Chapter 26:
Mari stepped out of the bathroom after several minutes. Her eyes went to Klaust first, who was sitting back against the headboard of the bed with his ankles crossed and his arms folded over her chest. He was clearly displeased with the current situation, but she knew well enough he wouldn't complain since he knew it would make things more difficult.
Kol was still standing, pacing even, when she emerged from her hiding space. He paused once he saw her, his arms also folded against his chest. He looked a little pitiful, which made her heart ache a bit. This was a hell of a situation she had gotten herself into, and it wasn't one she knew how to handle. Mari was playing a dangerous game and she knew it.
"Are you alright, love?" Klaus asked from his position on the bed, turning his head towards her. "Do you need us to leave you alone for a bit?"
"No," she shook her head. "I know what I want to say." Mari inhaled deeply, a slow, steadying breathe that loosened the tight feeling in her chest ever so slightly. "Kol, I can forgive you, but you have to understand something..." She hugged her upper body tightly, nervously. "I love Klaus. He... was there for me after you went back to Davina. I'm not going to let him go."
"I know," Kol said, dropping his head out of shame and disappointment. "I know that, Mari." Klaus had perked up a bit, having not expected her to say that so bluntly. He sat up, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed and facing her, his interest peaked.
"So... if you can accept that... and he can accept me and you... maybe we can make this work. The three of us." Her eyes squeezed shut as her brain struggled to understand how in the world she could be saying such a thing. Growing up, she always had a very monogamous mindset. She wanted the one, the forever and only. Mari never wanted to end up like her parents.
"I know it's selfish of me to ask," she continued, exhaling slowly. "I know that... it isn't an ideal situation for either of you, but I can't pretend like I dont have feelings for you both. I can't bring myself to hurt or reject either of you. Maybe I'm some kind of... slut or something." Her cheeks were burning now as she tried to explain herself.
"Don't ever use that word against yourself," Klaus hissed quickly. "You are no such thing, Mari. You are a young woman with a big heart and a lot of affection to give. We took advantage of those things, and we fought for your attention, which you want so selflessly to give to us both."
"It's not entirely selfless," she shrugged, frowning a bit. "I've gone without love or affection for a long time now, and I guess... I let it all go to my head. I can't refuse it because I needed it so badly. Part of me didn't care where it came from at first."
"What should we do, brother?" Kol asked, turning his attention to Klaus. "What say you?"
"I was aware that I would have to share from the beginning. I accepted it then, I accept it now. The question is, do you accept it brother?" Klaus pushed. "When you have a woman so willing to love you and only you, are you willing to share our dearest Mari with your own brother?"
Kol grimaced at the manipulative language Klaus was using. Of course he would bring up Davina. Even though Kol had let her go, or rather Davina let him go, Klaus would always have that to use against him. It seemed to work, too, as Mari turned her gaze away from Kol.
"I want you, Mari," Kol said confidently. "More than anything. No matter what I have to do, or put up with, I won't leave you again. I know I made this promise before, but this time I will not fail you." He glared at Klaus. "I accept it, too."
"Then, I suppose it's settled," Klaus sighed, standing up from the bed. "Mari, it's time you moved into the compound with us. Permanently. You can alternate between our two rooms if you'd like, or have your own. Hayley's room will be available since she lives outside of New Orleans now.".
"But Elijah..."
"Don't worry about Elijah," Kol interrupted her. "Pack your things. We'll return in the morning. All of us. For good." He stepped to her, kissing her forehead gently. "I need to shower if you don't mind, love. Klaus can help you get your things together."
"Okay," Mari nodded, bracing herself for whatever the future held for her. She couldnt possibly know if the decision she made was wrong, or if it would ultimately lead to more pain and suffering for the three of them, but for the moment, she made them both happy. And she was happy. And that had to be enough.
Klaus carried Mari's bags for her as the three of them walked through the front entrance to the compound. Elijah was coming down the steps as they came in, and he paused to look at them with an expression of curiosity.
"I was wondering where you've been. I had assumed you were with Mari, Klaus, but I expected Kol to be with Davina Claire." He leaned against the railing, putting on arm on the bar and putting his other hand in his suit pocket.
"Mari is moving back in," Kol announced, not really wanting to go through the whole situation with Elijah while Mari was right there. Elijah would have his own opinions, and they were all smart enough to have that discussion away from her. "Is it okay for her to move into Hayley's old room?"
"I suppose so. Is this what you want, Mari?" Elijah asked politely. Mari looked at him briefly, then nodded and dropped her gaze. Her cheeks were a little pink. She knew Elijah probably had a lot of questions she really didnt want to have to answer. "Alright then. Mari, darling, why dont you go upstairs and unpack. Get settled back in." He offered a kind smile, so she did as she was told.
