I re-wrote this chapter because I hated my original version of it. Enjoy.


Chapter Twenty-One – The Originals 3x22

An eye for an eye. A son for a lover. A brother for a brother.

Elijah didn't go home after Kai told him the news. He stayed out and walked (or ran) all over New Orleans, searching every building, every street, and every alley for her. With Marcel gone, Klaus would never stop hunting Katerina for revenge. Elijah would have to run with her.

He was beginning to believe he'd have to extend his search beyond the city and decided to turn in for the night when he finally found her.

Leaning against the wall of an abandoned warehouse in a questionable part of the city, under a streetlight, like it was her spotlight. She smirked sadistically when he noticed her, and twiddled her fingers in a little wave. He crossed the road to her, and she didn't move away, but she did raise her eyebrow in doubt of that move.

"Surprise," she mused. "Bet you thought you saw the last of me."

"I had dreaded such a thing," he admitted, trying to conceal his relief.

She began to laugh but then trailed off in a scoff when she realised he was serious. "Really?" She asked. "I mean, on that bridge, I swore you were trying to get me killed. I mean, I've come to terms with the fact that you're so far up Klaus's ass that if I want a relationship with you, I'll have to bow down to the man who massacred everyone I ever loved, but provoking him? Really?"

"I didn't know that would happen," Elijah said, taking a deep breath and remembering to blink when his eyes grew hot. "I thought the rivalry between you and Niklaus was over, and I never should have underestimated him."

She paused, waiting for him to continue, but he didn't. "That's it? That's what you're sorry for? After all this? Why do you even think I was on that bridge, Elijah? You trusted Klaus when he said that he'd let me live after five hundred years of trying to kill me, but you can't trust me at all? You can't respect me enough to treat me like a person and not a pet?! Aren't you sorry for that?"

Elijah didn't answer for a moment too long as he tried to phrase his apologies without sounding like he was repeating himself. He came short however, and Katherine scoffed.

"You're so predictable," she claimed, shrugging. "But if you're going to apologize, it needs to be for that. It's my fault Klaus killed me. I stood there and threatened him. But by all means, take responsibility for my actions. I am your pet after all."

He looked bewildered at that statement, clearly stunned that his definition of doing the right thing was not entirely appreciated. "Katerina, I-"

"Don't start," she ordered. She held up a hand to silence him but then used it to push him backwards until he collided with the street lamp and she closed the space between them. "Do you know what I am now?"

"The devil," he whispered. "In Cade's place."

"That's right." Katherine giggled and wrapped Elijah's tie around her finger, watching it gently tighten around his throat. "Just think of all of the wicked things I could do to Klaus now."

Elijah snatched her hand and pushed her against the wall of the warehouse again, leaning down to leer at her. "I will pay for my sins against you," he promised, "it is my fault after all. but I can't let you hurt my family."

"And I can't let Klaus get away with killing mine," she contradicted. She leaned close to him, so that his lips were just brushing against his. "Would you?" She whispered. "If my daughter was still alive, and she killed all of your siblings – painfully, at that – would you spare her for me? Would you live peacefully with her? Would you choose me over your revenge?"

He opened his mouth to speak but she pressed a finger to his lips before he could.

"Don't lie to me," she warned. Elijah closed his mouth and chose not to reply. Katherine looked disappointed as she stepped back, but hid it under a hard expression. "I'm going to get my overdue revenge on that bastard," she said, stubbornly. "And if you judge me, then so help me God, I will kill you too."

She strutted away and Elijah let her go. As always, her effect on him left him paralyzed on his feet. He took a moment to catch his breath (her perfume lingered in the air around him) and tried to think about how on Earth he was going to stop her…

And whether he should?


"Something isn't right," Freya narrated, as she moved some bowls around on her alter. She couldn't stop looking at the spot where Katherine had always sat, holding hands with her to perform a spell together.

"You said you put the prophecy to rest," Kol reminded her, standing on that spot right now, looking quite plain. "So what's the worry?"

"I couldn't sleep last night," she informed him, leaning on the table. "I just had this feeling of dread. I don't know if it's my own guilt, or my intuition telling me that something's coming."

