Chapter 4

Niklaus Mikaelson stormed into his home, hitting the door open so hard that it broke off falling to the side. Ignored by Niklaus in his haste entering his office the man began to tear into everything that was not bolted down. Upon hearing the return of his brother, Elijah leaned against the doorframe watching as his brother howled and tore the room apart. It was a pity that the room had to suffer under Niklaus's temper tantrum. Alas, rarely is ever controlled his temper. The elder allowed the younger to rage against the room allowing the coffee table to become a victim of his brothers' rampage. Once he had begun to attack his own paintings, Elijah decided to step in.

"Niklaus," Elijah called to his brother, smirking as the dirty blonde looked up from his rampage to see his elder brother. Niklaus could not believe his eyes, even as the worry consuming him left his system. He could feel the tension in the room, knowing that he deserved whatever violent act his sibling would inflict upon his person.

He did stab him in the heart. Niklaus checked over his brother ensuring that there was no lasting damage. Not that anyone could truly hurt his family. Being the first did have some perks. Yet his sibling's response was not something he could honestly look forward to. They were siblings after all.

"Nik, what are you throwing a tantrum about now?" Came the amused voice of Rebekah as she strutted across the room until she stood by Elijah at the doorway.

"Bekah you know how our dear brother works," Kol laughed as he bypassed his siblings and stood in front of the hybrid.

Niklaus eye's widened, "Kol."

The brunette grinned, "Hello brother," before punching Niklaus in the gut. Kneeing him shortly after enjoying the brutal gasp that his older brother made. The hybrid fell to his knees as his hands automatically went to cover his abdomen from further attack.

"Anyone else want a go?" Kol taunted, flopping himself onto the couch. His feet lifting up and laying on the remains of the coffee table. Finn stepped up and Klaus groaned looking up at his older brother, "Hello Finn."

"Brother," Finn whispered before stabbing him in the hand. Niklaus screamed as the knife pulled away.

"What a happy family reunion," Niklaus gasped sarcastically, his eyes more than a little mad eyeing his siblings.

"Oh, don't be sore brother. You did stab us in the heart. Some of us repeatedly" Rebekah laughed coming up and offering her hand. He eyed her hand warily before holding onto it. Rebekah's slender handheld tightly onto his just as her red heel stabbed him in the hand on the ground. Her remaining hand swung right into him. Klaus felt the dagger piece his stomach once again. She bent down and whispered, "Don't you dare do that again Nik. Brother or not I will find a way to end you."

"Understood sweet sister," He chuckled as she gave him a wide smile finally lifting him up. Standing by his side as he took his time to look over his siblings.

"And who do I have to thank? For the revival of my dear siblings?" Niklaus asked plans for revenge on the person who dared to interfere in his family's problems.

"Miss Caroline Forbes, brother" Elijah answered easily, eyeing as his brother's blue eyes widened a fraction before settling into his normal mischievous expression. Rebekah on his arm sighed, bemoaning now that she owed the damn girl something.

XXX

"Mom?" Caroline called pushing the hospital doors open, still mindful of her strength. Absentmindedly Caroline noted that it would be a good idea to increase her vervain intake, ensure her body was as immune to it as soon as possible.

"Care!" Elena called from her seat in the hospital hallway where she waited alongside the Sherriff.

"He's going to be fine, Sweetheart" Sherriff Forbes consoled her daughter, as the pair shared a tight hug.

"You must be Caroline."

Sherriff Forbes kissed Caroline on the forehead, "Caroline, I don't believe you officially met Dr. Meredith Fell. She's your father's doctor."

"Dr. Fell, thank you so much" Caroline reached out for the young doctor's hand. The blonde smiled at the older woman, despite knowing that the only way she saved her father was through the use of vampire blood. Dr. Fell quickly said her goodbyes saying that it was time for her shift to end, that she would check in on her father in the morning.

"Elena, where's Alaric?" Caroline asked recalling how Elena told her of how Alaric was there when her father was transported to the hospital.

"I think he is leaving with Dr. Fell" Elena pointed her head towards the couple who were talking.

"Are you okay with that?"

"He's right to move on. I'm just glad that Bonnie and I managed to make it back home so quick when Alaric called me" Elena hugged the blonde.

