WARNING *Mentions of Child Abuse and Selling of a minor*

17th March 1850

Niklaus walked carefully through the quiet halls that lay before him. He had been looking for a temporary home for Damon and him for a short while now. It seems he had stumbled across the perfect location seemingly on accident.

He had immediately called for his witches to lay the groundwork of protection spells throughout the small cabin. No one but Damon or he would be able to come here unless invited and shown the path.

Niklaus will admit he had been a bit lax in the search for a place as of late but he quickly rectified that. Ever since the storm that had caused Damon to seek sanctuary with him, he had been sure that the boy could be introduced to the family sooner rather than later.

He had quickly overridden that thought after Damon had retreated into himself when in the same room with Giuseppe.

Truthfully, Niklaus could not blame him, he would have and did in fact do the same whenever he was around Mikael. However, it solidified his decision to take Damon from the boarding house and bring him to a place he could feel safe in as he grew to trust Niklaus.

What little trust had developed the night of the storm was not enough. The night after the event he had gone to speak to a townsman with Damon and…he had never seen the boy go as still and silent as he had in that moment. He prayed he would never see him behave in such a way ever again.

Needless to say, after Damon was put to bed that night, Niklaus had gone back to speak to the one Damon had been hesitant about. Anger, unlike anything he had felt before surged through his veins at the answers he had received.

The man had not lived longer than it took to give him answers to Damon's past. Niklaus had not liked the news he had received and it took all his self-control not to rip Giuseppe Salvatore's throat out where he stood.

Mikael might have been a monster, but he had never sold off one of his children for others to use at their whim. Sadly, executing a major contributor to the town would draw the attention of Mikael. Thus, Damon's life would be in grave danger as soon as Mikael learned of his connection to Niklaus.

However, Niklaus didn't need to kill him to cause irreparable harm. After all, there were many things he could do to harm Giuseppe without putting him in the ground.

As a bonus, it was very unlikely any of these other methods would draw Mikael's attention immediately. Niklaus was fuming, struggling to control the anger that bubbled underneath the surface of his skin. After having known Damon for a few months, Niklaus could say without a doubt he was one of the purest humans he had met.

To find out that he was being harmed by the ones who were supposed to be protecting him filled him to the brim with a wave of scorching anger, unlike anything he had ever felt before.

His blood felt as if it was on fire as if molten lava was running through his veins. For the first time in a while, he wanted to scream, throw things at the wall, and tear the world apart piece by piece until it made sense again. More than anything he wanted to secret Damon away to a place where the two of them could just be together for a while.

A place where Niklaus could show Damon that everything was not as bad as it seemed and that he could trust Niklaus to protect him.

Now though as Niklaus walked through the cabin he had found, he was more certain than ever he had found exactly what he had been looking for. It was secluded enough that Damon and he could have privacy so as to not have to worry about having many visitors.

Yet, it was close enough to town that should they have to venture in they would not have to go far. As the witches lay the final spell sealing the house's location away from trespassers Niklaus found himself longing for his sibling's company.

It was still unknown to him how long they would be parted from each other and now more than ever he gazed upon the timeline that lay before him. What had started off as a short visit to the old village quickly turned into an undetermined future due to one child. Niklaus had been certain that taking Damon in was the right move and that the boy would grow to trust him. He was still certain Damon would trust him but, he was uncertain how much time that would take.

Time meant little to an original after all, What were 10 years to an eternity? Had it not been for Mikael he would have had no problem staying for an indefinite amount of time but, he could not help but worry for his siblings. Mikael had nearly been upon them 100 years prior, it would not do to grow complacent and have him catch them now.

Yet, he could not bring himself to leave this place, leave this boy that he was slowly starting to care for behind. Damon had been forced to suffer so much in his young life and all Niklaus wanted to do was shelter him and get vengeance on his behalf. Niklaus forced his expression to lay blank as he reached the Boarding house and his eyes lay on the eldest Salvatore.

