A/N: i apologize for any mistakes. And I own nothing but my own twists to the story.
Klaus walked quickly through the streets of New Orleans, he could hear Elijah's quick footsteps as he rushed to catch up with him. "It's a trick, Elijah." he bit out harshly.
"Niklaus." Elijah's voice sounded as he caught up to him.
"It's a trick, Elijah." Klaus repeated finally stopping.
"No, brother. It's a gift. It's your chance..it's our chance." Elijah implored.
"To what?" Klaus snapped out impatiently, what did he care for Hayley or the child she claimed he fathered.
"To start over. Take back everything we lost, everything that was taken from us." said Elijah trying to convince Klaus that Hayley and her child was a good thing. "Niklaus, our own parents came to despise us. Our family was ruined..we were ruined. And since then, all that you have ever wanted..all that we have ever wanted was a family."
"I will not be manipulated." Klaus said adamantly, turning away from him but Elijah wasn't done, he vamp-sped in front of Klaus's path blocking him.
"So they're manipulating you." said Elijah. "So what? With them, this girl and her child..your child..live."
"And then what? You returned to Mystic Falls to Caroline, to your life as the hated one, as the evil hybrid? Is it so important to you that people quake with fear at the sound of your name?" Elijah questioned.
"Caroline isn't any of your concern." Klaus glared. "People quake with fear because I have the power to make them afraid. What will this child offer me? Will it guarantee me power?"
"Family is power, Niklaus. Love, loyalty..that's power." Elijah spoke passionately, trying his hardest to change Klaus's mind to convince him of what he believed so strongly. "This is what we swore to one another a thousand years ago, before life tore away what little humanity you had left, before ego, before anger, before paranoia created in this person before me someone I can barely even recognize as my own brother. This is us, the Original family and we remain together, always and forever. I am asking you to stay here. I will help you and I will stand by you. I will be your brother. We will build a home here together. So save this girl. Save your child." ELijah reached out placing his hand on Klaus's shoulder, pleading with him to just hear and listen to him for once.
Klaus reached his own hand to Elijah's neck in a brotherly gesture before he whispered nothing more than a spiteful hiss. "No." He brushed Elijah's hand off his shoulder and turned to walk away.
Elijah wasn't ready to let him just walk away, he gripped Klaus's shoulder and forced him to turn around and face him again, not pleased with the action Klaus shoved him away, causing Elijah to stumble back a few steps. "I'm done talking of this, Elijah." Klaus glared with agitation.
"You can can save Miss Forbes but you can't save your own child, is that it?" Elijah asked with narrow eyes.
"Yes that is exactly it." Klaus glared.
"If you can find it in yourself to save Caroline when she didn't even ask it of you, why can't you find it within yourself to save your own child?!" Elijah all but demanded.
"Don't pretend to know anything about Caroline or my actions regarding her." Klaus snapped. "I don't have to explain myself to anyone, including you."
"I saw how you are with her." Elijah told him.
"What are you talking about?" Klaus demanded.
"I got a look inside her head." Elijah continued ignoring the way Klaus's eyes flashed angrily.
Klaus stepped forward till he was in Elijah's face staring him down. "You had no right to invade her mind like that. I should shove a dagger through your heart on principle." he growled out angrily.
"See, that right, there." said Elijah. "You're proving my whole point."
Klaus was taken back, brow furrowing in confusion. "What the bloody hell are you on about?"
"You act as if any unrightful slight toward her is a slight toward you. Every threat thrown at her is a threat at you." Elijah shook his head. "You would give that girl anything she asked of you."
Klaus eyes hardened, his face closing off, hating the thought of Elijah or anyone knowing that there wasn't no length he would not go to for Caroline because if his enemies knew they would use it against him the way his brother was attempting to use it against him right now. "I don't have to listen to this." he stated coldly before turning from Elijah and walking briskly away without a backward glance.
Caroline looked out the passenger side window as Stefan drove through the streets of New Orleans driving toward the exit. She thought about everything that happened since she woke up, the witches, finding out about Hayley and her pregnancy, the latter bothering her more than she wanted to admit. And she thought about Klaus. It had felt wrong to just leave him to deal with the mess even if he was the only reason why the witches had dragged her into whatever crap they were cooking up.