XXX

"Why would Miss. Forbes rescue you from her friends?" Niklaus murmured his brain running a mile a minute. The blonde certainly knew how to keep him intrigued, first admitting to himself that she was not in the loop of her friend's little misdeeds, now undaggering his siblings?

What was the little blonde up to?

"Surely you don't think her friends knew about it. Nik the girl was a nervous wreck upon our undaggering" Elijah responded, a warning tone in his voice. Niklaus let a small grin cross his face at the protective side of his brother surfacing. His brother the voice of reason.

"She came prepared with blood bags and explained herself well. Times may have changed but this girl knowing who we were still revived us of her own free will. It was refreshing" Niklaus looked up as his oldest brother spoke for the first time since their reunion. Elijah watched Niklaus warily it was the least he could do was control his brother's more reckless ideas before they could be used on the girl who freed them all.

"So, she did it out of her own free will" Niklaus mused to himself.

"She's a pretty one isn't she Nik?" Kol's grin only widened at the sight of Niklaus glowering at him. Caroline Forbes was important to him, how intriguing. What could she have done entice their bloodiest brother?

"Don't worry Nik, she's not really my type," Kol spoke with a cheeky grin as Finn slapped him upside the head.

"Don't antagonize our brother" Finn grunted, going back to look out the window. Niklaus looked over at his siblings once again and internally sighed at the impatient look Rebekah was giving him.

"Have something you need to get off your chest, Bekah?" He said in a long drawn out drawl. Rebekah's blue eyes pierced into his own and he sighed thinking that perhaps sisters were overrated after all.

"Brothers I have something I must confess about our past. Our mother's death," Niklaus paused "Mikael did not kill her."

Rebekah looked over at her brothers who all had turned to look between Nik and herself. Finn in particular look gutted, as he had been possibly the closest to their mother. Her death had affected him the worst, and only further causing his hatred of what they had become.

"Rebekah?" Elijah asked his question remained unspoken. The blonde opened her mouth then shut it before finding the best way to answer.

"Elena told me; he wrote it down in the caves. The real story," She looked over at her favorite brother. Niklaus had his head in his hands, "She left me no choice. She destroyed me!"

"And so, you destroyed her," Finn spoke with such anger, the other feared that he might go the way Aurora Martel went a thousand years go. Their eldest brother rushed forward until he standing before Niklaus. His state had always been the most unstable, his worth truly being defined by their parents. He was the perfect son. It pained Rebekah but the split between the siblings, between Finn and the rest. It was most definitely due to his belief of his duty to them rather than to his siblings.

"She cursed me brother, what was I supposed to do?" Niklaus roared standing up to meet his brother's challenge.

XXX

"Daddy?" Caroline whispered standing over the sleeping form of her father. As soon as visiting hours started the young blonde was right outside the hospital doors, not even her mother tried to get her to focus on school. She starred down at the man who gave her life. She could feel her dead heart thump heavily against her chest. His eyes were closed but he was breathing.

"Care?" Elena responded from the doorway standing alongside with Dr. Fell. The blonde turned to the two as her eyes began to water. The brunette pulled the blonde into a tight hug. The lifelong friends held onto each other.

"I didn't see him last night, Mom made me go home after she ensured that he would be okay," Caroline mumbled into Elena's shoulder.

"He will be fine even if he woke up threatening to have my license provoked" Dr. Fell smiled.

Caroline laughed softly, "He's spent his entire life hating vampires."

"So, he is not very happy that it was vampire blood that saved his life" Dr. Fell smiled, "It must be hard when the one thing you can't change about you is something that your parents hate."

The blonde gasped at the doctor, Elena holding onto the girl's wrists whispering that it would be okay. The female doctor smiled and leaned in closer, "I make it my business to know who all the vampires are. Don't worry I won't hurt you." Without another word the doctor nodded towards Elena before going on to finish her rounds.

"That was strange, but she did seem nice. If not a bit forward" Caroline held in a laugh looking at Elena. "It's sweet of you. Worrying about Alaric's love life."

"He's my family," Elena smiled rubbing Caroline's arm as the blonde leaned against her. Caroline took a moment to just breath. This was the Elena that was her friend, when she wasn't running from whatever supernatural bad guy wanted to hurt her. Or being the treat in a vampire brother sandwich. This was how Tyler Lockwood found them, sitting outside of Bill Forbes room, holding onto each other.