He had promised himself that he would leave the man alive if only as to not draw attention to Damon. However, there were things that Giuseppe cared about just as much, if not more than his life. One whisper into the ear of a townsman and Niklaus could have him ostracized and seen as a pariah in the town for the simple fact that he visited the brothels.

He would slowly tear the man down piece by piece for the crimes he had committed against Niklaus's boy. When the time finally came for them to leave, Niklaus would smile as he left the man to burn in the shattered remains of his once prominent life.

He would do so knowing that Damon would never have to one day fear retribution or suffer regret at the lack of punishment the man had received. Giuseppe must have felt himself being watched as he immediately started scanning the edge of the woods.

His eyes connected to Niklaus's and Niklaus could honestly say he felt his wolf settle as a sliver of fear entered his prey's eyes at his mere presence. Throwing Giuseppe a merciless smirk Niklaus sauntered past in search of the boy who had managed to flip his world upside down in a way he had never fathomed being possible.

Leaning against the wall of the study Niklaus watched his young charge hover over his workbooks as he followed along with his tutor.

Damon's eye's flickered up to his briefly before they flashed back to the text as Damon hunched into himself to make himself appear smaller. Concern cornered Niklaus's thoughts as he forced himself upright, striding quickly to Damon's side.

"What seems to be the problem?" Niklaus's hand came to rest softly upon Damon's head as he gazed openly at the tutor sitting before him. "It seems the young Master is quite a bit behind on his history lessons. We may need to extend his studying time to get him to grasp the subject." The tutor had a look of derision on his face as he kept his eyes on Damon's hunched figure.

Niklaus's eyes narrowed as he watched play out in front of him. "On the contrary, it seems your services will no longer be required. You may leave." The tutor startled at the venom that lay coating Niklaus's words. "M-Mr. Mikaelson surely…" He was quickly cut off as a growl left Niklaus with his next words. "I said you may leave. This will be your last chance."

Startled the tutor grabbed his books before fleeing from the once welcoming estate. "My apologies, Mr. Mikaelson." Damon whispered softly, his head still bowed over his texts.

Niklaus shook his head softly before taking the now empty seat across from Damon. "No apologies necessary Damon. How about I take over your lessons for the foreseeable future? You will find that I am quite extraordinary at history. It's almost as if I was there." Niklaus joked, a smile covering his face as he moved his chair closer to the young child.

Pain. It was the first thing that registered in his mind as he slowly began to regain consciousness. At first, it was gradual yet, as he fully regained his senses he found it felt like he had been set on fire and dipped in a bath full of vervain. He vaguely heard screaming in the room he was currently in but, it was drowned out by a million other sounds.

His hands shook as they came up to his head, the intensity of the pain growing worse and worse. Damon vaguely registered the warm and sticky substance he could feel coating his hands as they flew to his head trying to smother out the flames licking him.

He struggled to swallow in air as he felt it all expel from his lungs. The screams that rang through the room increased in volume. Damon would never admit that it took him till that moment to realize the screams were his own. The pain was too much for even him and nothing seemed to make it stop.

His only comparison to this pain was when he had been a prisoner with Enzo at the Augustine Society. His heart ached at the very thought of his long-since-passed friend. Tears started to cascade down his face as he flipped onto his knees, earnestly trying to escape from the hellish torment he found himself subjected to.

Damon's legs shook as he tried to get them underneath him; fear shot through him as he finally managed to get himself semi-standing. Hands had come from somewhere in the room, holding him down in a gentle but firm grasp, forcing him to continue to endure the torment being thrust upon him. He found his voice begging for the pain to stop while the hands held him down flush to the ground effortlessly.

Damon saw the edges of his vision start to blacken through the pain and found himself eager for the calm, cool darkness of unconsciousness. This was just an allusion though, as Damon found himself thrust into his memories as soon as the darkness finally took over.

Scenes of tutoring, horseback riding, late nights talking, and being given advice on how to talk to young ladies his age flitted through the forefront of his mind. Memories flew through his mind of being the center of someone's attention while his younger brother was away being taught at the most prestigious boarding school of the time.