"You did what you had to do, Freya," Finn told her, leaning on the table with her and setting the lit candles in their place over the map. "Davina's death is not on your hands."

Kol ignored him and stepped closer to Freya, admiring the map. "And what's this?" He asked. "You're early morning system?"

She took a deep breath before explaining. "This map is used to trace Niklaus's enemies," she claimed, looking over it. "I can retrigger it, and hopefully put my mind to rest. Prove that I'm just being paranoid."

Kol looked briefly towards Finn, gesturing to him. "And do you need your witch-buddy's help with that?"

"Yeah, she's dead too," Freya claimed, almost snappily, but mainly just out of fatigue. The mention of Katherine hung in the air for a moment before Freya's face fell as she looked over to Finn. "No offence, brother."

Finn just clicked his tongue. "Some taken, actually," he said, turning on his heel and walking out.

Freya went to call him back but changed her mind. She raised her hands over the map and began chanting. Little drops of blood protruded from the soft fabric, like they were emerging from a newly opened wound. Lots of them, scattered all over the planet. They all began to edge towards the USA. Then towards Louisiana. Then towards New Orleans.

"I guess you're not being paranoid when there is in fact a horde of killers out to get you," Kol mused, watching the drops of blood.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Klaus sat against his headboard, watching Caroline as she just started to stir, mumbling slightly. He brushed a strand of golden hair from her face to he could see it better and smiled contently to himself. Then he ran his hand down her bare shoulder and she rolled over to see him.

"How long have you been awake?" She asked, her head still buried in the pillows when anyone else would lean upwards. Her wide blue eyes looked at him, happily. "I generally don't like guys watching me sleep."

"I think that's something you'll have to get used to," he mused, shuffling down slightly so that he was at eye-level with her. "We have eternity, anyway."

"Eternity to fix things," Caroline added, sighing as she remembered everything that happened. "We'll be lucky if we get it all done. But it's possible. You're not alone, Klaus."

He replied simply by leaning forward and kissing her, cupping her face in his hand. He opened his mouth the reply, but the door swung open before he could. They looked up to see Rebekah, leaning against the doorframe and scowling at them.

"Put some clothes on," she ordered. "Family meeting in the courtyard. You and Elijah are going to get along, and if I hear anything else, then I'll kill you both myself." She turned on her high heel and closed the door behind her.

Caroline grumbled something about his sister as she got to her feet, allowing Klaus to see her long legs unfold and her tits perk upwards as she stretched. Before he could admire it for too long, however, the door burst open again and Caroline yelped, wrapping the sheet hastily around herself.

"Are you decent?" Hayley asked, holding Hope in her arm, and covering the little girl's eyes. "Klaus, you're on Hope-duty this morning. Take a shower and take your daughter."

Klaus rolled his eyes and jumped into the adjoining shower, washing the remnants of last night's rendezvous off of his skin and replacing it with the smell of sandalwood, before throwing on a loose Henley and jeans. He met Hayley in the courtyard and took Hope from her as he waited for everyone to assemble.

"You may have had a better life," he whispered to his littlest wolf as he rocked her gently, "had another man been your father. All those who loved me have lived to regret it. But I promise you, Hope, I will do right by you." He looked across the courtyard as Caroline walked in, talking to Hayley and he smiled. "And you," he whispered, knowing she could hear him. She smiled slightly but didn't respond.

"Freya is tracking your former sirelings," Kol told Klaus after explaining to everyone the return of the prophecy. "It won't be long now. Works for me. I could use a good fight." He laid out all the weapons they had on the table and held up a few of his favourites.

"Well, we do have an advantage," Elijah reminded them, picking up and inspecting a gun. "No vampire may enter the stronghold as long as the deed is in Freya's name."

"So what?" Kol asked, looking shocked enough. "We just sit and wait here as our enemies' mass at our front gate?"

Klaus shrugged, innocently. "Well, if they're so determined to die at our hands, then let them come."

"It's come to my attention," Hayley said as everyone sat down – Finn, Caroline, Elijah, Rebekah and Kol – "that we have all made some shitty choices recently. In the name of protecting this family. I'm not passing the blame-"

"Elijah," Klaus interrupted, clarifying.