She glanced ahead and saw they were starting to leave the city limits getting closer to the border, she shifted uneasily in her seat, a hand pressing against her stomach, she felt unnaturally empty like she had lost something but couldn't begin to understand what.
"Are you alright?" Stefan voice sounded, filled with concern.
She glanced at him, offering him a faint reassuring smile or as reassuring as she could muster up at the moment. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just trying to process everything."
Stefan returned his eyes to the road, a question at the tip of his tongue, but suppressing it or at least he was until then he wasn't. "What's going on with you and Klaus?"
Caroline tensed up at the question. "What?"
"What's going on with you and Klaus?" he repeated, leveling her with one of his inquisitive looks.
"Nothing." she lied, quickly looking away from him and back out the window.
"Caroline." Stefan sighed. "I don't know why you're bothering with lying about this, it was pretty obvious that something change between the two of you recently. Plus I know you been spending time with him."
Caroline's head snapped back toward him. "How could you possibly know that?"
"I found your phone with more than a few calls from him." Stefan told her.
Caroline folded her arms defensively across her chest. "It's rude to go through a person's phone, you know?"
"Caroline, that's not the point. You don't have to lie about Klaus." he said. "I won't judge."
Caroline opened and closed her mouth, attempting to come up with something before sighing in annoyance with herself for her inability to lie successfully to Stefan. "We slept together." she muttered.
Stefan eyes widened in surprise. He didn't know why he was so surprised by this, Klaus had been showing interest in Caroline for over a year and Caroline managed somehow to get Klaus of all people wrapped around her finger, willing to give her anything and everything if she so much as ask it of him. "Is that why you have been spending a lot of your time with him? Because you're together?"
"We're not together." Caroline corrected, relieved not to hear any judgment in his voice. "We only slept together one time." though she left out the fact that it was a lot of sex that one time. Stefan didn't need to know that. "And that was weeks ago."
"Then why have you been spending so much time with him?" Stefan asked, voice laced with confusion.
"He's been helping me learn how to refuse mind compulsion and stopped others from invading my head." Caroline told him. "After I saw what Silas was capable of I didn't want to be on the receiving end."
"And he just helped you out of the goodness of his heart?" Stefan replied sarcastically. "What did he want in return?"
Caroline shot him a glare. "Nothing."
"Really, Caroline, what did he want?" Stefan asked again.
"Nothing." Caroline repeated firmly. "I asked for his help and he agreed."
Stefan glanced over at her in surprise. "Really, nothing. He helped you just because you asked."
"I asked for his help and he gave it to me." she shrugged her shoulders a little helplessly. "We're friends."
"If I haven't spent the last day looking for you with him that would probably shock me but after today it's pretty clear Klaus cares a great deal about you." Stefan admitted. "I thought it was just an infatuation but I'm starting to think it's deeper than that."
Caroline glanced away. She had thought so too, she had started to believe he was falling in love with her but knowing he slept with Hayley and got her pregnant in the process had her doubting that.
"Do you have feelings for him?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know." she muttered, not expecting the question.
"You don't have to lie." Stefan said, returning his eyes to the road seeing the exit sign of New Orleans just up ahead.
"I'm not. I don't know how I feel about him half the time." Caroline admitted reluctantly. "It's all so complicated. There's times where I can't stand him, where I remember everything he's done since he came to Mystic Falls, where I remember he supposed to be the enemy."
"But?" Stefan asked, knowing there was more and wanting to encourage her to continue so she would know he was willing to listen and he wouldn't judge her for any of it.
"He's always there when I need him." Caroline admitted. "Doesn't matter if it's for something big or small. Something life threatening or something he finds ridiculous. From helping with a prom dress to mind control. If I ask I know he'll be there."
"He puts you first." Stefan said quietly in understanding,
"Yeah." Caroline breath, relieved that Stefan understood. "Knowing that he would be there no matter what if I need him, it makes me feel like I matter in a way I never really imagined before."
"Just be careful, Caroline." warned Stefan. "Being involved with Klaus to any degree whether you're sleeping with him or just friends is dangerous."
