Klaus POV:

Once I switched back to my body, I made Alaric leave his apartment till the ritual was completed. Leaving Katerina, Maddox, and Greta in the apartment, I vamped to our mansion.

Then I dialed my brother's number, "Hello Brother, I hope you are available in Mystic Falls for a meeting."

He answered "Hello Niklaus, I think meeting you is not in an agenda for my day or my life for that matter"

I sighed and decided to go with the truth, "Brother, I'm insulted that you of all people will believe my rubbish of sinking our family in an Ocean"

Elijah responds without missing the beat, "You haven't given me another choice Niklaus. How can I believe you that you are telling the truth now, that our siblings are safe and sound"

"Listen brother, I have woken up all our siblings. And they are on their own adventure currently. I have sent you their numbers. You can reach them via that and verify my comments. Once you have done that, I want to meet you, Elijah. I have secured a mansion in the outskirts of Mystic Falls and I'm waiting here for you."

I ended the call and waited for my brother in the living room sipping bourbon. I know he will come, and I also know that he was in Lockwood mansion with Elena explaining the ritual.

Elijah came striding into the house and entered the living room. I stood up and went to the liquor cabinet near the wall to pour Brandy for my brother and fill my bourbon again for this conversation. I handed the brandy to Elijah and motioned him to sit on a couch, I seated myself in a recliner opposite to him.

We both had a sip, then my brother started "What are you planning Niklaus? Why have you woken up all our siblings? And you haven't even lifted your curse and father being out there, why now? Why is Finn with Sage? Kol is not telling where he is going or what is he up to and Bekah she is in Chicago where Mikael is last seen"

"Wow, have you hosted any shows with rapid fire rounds recently? Flying all these questions at once. We have all the time in this world brother. You will have answers for all those before the end of today" I said calmly.

Elijah stood up agitated slamming the empty glass in the coffee table, "Do not play with me Niklaus. Tell me now what game you are playing. Why wake them all and free them?"

"Calm brother" I stood up and held my brother's shoulder to make him look into my eyes while I explained "Mikael is currently incapacitated in a cemetery in Charlotte, locked magically along with the white oak stake I hope. We can finish him off at any time we see fit. He is no threat to any of us for now. And for Kol, he is working on a project he is fond of. I am the one who called Sage for Finn, she is still in love with our brother after all these years and I told her to catch up with Finn in modern days. As far as our dear little sister Bekah, I asked her to catch up on the years she missed while I completed my ritual. Since she cannot be subtle in what she is doing, which can affect my plan on lifting my curse"

Elijah was in shock when I said all these to his face, "I couldn't understand Niklaus, what made you change like this?" he asked, still in shock.

I sighed and took the glass to refill "That is for another time, Lijah. Since our siblings are sound and safe our fight is a moot point as Joey says." With a confused state Elijah asks "Who is Joey? Does he have anything to do with this change of yours?" seriously.

I laughed a little and handed over his brandy in another glass, "No brother, it is just a pop culture reference. That is not the point now. I want you to be my side on this ritual brother. I already knew you planned on working with my doppelganger. I want you to continue what you do currently, act as if you want to kill me and get inside information. Also, I want you to check on the elixir you made 500 years ago for Katerina."

He looked more shocked than before; it is sight to behold in the ever so uptight brother to get these reactions. I smiled and continued "Even after completing the ritual to unlock my werewolf side, we want the doppelganger to be alive and human to create more hybrids like me". Elijah raised his eyebrow touching his hairline and asked, "How did you come to know of this information Niklaus?"

I sighed and answered, "I had been reading again and again the curse placed upon me and came to know that the doppelganger blood is the key that unlocks my werewolf side. If I were to create another werewolf similar to myself, they would have my blood to keep the vampire side. But human doppelganger's blood is what keeps their werewolf side intact along with vampirism. As we all know our dear mother, who never wanted us to be happy, would have always had safety locks placed. I think that lock would be me draining the doppelganger which would cause her death and no other hybrids could be created without her blood"

Elijah ponders on what I say and agrees with me "It makes sense. But, how come you thought of this only now? And I also could say that you are hiding something from me". I know he will definitely notice my changes like Bekah. So instead of lying I tried to avoid or postpone it after my ritual was completed. "Yes, Lijah there is something. But that doesn't harm anyone. And I'll tell you and all our siblings at once. I plan on throwing a ball after my ritual as a family reunion and to show the supernatural world who is the King."

Elijah observes Niklaus and thought, Niklaus had not called me Lijah in a very long time. Only in our human days did he call me Lijah, my little brother. I could sense the change in him. And seeing his action of undaggering all of our siblings and letting them free was something Klaus would never do. I knew something had happened and changed him for good. My phone rang at that time, it was Elena saying that she will be at Lockwood mansion in a few minutes.

When Elijah looks into Klaus he says, "I know it is my doppelganger, Lijah. You can continue whatever you were doing with her and come to Alaric's apartment. I have a surprise for you."

I was smiling while saying this and Elijah saw me warily and asked "What surprise Niklaus? Already you have sent all our siblings away from Mystic Falls. What else could be a surprise for me?"

