Disclaimer: Not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Thank you for your kudos and reviews so far.

ALWAYS AND FOREVER

The Bloody Crown

(VII, 3x22; 4x10; 5x06; 6x01)


'Hell is Empty and All the Devils are here.' – Brothers Grimm


Hank Griffin peered at the computer monitor; the surveillance at Monroe and Rosalee's cottage was quiet, a good thing compared to other cameras around Portland where he saw break-ins and riots in broad daylight. Bonaparte's death spurred Black Claw and Wesen alike to make up their own rules. It was dangerous for citizens to leave their homes.

Franco's radio distracted Hank from his task. An explosion alerted them both, "Can you believe this? All these crimes happening the same time? We got 911 calls coming out of our asses." Hank empathized with his exasperation and pushed back his chair.

"I'll call Wu for back up," he said.

Franco put on his cap, "Don't eat my burrito."

Hank grinned; his desk phone rang with the Super Intendant on the other line.

He answered, "Y-yes sir. Burkhardt's been reinstated? That's great. Renard? No, he's not in yet."

Hank paused, his eyes on Franco, who hung on his every word…

"Rachel Wood? Renard's fingerprints? Murder. Ah, yes sir, I understand." Hank ended the call; shock etched across his face. "The Super Intendant wants me to arrest Renard for Rachel Wood's murder."

Franco's jaw dropped, "Do you think he did it?"

Hank holstered his gun, scanning Monroe's house for anything out of the ordinary.

"I don't know anymore."

He indicated for another office to replace him, with specific instructions to call him if anything occurred. The officer nodded, as Hank grabbed his jacket, missing the days he spent grabbing donuts and coffees with Nick. He had no idea how he was going to arrest the former Captain, let alone tell him he was suspected of murder. Everything these days seemed surreal.


Nick woke, bleary eyed and exhausted, but happy, happier than he'd been in a long time, and it was due to Adalind Schade. She smiled up at him, how long she'd been awake, he didn't know, but he shifted beneath her head and ran his hand through her hair, at peace.

"Did you sleep okay?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, for the first time in forever."

Nick grinned, "I guess I should make us breakfast? Bacon and eggs?"

Adalind nodded, "I'll check on the kids, but we should do last night, again sometime."

She kissed him, smiling as he gripped her neck, pulling her back into their pillows with a smirk.

"How about if we're super quiet?" he whispered, holding onto her waist.

"Diana can see through walls," Adalind said, making Nick release her with a frown.

"Are you serious?" he picked up a pillow and put it on his head.

Adalind laughed, snapping the elastic of his boxers, and pulling the sheet from the bed.

He groaned, "Just another reason for Diana to hate me."

Adalind turned on the shower, "She doesn't hate you; she just doesn't know you very well."

Nick threw the pillow from his face, staring up at the ceiling, "She's never gonna trust me."

Adalind stepped into the shower, "Not with that attitude. Trust takes time. You need to spend time together. You're my boyfriend now, and she'll have to get used to that."

Nick sat up, perplexed, "Boyfriend? Sounds like we're in our teens."

Adalind laughed again, the water running, "What would you prefer? Lover, partner?"

Nick appeared by the bathroom door, appreciating the view, "Partner is fine."

Adalind opened the door to the shower, "Get in here."

Nick didn't need to be told twice, "You're the reason I'm going to get murdered."

Adalind kissed him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, "Not funny."


Hayley sat on the couch, flicking through Rosalee's Vogue magazines with some interest.

Klaus hung up the phone, "That was Nick, apparently Hadrian's Wall was raided last night."

Hayley's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Raided? What did they take? Are they okay?"

Klaus sighed, "They took the cloth. Meisner's dead, Cortez killed him."

Hayley frowned, "Who's responsible? The Royals or the Strix?"

Klaus started pacing, "I should be out there, helping. Cortez will come after us, after our family."

Hayley's eyes flicked up at him between page turns.

He was agitated and released a growl of frustration, throwing his book, 'Oliver Twist' across the room.

She didn't flinch, "Dodging Cortez who wants you dead? No, you're safe here. Hope needs her father."

She continued to flick pages, leaving Klaus in disbelief.

