[3x13; Bringing Out the Dead]
Lucy walked into the kitchen and mumbled a greeting to Alaric, Joel, and Elena as she rubbed her temple, trying to ease the pain of her headache. She had woken up with it and she assumed it had something to do with the memory she said during the night where she was murdered as Lucia. It went exactly like Katherine had told her she died hundreds of years ago.
It wasn't a thrilling experience.
She opened the vitamin cabinet and searched for the Aspirin, which happened to not be in its place. "Don't we have Aspirin?"
"I have it," Alaric spoke up groggily, passing the bottle of medicine over to her. "Rough night?"
"Rough memory," Lucy swallowed two pills with the water Joel passed her. "You?"
"Weird night."
"I told you that you don't have to feel guilty about inviting Meredith over here," Elena reminded Alaric.
Joel playfully whistled as Lucy giggled. After Alaric confronted Meredith about vervaining Damon and taking his blood, she explained that she used vampire blood to heal patients that were too far gone. Alaric had taken her home to show him his hunting weapons and Elena walked in on them making out. Joel had filled Lucy in on the gossip as soon as he got home from making sure the sealed coffin was safely placed in the anti-vampire cave.
"I know and I thank you for that," Alaric rolled his eyes at Joel and Lucy as he addressed Elena. "but I do feel guilty for whiskey dialing her at two in the morning."
"No!" Lucy groaned, embarrassed for him.
"Tell me you didn't," Joel pleaded.
"Oh, yes I did."
"Oh," Elena exchanged wide-eyed looks with her siblings. "was she cool about it?"
"Well, as soon as these pills kick in and I remember the conversation, I'll let you know," Alaric mumbled.
The Gilbert siblings laughed as the doorbell rang. Joel cocked his head in confusion, as they weren't expecting anyone, and walked to the front door. Lucy, Elena, and Alaric followed him as he opened the door and greeted Liz.
"Is everything okay?" he asked the sheriff as they walked out onto the porch where Liz was waiting.
"This is an unconventional conversation we're about to have," Liz warned them. "So, I hope you'll protect me on it."
Joel nodded. "Of course."
"I assume you all heard our medical examiner was murdered the night of the Wickery Bridge fundraiser."
"Yeah," Alaric confirmed. "Brian Walters. Why?"
"We've been investigating," Liz informed them and held up an evidence bag with a bloody stake inside. "Someone drove this stake through his heart."
Lucy furrowed her eyebrows as Alaric took the evidence bag to study the wooden stake.
"That's one of ours," Elena observed in confusion. "It's from our lake house."
Liz nodded. "That's why I'm here. I haven't told anyone but forensics ran it for prints and found only one clean set," she looked over at Elena. "Yours."
"What?"
After Liz assured Elena that she thought she was innocent, she left to continue looking for another suspect. Lucy, Elena, Joel, and Alaric instantly went back in the house, all of them bewildered about the strange turn of events.
How on earth did someone use their stake to kill the medical examiner? How would they even have access to it?
"So, you're the prime suspect, huh?" Damon asked through the phone after Elena suggested they call him.
"She's doesn't think that I did it," Elena told him. "She's just trying to find out why somebody used one of our family weapons to kill a council member."
"Well, why don't you just ask Ric if his dirty little doctor had access to the weapons," Damon said, thinking he was just on the line with Elena.
Lucy rolled her eyes as Alaric snapped, "You're on speaker phone, dick."
"I'm just saying, first suspect's usually the right one," Damon defended himself. "Don't get so defensive."
"Brian Walters was killed days ago, right?" Joel spoke up thoughtfully. "Ric didn't show Meredith anything until last night."
"Okay, so it wasn't Meredith," Lucy placed a soothing hand on Alaric's tense shoulder.
"But Brian Walters was her ex-boyfriend and Ric saw them fighting that night," Damon replied.
"It's not Meredith, okay?" Elena voiced her opinion, turning her eyes to Alaric. "I refuse to believe that your luck with women is that tragic."
"Who else knows about your secret little slayer stash?" Damon asked.
"Who doesn't? I got weapons everywhere; here, the school, my condo, your car."
"It's Klaus," Damon determined. "It has to be. He's screwing with us."
Lucy was doubtful. "I doubt that Klaus would spend his time killing a medical examiner."
Alaric and Joel cocked their heads, agreeing with Lucy's assessment for the moment.
"What if it was Stefan?" Elena spoke up carefully. "You said he was crazy that night and you know he was trying to get underneath Klaus' skin. He was capable of pretty much anything."