"You think I don't know that, Stefan?" responded Caroline. "I have always known this. I know exactly who Klaus is." She knew exactly who Klaus was but it didn't change anything, didn't change that despite her attempts to fight how she felt, she cared for Klaus more than she has ever openly admit to anyone let alone herself.
"I'm just concern for you, Caroline." Stefan said, trying to make her see how dangerous the situation was that she had gotten herself into by getting close to Klaus. "Klaus has more enemies than I can even begin to fathom and none of them will hesitate to use you against him just like the witches did tonight."
Caroline was just about to respond just as they passed out of the city limits passing the exit sign for New Orleans when she felt a pain rippled throughout her body, her hand snatch out gripping at the door and hissed in pain through clench teeth. She felt like her body was being pulled in different directions too many to count, the tug painful as it pulled at her.
"Caroline?" Stefan said alarmed. "What is it?!"
"Something's wrong." Caroline said, her breathing laboring because of the pain. "I can't-I can't-" her voice trailed off as she vanished from the car.
Stefan's foot slammed on the brakes, the tires squealing as it came to an abrupt stop and he stared at the passenger seat where Caroline had just vanished right before his eyes, like she had been yanked from the car.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Agnes asked of Sophie as they stood inside a crypt, she was starting to think Sophie was too young and too naive to fully comprehend her actions.
"Marcel and his vampires are out of control." answered Sophie. "Something had to be done."
"And the solution is to bring in more vampires?" Agnes questioned, unable to see how Sophie could be so naive as to think her actions won't come with consequences. "They're the Originals." she stressed. "What makes you think you can control the hybrid?"
"She can't." Elijah voice sounded as he appeared leaning on the wall. "I'm not entirely certain that I can, either." he pushed himself off the wall. "But now that your coven has drawn his ire, I have a question; What prevents my brother from murdering you instead of cooperating?"
"Caroline." answered Sophie, raising her head with an air of superiority.
"Who you no longer have." Elijah reminded. "I'm sure Miss Forbes is exiting the city limits and well on her way back home."
"She can't leave New Orleans." Sophie stated. "I've made sure of it."
"What are you talking about?" asked Elijah.
But before Sophie could answer there was a disturbance in the air and Caroline appeared out of thin air in the middle of the crypt. Caroline glanced around in confusion, one minute she was sitting in the passenger seat of a car with Stefan heading home and the next she was standing back in that damn stupid crypt with the witches, Hayley off to the side and Elijah, not to mention what looked like the dead body of a witch on the ground that was covered with a sheet. "What the hell?!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Hello, again, Caroline." Sophie smirked. "I think now will be the time to tell you that you can't leave New Orleans and I mean that literally."
Caroline glared at the witch and for a moment she let the darker parts of her take hold imagining what it would be like to tear into Sophie piece by piece until she was scattered all over this stupid damn crypt. "What did you do?"
"I cast a spell. Something similar to a boundry spell, every time you try and leave the city limits you'll be transported right back here to this exact spot. Might as well consider yourself my prisoner." Sophie informed her, delighting in the upper hand she held.
"You really are looking to get yourself killed by my brother's hands, aren't you?" Elijah shook his head sardonically.
"I'm doing what I have to do." Sophie stated firmly. "And making sure Caroline stays here in New Orleans isn't the only card I have up my sleeve to play." Sophie took out a needle, making a show of showing it to Elijah. She stuck the needle into her hand.
"Ow!" Hayley, exclaimed looking to the source of the pain, in her hand. Elijah looked over and saw a drop of blood on her hand, exactly in the same spot where Sophie had sticked her hand with the needle. "What the hell!?" she exclaimed.
Caroline glanced from Hayley's hand to Sophie, it didn't take a genius to figure out magic was at work there.
"One of the spells my sister performed, the ones that got her killed? It didn't just confirm the pregnancy. It linked me to Hayley." Sophie explained. "And that wasn't the only linking spell that she performed." her eyes settled on Caroline with a dark look and Caroline had a feeling she wasn't going to like what the witch said next. "And she linked your life to the life of Hayley and Klaus's unborn child."
Caroline eyes widened. "You can't be serious." Things went wrong with pregnancies all the time, the witches couldn't have been that crazy could they? Then again, Sophie was trying to blackmail the Originals so clearly she was insane.