"Safe? You and I are humans, and you want me to stay here? Caged up?"

Hayley didn't look up, "Yes, we have everything we need, books, television, wine."

She gestured to the bottle she'd opened on the coffee table, her wine glass almost empty.

Klaus frowned defeated, "I'm going to check on Hope."

Hayley pointed to his book, "Pick that up first."

Klaus frowned, marched over to the book, and returned it to the bookshelf.

Hayley switched on the television – a news bulletin flashed on screen about Renard's resignation. There was a lockdown curfew. Riots were rampant across the state. It was going to rain all week. There were warnings of wolf sightings in nearby forests. Hayley's mind wandered to Dyson, Kenzi, and Kayla, she hoped they were okay.

Davina was calling her:

"Hello?"

"Aya knows you betrayed her. She's threatened to take a life for every day Klaus doesn't return. First Elijah, now Rebekah, don't let her take Kol from me."

"She took Rebekah?"

"She daggered her. Aurora threatened to leave her at the bottom of the ocean."

"What about Elijah?"

"Freya lured his soul into her necklace, the same way she once preserved Finn."

Hayley felt relieved to know Elijah could be brought back.

"I know you think Klaus is the big, bad wolf, Davina, but to Hope, he is her dad. I won't let Aurora or Aya destroy everything we've built. Leave New Orleans, protect yourselves, and as soon as our powers are back, I will exchange the cloth for Klaus' freedom."

Davina sighed, "I can't believe you of all people are protecting him. Don't you remember how he held you captive in the compound?"

Hayley did remember, she remembered when his façade slipped and she saw glimpses of his true self, how he cared for his 'Little Wolf' and 'Littlest Wolf', how he fixed her air conditioner, explained his vendetta against Marcel and built a nursery for them. He expected them to be a family and his intentions, misguided at first, were founded on protecting them from harm.

Kindness doesn't make you weak, Klaus.

Now they were held captive again – "Give me 24 hours. I'll do what I can."

There was a knock at the door, followed by Wesen smashing rocks through the door.

"What the hell- Klaus! KLAUS!"

Armed intruders grabbed Hayley as she fought to free herself.

"Get OFF me!"

Hayley kicked her feet against the wall, ramming her captives into the umbrella stand. Someone's elbow smashed into her eyebrow. Blood dribbled into her eyes; her hair ridden with sweat as she was forced to her knees. Frustrated by her human weakness, she could do nothing but wait for help.

Two Wesen galloped up the stairs and she clenched her teeth, hoping Klaus could fight back. Fear overtook her as she waited for the Wesen to find Hope but to her surprise, Klaus was forced downstairs alone. She was happy to see his knuckles were bloodied, and the Wesen were supporting injuries to their faces and sides. He almost escaped again, until another captor broke his nose.

"What do you want?"

The man's voice sounded familiar, "Revenge. Don't tell me you've forgotten me already?"

Klaus spat the blood from his mouth, recognizing the man's stance, "Cortez?"

"Anyone else here?" The vampire glanced upstairs; eyes bloodshot in hunger.

Hayley stared at Klaus who shook his head, "No."

The Wesen transformed, ransacking nearby rooms but finding nothing. Hayley prayed Hope was well hidden. To her terror, a bag was forced over her head. She yelled for help, fighting for her life as she and Klaus were thrown into the van together. She felt sick, terrified of what would happen to Hope. She remembered Hank and Wu were monitoring the house and hoped a patrol would be passing by.

"Hayley?!"

"I'm here, I'm okay," she heard the engine start and the van door was slammed shut.

They were engulfed in darkness, hands firmly tied behind their backs. She heard 'Galileo' on the radio and recalled pocketing her phone in her jeans. It was digging into her thigh. Klaus' arm touched hers. She took in a shaky breath, "Where are you taking us?"

"Tribunal," came a stern voice. "Where you'll pay for your sins."

She couldn't chance asking Klaus where Hope was hidden. She had to trust he had protected her and that the Portland PD would find her. She had to be patient, hoping as each minute passed, her powers would be closer to returning. In a few hours, if she were still alive by then, she vowed to tear Cortez apart with her teeth.


"911, what's your emergency? This is Franco."

