A/N: Thank you for all your lovely comments, favs, and likes! You guys are wonderful.


Quick note: I've made a slight change to Jasper and Peter. They are not cold ones in this story. They're traditional vampires like Damon and Stefan. There's no reason for the change, I just wanted to try something different. Jasper will still be empathic and Peter still has his all-knowing gift.

Okay. On with the story! Enjoy xoxo


Sunday 27 September 2009 –

New York City –

Niklaus Mikaelson glared at the blonde male sitting before him. "Peter, mate, I'm going to need a bit more information than whatever half-assed story you just tried to sell me."

Peter growled in frustration. He knew this would be hard for the Original Vampire to swallow. He's not exactly known to be the lovey-dovey type. The man is convinced love is a weakness. He doesn't see how powerful love can be! How it can change a man. All he sees is the pain he once suffered. Getting him over that hurdle would be a challenge, one Peter wasn't sure he could achieve on his own.

"Okay," Peter took a deep breath, "according to my information, what you know about breaking your curse is lacking a few key ingredients."

Klaus stared back at Peter, unamused. "And how did you just happen to come across this information when I've had witches scouring the world for any piece of information regarding my curse for the last thousand years?"

"You know how my gift works, Nik," Peter smirked and tapped his temple. "I'm far more connected than your witches. This information doesn't come from them, The Original Witch, or The Spirits. It comes directly from The Fates. And they've never steered you wrong before . . ."

Klaus couldn't deny what Peter was saying. His gift had been a true boon. Every time he'd taken his old friend's advice, the results proved to be fruitful. In all the years they'd known one another, Peter had never lied or betrayed the Original. Even as a human, he had proven to be useful and loyal. It was one of the reasons Klaus had turned him.

"Why now?"

"Everything happens for a reason," Peter said cryptically. "There's a reason Katerina escaped you, a reason you've never found another doppelgänger, a reason you lost the moonstone, a reason you've had to wait this long."

"And that reason would be?"

Peter shrugged. "No idea."

Klaus growled.

"But," Peter grinned, "I do know, one of the final pieces of this complicated puzzle has only existed for the last eighteen years, and, until recently, neither you nor said puzzle piece was ready . . ."

Another low growl reverberated through Klaus's chest. "I've been ready to break this bloody curse since it was forced upon me a thousand years ago!"

Despite Klaus' temper, Peter remained calm. If all his years with his brother and the vindictive, malicious bitch known as Maria had taught him anything, it was to have patience and always remain calm in the face of one much stronger and angrier than you are.

"If you choose to listen to me, Nik, this path will lead you to places you never could've dreamed possible. It's going to change everything. Not just for you but for the entire supernatural world. And it could end up saving at least . . . Hmm . . ." Peter thought for a moment, "five lives . . . and that's just what I know about right now. There could be others . . ."

Klaus narrowed his eyes and glared at Peter. "We've known each other a long time, Peter, is there anything about me that screams 'I save people in my spare time'?"

Peter smirked. "Nah, you're more of the 'let's solve our problems by ripping out the hearts of our enemies or anyone who dares look at us the wrong way and dagger our siblings' sort."

Klaus smirked. "It's worked for a thousand years. Why break tradition now?"

"Off the top of my head? I can think of a few reasons. You've been on the run from your father for the last thousand years. Your older brother wants you dead. You have countless enemies . . . and then there's the more personal reasons. You're lonely. You're unhappy. You're borderline depressed, no matter how much you try and hide it. You're tired . . ."

Klaus shrugged. "I don't see how changing the way I do things is going to solve any of that. And I'm not depressed."

"Yes, you are." Peter insisted. "And of course, you don't see how changing could benefit you. Not yet. You have to give it time and be prepared to accept new people into your life and, here's a crazy thought, trust them."

"I trust no one."

"You trust me." Peter grinned.

"I tolerate you," Klaus corrected. "And only because your gift is useful."

"Uh-huh," Peter nodded. "If that's what you need to tell yourself, fine. But I know you, Nik. I may not know all the nitty gritty details. I may not know you at your core. But I know the man sat before me. I know there is a flicker of light within you. And I know, more than anything, how lonely you are and how much you ache to be free . . ."