"Very." said Sophie. "So anything that happens to me, happens to Hayley and what happens to the baby, happens to you." Sophie turned her gaze to Elijah. "It's clear what this baby already means to you and Klaus may not care what happens to this child but he will once he learns Caroline's life is directly tied to that of the child's, I have a feeling then he'll be heavily invested in this child's well being. If I have to hurt Hayley and in turn the baby..or worse..to ensure that I have your attention, I will."
Elijah looked at her with faint amusement at her audacity. "You would dare threaten an Original?"
"I have nothing to lose." said Sophie earnestly.
The grin disappeared from Elijah's face because people often did stupid and desperate things when they had nothing to lose.
"You have until midnight to get Klaus to change his mind." Sophie told him. "Shouldn't be too hard once he learns of Caroline's part to play in this."
"I'm not some pawn to be use in this twisted game you have going on!" Caroline hissed angrily.
Sophie looked at her with a look of superiority. "Perhaps you should have thought about that before allowing yourself to get involved with the hybrid then."
Klaus had made his way back to Marcel's gathering of vampires partying. He had every intention of wrapping things up here in New Orleans and returning to Mystic Falls and talking with Caroline.
"Hey, man. Where'd you run off to?" Marcel greeted him.
"You mean your minions aren't still documenting my every move." he sneered making his displeasure with that fact known.
"Someone put you in a mood." commented Marcel. "What can I do?"
"What you can do is you can tell me what this thing is you have with the witches." Said Klaus, getting to the point.
"We're back to that?" Marcel sighed.
""Yeah, we're back to that." said Klaus, wanting an answer.
"You know I owe you everything I got, but I'm afraid I have to draw the line on this one." said Marcel, tired of all these questions about the witches Klaus kept asking. "This is my business I control the witches in my town. Let's just leave it at that."
"Your town." Klaus repeated, if his tone hadn't already lost all fake pretenses, it did now.
"Damn straight." said Marcel.
"That's funny." Klaus sneered. "Because when I left 100 years ago, you were just a pathetic little scrapper still trembling from the lashes of the whips of those who would keep you down, and now look at you. Master of your domain. Prince of the city. I'd like to know how."
"Why? Jealous?" Marcel challenged. "Hey man, I get it. 300 years ago, you helped build a backwater penal colony into something. You started it but then you left. Actually, you ran from it. I saw it through. Look around. Vampires rule this city now." he gestured to all around him. "We don't have to live in the shadows like rats. The locals know their place. They look the other way. I got rid of the werewolves. I even found a way to shut down the witches." as Marcel continued his words got more impassioned as he went on. "The blood never stops flowing and the party never ends. You want to pass on through? You want to stay a while? Great. What's mine is yours but it is mine. My home, my family, my rules."
Klaus jaw clench feeling anger curling in the pit of his stomach and rising with Marcel's every word. "And if someone breaks those rules?"
"They die. Mercy is for the weak. You taught me that, too." Marcel moved into Klaus's space all but challenging the hybrid. "And I'm not the Prince of the quarter, friend. I'm the King! Show me some respect!"
The air around Klaus suddenly grew still just seconds before he lashed out, his temper getting the better of him as he grabbed one of Marcel's many vampires, Diego and bit viciously into his neck before dropping him. He faced Marcel, Diego's blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, eyes angry and cold. "You're friend will be dead by the week end. Which means I've broken one of your rules. And yet I cannot be killed. I am immortal. Who has the power now, friend?" he challenged, mockingly, facing off with Marcel who said nothing. After a moment Klaus smirked around at the crowd, watching before turning on his heel and leaving Marcel to stare after him.
Caroline shifted impatiently on her feet, leaning back against the crypt wall, glaring daggers at Sophie and the older witch Agnes and another witch who had joined them by the name of Sabine. Sophie had had a few other witches come and take Hayley elsewhere but had refused to let Caroline out of her sight.
Caroline felt anger simmering in her stomach just being in the witches presence whose sole purpose seem to be using her as a sacrificial pawn in whatever game she was trying to play with Klaus and whoever this Marcel was. Caroline looked away from them when she heard church clock bells start to toll.