Hope held Klaus' phone to her ear, shaking involuntarily.

"I'm in the attic. My dad told me to hide. Someone broke into our house."

"How old are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm three," Hope whispered.

"What's your name and address?" There was a long pause. "I'm going to help you, but you need to answer my questions, okay?"

"Okay. My name's Hope. It's a friend's house. They took my mum and dad!"

Franco typed information into the system.

"Who took your parents, intruders? How many were there?"

"I don't know," Hope's voice trailed off. "Four. I need to speak to Nick Burkhardt."

"Burkhardt? I'll call him. Did your parents know the attackers?"

"I only heard voices. My dad called one 'Cortez'."

"Ok, that's great, can you hear the sirens?"

"Yes."

"Police will be with you soon. Don't hang up, okay? What are your parents wearing?"

Hope took a deep breath, "My mum is wearing jeans and a jacket with a white t-shirt; my dad is wearing jeans, a jacket, and a blue t-shirt. Their names are Hayley Marshall and Klaus Mikaelson.

"That's perfect, you are doing great. Okay, Burkhardt has been notified."

Hope fingered the silver bracelet on her wrist. It was gift from her Aunt Davina and Uncle Kol, she liked the way it shimmered in the patch of sunlight near her hand. There was one window where she saw rainclouds forming. The attic was filled with clocks. Her legs were caked in dust from the floorboards.

"Can you hear anyone in the house at the moment?"

"No, it's quiet."

"Did you hear where the men took your parents?"

"No, can I come out yet?"

"Not yet, wait for Nick or Hank, okay? I want you to stay safe."

"I'm hungry," Hope whispered. "And cold." She rubbed her arms.

Franco gestured to the officer opposite him, he had returned with chips and drinks from the vending machine. He pointed to the monitors and scribbled, "check for kidnappings at 1300 HRS." The officer dropped the food and pulled up various cameras.

He waved at Franco who looked up to see the break-in happen as if in slow motion. Bingo.

"There's food at the station and blankets," he reassured Hope.

The intruders wore animal masks that gave Franco the chills. He watched as four men broke into the cottage and not fifteen minutes later, shoved a man and a woman, Klaus and Hayley, into a van. Left behind on the broken door was the BLACK CLAW symbol painted at every crime scene that year.

"Detectives are 2 minutes away, Hope. We have the van's licence plate."

The wind had picked up, rattling the windowpanes.

She didn't know when she would see her parents again or if they would survive.

She jumped at every tree creaking, every door banging, unsure if the intruders had returned or not.

"What if they come back?" her voice shook.

Franco was determined to reassure her, "I'm not hanging up until you're safe, okay?"

"Okay," Hope whispered, hugging her knees to her chest. "Hurry."


"I slept with Adalind last night," Nick watched Monroe spill coffee down his plaid shirt and grinned, tossing him some napkins.

Monroe mopped up his spillage, "How was it, I mean, you knew it was her this time?"

Nick readjusted his grip on the steering wheel.

"When I slept with Adalind the first time, I thought she was Juliette. The second time it was Juliette, and this time, it was with the mother of my son."

Monroe nodded, "Do you think you're in love with her?"

Monroe scrunched the napkins into his coffee cup.

Nick sighed, "I don't know." He glanced at Monroe. "She's changed so much, it's complicated."

"Well, I never thought I'd say this, but you two make a good couple."

Nick smiled, remembering what Diana had said about Monroe and Rosalee expecting.

"What about you and Rosalee, and the… triplets?"

Monroe turned pale, "Rosalee took a pregnancy test, and it was confirmed to be true."

A line of sweat formed on his upper lip, "I'm going to be a father..."

Nick smirked, "Well, if you need help with baby names..."

A smile returned to Monroe's lips, "Oh, that we've got down: Bobby, Mitchell, Freddy, all family names."

They were turning into Bud's street to check on Adalind, Trubel and the kids when a 911 call was radioed through. "That's your address?" Nick said, alarmed. His phone began to ring, and he handed it to Monroe, concern etched on his face. "Burkhardt?" he answered.

It was Franco, "Nick, I've got a Hope Mikaelson requesting your immediate assistance. Her parents were kidnapped by four men in a home invasion less than ten minutes ago. What's your location?"