"Care!" Tyler called only to freeze upon seeing the veins of her vampirism began to descend. He paused lifting his hands.

"What did you do?" Caroline growled, releasing her hold of Elena to stand toe to toe with the baby hybrid.

"It was an accident. I told you he was helping me with breaking the Sire bond" Tyler argued weakly. His brown eyes begging for her to forgive him, eyes she once found so beautiful. She wanted to laugh at herself. Werewolf, Hybrid or Human and Tyler still managed to get into trouble, his anger issues only manifesting a strength he could not control. Tyler constantly either apologizing or placing the blame onto someone else. Was it a wonder they were doomed to fail?

"Why didn't you demand he stay farther away!" She cried out, cursing herself for the way she could feel her eyes water up.

"I did! But he was adamant that he needed to help me. Force me to change, its …." Tyler paused grabbing her hand in his.

"The way to break the sire bond," She whispered.

"Yes, to break it so I can safely be with you Care." Caroline wanted to laugh so badly. Her brain unhelpfully swarmed her with images of her life. Of all the men she had loved, and she knew that while Tyler meant every word. He loved her and would break the bond for her. She had stopped loving him a long time ago.

"Tyler…" She whispered. Her eyes met with Elena's who whispered good luck as she loudly said, "I'll give you guys some time."

Tyler's eyes did not leave hers, her hands wrapped under his own. Caroline licked her lips in concentration on how best to handle the situation. She did not want to hurt him; she could still remember his reaction to the knowledge that she had slept with Klaus of all people. Everyone but Stefan had reacted so negatively to that. Only Stefan had understood, that the connection was real. Deeper than even her relationships with the others. She was simply drawn to him.

Caroline had already helped him once; did that mean she was giving in? Going to just forgive all the bad he has committed, all the bad that he will do? Caroline shook her head, no, she would not. But you can love someone even when they do horrible things. It's how she loved Tyler despite him choosing revenger over her, of how insecure he made her with Hayley. She could remember how he defended the wolf and expected her to remain the loyal girlfriend despite all the insecurities she told him about.

He loved her, but it was not enough. The only question Caroline had was if Klaus would be enough? Would allowing him past her walls, or not fighting him on every turn be enough when her friends got angry? Called her traitor, question her sanity? The blonde vampire really did not know.

But she couldn't be with Tyler either.

"Tyler, I can't be with you."

He nodded, "I know Care, but I'm working on it. I promise you I will break it and we can be together."

"Tyler," She repeated louder tilting his head to look her in the eyes. "I'm not talking about until your sire bond is broken. I…. I'm breaking up with you."

His eyes flashed golden, "But Care…. I thought…"

Caroline smiled weakly, cupping his cheek meeting his forehead with her own. She let out a breath not realizing she was holding it in, "Tyler, I just don't think being together is a good idea for either of us. I mean one bite from you can kill me!"

"I would never!"

"Intentionally no, but Tyler can you really see a future with me. I'm just not ready for forever. I…I went through things becoming a vampire. I never told you all of it. I… I just think I need to be alone right now. Tyler, I love you, I do. But I need to be alone for me" Caroline spoke carefully at first, then the words just began to poor out. Everything that she had been through, how focused she was on her girls. She was always with someone then she was a mom. She was never truly just Caroline.

She did not want to hurt him, but the more she spoke the more of the truth she found. Caroline was fond of projects; her entire life was a project. But she never finished the most important one, herself.

XXX

Stefan and Damon Salvatore stood in front of the Mikaelson mansion, dressed in matching tuxedos. They have received an invitation from Klaus to put an end to their feud once and for all. The brothers shared a look before Stefan waved for his brother to ring the doorbell.

The Mahoney door, Damon noted that it looked absolutely brand new, opened revealing Rebekah with a frown on her face. Turning towards the house, Rebekah called out "Brother, your guests have arrived."

Giving them her full attention the blonde original crossed her arms as the weight of the frame held her up. "How is your backstabbing little doppelganger?"

Stefan held onto Damon stopping his brother from getting into a physical fight with the original.

"Damon, no."

"That's right Damon. Listen to the Rippah. Wouldn't want you losing to my sister, now would we?" Klaus's voice boomed, an easy grin on his face. The two Salvatore's walked in together, as the two originals led the way.