"His time is up?" Agnes announced looking to Sophie. "What're you gonna do now, Sophie?"
Caroline tensed at the question, she hated knowing that her fate was currently in the hands of this vindictive witch.
"I'm gonna do what I said I was gonna do." Sophie stated plainly, her eyes flicking to Caroline.
Caroline tensed further, meeting her gaze but refused to show the inner turmoil she was feeling, plastering on a blank look as she stared back at the witch.
"What, kill the girl? Kill yourself?" questioned Sabine, she waved a hand at Caroline. "Kill her? We already seen what he's capable of when her life is threatened."
"What else is she supposed to do?" asked Agnes. "Klaus does not care for the child, only the vampire."
"My brother may not care for the child but I do." Elijah said, walking into the crypt, carrying a body. "And I bring proof of my intent to help you; the body of your fallen friend, which I procured from Marcel himself."
"Jane-Anne." said Sophie in realization that he had gotten her sister's body back.
"May she be granted peace." said Elijah. "Klaus will agree to your terms. I just need a little more time."
"You had your time. It's passed." denied Agnes.
"Shut up, Agnes." Sabine told the older witch.
''For now, accept the deal." said Elijah. "The girl," he paused, glancing toward Caroline who stood defensively watching them all. "Both girls and the child remain unharmed or Klaus will kill you all." he made to leave but paused turning back around. "And I will help him."
Sophie turned to Caroline once Elijah was gone. "Looks like you might just get to live after all."
Caroline glared. "Once this is all over and you're no longer linked to a pregnant girl, I'm going to kill you myself." While Caroline preferred not to go around killing people she was willing to make an exception for Sophie just not until she was unlinked from Hayley, she wouldn't risk the life of an innocent baby.
Sophie's eyes hardened as she returned Caroline's glare with one of her own. "Remember it's not just your life I can end but your friends and mother as well. You wouldn't want anything to happen to your mom now, would you?"
Caroline glared defiantly, a muscle in her jaw ticking, black veins spreading out underneath her eyes as anger coursed through her but she didn't move a muscle holding her anger in check, swearing to herself that when she killed Sophie it wouldn't be quick. No that would be too good for the bitch, Caroline would be sure to drag her death out.
Klaus moved through the streets of New Orleans, figuring he would leave return to Mystic Falls and with any luck salvage his friendship with Caroline. He walked through the crowds but paused seeing a vaguely familiar face, the bartender from earlier, Camille was staring at a dark painting being painted by a street artist. Klaus walked over, stopping to stand just beside her.
"The hundred dollar guy." Camille said in greeting, remembering him from earlier.
"The brave bartender." Klaus returned. "Camille. That's a french name."
"It's a grandma's name." said Camille. "Call me Cami." she looked to the painter. "Amazing, isn't he?"
Klaus didn't answered and instead asked. "Do you paint?"
"No, but I admire." she answered. "Every artist has a story, you know."
"And what do you suppose his story is?" Klaus asked.
"He's...angry." Cami said after a moment of pondering as she observed the painter and his work. "Dark. Doesn't feel safe and doesn't know what to do about it. He wishes he could control his demons instead of having his demons control him. He's lost, alone."
Klaus felt her words hit close to home, feeling like she was describing him.
"Or... maybe he just drank too much tonight." Cami said, smiling. "Sorry. Overzealous psych major."
"No." said Klaus his voice almost somber. "I think you were probably right the first time." He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and dug it out from the inside pocket of his jacket, seeing Stefan's number. His eyes narrowed, Stefan should've been on the road back to Mystic Falls with Caroline and not calling him unless something was wrong.
He pressed his thumb over the screen, answering and walking away from Cami without a backward glance. "Stefan, you better be calling to tell me you and Caroline are on your way back to Mystic Falls." he said into the phone after raising it to his ear.
"We were but then she just vanished." Stefan answered anxiously.
Klaus clenched his jaw. "What do you mean she just vanished?!" he demanded, shoving through a crowd irritably.
"I mean we were just passing the exit sign and she just disappeared from the car, like she was yanked." Stefan stressed, his concern evident. "I'm sure it was the witches, they must have done something."