"You too," Hayley said, pointing at him. "You, and Elijah, and Freya killed Davina to save Rebekah." She turned to Kol, who hung his head. "Now, Kol has been so very, very good and mature. And he's here to help us. Now Elijah killed Marcel to protect Klaus, after Freya confirmed the prophecy. Unquestionably, Marcel would have turned into our enemy."

Rebekah choked slightly when she heard that. She got up to leave, and Caroline followed her, ready to comfort her new friend.

"And Klaus killed Katherine because she was plotting against him," Hayley added, hoping to balance the scales.

"No, he killed her to punish me," Elijah corrected, coldly.

"Okay, Elijah?" Hayley scolded, raising an eyebrow. "Notice how my voice didn't go up at the end of that sentence? It wasn't a question." She looked around the group and sighed. "Jackson. Davina. Camille. Marcel. Katherine. We're all in pain. But we need to stick together. Now, more than ever. So if Kol can come here today, and try his best, then so can all of us. All of us do what we need to, to protect this family. At whatever it costs."

"I don't need to be reminded of how heavy that burden is?" Klaus asked.

Elijah chimed in, shaking his head. "This time, that burden is getting too much to bear."

"Who is Jackson?" Kol asked, after a pause.

"But we're all bearing the same thing," Finn claimed, ignoring Kol and lifting his head for the first time since the silly family meeting began. He looked to Klaus first, and shrugged. "You, Elijah, Freya. You three killed Kol's. Now you've killed Elijah's. But you lost your… Marcel. We're all angry at each other, but we all need each other right now."

"Since when were you so big on family?" Klaus asked.

"I'm not," Finn replied. "As soon as the year of the prophecy is over, I'm gone. But until then, we could all benefit from getting a little big on family."

There was a rumble from upstairs and they all turned their attention to where Freya was supposed to be residing. Klaus, Elijah, Kol and Finn stormed out of the parlour room and into the courtyard, but they were greeted by a large crowd of angry strangers. All enemies of Klaus.

Before Klaus actually entered the courtyard, however, he turned to Hayley and pushed Hope into her arms. "Go underground," he whispered to her and she nodded, turning away from the rest of the family as they were surrounded.

"Never thought it would come to this," Marcel mused as he walked into the compound, followed by more vampires. "But, as always, the Mikaelsons made my choice for me."

"Marcel," Klaus whispered, upon seeing him. "How…"

"How are we in your home?" He asked, shrugging. "I have friends who could close the deed on a property like that." He clicked his fingers to emphasize his point. "Did you mean: how am I not a rotting corpse?"

Klaus took a deep breath. "I thought my friend was dead," he said. "And yet, here you are. So send these fools away, and let's talk."

"Is that relief I hear?" Marcel asked, stepping closer to challenge Klaus. "Really? If I hadn't been one step ahead of you, I would be at the bottom of a river."

"Marcel, your anger is with me," Elijah said, stepping forward to volunteer himself for a fight. "I am the one responsible for this crime against you."

Marcel turned to him, almost laughing. "One thing I've learned from sticking around this family, Elijah, is that taking on one of you means taking on all of you. These guys, Niklaus's sirelings, are here to bear witness today."

"Are you planning to put on a little show?" Kol asked, curiously stepping forward.

Marcel pointed at Kol and smirked. "Damn right, I am. The Fall of the Mikaelsons. And guess what? It's already started."

-0-0-0-0-0-

Upstairs, Caroline and Rebekah found Freya. They heard all the commotion from the courtyard, but agreed that throwing themselves into it would not help the situation. They were gone. That was their advantage for the time being.

Caroline ripped out the heart of the vampire that circled Freya, and Rebekah ran to her sister, pulling her to her feet. "What did they do to you?" She asked, concerned.

"Poison," Freya replied, leaning on Rebekah.

"Let's get you out of here," Rebekah said, leading her towards the door. One vampire ran inside after hearing them and pounced on Rebekah, pushing her onto a nearby coffee table. Freya fell into Caroline's arms, and Rebekah killed him before he could even make a move. Blood splattered across her face and pushed the body off of her.