Nick put his foot down. "We're a block away." He turned on the sirens.

Franco sighed, "I've got her on the other line. Shall I put her on?"

Nick glanced at Monroe again, "Hope? I'm almost there, are you alright?"

A scared voice replied, "Nick," she began to sob, "I can hear someone in the room under me."

Nick's heart raced, "Stay quiet, I'll be there soon. Hold on!"

They entered Monroe's street; the door was ajar. There was blood everywhere – a Black Claw mark smudged on the broken door. Nick's patrol car screeched into the driveway.

Monroe's eyes flashed in warning, "Vampire, the rest were Blutbad."

Nick raised his gun, checking each room thoroughly before entering.

"We're coming to get you." Nick said in his phone, "Are you still in the attic? Yes or no."

Hope's voice was barely a whisper, "Yes."

Nick pointed upstairs as Monroe checked the downstairs rooms. The sirens grew louder, and Hank arrived with Drew Wu in tow and several SWAT police including two snipers.

Nick could hear the floors creaking in one of the bedrooms, "PORTLAND PD!"

He stopped in surprise, his gun still pointed at the unwelcome guest.

"TRUBEL? What the hell are you doing here?"

Trubel raised her hands, "I sensed something was wrong."

Nick holstered his gun, "You're supposed to be protecting Adalind, Diana and Kelly?"

Trubel sighed, "I'm sorry, Adalind said 'nobody's going to attack a Hiexenbiest.' And I believed her."

Nick massaged his eyes, "Former Hiexenbiest. She should have had you stay put."

Nick could hear Hank and Wu delegating officers to various jobs. The house was empty.

Trubel pointed to the ceiling, "I think someone's up there."

Nick spoke into his phone, "Hope, it's okay. Trubel is a friend. You're safe."

The attic door opened, and Hope peered down at him.

Nick held out his arms as the little girl jumped down from the attic.

"We're going to find your parents," he reassured her.

Hope wrapped her arms around Nick's shoulders.

"You were so brave," Monroe added with a smile.

Hank arrived, "Franco's tracking Hayley's phone, we should get a location soon."


Hayley observed their kidnappers not only had horrible taste in music, but they were also awful drivers. She and Klaus were slammed into the sides of the van as the vehicle careened off road for several miles. Even one of the intruders swore at the driver, when he was catapulted against the rear door. Hayley tucked her body closer together, the bag slipping from her head.

"Klaus?"

"Still here, Little Wolf," Klaus murmured, his fingers nudged against hers.

Suddenly the van parked, and doors slammed one after the other.

A gust of wind blew over them, and they were hauled to their feet. Hayley felt heavy rain on her arms. Her feet slipped over muddy grass. They were escorted down a hill where their bags were removed, but they were still bound.

"Do what you want with me, Cortez, but let Hayley go free."

Cortez smirked, he seemed to loom over them both, a warlord with a grudge.

"Hayley, your werewolf queen, the lost Labonair princess? No, she will be held responsible for her crimes, as much as you."

"My crimes? What crimes?" Hayley blurted, enraged.

Cortez held up his hand. Jeers from cloaked Wesen grew louder. They woged into their true form, emerging from the shadows. Hayley counted twenty altogether, most Blutbad, distant cousins. Without her powers she remained helpless.

Klaus was shoved face first into the mud, where one of their captors pushed his boot into Klaus' back with a sneer, "The great Klaus Mikaelson lays before you."

Cortez gestured towards Klaus as he rolled free, kicking his captor in the kneecaps.

"You are free to speak."

Klaus spat mud from his mouth, "I have nothing to hide Cortez. You wish to put me on trial for my many grievous sins? Well, go on, have at it."

Cortez hushed the taunting crowd whilst Hayley looked on, hopeless.

"Many of you used to fear his name, Klaus Mikaelson. Sire to a thousand years' worth of angry faces. How does it feel to be this hated? Look at them, they're yours. Do you remember him? 1694, his wife accused your sister, Rebekah of witchcraft, so you turned him and compelled him to drain his wife dry. This man was a simple farmer but in 1745, he made the mistake of owning land you wanted. You could have taken it but instead, you turned him and made him burn his entire village. 1891, you turned this woman and forced her to burn her own mother, wicked!"

