((So sorry this is short and long awaited. We've had a death in the family and I haven't really had the inspiration to finish this chapter yet, so it's rather short. I thought I'd at least give you what I've got. Forgive me. I hope to be back to my ccreative self soon. Until then, enjoy this flashback. More to come.))

"Nik?" Liliya whispered, her face falling in confusion as she immediately sensed overwhelming emotion and frustration on the original's face as he continued to stare back at her in awe.

There was a pause as she stepped forward tentatively and reached a hand out to soothe him, but the gesture only caused Klaus to recoil.

"I—I.…can't…" he said softly, his voice shaking as he immediately broke eye contact with the original doppelganger and turned quickly on the couch to face Kol, Kaspar, Rebekah and Misha, "I'm sorry."

Then, with another glance back over his shoulder toward Liliya, he launched himself from where he sat and fled toward the door.

"Niklaus…" Kol urged, trying to reach out to his brother as he flew past him, but Klaus just brushed him off.

Kol immediately turned a worried gaze toward Rebekah and she immediately started after their brother.

"Nik, wait!" she called as she disappeared from the room, hot on his heels

"Well, this is turning out to be a fabulous idea already…" Kol mused as he turned back toward the two warlocks

"He'll be fine." Kaspar reassured him, but Kol quickly interrupted

"He's never been fine…" the original said to the warlock with sad eyes, then looked to Liliya, "Not when it comes to her."

"Niklaus has done his job…we can't worry about his feelings right now, " Misha suddenly added, his own eyes still focused on the original doppelganger standing behind the couch, "We have bigger fish to fry."

# # # # #

1044 A.D.

Lilya followed quickly behind as Hammer Lochvud helped an injured Klaus into his bedroom at the back of the Mikaelson home and removing the vampire's arm from around his neck, gently deposited Klaus on the bed, then quickly took his leave from the room.

"Rebekah will be back soon with medicinal leaves and bandages, but I'll need to clean the wound so it won't get infected—" the original doppelganger said softly as she sat down next to Niklaus, placing the bowl of water in her lap as she wrung out the wet cloth.

She then reached for the side of his shirt, but he immediately caught her hand to still it.

"No need to bother, Love," he smirked through the pain, still feeling the throbbing of the stab wound he had sustained earlier, "It will heal soon."

"But, infection—" Liliya protested as Klaus gently removed the wet cloth from her hand and tossed it aside on the bed

"Will not set in, " he finished, "I'm a vampire, remember? We don't get infections."

Liliya rolled her eyes then gave a defeated sigh before her eyes moved to her hand still resting in Klaus'.

They sat in silence for a few moments, seeming to relish the touch of each other, before she slowly looked up into his ocean colored eyes, searching his face.

"Thank you…" she said softly, "for stepping in front of Luka's blade out there tonight …and saving me."

"Well, it was a life worth saving," Klaus said, looking down at their entwined hands as he brushed off her platitudes

"I mean it, Nik…" Liliya insisted, "After all that has happened over the last few years between you, me and Elijah… you could have just walked away and left me—"

"No, I couldn't…" Klaus interrupted, his face turning serious as he looked up again and met her gaze, "And for three very important reasons."

Liliya's face immediately filled with curiosity as the original continued

"First," he said, wincing through the pain as he turned his body to face her straight on, "You are human and I am not—"

"You have always been human to me …" Liliya quickly interjected, but her voice quieted when Klaus brought his free hand slowly up to the side of her face, stroking it gently he continued in a soft voice, ignoring her comments.

"Secondly, you are my best friend, Liliya. Since childhood, you have been the only person who has ever truly known me—the real me—and I couldn't live in a world where you don't exist." Klaus smirked sadly, then finished, "And third, and most importantly, I saved you because I love you, Liliya…and I probably always will … but, you already know that."

There was a moment of silence between them, before Liliya closed her eyes, letting her head fall into the palm of his hand as a tear streamed down her cheek

"I do…" she whispered, "And I'm sorry, Nik…I'm so sorry I couldn't—"

"Don't ever be sorry…not ever…I'm not," Klaus immediately replied, suddenly leaning forward and resting his forehead against hers, "I've already come to the realization that you could never love me as I love you—that Elijah is the one you've chosen—but, what I want you to know more than anything, is that I don't regret a single moment of our life together, Liliya…not meeting you, not being your friend, not taking a sword in the chest for you…"

Suddenly, Klaus straightened and turned his head slightly over his shoulder toward the open window in the room as he heard footsteps approaching the house and caught his brother's scent.

"And certainly not letting you go to your destiny…to the one who was truly meant for you," he finished, his voice turning sad

"What?" Liliya opened her eyes and met his gaze head on as he turned back toward her

"Elijah's home…" Klaus acknowledged, rubbing his thumb gently over her cheek and wiping away the tear, "And you have to go…I have to let you go…for good, this time. No more games."

"Nik—" Liliya started, her face filled with conflicted emotion, but Klaus suddenly pulled his hand from the side of her face and brought his forefinger gently to her lips to silence her protest

"Just go, Liliya…" the vampire continued as he lowered his finger slowly from her lips, "You love him. You are betrothed to him and I can't keep living in the past when the future is now—your future is now—and it's better off without me, my presence and my interference."

Liliya just stared at him in silence for a few moments, before she suddenly felt herself shifting slowly toward him on the bed, as if pulled by gravity.

"Well, then…" she finally said, looking up to him now, her dark eyes filled with sorrow, "before you let me go, will you permit me to do something—something I never got to do in all the years we've known each other? I think you've earned it…"

Klaus narrowed his eyes in curiosity, then nodded

Liliya gave an unsure smirk, then slowly leaned forward and captured his lips with hers.

Klaus was stunned by the bold action, but, after a few moments, came to his senses and returned the kiss, deepening it as she traced her fingers over the bottom of his jaw.

When they finally parted, breathless, Klaus felt her hand slip down the side of his neck and her hand come to rest on his chest over his heart.

"Before I go, I want you to know that I don't regret anything either… and that I'll always be your friend…I'll always be with you, Nik…" she said softly then looked down to her hand on his chest, "In here."

"I know you will be…" Klaus answered, bringing his hand up to now rest over hers, leaning forward and speaking softly in her ear, "Just as I'm certain my wasted heart will love you forever."

Liliya tried to keep her face from crumbling at his words, giving only a sad smile before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on his cheek, lingering for a few moments afterward as she whispered against his skin, "Forever... is very long time..."

Klaus closed his eyes at her words then felt her release herself from his grasp and her voice lingered in the air.

"Good bye, Nik…"

After a few moments, Klaus opened his eyes and looked around the room, taking in the emptiness.

He let out wince as he turned and lay himself, now wounded in more ways than one, down gently upon his bed and closing his eyes, forcing back the tears that were now trying in vain to force their way to the surface.

She was gone...and so was a part of him that he knew he could never replace.

He was right in telling her that his wasted heart would love her forever, for he was certain that from this day forward, he would never let love guide his actions again, only logic.

From this day forward, he would be alone.

For she was the only one who had recognized the pain inside...the loneliness.

And now that he had let her go, he was alone again.

Sadly, it was the story of his life...

Always alone.

Always…and forever.