Lucy bit her lip. "It's wasn't Stefan," she told them, getting curious looks in return. "I was with Stefan that night, remember?"
Elena's eyes narrowed furiously at her, as if she hadn't already known that Lucy left Caroline's party-funeral to meet Stefan. "What were you doing with Stefan?"
Lucy didn't get why Elena was mad at her. She didn't do anything wrong. "If you must know, we were making sure Klaus' hybrids got out of town."
Elena didn't lose the angry look on her face but she did back down.
"Ahh, makes me nostalgic for the time that Stefan was a bunny-snacking pacifist," Damon sighed wistfully. "Anyway, got to go. We'll know more later."
"Hey, where are you?" Alaric asked.
"Tea with an old friend," Damon answered simply before ending the call.
Lucy, Joel, and Alaric exchanged smiles, knowing that Lucy's plan actually worked. Elena eyed them curiously, having not heard what they did before moving the sealed coffin out of the witch house.
"What is he talking about?"
"When Damon and I moved the sealed coffin from the witch house, we pulled the dagger out of Elijah," Joel informed her.
"What?" Elena was shocked. "Are you serious?"
"Elijah's calmer than Klaus so I figured he'd help us get him out of town," Lucy told her, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now, why are you mad at me? What'd I do this time?"
"And this is our queue to leave," Alaric mumbled; Joel nodded in agreement as they both left the kitchen.
Lucy raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Well?"
"You want to know why I'm mad at you?" Elena retorted; Lucy nodded. "Fine. Stefan told me that you two have feelings for each other."
Lucy stiffened, shocked that Stefan actually told Elena what was going on. She knew that her sister had to find out sometime, but she wanted to tell her herself. She didn't want to hurt Elena and she wanted to let her know that Lucy would never do anything to ruin her relationship. Yes, Lucy loved Stefan but she would never do anything to drive him away from Elena. She wasn't that type of person and she loved Elena with all her heart.
"I-I—"
"Don't bother denying it," Elena snapped. "Stefan told me everything."
Lucy ground her teeth together angrily; she'd have to think Stefan later for going behind her back to confess everything to Elena. It really made her life a whole lot easier.
"I was going to tell you."
"When? Hmm?" Elena glowered at her. "Were you going to tell me after you and Stefan kissed? Or when you slept together?"
Lucy scoffed. "I would never do that, Elena and neither would Stefan."
"You fell in love with my boyfriend!"
"And are you or are you not in love with Damon, too?" Lucy retorted in frustration. Elena's face fell and Lucy sighed, "Look, you can be mad at me. I don't blame you. But you can't judge me, Elena. Not about this."
Elena didn't say anything but her glare was back as she stormed out of the room. Lucy sighed and pulled her phone out of her pocket, ready to leave Stefan some angry messages.
The beeping of heart monitors and the lady's voice over the intercom unnerved Lucy. Her nose wrinkled from the sterile smell around her, hating the fact that it ruined the smell of cleaning supplies for her.
She hated hospitals. Every time she was in one she was reminded of waking up after her parents died or when Jenna stabbed her and she had to get her spleen removed. There were no good memories associated with hospitals. None.
But Lucy stored away her disgust to be by Caroline's side as she picked up her dad from the hospital. Bill had been brought in after he was attacked by Tyler—who was changed into his wolf form—and had been treated with vampire blood by Meredith. Apparently he had been at death's door when she gave him Damon's blood—the same blood she stole from him earlier—but not he was perfectly healthy.
Lucy waited with Elena as Caroline spoke with Meredith and checked her dad out of her care. Somehow, she and Elena had ended up picking up Caroline together, even though they currently weren't speaking to one another.
Caroline was informed of what was going on between them but she hadn't commented. It was a good thing because she was on Lucy's side and she didn't want Elena to be further upset.
"Elena," Lucy spoke up quietly, her guilt bubbling in her stomach. "can we please talk about this?"
"No," Elena snapped at her. "I just want to know Meredith's intentions with Ric."
Lucy sighed but perked up when she saw Caroline walking toward them with her phone in her hands.
"That was fast," Lucy observed as they all started walking down the hallway.
"Yeah, he's not here. He was already discharged," Caroline informed her before turning to Elena. "And she seems perfectly nice, by the way—a little intense, maybe. But I think it's sweet you guys want to make sure Alaric's not dating a total psycho."
Caroline dialed her dad's number and pressed her phone to her ear.
"He's family," Lucy said firmly; that was one thing she and Elena agreed on today. "We have to look out for him."