Taking her bags from Klaus, she headed up the stairs, shimmying past him, and disappeared into the room. She closed the door so the brothers could have their privacy. Elijah probably wanted to ask Klaus and Kol all of the questions he had instead of her.
Kol closed the door to the study once they were all inside. Rebekah had joined them, sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. Once they came in, she stood, a smile spreading on her face.
"It's so good to see you both," she told them, moving across the room to hug Kol quickly. "I was beginning to wonder if I ever would." She walked to Klaus next, hugging him tightly. "I hear you've been well, Nik. All things considered."
"I'm better now that you're home again," he told her with a smile of his own. She had been cursed for some time, and they had not been able to help her. Luckily for them, in the pursuit of resurrecting Davina, Marcel's dive into dark magic brought him to a solution for Rebekah. Even if Klaus was furious with Marcel, he was grateful for that one good deed.
"Yes, I tried to call you last night, Niklaus, but your phone seemed to be turned off," Elijah frowned, crossing his arms and sitting back against the edge of his desk.
"I was busy," Klaus answered with a slight smirk. Kol grimaced at that, knowing exactly what Klaus was busy with. It bothered him, of course, remembering Mari's shaky voice on the other end of the call, knowing exactly what Klaus was doing.
"And you, Kol? What happened to your phone?"
"It's broken, I'll have to replace it," he grumbled in response.
"Before we celebrate this family reunion, we need to talk about Mari," Elijah continued, conern and disapproval adorning his stern features. "What is it that you two are doing with her exactly? What is she to you?"
"You know what she is," Klaus shrugged. "We needn't waste time with questions with obvious answers, brother. Our baby sister is finally home."
"Elijah says you two are sharing a human girl," Rebekah chimed in. "That's a little inappropriate, don't you think? Not to mention, terribly impermanant."
"I know it's a difficult situation, but we love her," Kol defended himself. "She's the only thing to come along and pull us out of the dark. Isn't that what you wanted, Elijah? For me to heal? To move on?"
"Yes, I wanted you to find happiness, but I had hoped it was with someone less vulnerable. Mari is a young woman with not much more than sixty more years of life if she's lucky. And when you lose her, what will pull you out of the dark then?"
"We won't lose her, then," Klaus shrugged again. He wanted to handle the situation amongst themselves, not with his elder brother involved. Elijah always meant well, but he was a cautious, logical person. When it came to everyone else's lives, he thought with his head more than his heart, even if it was opposite in his own life.
"She's human, Nik," Rebekah sighed. "Death is inevitable."
"Then she won't stay human."
"Klaus," Kol warned, shooting his older brother a glare. Klaus ignored Kol's worried, angry gaze, and instead chose to keep his focus on Elijah.
"If her mortality is the only reason you disapprove, it can be changed," Klaus said calmly. Elijah scoffed a little, shaking his head.
"It is not my only concern. Perhaps an even bigger concern is how this will end with the two of you pining after this woman. The only end I see leads to violence. You two should consider your own relationship before you attempt any relationships with Marigold."
"We have it sorted, Elijah," Kol let out a breath, still thinking deeply about Klaus' casually comments about turning Mari in order to gain Elijah's approval. "Klaus and I have an understanding with each other, as well as Mari."
"Are you really going to share a woman?" Rebekah asked in bewilderment. "You both are most certainly more twisted than you were before. What is it about her that makes her so important that you're willing to share?"
"Timing," Elijah muttered. "They found someone to latch onto after losing the women they loved."
"It's not so simple," Klaus argued, his voice and expression remaining steady.
"Explain."
"I can't," Klaus admitted without shame. "She is pure and simple to understand. Her heart is always on her sleeve, and it's a heart that is much too big for her to carry alone."
"And it has absolutely nothing to do with her slight resemblance to Camille?" Rebekah questioned with a raise of her eyebrow. "Surely you know you're attracted to this girl for that reason. The pretty blond hair, the big doe eyes, the fragile humanity. She even resembles Caroline Forbes a bit, doesn't she?"
"It's not about that either," Klaus huffed. "Can't you two just trust our judgement? We will handle this situation. Mari will always have a choice in every matter. Whether she stays, whether she remains human, whether she wants us or not."
"Like any sane girl would turn either of you down," Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Well, I am going to soak in a hot bath for awhile and relax. Dying is never any fun. Good luck, brothers. I hope this works out the way you want it to, but be prepared for the worst. Don't get hurt." She kissed them each on the cheek, then left the study.
"I will monitor the situation closely. If it becomes dangerous at all for any of you, I will step in." Elijah pushed himself off of the desk. "I will not pretend I can tell you who to love and who not to love. But I will always look after this family, and our best interest. I wont let you two destroy each other over some woman."
"You needn't worry about us, Elijah," Kol promised. "We will handle it."
Klaus smiled, "In fact, we already have."