With a sigh, Klaus stood and darted over to the liquor cabinet. Such maddening conversations required copious amounts of alcohol. He poured two glasses of the finest bourbon, handed one to Peter, and returned to his seat. "Again, I ask, why now?"

"For your part that's simple. You're alone. Your siblings are daggered. Elijah is out in the world looking for a way to end you. Mikael hasn't been seen in over a decade. You're . . . unburdened and," he shrugged, "ready to accept this change."

Peter didn't seem worried about either Elijah or Mikael, but Klaus was. He had witches looking for Mikael and, so far, they haven't found anything. That was worrying. It meant the old man had found a way to hide, that he was working with a powerful witch. A witch who was more powerful than those in Klaus' inner circle.

As for Elijah, Klaus understood his older brother's anger. After all, he'd told him their siblings had been daggered and dropped to the bottom of the ocean. To Elijah, family was all that mattered. And he now believed Klaus had destroyed them.

Of course, it was a lie. Finn, Kol, and Rebekah were safe and guarded twenty-four-seven.

There was a part of Klaus that was furious Elijah would ever believe he'd do something so horrendous to their family. That he'd ever harm them. Though he supposed, he couldn't blame his big brother. He's done far worse than daggering his siblings for their own good.

But for Elijah to believe him so easily . . . to think he'd destroyed their family—or at the very least the family they cared about—was painful. And infuriating.

Klaus brushed those thoughts aside. He did what was necessary to keep them safe and away from Mikael and that bloody white oak stake. If they hated him for that, so be it. At least they'd be alive to hate him.

Elijah was currently under the impression Klaus was in Europe. Of course, this meant Klaus was across the other side of the world in New York. Nobody disappears like Niklaus Mikaelson. He'd been ten steps ahead of Elijah for the last two decades.

"Alright," Klaus agreed, "I'm listening. What is this missing puzzle piece?"

Peter grinned. "Your soulmate."

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

For some, he knew the soulmate bond existed. He'd heard the stories of such profound, unwavering passion, love, and loyalty. He knew that, with one look in her eyes, his whole life would be altered. Love at first sight. Soulmates. Poppycock. It was far more suited for the likes of Rebekah than him. She believed in all that nonsense. Love and passion. It was for the weak-minded. It was a lie.

There was a time when he thought differently. Long ago, he thought he'd found such a bond with the lovely Aurora. He'd loved her like no other. But, as it turned out, he was wrong. Such a gift did not exist for him. He was sure of that. If Aurora taught him anything it was that love is a weakness. A burden. After her, he swore he'd never love again. And he hasn't. Not in nine hundred years.

"Go on," he hissed, trying to keep his temper in check. He'd give Peter the benefit of the doubt. For now. But he was sure there was no one in this world capable of accepting the man he was or of loving a cruel, wretched thing like him.

"I know you don't believe you have a soulmate. Love is a weakness. Allowing someone into your heart is a risk. But if you can't open your heart to love, to the mere possibility that it might exist for you, what's the point in living this life? I know you, Nik, as much as you'll let me, and I believe you do not want to spend the next thousand years of your immortality alone."

Very few beings in the world were brave enough to speak to Klaus as Peter does. It was rather refreshing to sit with someone who genuinely wasn't afraid of him.

As a human, Peter had been an interesting soul. He was kind and compassionate. He took care of his family and doted on his younger siblings. Especially his youngest brother Jasper and their baby sister Clara-Beth. He adored them. And did everything he could to protect them from the harsh reality of the world.

In his spare time, Peter was a lady's man and always getting up to no good. In a lot of ways, he reminded Klaus of Kol. Constantly seeking his next great adventure. But there was also some Elijah in there, too. His sense of family and honor drove him. He was loyal, brave, and more than happy to rip apart an enemy who harmed those he cared for.

It was his gift that drew Klaus to him. He couldn't explain it. He knew things, seemingly out of nowhere. At first, Klaus thought he was a witch. Or perhaps a psychic. But that didn't seem to be the case as he kept his gift after Klaus turned him. From what Peter has been able to glean, his gift is connected to The Fates. He is their mouthpiece. He doesn't seek the information. Doesn't have visions or dreams. He just knows.

As a vampire—with his constant cryptic comments and sense of humor—Peter was maddening at times. Klaus often fantasized about ripping his progeny's heart from his chest. But he never did. When it came down to it, Peter was his friend. And—God help him—he liked the man. Though he'd never admit to that.