Elena nodded in agreement but noticed Caroline looking around in confusion. "What?"
Caroline shushed her and pulled her phone from her ear. "I hear it."
"Hear what?"
"My dad's phone," Caroline answered Elena and veered left down the hallway, entering one of the supply rooms.
Lucy and Elena slowly followed her into the dark room, looking down the aisles of sterile supplies as they listened to Bill's phone ring. They passed the third aisle when Caroline gasped loudly and rushed into it, falling to her knees beside Bill's body.
Bill was unconscious, leaning against the metal shelf with a knife stuck in his abdomen. Blood had soaked through his clothes and was pooled around his body. Upon further examination, Lucy saw that his throat had been slit, as well.
Tears came to her eyes as Caroline burst into sobs. "Dad? Dad!" she cried. "Don't be dead, don't be dead, don't be dead!"
Lucy swallowed harshly as Caroline pulled the bloody knife out of Bill's stomach.
"Oh, my God," Elena breathed, her eyes darting around the bloody scene.
"Daddy!
"Caroline," Elena spoke up, though Caroline wasn't paying much attention as she tried to tend to her dad. "He has vampire blood in his system."
"…what?" Caroline asked distractedly, looking back at Elena and Lucy.
Elena didn't have to repeat herself as Bill startled awake, entering his transition.
"Oh, my God," Caroline sighed in relief as she hugged her shocked father. "You're okay, you're okay."
"What happened?" Bill looked around, disoriented.
"We should get him cleaned up and you can explain what happened, Care," Lucy suggested, taking charge, as Caroline helped Bill off the floor. "I'll call Liz and tell her what's going on."
"Okay, okay," Caroline nodded shakily. "Um…"
"Meet us in the furthest room from the nurses' station," Elena told Lucy.
Lucy nodded and pulled out her phone as Caroline and Elena led Bill out of the supply room. She called Liz and explained what happened to Liz, waiting patiently and offering sympathetic words as Liz freaked out over her ex-husband's death and future transition. Once Liz pulled herself together and told Lucy that she was on her way to look at the crime scene, she left the supply room and went to the room that Elena told her they would be.
By the time she entered the room, Bill was cleaned up and shockingly calm as Caroline and Elena spoke to him.
"Okay," Lucy closed the door behind her. "I called Liz and she's on her way to examine the supply room."
Caroline sighed. "Thanks."
"Mr. Forbes," Elena addressed Bill. "did you see your attacker?"
"I didn't see anything," Bill denied. "I tried to sneak out the back exit and someone came up from behind."
"Okay, we'll figure this out," Caroline tried to soothe everyone, though she was really the only one who needed soothing. "In the meantime, we need to get you some blood."
Bill looked disgusted at her suggestion. "I'm not going to drink any blood."
Caroline gaped at him in shock while Lucy pressed her lips together. They should have known that Bill wouldn't want to be a vampire. He tortured his own daughter for being one, after all.
"You have to," Elena reminded him. "You died with vampire blood in your system. If you don't feed and finish the transition into a vampire, then you'll die."
"I understand how it works and that's what I'm prepared to do," Bill said firmly, rubbing his throat. "Now get me out of this hospital. I smell blood everywhere."
"Get dressed," Damon told Stefan as he walked out of his bathroom, damp from his recent shower. "We're going out."
"Yeah, sorry, not interested," Stefan told his brother as he threw his towel into the laundry basket and picked up a clean shirt to put on.
Everything was a mess for Stefan right now; he was upset with Damon and Elena for kissing—though not as upset as he should or wanted to be—Lucy was mad at him for telling Elena about their feelings for each other—he had gotten five very angry text messages from her—and if he saw Klaus' face one more time he swore he was gonna throw himself off a bridge. His mind was scrambling as he tried to figure out how to fix everything with Elena and Lucy—and figure out his feelings for the two Gilbert sisters.
"I didn't ask. Elijah and I have scheduled a very old-fashioned sit-down with you, Klaus, and Lucy," Damon informed him, holding up two black button-up shirts. "I say go with the black. It makes you look all villain-y."
Stefan shrugged his denim shirt on and turned around to face his brother. "Klaus won't make a deal, Damon."
"He didn't have to," Damon threw the shirts to the side. "All we're doing is buying a little time to give our wicked witches a chance to pop the top off the coffin."
Stefan rolled his eyes and walked over to his full-length mirror, buttoning up his shirt. "So, that's your plan? Stall Klaus?"
"If you didn't go postal on his hybrids then maybe we'd have some options."
"So you unleashed an Original to help him out?" Stefan scoffed.