All throughout every memory one man was present beside him. The man stood beside him at every turn being a guiding hand, a light in the darkness that his life had once been. This man gave him hope where there was once none to be seen and stopped Giuseppe from leading him to an early grave even in the 1850s.

The pain had finally stopped but, it mattered little as the most prominent memories sucked Damon's attention to the past. Damon found himself drawn in as the memories that were the most important and establishing brought him back to the 1850s.

Damon sat on the window sill in his bedroom a book held loosely in his grip as he stared at the coming day. Today should have been happy and amazing but, all he felt was despair at the reminder that his mother wasn't here and his fa-Giuseppe did not care enough to plan anything.

The door opened softly as Niklaus walked in, confusion evident on his face. "What are you doing holed up in here on such a glorious day? I do believe that today is a perfect day to go riding."

A frown permeated Damon's face as he took in the grown man that had started to care for him some months prior. "I don't have a horse though. All the ones in the stable are Giuseppe's, I am not allowed to use them." Niklaus just smirked as he motioned for Damon to follow him.

As they reached the stables two majestic horses were led out to them by the stable hand. One was a chestnut with a very prominent blaze on his face while the other was as black as night with speckles of white covering his muzzle.

Niklaus grabbed the chestnut horse's lead before nodding at Damon to take the other one. "That horse's name is Midnight. Happy Birthday." Niklaus exhaled softly, shock coloring Damon's face as he glanced between Niklaus and the horse he stood beside.

"Really?" Damon asked a grin growing on his face as the despair he had previously been feeling was replaced by excitement. "Absolutely. Now, let's go riding there is something I want to show you." Niklaus grinned as he helped Damon get settled on Midnight.

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Damon sucked in a deep breath as he came to stand before the cabin Niklaus had led him to. It wasn't impressive like in the grandiose way that the Salvatore house was built to be. It didn't matter to Damon though, as he stared at the cabin, he found that it was even better in his opinion.

He recalled the words that Niklaus had just told him, "This will be our home, for now, cub. Soon we will leave, and you will be causing mayhem right alongside the rest of the family."

A home. A family. It was amazing to Damon as even though the cabin was old and slightly worn it was a promise. A promise that soon, very soon hopefully they would leave and he would actually have people who wanted him.

A swell of emotions cascaded through him as he felt Niklaus come up behind him. "I know it's not much but, it should do until we have everything settled to return home." Damon shook his head softly as he, unable to contain himself any longer, shot around and slammed into Niklaus.

His arms came up wrapping themselves around Niklaus in a tightly formed hug.

"Damon? Are you all right?" Damon just nodded his head as he swallowed thickly, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. Sucking in a deep breath, Damon looked up at Niklaus and whispered softly, "It's amazing. I love it…Father."

Niklaus felt as if all the air had been sucked from his lungs at those words. The wolf in him roared, slamming against the confines of his curse as it snarled, 'Mine. Cub. Protect. Protect. MINE.' He held Damon tightly in his grip as his eyes flashed red gold for mere seconds. No one would touch the boy, his boy, for as long as Niklaus lived.

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Damon's blood sang as he lay in bed, his skin hyper-sensitive to the point moving even an inch made him uncomfortable. He had woken up in the early hours of the morning with what had felt like a rock in his stomach.

When he had went to use the washroom he found his legs shook underneath him, nearly unable to carry the weight they had been tasked with. At that moment Damon had realized he was quite sick but, was unwilling to call Niklaus. He did not want to be a burden to him any more than he already was.

That plan, however, flew out the window as Damon's stomach suddenly lurched causing him to expel the entire contents of his system. Sobs wracked the young boy's body as he curled himself into a ball on the floor of the washroom.

A click sounded through Damon's chambers as Niklaus strolled into the room slowly before he shot towards Damon's side. "Cub? What's wrong?" Damon shook his head as Niklaus picked him up and carried him back to his bed. "Cub?" Niklaus whispered softly, his hand coming up and brushing Damon's sweat-soaked hair away from his forehead.