"Oh look, we have guests. Bekah be a dear and don't try to cradle rob them," Kol teased laughing as his sister's ice stare pierced at him. She made it so easy!

"Kol, do behave," Damon almost sighed in relief upon seeing the most noble original. Elijah stepped into the room just as he was finishing up with the cufflinks of his suit.

"You'll have to excuse our brother. He's been occupied for the last century" There was no mistaking the threat in Niklaus's voice. Rebekah and Kol rolled their eyes having heard this particular threat before. Niklaus really was rather predictable after a century or two.

"Let's eat, shall we?" Damon clapped his hands enthusiastically. Not caring whether anyone truly bought into it or not, the dark-haired vampire gripped his brother's arm hissing for him to be nice.

It was only when they reached the dining room table that they noticed the final original. Damon and Stefan looked at each other communicating with their eyes how exactly this changed their plans.

"I'd like for you to officially meet my brother's Finn, you met Kol already. And I assume you remember my other siblings? Rebekah and Elijah" Niklaus introduced, his grin wide as if he knew something that they did not.

Damon gritted his teeth at the thought of even more originals in this god forsaken town. Putting on his friendly face he turned to Rebekah, "You are looking as lovely as ever Rebekah."

The blonde original scoffed, "Save your breath." Much to the brothers' amusement of her brothers. Niklaus's grin widened considerably if it was even possible.

"Let's get onto business, shall we? I believe we wish to come to an accord" Elijah stated diplomatically as the group took their seats. Niklaus taking the head of the table respectively. Elijah taking the corner seat while Rebekah seated onto Niklaus right, Kol on his left with Damon and Stefan opposite of him. Leaving Finn sitting on the opposite corner next to Kol and Damon.

Stefan looked up and noticed a blonde woman standing by the bookcase behind Niklaus. The original noticed and offered him a leery grin, "Are you fond of blondes, Rippah? I could offer you a taste if you like."

It took Damon stepping on Stefan's foot under the table to get the vampire to answer. "No, thanks."

Kol chuckled taking a large sip out of his cup, as the other Mikaelsons ignored the obvious ribbing that was taking place. Dinner was finally served, Damon looked up to the servants which caused Elijah to chuckle softly. "Not to worry, they are being paid for their silence."

"Not compelled?" Damon snarked, earning a small smile from the most controlled of the siblings.

"Most certainly compelled, but also well compensated" Kol chortled only grinning when either of the Salvatore brothers looked his way.

"That's generous of you," Damon bit out glaring at his brother who had not once stopped looking from Klaus.

"Now what was this deal you wished to discuss with us?" Niklaus asked, sipping on his champagne with an easy grin.

XXX

"How can you hate who I am so much?" Caroline cried, pushing herself away from her father. The blonde could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She would not cry again god was this what she would have to go through all over again? Reliving the most painful moments of her life? She felt her father's hands wrap themselves around her arms gently.

"No Honey, that's not it at all. I love you" Bill Forbes brought her into his chest as she cried. Caroline felt his hands hold onto her cheeks forcing her to look at him.

"You are strong, you're beautiful, you're good" Caroline felt more than heard the loud cry that escaped her, not again. She couldn't handle this again.

"Even after everything that has happened to you. You are exactly who your mother and I hoped you would grow up to be."

"Then please don't leave me, daddy. Please don't leave me," Caroline cried into his chest. Hating herself for forgetting that this happened today. How could she have forgotten today?

"Shhh, Parents are not supposed to outlive their children, Caroline. It's okay. This is what it means… to be human."

Caroline sobbed into his chest, only pulling away to pull her mother who she felt come within touch close to her. Today would now be seared into her memory. She almost laughed remembering how her father's words would echo in her head. As she held onto her parents, one for the last time. Caroline Forbes vowed to herself that this time she would not forget.

A.N: There are certain scenes in the Vampire Diaries, that I didn't really want to change, but were vital to write out. Hence, I try to remember to italize those, so you know those are not my words. I thought the loss of her parents were such vital turning points for Caroline, and the loss of Bill was truly a beautiful scene that I think impacted her. It's also partly why she and Klaus always butted heads, because she was holding so tight to being human. She was so young when she met him, she couldn't match her father's words to Klaus. How two things can be completely true at the exact same time.