"For the record, it was your side-piece that wanted to undagger him," Damon defended himself.
Stefan narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't call Lucy a side-piece, dick."
"Fine, whatever," Damon shrugged. "Lucy's plan was smart, anyway. After what Klaus did to him, he's in vengeance mode. It's perfect."
"There's nothing smart about trusting Elijah," Stefan pointed at his brother. "He screwed us over the last time he promised to help us get rid of Klaus."
"Yeah, well, with the way you've been acting, I trust him about as much as I trust you."
Stefan angrily pressed his lips together as he walked away from Damon. He didn't understand the audacity Damon had sometimes. Stefan pulled the plug on killing Klaus because it saved Damon's life. It was Damon's life he was saving when he went with Klaus in the first place. It was Damon who had been in love with his girlfriend for more than half a year—and had kissed her on multiple occasions.
And Damon didn't trust him?
"Hmm," he chuckled bitterly. "I guess that goes both ways, doesn't it?"
"Oh, yes," Damon drawled, raising his eyebrows. "this is about me kissing Elena."
"It's not about Elena," Stefan said truthfully.
And it wasn't. Sure, Stefan was upset with Damon and Elena but he wasn't mad. He had no right to be considering his own feelings for Lucy. No, he was mad that Damon didn't recognize the sacrifice that he went through for him. He was mad that his relationship with his brother was falling apart at the seams for a girl once again. He was mad that Damon was judging him for trying to get back at Klaus when the hybrid had ruined his damn life.
"Sure it's not," Damon scoffed. "Just get ready and get happy. We have to pick Twitch up before we go to negotiate a fake truce and I don't want your attitude screwing it up."
Stefan rolled his eyes at his brother as he left the room.
"Have you heard back from Tyler yet?" Lucy asked Caroline through the phone as she pulled a dress out of her closet so she could get ready for the dinner Damon sprung on her out of nowhere.
"No," Caroline sniffed. "I've left messages for him everywhere. Does Alaric really think Dr. Fell did it?"
"According to Elena, yeah," Lucy sighed. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you? I'll cancel and be at your house in a few minutes."
"It's fine, Luce," Caroline assured her quietly. "We need Klaus out of town and you need to be there to help it happen."
"Okay but I'm coming over as soon as the dinner's done."
Caroline laughed sadly. "You know, my mom's sitting with my dad. I don't think they've been in the same room this long since I was ten years old…" she paused for a second and Lucy assumed she was wiping her tears. "I can't let my dad die, Lucy. I think I'm gonna force him to feed."
"Care, he doesn't want to," Lucy said softly. "The only thing your dad has left is his choice."
Caroline let out a sob that made Lucy's heart ache. "I hated him so much for what he did to me. So much," she cried. "Now all I want to do is save his life."
"Of course, you do," Lucy's eyes stung. "He's your dad."
"What was the hardest part for you?" Caroline sniffed. "When you lost your dad?"
Lucy wiped her tears and tried to stay strong for her best friend. "It was when I finally realized that he wasn't going to be there for the best parts in life, you know? The parts I wanted him to see."
Caroline broke down crying again and Lucy wished she was there to hold her. She whispered comforting words to her as she pulled on her dress. She had gone through what Caroline was going through now and it was one of the hardest things you have to deal with in life. Losing a parent was like losing a part of yourself. It was horrible and heart breaking and she wished she had the power to protect Caroline from that pain.
"I gotta go," Caroline whispered when her cries died down. "Matt and Elena are here."
"Okay," Lucy said. "I love you, Care. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Love you, too."
When the call ended, Lucy put her phone into her purse and finished getting ready, making sure that her eyes weren't red from crying. She made sure her black dressed was buttoned up correctly and slipped into some leather flats before making her way downstairs to wait for Damon and Stefan to pick her up.
It didn't take long for Damon's Camaro to pull up to the house. She slid into the backseat without a word. It was awkwardly quiet as Damon started driving toward Klaus' house but Lucy didn't really feel like talking to either of the vampire brothers.
"Are you okay?" Stefan asked her, turning his head to look at her.
"I'm fine," Lucy replied shortly, giving him a closed-lipped smile before turning to look out the window.
Damon cleared his throat awkwardly and it wasn't long before they pulled up to Klaus' house, which was more like a mansion. Lucy had to admit that it the architecture was beautiful and exactly what she expected out of Klaus. He was a pretentious little shit.
The three of them walked up to the huge door and Damon rung the bell. It was only seconds later that Elijah opened the door to let them in.