"Come on," Caroline said, leading Freya out – Rebekah following behind them.

They ended up going to Hayley's abandoned place. It was the flat she shared with Jackson and Hope. But Jackson was dead, and Hayley had taken Hope and ran. So they lay Freya on the couch and Caroline went to go and fetch some water.

"The prophecy is coming true," Freya panted, her skin becoming waxy as a result of the poison. She excepted the water graciously and chugged it. "This is the day the prophecy takes place. The day you fall."

"There has to be some way around it," Rebekah whispered, beginning to pace nervously. "Caroline matches Marcel. We can take on the rest."

"Marcel cannot die, and he will never stop," Freya claimed. "And we don't know what Katherine is capable now." She noted the confusion on Rebekah and Caroline's faces and explained. "She took over as ruler of Hell when Cade died. I saw it in a dream."

"So what do we do?" Caroline asked. "We can't fight our way out of this, Rebekah."

There was a pause before she replied. "Then we talk," she answered, beginning to head towards the door. "Power may not stop Marcel. But I can. Stay here and watch Freya."

-0-0-0-0-0-

"I know you're hurt," Kol claimed, stepping forward to face Marcel head-on. "I loved Davina too. And it would break her heart to see you like this."

"Don't mention her name," Marcel ordered, raising a finger to him. "If it weren't for you, she'd still be alive." His hand was swatted down by Kol, but he continued talking. "You can't shift all the blame on your siblings when you're the one who lost control and killed her in the first place."

"Well, what's done is done," he said, regretfully. "And this is an insult to her memory."

Marcel shoved Kol back and bit into his neck, allowing his new venom to pump through the youngest brother's veins. Elijah leapt forward with rage as Marcel threw Kol against a nearby wall. It was a short fight until Marcel broke Elijah's arm and bit his wrist.

Both of Klaus's brothers cried out in pain and Finn raised his hands to begin chanting but a witch in the crowd raised her own and Finn fell to his knees, screaming in pain. Then she flicked her wrist, and Finn fell across the room with Elijah and Kol.

Klaus felt his fangs drop, his veins bulge and his eyes turn yellow. He growled at Marcel and charged, but before the made impact, a certain blonde came between them – holding open her arms to separate them. "STOP!" Rebekah ordered as a scream.

Silence fell in the compound as everyone watched. Both Marcel and Klaus retreated almost shyly at Rebekah's order.

"Rebekah," Marcel greeted, his eyes narrowing.

"Caroline has Freya," she told Klaus, hurriedly. "Take our brothers and go." When Klaus looked concerned, Rebekah simply flicked her hair and turned to Marcel. "Marcel won't hurt me," she said, confidently. "Not if he knows what's good for him."

After an uneasy pause, Klaus nodded. He flashed over and somehow managed to lift all three of his brothers before running away with them. Rebekah just turned to Marcel and huffed. "Your explanation better be quick and it better be good."


"It's not here," Freya claimed, defeated as she kicked a box across Lucien's apartment. "There's nothing here." She walked into the other room, where Caroline was trashing the place searching. "I called Lucien, and he said it was in a suitcase in his wardrobe. But it's gone. He lied."

Caroline shook her head, turning to Freya and trying to look comforting. "We'll find it," she promised.

"No we won't," Freya insisted. "And unless I think of something else, I will die."

"FREYA!" Yelled a familiar voice before Caroline could reply. The two women turned to the front door, which burst open. Klaus and Finn pulled Elijah and Kol across the threshold (Klaus having a seemingly easier time than Finn) and they lay Kol on the couch.

"Ugh, I'm going to die," Kol decided.

"You're not going to die," Klaus said, simply, rolling his eyes. "Finn had a bite like this, and he's fine."

Kol blinked, turning to Finn and imagining himself as a human. "I'd rather die," he claimed.

Klaus whacked him upside the head. "I meant, we have hope. Now, Lucien engineered his venom from the seven original werewolf packs. That needs to be the key to a cure." He looked surprisingly optimistic.