Niklaus paused as he brought his hand back to Damon's forehead, a worried frown quickly emerging onto his face. "Dad…" Damon whispered softly, "I don't feel good." Niklaus swallowed thickly before racing to the bathroom to grab a cool cloth.

Upon returning, he laid it softly across his boy's brow only for Damon to lurch in an attempt to get away from it. "I know, I know pup. It's going to be all right though, trust me." Niklaus breathed as he grabbed Damon to hold him still. "Elizabeth. ELIZABETH!" Niklaus bellowed as he sat at the bedside of his fallen child.

"Yes, Mr. Mikael-." The young maid was quickly cut off as she took in the state of the young master, she had been caring for ever since he was a babe. "I-I'll go get the physician, immediately." She bolted clear of the room, worry written just as clearly on her face as it was on Niklaus's.

Niklaus tore his eyes away from the doorframe to watch his boy who seemed to be struggling to draw in breath. "Why didn't you tell me you were unwell?" Niklaus muttered, his hand caressing the boy's own in an attempt at comfort.

"Didn't want to bother you." Damon whispered before a cough wracked its way from his throat. Niklaus's grip on his hand tightened marginally as he gazed into Damon's clear blue eyes.

"Never say that again. You will never ever be a burden to me." Niklaus hissed as he climbed into the bed with Damon, pulling him into Niklaus's lap so he could card his fingers through his hair.

"Mr. Mikaelson." The doctor greeted as he rushed to Damon's bedside, "What seems to be the problem?" "What's the problem?" Niklaus mocked, his hand waving over Damon's shivering form, "Look at him! He has a fever and cannot seem to keep anything he has consumed inside."

"Right, let's see what seems to be ailing the boy." The physician muttered as he began examining Damon while Niklaus held him tightly in his grip as if releasing him even slightly would cause him to disappear. Once the doctor finished his examination, Niklaus fixed him with a hard glare, daring him to disappoint the elder vampire.

The physician repressed a shudder as he felt a trickle of fear crawl down his spine at the look fixated upon him. "He has caught influenza it seems. Keep the boy hydrated with plenty of rest and he should recover within a week or twos time. Children often have a better chance than us elders do." Niklaus glared at the physician as if blaming him for his child's illness. "I see," he said curtly, "Thank you for coming so quickly."

Niklaus had never seen anyone leave a room so quickly as the physician did in that moment. "You are going to be fine, il mio piccolo merlo*. I'll make sure of it." Niklaus whispered before placing a kiss on his temple.

"Are you sure, you want to do this? What if you get bored of me or change your mind later or…?" Damon whispered fearfully as he clung tightly to Niklaus's side, his face buried in Niklaus's back. A laugh bubbled out of Niklaus's throat as he brought his arm around to Damon's back and pulled him tight.

"I will never change my mind about having you by my side or get bored of you. You are already my amazing young cub this is just furthering the claim I have to you." Niklaus informed Damon as he stared into his ice-blue eyes.

The witch Niklaus had contracted motioned for the both of them to step forwards into the circle of runes she had finished constructing. A full moon hung high above their heads, stars littering the sky in all sorts of different constellations. Wind whipped through the forest while the creatures whose homes lay around them grew silent in anticipation of the event to come.

"When the spell starts you will both need to make a small incision on your palm and grasp hands. From there the transfer will move through both of you and the spell will complete as the last flame dies." The witch explained as she moved around them lighting the candles that made up the outer ruins circle.

"You ready pup?" Niklaus asked excitedly a smile gracing his features, his eyes soft as he gazed upon Damon with soft loving eyes. His eyes which many used to describe as being hard and cold as a glacier were now as warm and gentle as a mountain spring.

Damon nodded determinedly as he stepped forward with his guardian whom he had long since begun to think of as a father. His hand grasped Niklaus's tightly as if he needed to be 1000% sure that he wouldn't change his mind about keeping Damon as his son forever.

Niklaus pulled a knife clear of his bag as the flames flew up around them, slicing his palm quickly. He carefully and as gently as possible made a small incision on Damon's palm before grasping their hands together tightly.