"Stefan. Damon," Elijah greeted them politely before smiling at Lucy. "Luciana, you look beautiful."
"Thanks, Elijah," Lucy smiled at him as they entered the house. "It's good to see you again. I like your haircut."
"Thank you," Elijah gave her another fond look before turning toward the foyer. "Niklaus, our sister and her guests have arrived."
Elijah led them through the large foyer, which included two marble staircases, and into the dining room. Lucy examined the beautiful room, seeing three women dressed as personal waitresses, who she assumed Klaus compelled. Klaus himself was standing next to a round table set for five people.
"Ah, little sister, I see you're healed," Klaus acknowledged Lucy with raised eyebrows before greeting the brothers. "Damon, Stefan. Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men and women, shall we?"
He gestured toward the table while Elijah walked past Lucy, Stefan, and Damon. "It's better to indulge him," he advised as he pulled a seat away from the table. "Luciana?"
Lucy gulped nervously and tried to remind herself that Elijah would never hurt her as she slowly walked over to the chair and sat down. Elijah pushed her chair closer to the table and joined Klaus in looking at the Salvatores expectantly.
"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus," Stefan griped as he walked a few steps forward. "In fact, I didn't want to come here at all but I was told I had to because you would hear us out."
"Hmm," Klaus smirked. "Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours."
Stefan looked to be considering Klaus' offer, so Lucy quickly intervened. "Stefan, sit down."
Stefan gave her an annoyed look but nevertheless took the empty seat on her right side. Klaus gave him a satisfied smile and sat down across from him while Elijah sat on Lucy's left side and Damon sat between Stefan and Klaus.
They were quickly served by the compelled women and despite the fact that Lucy had little to no appetite, she started to eat. Broccoli happened to be her favorite vegetable, so it wasn't hard to force them down.
"Thank you, love," Damon grinned at one of the women as she poured him a glass of wine. He stared at her backside as she walked away, making Lucy roll her eyes.
"You lost your appetite," Klaus observed, looking at Stefan, who made no move to eat any of the food on his plate.
Stefan raised his eyebrows challengingly.
"You'll have to excuse him," Lucy said politely as she kicked Stefan's foot under the table. "He's not a fan of broccoli."
"Eat," Damon forcefully advised his brother. "I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home."
Lucy saw Stefan's jaw clench but he picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of his steak with a bitter smile in Klaus' direction.
"That's the spirit," Klaus grinned at him. "Isn't this nice? The five of us dining together? Such a treat. Is that what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother?"
"He's my brother, too, Niklaus," Lucy reminded him while giving Elijah a sweet smile.
Klaus rolled his eyes at her.
"And I know how he felt about you," Damon added. "so I figured the more, the merrier."
"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries," Klaus acknowledged, glancing at Elijah. "but we always make it through."
"Kind of like you and Rebekah, right?" Stefan spoke up with a sarcastic grin. "Where is she, by the way? Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."
Lucy and Damon both gave Stefan annoyed looks as Klaus' grin fell from his lips.
"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah."
Elijah simply nodded in confirmation, quietly taking a sip of his wine.
"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed Dad?" Damon chided his brother. "Might want to dial down the judgment until dessert."
"We're here to make a deal, Damon," Stefan snapped, keeping his hard eyes on Klaus. "Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses."
Klaus smiled in amusement as he cut his steak while Lucy sighed heavily.
"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us," Damon warned him. "Pace yourself."
Stefan gave in for the moment and fell quiet, continuing to eat some of his food. Despite the fact that Lucy wasn't hungry at the start of the meal, she was almost done with her plate. Stress-eating was going to be the death of her.
"Stefan," Elijah said pleasantly as he set his fork down. "Where is the lovely Elena tonight?"
"Damon would know more than I would," Stefan answered, taking a sip of his wine.
Lucy closed her eyes as Klaus started to chuckle, wishing that this wasn't happening. When she opened them, Elijah was giving Klaus a confused look.
"I'm sorry, you've missed so much," Klaus apologized to him while he continued to laugh. "Uh—Elena and Stefan are on the outs and Damon and Lucy have taken their siblings' places."
Lucy's eyes widened in horror. "Niklaus!"
"One more word about Elena and this dinner is over," Stefan threatened Klaus; Klaus simply grinned, pressing a sarcastic finger to his lips.
"You know what, it's probably best just to keep Elena in the do-not-discuss pile," Damon suggested.
"You're probably right," Klaus agreed as he popped a piece of broccoli into his mouth. "It's just—" he set down his fork and looked at everyone in amusement. "the allure of the Petrova doppelganger, still so strong."