"Alright Peter," he agreed, "I'll listen with an open mind. But I will not make any promises."

"Fair enough," Peter nodded. "Keep in mind, I don't have all the answers yet. They'll come to me in time. What I do know is simple. To break your curse and be able to create hybrids you and your soulmate must be together."

"Together how?" Klaus asked. "As in fully mated or in the same room?"

"Right now, that's unclear."

Klaus nodded. "What is it that this unknown girl can offer?" he asked, genuinely curious. "According to my witches, all I need to do to make hybrids is break my curse. Kill a wolf, a vampire, and the doppelgänger and we're in business . . ."

"Uh-huh." Slowly, Peter nodded. "And where did your witches get that information?"

Klaus' frown deepened as he sat forward. "From the spirits. Presumably . . ."

"The Original Witch . . ." Peter grinned. "And, from what you've told me, the woman might've been dead for the last thousand years but Momma Original is still hellbent on destroying your life."

With a growl, Klaus cursed in a language Peter didn't recognize and sat back. "You're telling me, even if I do everything I've been told, I still won't be able to create hybrids?"

Peter nodded. "If you choose to ignore me and follow the advice of your witches, you will never make a single hybrid. The Original Witch put a failsafe in her spell to ensure you feel alone for as long as you walk this earth. Even if you break the curse, she still wants you to suffer. And the Spirits allowed it to happen because they view you as an abomination. The Fates have other plans."

"Plans that involve this mysterious soulmate you keep mentioning . . ."

"Correct."

Klaus sighed. "Call me paranoid . . ."

Peter grinned, "you're paranoid, Nik."

". . . but I get the feeling you're building to something I'm not going to like. So, spit it out."

Peter took a sip of his bourbon. There was something he was avoiding. Something big. Something Nik wasn't going to like. "I'm going to need you to undagger your brother . . ."

"Which one?"

"Kol."

"No. Absolutely not." The Original growl then his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why Kol?"

Peter sighed. "He's the only one of us with enough knowledge about witchcraft, magic, and cold ones to save your soulmate's life."

A low growl reverberated through Klaus. "Cold ones?"

Peter nodded. "She was dating one and now she's . . ." he growled, "pregnant."

"She's carrying the child of a cold one!?" Klaus roared.

He didn't know much about cold ones. They're dangerous. Bloodthirsty. And power hungry. They're perversions of true vampires. Most of the supernatural world considers them to be parasites. Nobody seems to know how they came into existence or how they continue to multiply without the use of magic. They're cold, cruel, and sadistic. Their bloodlust is unquenchable. And their mating connections and practices are the polar opposite of true vampires. He also knew carrying the child of a cold one was a death sentence for the female. And it was not a quick death, either.

One thing he did know for sure . . . he's never met one he liked!

"Oh, bloody hell!" He hissed. "If I undagger Kol he'll be in danger. What if Mikael finds us and kills him?"

"He won't."

Klaus growled. "You don't know Mikael . . ."

"True," Peter agreed. "But I do know, thanks to a powerful witch, Mikael has been desiccated in a coffin for the last sixteen years. That's why there's been no sign of him and why your witches can't find him. The Fates won't tell me his exact location, or the location of the white oak stake, but they say he's out of commission and won't be a problem for some time."

Well, that was a surprise.

"How much time?"

Peter shrugged. "No idea. You know how this works. I get what I get. And that's all they're willing to share with me right now."

"And you can't tell me where the coffin is located?"

Peter chuckled. "Nope."

Klaus sighed.

Well, at least it was something. Just the knowledge that Mikael was rotting in a coffin somewhere in the world was enough to lighten the worry for himself and his siblings.

"Alright, I'll undagger Kol," he agreed, surprised by how quickly he agreed.

Was that part of the mating call? He was curious. Even if Peter was wrong and this girl wasn't his mate, he was intrigued. It would take someone of great strength to enter into a relationship with a cold one. Did she know her suitor wasn't human? Or was she tricked? Perhaps it wasn't strength she possessed but naïveté. If she was young and innocent, that wouldn't be hard to believe. Cold ones, from the little he knows, had their own way of luring humans to them.

"But I can't promise he'll be in a helpful mood," Klaus said. "He's been daggered for the last ninety-five years. And before that, if you recall, he wanted to kill me."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Not kill you, Nik," he said, knowingly. "He wanted you to suffer the way he had, there's a difference."