"Dve duše, obe pate od gubitka krvnog odnosa. Povezana kroz sudbine vodeći ruke, veza formirana pažljivim koracima. Pozivamo Majku Prirodu da promeni loz koji vezuje mladalačke za nezasluženog stvaraoca. Vašom voljom vezujemo izabranog oca i sina da večno nastavimo krvnu liniju. Neka im linija teče kroz ruke i vežite ih zajedno." The witch chanted her voice echoing through the forest as wind whipped wildly around the pairs frames.

Translucent whisps flew around, circling them before taking form behind each individual. Niklaus tightened his hold on Damon's hand as he felt him stiffen up as the whisps formed into the shapes of his mother and Giuseppe.

His eyes were soft as he gazed into Damon's own trying to convey the message that he was safe with Niklaus. The figures that stood by Damon solidified until they were clear and easily discernible while another whisp of smoke manifested right behind the translucent form of Giuseppe.

A new form stood tall behind the eldest Salvatore as the spell continued before ultimately taking his place. Where a phantom of Giuseppe had once stood now held a mirror image of a smirking Niklaus. The forms of Lillian and Niklaus stood immobile at Damon's shoulders before they moved as one. Each figure laid a hand on him before vanishing without a trace.

The only indication that the scene had even truly come to pass was the effect that had quickly set upon Damon. His eyes lightened to a subtle degree while his features sharpened and he gained a few inches of height. The fire that had surrounded them extinguished while the wind that had been flying around them in a frenzy came to an abrupt halt. Damon's knees buckled as exhaustion overtook the young boy.

Niklaus shot forward catching his newly transformed son in his arms. Blood did not make a family, Niklaus knew that better than anyone. However, staring at the young cub sleeping peacefully in his arms, Niklaus found that he was beyond thrilled to have claimed him as his own in not just name but blood as well.

Niklaus swallowed the snarl threatening to escape from his throat as he roared down the dirt back road. His foot pressed harder down on the gas with every minute that passed until it hit the floor. As soon as Maddox had put him back into the correct body he had made sure a locator spell was done to find Elijah and his boy.

If any harm had come to Damon, Niklaus would put his elder brother in his coffin for the next century. Anger seethed through his veins as he saw the trees finally clearing and revealing the witch's house Maddox had tracked his wayward brother too. Slamming his foot on the brake, the car came to a screeching halt, dust flying through the air surrounding it.

Jumping out Niklaus strode angrily toward the doors, keeping his ears and eyes open for any indication of life. His heart lurched into his throat as he heard screaming coming from the inside. Panic settling in he bolted down into the basement of the house and froze in his tracks at the scene that lay before him. His boy, his amazing cub whom he had taken in on a whim over a hundred years ago lay struggling under the hands of Elijah.

The witch, whom he was sure he had exterminated mere hours ago, sat cross-legged clearly reciting a spell as Elijah and Damon sat in a circle surrounded by lit candles. Screams were fighting there way past his child's lips as Elijah held him tightly in his grasp evidently, trying to keep him from escaping from whatever his witch had planned. The anger he had been feeling on the drive returned threefold as Niklaus shot forward his hands flying up and snapping the witch's neck with a sharp, crack.

The flames immediately extinguished as the witch's body collapsed sideways, his eyes staring unseeingly into the now pitch black room. Damon's screams tempered off into soft gasps as the spell that was cast was immediately halted. Despite having rid the world of the one whom had caused his son so much pain, Niklaus still felt fury running through him.

His brother, his ever so loyal, family comes first brother, had done possibly irrevocable harm to Niklaus's son. No matter how much he cared for his siblings and intended to honor his commitment to the promise of Always and Forever that they had sworn, he would not stand for this.

Elijah had crossed a line by taking Damon and allowing his warlock to practice spells on him. His brother may not have known the true nature of what would happen to his cub but, he had still allowed it to happen.

Niklaus found he could not even think of his brother without fury encompassing him completely. What Elijah had done was ludicrous and if Niklaus was being truthful with himself, it was unforgivable as well.