I grinned, "Patience, Lijah. I promise you that is a good surprise. And I think you know how surprise works, not revealing beforehand is what actually makes it surprise" and winked at him.

No one's POV:

After his chat with Klaus, he came back to Lockwood mansion and Elena too returned. He informs her about the ritual and plan of attack at Klaus after the ritual is completed while he is changing into werewolf.

Also, he explained to her about the elixir that would bring her back as human. When she explains it to Salvatore's brothers Damon doesn't believe in that elixir and feeds Elena of her blood. Now if she dies tomorrow in the ritual she comes back as a vampire.

But Elena doesn't want that, so Elijah gave Bonnie the spell for Elena to continue as a human and left the boarding house to the apartment Niklaus talked about.

Jermey and Bonnie read the spell and it stated the required items include blood relatives. Since Jermey is not directly related to Elena, they have called John to give his blood for the spell. But nobody knows except for Elijah, that this spell will kill the person whose blood was used as a sacrifice to have Elena brought back to be a human even after dying except for John.

Klaus POV:

After my talk with my noble brother Elijah, I came back to Alaric's apartment. I sent Maddox and Greta to check upon the werewolf and the vampire which is secured for the ritual. The actual one which is to be sacrificed is stored in the hotel room in Whitmore compelled to stay and camera to watch their activities. And the decoy of Tyler Lockwood and a random vampire from outside state was tied in the Lockwood cellar in caves. I do not want Maddox to die in the hands of elder Salvatore, so I warned him to put a protection spell on himself.

Once they both left me and Katerina, I approached her in the kitchen where she was preparing coffee. She handed me a cup; I took it and compelled her "What do you feel for Elijah?" I want to know what she actually feels whether she loves him truly or stringing him for just freedom. She was shocked by my question, but she responded with tears in her eyes "I love him".

I hummed and took a sip of coffee and continued "What about Salvatore brothers?" She immediately answered "They are just distractions. Why are you asking me these questions? My love life is nothing of your concern." she sneers. "Well if your love is with my brother, it is of my concern" I stated coolly. She went to the living room immediately to avoid any further questions. I know when I went to speak to Elijah, elder Salvatore was here and gave her the vervain.

I followed her to the living room and asked her "How would I know that you are telling the truth? Clearly, I could smell vervain on you. Elder Salvatore, I take it." She was terrified of my statement. I could see it in her eyes, the fear of losing her life. At the exact same time Elijah entered the apartment. She shifted her eyes from me to Elijah. I was observing her reactions, my eyes fixated on her.

Elijah was too shocked to see Katerina here, he knew that Klaus would collect Katerina once he reached Mystic Falls. But after getting daggered he thought Katerina would have fled Mystic Falls. And to find her here after their talk about surprise is too overwhelming for him. So, he asked his brother, "Niklaus, what game is this you are trying to play?"

I turned to Elijah "No games, Elijah. As I promised, only surprise." and smiled. I know he is contemplating that I am going to kill Katerina in front of him, that is what the surprise I was talking about. I left the kitchen leaving him and Katerina to sweat about the surprise, to get the bourbon for the upcoming conversation.

Elijah and Katerina were seeing each other for a few minutes with lots of questions and confusion and fear. I came with another glass of bourbon for my brother and handed it to him. Motioned for him to sit on the sofa in the living room. We both took a sip of bourbon at the same time.

I decided that it is enough torment for my brother and looked into Katerina and stated "Katerina Petrova, I Niklaus Mikaelson pardon you from all your sins and declare for you to be free of me hunting you down. But if you take so much as one step in a way to harm any of my family members and the people I claim as mine. Then you'll definitely beg me for your death which will last for 1000 years to come. Are we clear on this, Katerina?"

My words stupefied both my brother and Katerina. They both were dumbfounded and unable to speak. Elijah was the first to come out and asked, "What is the meaning of this brother?" I looked into him and simply said "Your surprise, Lijah. As I promised you. Now you can date your beloved Katerina freely. Without doing behind my back and hiding her from me. Yes, Lijah. I was aware of the times you disappear and be with her and give her information about me whenever we are nearing her to capture."

Elijah's face was full of guilt, he tried to justify "Brother, I have never betrayed you. Nor was I the one to tell her about the ritual in the first place." I chuckled "I know, Lijah. I came to know that it was Trevor, who was also in love with lovely Katerina here at that time. But that doesn't change the number of times you tried to save Katerina from me. I'm not doing this out of spite or to torcher you later by having her killed Elijah. I want you to be my brother whom I trust completely. I want you to have no purpose of hiding things from me. If she is the one who gives you the love and happiness you crave, then be it her" stood up to fill my glass suddenly brother rushed me with a hug, I hugged him back and patted him.

Over his shoulder I could see Katerina was on her knees sobbing, maybe I did the right thing or wrong thing. I do not know, but I have given Elijah a chance at happiness he craves and deserves. So, I told Elijah, "Be happy, Lijah" and went into the kitchen.

Elijah and Katerina took off, he informed me that they will be staying in a Mystic Falls hotel. Once I was alone, I texted Caroline asking how her talk with the quarterback went. Also informed her that all is good from my side and to call back once she is finished her day.