He looked over at Elijah. "What do you say, brother?" he asked him. "Should we tell them about Tatia?"
Lucy perked up at the familiar name while Elijah chuckled nervously. "Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"
"Tatia," Lucy hummed, scanning her Luciana memories. "She was the originator of the Petrova doppelgangers, wasn't she?"
"Correct," Klaus winked at her. "and given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think Stefan and Damon might be curious to learn about her.
Lucy wished they wouldn't share the story about Tatia. From what she now remembered, Tatia almost completely destroyed Klaus and Elijah's relationship. She was a foolish girl that taunted them both. She and Rebekah couldn't stand the girl. It was weird that she now had two sisters that shared her face.
"Well, we're not going anywhere, Elijah," Damon raised his wine glass. "Please, do tell."
Elijah cleared his throat and began, "When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia. She was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she'd had a child by another man," he told Lucy, Stefan, and Damon. "And none loved her more than Niklaus."
Klaus cocked his head. "I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much."
Stefan straightened in his seat, realizing where this story was going. It sounded familiar. "Wait a minute," he looked between Klaus and Elijah. "you both loved the same girl?"
"Our mother was a very powerful witch," Elijah continued without answering Stefan. "She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where our mother performed the spell which turned us into vampires."
Elijah paused to take a drink of his wine and then went on, "Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time, Niklaus and I…" he hesitated. "grew estranged. Harsh words were traded. We even came to blows, didn't we, brother?"
"I remember," Lucy spoke up, looking at her brothers. "It was Samhain and she was dancing with Niklaus. You were upset and she went to you…"
Elijah nodded solemnly.
"In the end," Klaus raised his glass toward Elijah and Lucy. "we realized the sacred bond of family."
Elijah nodded and clinked his glass against Klaus'. "Family above all."
"Family above all."
They both nodded at Lucy—though they didn't pressure her to toast with them—and drank from their glass. Lucy smiled weakly at them, wishing that is was that simple for her. She had more family than just them. She would never be able to decide between the Mikaelsons and the Gilberts. Her heart wouldn't allow her to, even if it was for the best.
Klaus gestured for the waitresses to take their plates. As soon as the table was cleared, Elijah cleared his throat and addressed Lucy, Stefan, and Damon.
"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" he suggested.
"Well, that's very simple," Damon stated. "Klaus gets his coffin back and, in exchange, he and the Original family—excluding Lucy—leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Elena, Stefan, and Lucy live happily ever after. No grudges."
Elijah cocked his head and looked at Lucy. "We would be able to contact you, Luciana?"
"Of course," Lucy assured him with a small smile. "I'll even visit you as long as you leave Mystic Falls."
Elijah nodded and turned to Klaus. "The deal sounds fair, brother."
"I don't think you understand," Klaus sighed in frustration. "Elena's doppelganger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me and I want Luciana with us as a family. I will never leave them behind."
Lucy sighed softly and rubbed her temple, wishing her brother wasn't so stubborn.
Klaus got up and stood behind his chair, gesturing wildly. "Let's say I do leave Elena here, under your protection. What then?" he asked the Salvatore brothers. "How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her and that is simply a delusion."
Lucy ignored the unpleasant twisting in her stomach and glared at Klaus. "My sister is not an object that you can barter over."
Klaus shrugged at her in dismissal and smirked at Stefan and Damon. "Nevertheless, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you."
Damon pressed his lips together and stood up. "I'm going to get some air."
As he walked out of the room, Elijah went to follow him. "Let me deal with this."
"All this talk has made me thirsty," Klaus hummed, gesturing for one of the waitresses. He brushed the hair away from her neck and smirked at Stefan. "What do you say, Stefan? Can I interest you in a little after-dinner drink?"
Lucy gasped in disgust as Klaus bit into the woman's neck, her stomach twisting dangerous. She instantly looked over at Stefan to see how he was doing and wasn't surprised to see the dark veins popping up underneath his eyes.
"Hey," Lucy grabbed his hand, forgetting about Klaus for the moment. "Don't look," she told him softly; Stefan's green eyes bore into her hazel ones. "just focus on me, okay?"
Stefan's face softened and he nodded, gripping her hand tightly as his features relaxed and he controlled his bloodlust. Lucy smiled at him encouragingly, glad that she could help him. She didn't know exactly when Stefan quit drinking human blood again, but she figured he was back on animal blood when he started to react so strongly to the blood Klaus drank.