"Witches!" Klaus spat out like a curse. "Get back here then!" he snapped. "And the next time I tell you to get Caroline out of here I expect you to do it or you might just find your heart ripped from your chest and shoved down your own throat!" he abruptly ended the car not waiting on Stefan's response, stuffing his phone back in his jacket and changed his course to the damn cemetery.
Klaus was halfway to the cemetery when he spotted Elijah walking toward him, coming from that direction. "Not now Elijah!" Klaus growled, moving to shove past him but Elijah pushed him back to keep him from moving forward.
"Stop, you need to stop." Elijah told him sternly. "You need to think of Hayley and your child."
"Quit harping on about the baby. That child will never be born. In fact, Hayley is probably dead already." Klaus growled. "And I have something more important to deal with."
"You mean Caroline?" Elijah shot out at him. "Because they now have her again."
Klaus glared darkly. "Get out of my way I have a witch to maim and kill!"
"You won't be touching a hair on that witches head." Elijah declared, starring his brother down.
Klaus scoffed. "And who's going to stop me? You?" he laughed derisively. "Don't delude yourself into believing you have any control over what I do."
"You won't kill the witch." Elijah said with complete certainty. "Because if you do you would only be killing Caroline."
The look Klaus shot Elijah was dark and cold. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?!"
"Sophie has linked her own life to Hayley's, if the witch dies Hayley dies, the baby dies." Elijah informed.
"I don't see the problem there." Klaus sneered. "And none of that has to do with Caroline."
"If the baby dies so does she." said Elijah. "Sophie has linked Caroline's life to that of the child."
"Of course, she did." Klaus growled angrily.
"They also insured that Caroline cannot leave New Orleans. You may not want to work with the witches but Sophie holds all the cards." said Elijah. "If you care at all for your child or its mother or Caroline you will work with them."
Klaus eyes glared hatefully. "I hate fucking witches!" an animalistic growl sounded from deep in his chest and he whirled around, walking away a few feet to a bench.
Elijah watch his brother sit there simmering in his anger for several minutes before joining him.
"I'm sure you're loving this." Klaus said. "With Caroline's life being linked to the child's."
"I don't take pleasure that Miss Forbes is mixed up in this but if her being linked to the child means you'll actually taking responsibility for your child then I'll take it as an undisguised blessing."
"It easier when you don't care." Klaus groused irritably. "At least then it can't be used against you."
"Can't say I agree." said Elijah. "I've waited a thousand years for you to care about something other than yourself."
Klaus rolled his eyes. Elijah, the noble brother, always trying to find the good in him. His eyes scanned the street in front of him. "I forgot how much I liked this town." Klaus mused effectively changing the subject.
"I didn't forget." replied Elijah, noticing the sudden subject change but allowing it. "All the centuries we've spent together and yet I can count on one hand the number of times that our family has been truly happy. I hated leaving here."
"As did I." Klaus admitted.
"What is on your mind, brother?" Elijah inquired.
"For a thousand years, I lived in fear. Any time I settled anywhere, our father would hunt me down and... chase me off. He made me feel powerless and I hated it." The resentment was obvious as Klaus spoke. "This town was my home once, and in my absence, Marcel has gotten everything that I ever wanted. Power, loyalty, family. I made him in my image and he has bettered me." Klaus found himself envious of Marcel in a way he hasn't felt in a very long time. "I want what he has. I want to be king."
"Is that all this child means to you?" asked Elijah. "A grab for power?"
"What does it mean to you?" asked Klaus, though he could see that the child already meant something to Elijah.
"I think this child could offer you the one thing you've never believed you had." Elijah told him.
"And what's that?" asked Klaus.
"The unconditional love of family." answered Elijah.
Klaus turned his eyes from ahead of him at the street to Elijah. He was quiet for a moment, before looking back out to the street. "Every King needs an heir." he said at last.
"And Caroline?" wondered Elijah, still curious of his brother's attachment to the blonde. "What's her part in all this." and Elijah watched in surprise as a genuine smile appeared on his brother's features, one he couldn't ever recall seeing before.
"She's a Queen fit for a King." said Klaus, thinking of the girl in question. "And every King needs his Queen."
A/N: I hope you like this chapter.:)