Peter liked Kol. They'd been friends before Nik found out his younger brother was trying to create a dagger capable of putting the hybrid down. And, despite Peter's loyalty to Nik and their relationship, he understood Kol's point. Sympathized with him, even. He would've felt the same way if he'd been in Kol's place.

"He was making a weapon to use against me, to kill me!"

"He was making a dagger to put you down, the way you did with him. He never wanted to kill you, Nik. Just give you a taste of what you put him through all these years. And in one night, you, Elijah, and Rebekah proved why he's always been the one on the outside. That you three care more about each other and your vow of 'Always and Forever' than you ever did him."

Klaus' eyes narrowed dangerously. "He is my baby brother!"

"Then treat him like it," Peter said calmly. "Let him be angry with you. Let him rage. Let him in and show him you trust him. And be willing to take the time to repair your relationship and earn his trust—"

"Why should I—"

"You're a thousand years old, Niklaus," Peter retorted, "I should not have to tell you that a relationship is a two-way street! Unless you want to remain alone for the rest of your days, you cannot keep daggering your siblings when they piss you off or when they want to lead their own lives."

"They'll get hurt—" Klaus tried.

"Of course, they will!" Peter sighed, throwing himself back into his seat with a huff. "That's just life. Let them grow and be better. Let them make mistakes and get hurt because that is the only way they'll learn."

"What happens if—"

"You'll be there," Peter said calmly, "to support them and care for them and raise them up when they're down. You'll be their brother, Nik. Their family. You may think love is a weakness, but family is not. Family is strength. Family is power. Family is home and happiness and safety."

Klaus looked at his now empty bourbon glass and sighed. "What happens if I lose them?"

Peter smiled. "Have faith that you won't."

An hour later, Klaus stood over his younger brother's daggered body debating with himself. It was a risk to undagger him. Not only for Kol but for himself.

Not so long ago, Klaus believed they could have peace in New Orleans and live as a family. Minus Finn, who remained in his box. It was the city they were happiest in. Finally, they were a family. Together and united.

Those hopes had been dashed when Rebekah told him of the weapon Kol was making to use against him.

His decision to dagger Kol was instant. And, if he was honest, he didn't regret it. In one night—in one brief conversation with his sister—his baby brother became his enemy and Klaus reacted as he would have had it been any other enemy.

Until his conversation with Peter, it had never occurred to him that Kol wasn't trying to kill him but, perhaps, only protect himself. To do to Klaus what had been done to him.

He didn't like it, but there was a part of him that could understand Kol's desire to feel safe.

His eyes briefly swept over the room, to Rebekah's coffin, and then to Finn. If Mikael was desiccated in a coffin somewhere, was it safe to undagger them all and try to salvage whatever was left of their family?

Did he want that?

Could he deal with the fallout that would come with waking them? Even with Mikael down and desiccated, his siblings were not going to be happy with him. Especially Finn. He's been daggered for the better part of nine hundred years. There was nothing Klaus could do or say that would ever . . .

Well, there might be something he could do . . .

Something that might soften the blow and make Finn's transition into the modern world easier.

He'd have to put one of his witches on it.

There wasn't much he could offer Rebekah or Kol. Except maybe Elijah. After all, he did deserve to be here for their awakening. Knowing their siblings are alive and awake might even help him move toward forgiveness rather than vengeance. If Elijah could forgive him, Rebekah and Kol would likely follow his lead.

But that would require him to be here. And that could take time.

"I suggest waiting," Peter said gently from the doorway. "We don't have the time to deal with their anger or your family issues right now. Your soulmate is dying. She has to be your priority."

Klaus nodded in agreement.

Even if this girl wasn't his mate, she was still in a lot of danger. Perhaps by helping her, it would help to show his siblings a new side of him. He wasn't sure they'd care, one way or another, but . . . maybe he would.

With a deep breath—still unsure he was doing the right thing—Klaus pulled the dagger from Kol's chest.


A/N: You know, I really liked writing this chapter. I can imagine Peter and Klaus being friends. I can also imagine Peter getting on Klaus' nerves.

What did you guys think? Let me know in the comments. Next chapter we will see what happens when Kol wakes up! Stay tuned! xoxo