to him."

"You saw him yesterday?" Henry stated.

"Yes."

"Why didn't Dad and Caroline tell us that you came back?" Henry asked her. Suddenly he realized what all of the excitement was about the night before when Dad came home early and Uncle Elijah and Aunt Kat came over. They were talking about this, but why didn't they tell them? Dad told them everything, so did Caroline.

"I don't know." Tatia replied with a shrug. "Maybe they wanted it to be a surprise that I came back. I'm sorry it took so long, but I came back to see you two, to be with you. And that's why your dad let me come and get you today, so we can get to know each other and be a family."

"That doesn't sound like Dad, or Caroline." Lexi declared. "They would want to come with us, and stay here while we met you. Caroline likes to plan things too much to just let something so big just go."

"That's true, you should see all of the stuff she has for her and Dad's wedding." Henry added.

"She would have a list of things to do before a visit and…."

"Well Caroline doesn't get to say if I get to see you." Tatia snapped with more venom in her voice than she meant. She saw the twins rear back a bit at her harshness so she backtracked a bit. She needed them to trust her, her plan wouldn't work if they were scared. Deciding to try a different tactic, she took a deep breath before smiling at them. "I know that it might seem a little off that your dad didn't tell you first about me coming to see you but he had his reasons okay? He thought it would make it easier on you if I just came and got you."

"What do you mean easier?" Henry asked.

Knowing she had peaked their interest, Tatia just shook her head. "It's nothing. Come on, I'll show you to your rooms."

"Rooms?" The twins both said at the same time. "What rooms?

"Your new bedrooms, of course." Tatia answered. "You have to have somewhere to sleep."

Suddenly Lexi started to become scared, what this woman was saying didn't make any sense.

"Why would we need rooms to sleep here? Aren't you going to take us home or Dad will come and get us?"

"Our parents don't let us have sleepovers on school nights." Henry added.

"It's not a sleepover; you're going to stay here for a while. It is going to take some time to get to know each other, after all we have years to make up for." Tatia told them, wishing that they'd stop being so damn inquisitive and just do what she was telling them to do instead of asking question after question. Perhaps she should bring out the sedative she had gotten and knock them out for a bit, it would make things easier if they kept badgering her.

"But Dad and Caroline…"

"Okay, I didn't want to tell you this yet but when your dad and I talked, he said it would just be easier if you two came to live with me." Tatia declared waiting a moment for her words to sink in before she dealt the final blow. "Niklaus and Caroline are going to be getting married, starting a new life and having new children. So, they thought the best way to do that would be a fresh start, for everyone. They are going to start a new family and we'll be having our own."

At her announcement, Lexi breathed out a startled gasp while her eyes filled with tears but her brother had quite a different reaction.

"You're lying!" Henry yelled at Tatia. "They wouldn't do that, they love us."

"Henry, I'm telling you the truth." Tatia pleaded with him. "If I wasn't then how did I know to come and get you today?"

"You lied. Before. You told our teacher you were Aunt Kat." Lexi shouted. "You lied then, you're lying now."

"Alexandria…"

"Don't call her that!" Henry roared as he stepped in front of his sister. "She likes Lexi; you would know that if you were actually our mom and not a stranger!"

Tatia's annoyance with the kids had reached its limit and she was done playing nice. She reached forward, grabbed both of the kids by their arms and pulled them up the stairs. "I was trying to be nice about this but you two are being too willful to listen. Your dad does not want you anymore, he's wants Caroline and loves her and you will stay in your rooms until you accept that truth."

Before Lexi or Henry could do anything to fight against her, Tatia shoved them into the first bedroom door at the top of the stairs and slammed the door behind them. The twins rushed to the door but heard it lock before they could get it opened. That didn't stop Henry from tugging on the door handle but it wasn't going to give.

Henry kicked the door as hard as he could, taking his anger out on the inanimate object before turning to his sister. He could see that she still had tears in her eyes but she looked both mad and scared. "What are we going to do Henry?"

"I don't know Lex, but I don't care what she said, I know Dad and Caroline are looking for us." Henry stated.

"But how are they going to find us?" Lexi asked.

"They're call the cops of course." Henry said as he reached his arm around her and squeezed. "Just like when I got lost, and they'll find us."

Lexi nodded as she curled into his hug. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too Lex. Me, too."

Love it? Hate it?

I hope you guys liked the reaction from the twins, I know some were worried that they would fall for Tatia's schemes but they are smarter than she thinks. Spoiler alert: everything should come to a head in the next part, what do you think will happen?