Klaus sighed, "Yes, my sins were terrible indeed. But I wanted to be feared, how else could I protect my family, The Originals, from harm?"

There were jeers and a woman pushed through the crowd, her hair was chestnut brown and there was a crazy glint in her eye. "Don't you preach to me about family! I was your family once, or so you had me believe. And where did that get me? Compelled to escape your father, an identity crisis and the theft of my brother, Tristan."

Klaus rolled his eyes, "I could have left you nameless and alone, Aurora, but I didn't. I took you and made you all that you are."

Aurora folded her arms across her chest. "You made us all in your image, angry, paranoid, and merciless. Why even bother siring us? Were you afraid to be alone? Did you want to make us vile and disgusting, like you? The reason doesn't matter. You made us, then you abandoned us, and anyone who dared stand up to you, you took away everything we ever loved. That is why you must pay."

The cloaked figures cheered; Hayley was tired and hungry and missed Hope.

She tried to break free, but her ropes would not budge.

There was a full moon in the sky – she could harness its energy in some way.

Cortez walked up to her, this made Klaus uneasy.

"You, Hayley Marshall, are charged with befriending a GRIMM, consummating with a HYBRID and raising an abomination, breaking WESEN LAW. How do you plead?"

Hayley stood her ground, "I have no regrets."

Cortez grabbed her chin, "Your daughter will be found, and I will make her suffer before your eyes."

Hayley bit down on his hand, "Werewolf venom will be your demise."

Cortez wrenched her neck to the side, his eyes manic for blood.

"Touch her and you die."

Klaus threw his weight against Cortez, Hayley sprung away from them, adrenaline pumping.

It's time to fight, little wolf

They were outnumbered ten to one.

Hayley yelled into the crowd, "You accuse Klaus of unjust retaliation, of killing your loved ones, but how is he any different to any of you? A pack leader fights to determine who is strongest, and Klaus is most feared because he fights for power, as do all of you. But his first instinct is to defend his blood, as you act to avenge yours. You say he is guilty, but I ask you, would anyone here do any less?"

Aurora brandished a finger at her, "All's fair in defence of family? That's your argument? I recall Klaus tried to kill you whilst you were pregnant with his spawn. You were held captive in in New Orleans. Klaus almost killed your late husband because he found him unworthy of you. Do you deny it?"

Hayley glared at Aurora, "Tristan murdered my husband. He deserves to rot in the ocean forever…"

Aurora frowned, "A soul for a soul. You have every reason to hate Klaus as much as we do, even more, given how long he made you suffer. Klaus forced the Crescent Curse upon you when he discovered you took Hope from him. How did you feel when he trapped in wolf form, turning human once every full moon? For months you were barred from Hope, even missing her first steps…"

Hayley had been furious at Klaus; she had fought for custody and left the compound to be with Jackson. It seemed like forever ago, before the trauma of losing their loved ones forced them to choose a side. She remembered telling Mary; 'We fight to protect the people we care about.'

Klaus stood between her and Cortez. Aurora to her left.

"Klaus has made mistakes, like all of us. He is irrational, impulsive at times and stubborn, but what do you expect from a man who suffered at the hands of his emotional abusive mother and physically abusive father? He daggered his siblings to protect them from themselves, was it wrong? Yes, has he learned from his mistakes, yes. He cursed me once but that is in the past, we learned to protect Hope as partners, with her best interests at heart."

The crowd began to chant. "Kill them, kill them, kill them all!"

Aurora hushed them, "He will never love you, Hayley, mark my words. He is the Devil."

Hayley clenched her teeth, "If he's the Devil, then what are you? You're no Angel."

Aurora laughed; a cackle that made Hayley's hair stand on the back of her neck.

Klaus broke his restraints, his hand wrapped tight around Cortez's throat.