No one had the right to harm his cub and so long as air left his lungs Niklaus would do his best to ensure his safety was of the utmost importance.

Time seemed to freeze as Niklaus stood over the now, deceased warlock. Elijah who had previously been holding Damon in his arms, bolted upwards placing himself between the father and son pair.

Damon meanwhile was struggling to catch his breath and get his bearing as he was finally able to observe his surroundings. "Elijah." Niklaus breathed out rage coloring his tone as he took a single step closer.

The sibling's eyes locked for seconds before Niklaus moved his gaze to the weak form of his child. He found himself yearning to help his cub regain his strength and protect him while he healed.

However, he could not do so until he had made sure his brother would not be a problem for his boy for a while more. Niklaus's gaze swung back to his brother's challenging gaze as a growl tore from his throat.

"Get away from him. Now." "And let you do heaven knows what with him?" Elijah questioned incredulously as he moved further in front of Damon blocking him from view. The question infuriated Niklaus to the point he saw red and within seconds he had thrown himself towards his brother.

Elijah and Niklaus flew through the room, sailing straight past Damon and into the wall on the opposite side of the room. Damon lurched to his feet, his legs shaking while sweat dripped its way down his back. His vision was hazy as he laid eyes on the brawling pair. Stumbling back, Damon attempted to make his way out of the dilapidated building, his mind reeling as everything began to fall into place.

Klaus kicked Elijah in the stomach, throwing him clear across the room and into the wall opposite him. "I could have forgiven your plotting against me. It wouldn't have been the first time you and I have gone head-to-head." Klaus bellowed, fury radiating off him in waves. "The moment you brought him," Klaus swallowed thickly as he openly glared at his older brother's crouched frame, "Brought my SON into the throes of your pathetic scheme and got in my way you crossed the line."

"I crossed the line!" Elijah growled as he stood tall in front of Klaus, "You claim the Salvatore boy as a son, make him family. You are the reason our family is broken! You are the reason our siblings are gone, never to be seen or heard from again! Never to stand at your "son's" back when he needs the family you brought him into the most!" Each word brought Elijah closer toward Klaus his voice raising with every word until he was all but, shouting.

Klaus's gaze hardened as he stared at his brother's approaching form, his hands clenching tightly as he forced himself to refrain from striking Elijah in the face. "You act as if you have it all worked through Elijah. Yet, you seem to be quite misinformed." Klaus moved forward quickly, his hand reaching back and grasping the handle of Elijah's dagger tightly, until they were separated by mere feet.

"I will stand at my son's back guarding him, while you are reunited with our siblings. Just so you know brother, I never buried them at sea." Klaus growled into Elijah's ear as he shoved the dagger straight into his heart.

` Elijah lay on the charred hardwood floor his face completely gray as the life left his chestnut brown eyes. Standing up, Klaus took careful measured steps away from his brother before he began to look around for Damon. Unsurprisingly, his cub had made a rather abrupt and quiet exit as soon as the fighting had started.

Instead of his boy being where Elijah had left him, he was nowhere to be seen in the room. Klaus glanced in disdain at the dead warlock before he shot out of the room in search of his son, leaving Elijah's desiccated body behind.

It was not as if his elder brother was able to go anywhere at the moment anyways. No, Klaus would call Maddox and have him put Elijah with the rest while he took care of finding his child and moving him to a safe location.

Damon leaned heavily against the outside wall of the house as he struggled to catch his breath. His head pounded from all the new information that had been forced into it mere moments ago. It had taken more effort than he was willing to admit to make it as far as he had. Every time he had made to take a step forward unassisted his legs had wanted to give out.

Damon felt his gut churn at the thought of having to wait for either Elijah to help him or worse the man who apparently was his Dad. They had gotten along well when he was human at least they had from what he remembered. Yet, despite them not having any issues Klaus…Dad still left him behind as if he was something of convenience at the time. Good for some entertainment and company for a time but, eventually something you just got bored of.