"Delicious," Klaus sighed as he dropped the waitress to the ground and smirked at Stefan and Lucy. "Aged to perfection."
Stefan stiffened at the reminder that he and Lucy weren't the only two people in the room and released Lucy's hand, standing up to walk over to Klaus. "Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening is to drive a wedge between me and my brother."
"Oh no, you did that well enough on your own," Klaus snarked back as he stopped in front of Stefan. . "As soon as you saved my life, you lost your brother. Add in the fact that you're in this ridiculous love-trapezoid and you're not doing so well, are you?"
"God, Niklaus," Lucy hissed as she stood up. "Would you mind your business?"
Klaus rolled his eyes at her and looked back at Stefan. "All of your indecision is tacky anyway," he continued. "I should think my sister deserves better."
Lucy paused, her heart warming slightly at Klaus' words. He was a dick but he was the only one who was telling the truth about the situation she was in. She deserved more than the second-hand feelings Stefan had for her. Klaus was right, even if it was hard for her to swallow.
She completely missed the murderous look that Stefan aimed at Klaus when Damon and Elijah walked back into the room.
"What do you say, Klaus?" Damon called as Stefan went to stand by him in solidarity. "It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter."
Klaus walked over to the chair Elijah was standing behind and took a seat. "Okay," he wiped his mouth of leftover blood. "I offer Elena and Luciana's future happiness. You see, what they need right now is to be rid of you lot. Lucy can go to university and Elena can fall in love with a human," he glanced at Elijah. "Maybe that nice football player. You know, the blonde one?"
Damon scoffed. "Matt Donovan, really?"
"Yeah, why not?" Klaus grinned. "They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life and pop out a perfect family. Lucy, of course, is free to travel and whatnot. Whatever she wants, our family will provide."
Lucy pursed her lips thoughtfully as Stefan gave her a sad look.
"So, Elena can continue the Petrova bloodline," Damon filled in the blanks bitterly. "Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelganger to drain and never run out of hybrids."
Klaus smirked. "Consider it a small return on my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know it's what's best for her," he stood up and walked over to the fireplace. "So, what do you say, Stefan?"
Stefan looked at Lucy for a few quiet seconds and then at Damon before walking over to Klaus, his hand outstretched. Lucy sucked in a sharp breath, hoping that he wasn't about to just hand her life over to Klaus without consulting her—or Elena, for that matter.
"What are you doing?" Damon hissed at him.
Stefan took Klaus' offered hand. "Nice try, Klaus," he whispered. "but no deal."
Klaus' grin fell sharply; he quickly twisted Stefan's arm, snapping the bone, and pushed him to his knees. Lucy shouted in objection as he thrust Stefan's hand into the fireplace.
"Stop!" Damon yelled as he and Lucy were pushed back by Elijah. "What are you doing?"
"Stop!" Lucy shrieked at Klaus as Stefan groaned madly in pain.
Klaus turned to Damon and snarled at him, "Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive."
Damon glowered at him. "I'll get it."
"Go with him, brother, and keep him honest," Klaus ordered Elijah. "And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family."
Elijah stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Come, Luciana," he urged, pushing her out of the room behind Damon.
Lucy wanted to object and stay to make sure that Klaus didn't do anything else to Stefan, but Elijah was pretty insistent. She followed him out of the room and was surprised when he and Damon led her into a room where the three coffins that held her siblings were waiting.
Lucy was shocked to see that the coffins were open and Rebekah, Kol, and Finn were awake, standing around while drinking blood bags.
She looked at Damon and Elijah, confused. "What?"
Damon pressed his finger to his lips to shush her and mouthed that he and Elijah undaggered the rest of the Originals while they left earlier. Lucy nodded and looked over at Rebekah, Kol, and Finn, a swell of excitement bubbling in her gut.
"Luciana," Finn—who, as far as Lucy understood, had been in his coffin for nine hundred years—breathed in shock when his eyes landed on his youngest sister. "You're alive."
"Hi," Lucy's eyes watered as she looked between him and Kol. "It's nice to finally see you again."
"Finally," Kol scoffed, and to her surprise, stalked toward her and pulled her into a tight hug. "What bloody year is it?"
As Kol let go and she was passed to Finn, Elijah answered his younger brother. "It's 2010."
"It's been a century?" Kol chocked.
"Over nine hundred years," Finn growled after he hugged Lucy and greeted her fondly.
Elijah calmed down Finn and Kol and explained what was going on as Lucy smiled sheepishly at Rebekah. Rebekah sighed and rolled her eyes before wrapping her arms tightly around Lucy. Lucy squeezed her back, telling her sister how much she missed her.