"I'm disappointed in you, Cortez. Yes, I murdered your loved ones! I killed your harlot, I rid the world of your slum, and I freed you from your decrepit mother. So, what of it? Each of you stands here today because I willed it to be so! This mockery of a trial is allowed only because of me, and your very immortality is a gift...from me. A debt you can never repay! One that far offsets all my crimes. I OWE YOU NOTHING. So, go on! Kill me! I welcome the peace of death as a reprieve from this tedium. I will die suffering but a taste of the agony I have inflicted upon all of you. The scales remain in my favour. And in the end, you will all know that I won. You will remember me, Klaus Mikaelson...your maker."

Aurora threw Klaus from Cortez, and he was apprehended by several angry Blutbad.

"Death is too good for him! You have the means to make him suffer, Cortez. Let that be his fate!"

Cortez pulled Papa Tunde's blade from his jacket, "Justice should be a fate worse than death. This blade is imbued with dark magic. It will cause unending agony. All the pain we have felt at the hands of this man will pale in comparison to what he will soon feel for as long as I decide to let him live."

Hayley concentrated on breaking her bonds, using all the strength she could muster.

The rain was helping to loosen the ropes, and she body slammed Aurora into a dozen Wesen. Klaus noticed heavy chains to his left, intended no doubt for his burial. He did not envision being plundered with the blade a second time. So, he grabbed the chain, looped it around Cortez' head and pulled it, decapitating the vampire in one swift movement.

"Let that be a lesson to anyone who threatens my family!"

Chaos erupted, the blade fell to the ground and Aurora made a grab for it. Klaus grabbed her head, with a grin he thrust the blade between her chest and dropped her writhing body at his feet. Aurora's screams would alert authorities or warn his enemies to retreat.

Hayley joined his side, a glint of madness in her eyes, free of her bindings.

"Find Hope and run, I'm who they want."

"I'm not leaving you!" she was as stubborn as him.

"Some time ago I refused to trust you with our daughter. I won't make that mistake again."

"Klaus..." her voice was soft, unsure of his intentions.

"I took you from Hope, I was wrong." He grasped her neck, an intensity in his eyes. "Take care of her."

Hayley stood frozen in time. Her legs heavy but heart loyal, "Klaus, I lov-"

Several Blutbad attacked, tearing them apart, her wet clothes were pulled from her body. She fought them, clawing their faces, her nose broken beneath someone's punch. She tasted blood, doubling over, someone bit her shoulder and her screams alerted Klaus to fight harder.

Hayley caught a blow to the side of her head. Her vision blurred. With her hands deep in mud, she thought of Jackson, Cami, Sophie and Elijah, everyone she had lost over the years. She felt kicks to her ribs, rain thundering down on her exhausted body.

There's your Queen, powerful, fearless and unlike me, merciful.

Hayley closed her eyes; her body grew still, and her breath shaky.

You will always be their Queen!

She felt the Blutbad draw back in glee, that was their mistake.

Hayley transformed beneath the full moon, a wolf.

Klaus watched in delight as she shared in his kills, revenge was sweet.

She showed no mercy, a Queen in every sense of the word, protecting her kingdom.

Klaus retrieved the cloth from Cortez's jacket, pocketing it for safe keeping.

He found Hayley shivering in a puddle, hair tattered and body drenched in blood.

"I've got you, love, I've got you."

He cradled Hayley's naked body in his arms.

"Klaus?"

He felt her hand cling to his neck, cold yet comforting.

"It's over."

Bodies littered the clearing, Aurora lay motionless, and Cortez's head had rolled into a ditch.

"Where's Hope?"

He climbed up the hill, with every step he gained more of his strength.

"In the attic."

His broken nose was healing, as was Hayley's injuries - the day was almost over.

"You were stunning."

Rain clouds dispersed and an orange, pinkish glow of the sunset shone above them.

"What time is it?"

By the time Klaus found the road, and the abandoned van, patrol cars had screeched to a halt.

Hayley dropped to her feet and he draped his jacket around her body, protecting her dignity.

"My phone?" she looked down the hill where her clothes were and groaned.

Klaus' hand rested her on shoulder, "Not now."

Hope threw open the door and Hank Griffin hurried to keep up.

"Mummy! Daddy! Burkhardt saved me."

Klaus and Hayley's eyes lit up at the sight of their daughter, safe and well.

"She saved herself and called 911, brave kid." Hank admitted.

Klaus shrugged, "She takes after her mother."