Soft footfalls echoed out from the house as Damon readied himself for having to deal with whatever situation that arose. He pushed himself up till he was standing facing the door, his legs shaking as he attempted to do so unassisted. Damon swore in his head as he struggled to do what was perfectly easy mere hours ago. If Elijah came out of that door, he was going to find some way to kick his ass for causing him to feel this way.

Klaus growled as he made his way toward the front door. He had searched the entire bloody house and had not been able to find his cub anywhere. The front door slammed shut behind him as he strode angrily onto the porch. Relief flooded him as his gaze landed on the shaking form of his cub standing before him. "Damon…" Klaus breathed, his hand reaching out as he moved forward slowly. He shot forward as Damon's legs finally gave out and caught his son in his arms.

"G-get away from me!" Damon growled out as he shakily shoved against Klaus's arms. "Damon, son hold still. Who knows what that bloody witch did to you?" Klaus admonished as he tightened his grip around his struggling child. "You left!" Damon screamed at him, causing Klaus to freeze as realization hit him like a vervain bullet. Left. That was what he had said, as the realization hit, he cursed out his brother in his head the entire time. If Elijah was not already in his coffin, Klaus would put him there for this slight alone.

Causing his son pain was unforgivable enough but, breaking the compulsion on his memories was almost worse. Klaus could help him with the pain but how could he explain to Damon the hundred years that he had been away?

He had no words or excuses for why he had been away, none that mattered anyway. Trying to explain his absence to his boy was something he had hoped he would have more time to do. If he had more time maybe, he could find a way to explain. Explain his reasons behind staying away, for so long.

His heart ached as he thought about the conversation that was quickly and inevitably approaching. He would definitely have to tell his child why he had been gone so long but, perhaps he would be able to postpone their conversation. At least, then he would have time to find a way to explain.

Maybe then, Klaus glanced at the weak and tired form of his child, maybe he wouldn't lose his boy. If he had time to get his story straight then, he could get his son to agree to stay by his side. Klaus's eyes darkened as one thought crossed his mind, He would not lose his son again. Damon would stay with the family like he was always meant to. Always and Forever included him as well, and he would stop at nothing to bring his family together again.

Klaus released Damon, who immediately shot backward on his shaking limbs. His eyes narrowed as he took in every one of Klaus's movements as if he was a viper poised to strike. "I'm sorry, cub." Klaus whispered before he grabbed Damon's chin and forced him to gaze into his eyes. "Sleep." Klaus compelled, his eyes constricting as he stared at his child.

Damon glared even while he fought off the compulsion as well as he could. After a few seconds, he lost his battle with consciousness and his eyes fluttered closed. Klaus let loose a breath that he did not even realize he had been holding. He couldn't tell if he was relieved or sad to have his son back with him. While he had always dreamed of the day he would get him back, he couldn't help but despair at the way getting him back had come about.

'Still,' Klaus thought as he picked Damon up in his arms, in a way reminiscent of a fireman's carry, 'at least he had him back in some capacity.' His son may not care for him now, but after Klaus broke the curse they would have plenty of time to talk through everything.

In the meantime, he would have his boy moved to one of his cabins further out of the area. Maddox would accompany him and act as his guard until after the full moon and ritual were done.

Damon would understand why he had done everything he had for the last 100+ years. He had to understand.

*il mio piccolo merlo- My little blackbird

*Dve duše, obe pate od gubitka krvnog odnosa. Povezana kroz sudbine vodeći ruke, veza formirana pažljivim koracima. Pozivamo Majku Prirodu da promeni loz koji vezuje mladalačke za nezasluženog stvaraoca. Vašom voljom vezujemo izabranog oca i sina da večno nastavimo krvnu liniju. Neka im linija teče kroz ruke i vežite ih zajedno- Two souls, both suffering from the loss of a blood relation. Connected through fates guiding hands, a bond formed with careful steps. We call on Mother Nature to change the lineage that binds the youthful to an undeserving creator. With your will we bind together a chosen father and son to continue a bloodline eternally. May the line flow through their hands and tie them together for evermore.