"Come," Elijah grabbed the daggers that were in his siblings. "I think it's time we confront Niklaus."
Finn, Kol, and Rebekah agreed with him and Lucy stuck to Damon's side as they left the living room to go confront Klaus. Elijah pulled one of the waitresses from the kitchen and gave her two of the daggers on a covered tray before he, Damon, and Lucy followed her into the dining room. Rebekah made her way through the house to go through the other entrance while Finn and Kol waited for their entrance.
Drama was a must with the Mikaelson family.
"Elijah," Klaus looked at him in surprise. "why haven't you left?"
"Well, where are you manners, brother?" Elijah asked coyly. "We forgot dessert."
With all the dramatic antics of a performer on stage, Elijah whipped away the cloth covering the daggers. Klaus' eyes widened in shock and horror.
"What have you done?"
"What have you done?" Elijah snapped. "You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now."
Kol entered the room, smirking at Klaus, who gaped at him.
"Kol."
"Long time, brother."
Klaus sped toward the tray of daggers but was stopped as Finn appeared, taking one of them and stabbing Klaus through the hand. Lucy flinched as Klaus screamed in pain and backed away from Finn and Kol.
He tried to escape from the other entrance but Rebekah was there to block him.
"Rebekah!"
Rebekah smirked and shoved a dagger into his stomach. As he groaned, she whispered, "This is for our mother."
She pulled the dagger from Klaus; Klaus tried to back away but Kol and Finn wrapped their arms around him, keeping in him place.
"You're free to go," Elijah told Stefan and Damon. "This is family business."
Damon nodded at Stefan but Stefan looked to Lucy, who was staring at her siblings in shock. "Luce?"
Lucy looked at him with wide eyes. "Huh?"
"She can stay," Elijah offered. "No harm will come to her and I'll take her home myself."
Lucy bit her lip and nodded encouragingly at Stefan, who looked reluctant to leave without her. Eventually Damon forcefully grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the mansion.
"I live what you've done with the new place, Nik," Rebekah said snidely as she picked up one of Klaus' vases and threw it at the wall. It hit one of his paintings and shattered, bringing the painting down with it.
Klaus looked at the floor, ashamed and resentful for the beating he just took from most of his siblings. Lucy stood to the side, feeling a little out of place, while Kol and Finn stood on either side of her, each of them nursing some wine.
"I wanted it to be for all of us," Klaus said quietly. "A place we could all call home. A place we could all be a family. None of us would ever have to be alone again."
Rebekah rolled her eyes at his sob story and stood next to Kol.
"Well, you're right," Elijah conceded as he took his place next to Rebekah. "None of us will be."
"You're staying behind," Finn added.
"We're leaving you, Nik," Rebekah informed him. "Right after I kill that doppelganger wench, then you'll be alone. Always and forever."
Lucy grimaced and hoped that she could talk Rebekah into leaving Elena alone. She was mad that she daggered Rebekah, too, but she didn't want her sister to die.
Klaus stood up, his eyes narrowed into slits as his chest heaved in anger. "If you run, I will hunt all of you down."
"Then you'll become everything you hate," Elijah replied. "Our father."
"I'm the hybrid!" Klaus shouted at them. "I can't be killed! I have nothing to fear from any of you!"
"You will when we have that coffin."
Klaus' watery eyes widened at Elijah's statement, obviously haunted about what laid in the coffin deep under the Lockwood property.
Strangely, the door opened behind Lucy, Elijah, Kol, Finn, and Rebekah. They all turned around, shocked at who came through the door. Esther walked into the room, looking the same as she did in Luciana's last memory of her.
She looked completely healthy. There was no sign of the damage Klaus inflicted when he killed her a thousand years ago.
"Mother?" Rebekah gasped.
Esther looked at all of her children warmly before passing through them to speak to Klaus. Klaus' eyes were glaring at the floor, like he was expecting Esther to lash out and kill him where he stood.
"Look at me," Esther demanded of him; Klaus lifted his tearful face to look her in the eyes. "Do you know why I am here?"
"You're here to kill me," Klaus breathed.
"Niklaus, you are my son," Esther stated. "and I am here to forgive you."
Esther earned looks of disbelief from the rest of her children. They were all shocked that she could forgive him for killing her all those years ago. Lucy was just shocked that shew as somehow alive.
None of this made any sense.
Esther turned around to look at Lucy, Finn, Kol, Elijah, and Rebekah and declared, "I want us to be a family again."
Why was Lucy's life so complicated?