"Great," Freya said, plainly as Caroline bit into her wrist and fed her blood to Kol, experimentally. Nothing happened. "The first puzzle piece in a mystery none of us will be alive to solve. I'm poisoned, our brothers are bitten. Two different ailments that need two different cures, both of which could take years to find. And none of us will make it through the day. What happened to Finn?"

The oldest brother panted heavily, falling down onto the couch. His skin was grey and waxy, and he moved like liquid. "A witch," he explained. "She cursed me. I think I'm dying."

Freya rolled her eyes. "Great. Three different ailments. What about Rebekah?"

There was a small pause before Caroline got to her feet and headed towards the door. "I'll make sure she's okay. I can't be killed, I'll be fine." Klaus moved to stop her, but she waved him off. "I'll be back within the hour," she said. "Promise."


"Let's cut the niceties," Rebekah requested after pulling Marcel into a private room – where all of his minions could overhear them, but they could pretend to have privacy. "I need you to cure my brothers before something is done that can't be undone."

"There's no going back," Marcel informed her. "This is a fight to the death. And I won't lose."

"Why are you doing this?" Rebekah asked, curiously. "Katherine, I can kind of understand. Klaus tortured her for five hundred years. Killed her entire family. Killed her last night. You get into one squabble with them-"

"Don't undermine it," Marcel interrupted her, holding up a hand. "Can you honestly defend them? After what they did to me? To Davina?"

"No," Rebekah answered, shaking her head simply. "I cannot defend them. But they're my family and I'm begging you to cure them."

Marcel paused for a minute, studying the facial expressions of the girl he once loved. "There's no cure. Elijah is as good as dead. So is Kol. Before the night's over, Klaus will follow along with them."

Rebekah ran at him and squeezed his throat tightly, but he didn't even react. "Who is your next victim?" She demanded, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. "Me?!"

Marcel's face fell and he spoke softly. "Hey, no," he said, reaching up to pull her hand away from his neck. "I would never hurt you." Then he shook his head as his voice raised. "But I am not backing down. I am taking back my home. My city. My freedom."

Rebekah shook her head, stepping backwards and crossing her arms. "The Marcel that I knew – the man that I loved, never fancied himself judge, jury and executioner."

"You want justice?" Marcel guessed. "That's a hell of a lot more than they offered me. But sure. Let's have justice."


As Kol lay on Lucien's couch, suffering from Marcel's bite mark, Freya dabbed a cool washcloth across his forehead. "You know," Kol groaned, panting instead of breathing, "perhaps it's fitting that you and I pay for what was done to Davina."

Freya's face fell. "Hey," she whispered. "No. Davina wouldn't have wanted this. She didn't want revenge."

"Just put me out of my misery!" Kol pleaded. "At least put me to bloody sleep!"

Across the open-plan apartment, Elijah was slouched in a dining chair, dealing with his bite a little more gracefully. "Hayley's running with Hope," Klaus informed Elijah as he joined him. "I can get her for you, if you want."

There was a pause before Elijah replied. "I don't want," he answered, simply. "I don't love Hayley. Not anymore. I love her."

Klaus sighed, but refused to get angry about it. "Elijah, she did this to you," he reminded his big brother. "We took her into our home; protected her against the devil himself. You may love her, but I think she was plotting this from the very beginning."

Elijah shook his head, thoughtfully. "No, she wasn't. I know that. I know that she became the person she is today because of me. And I know I deserve this fate." He turned to Klaus and looked sad. "I did this to her. I made her live with the man who killed her family, and then expected her to be happy about it. I chose my family over her every time, and then expected her to choose me, over respect for her own. I didn't trust her when she earned it. I broke her. And now she's breaking me."

There was another pause. "Elijah," Klaus whispered.

"Please, Niklaus," he begged. "Please forgive her. After five-hundred-years, just forgive her. Make peace with her and then let her go free. To live a happy life. I am begging you to do this for me."

Klaus took a second to realise what this was. Elijah's dying wish. How could he refuse? Slowly, he nodded. "I promise you," Klaus agreed, feeling a surprising sense of relief at the end to his war with Katerina Petrova.

"And Rebekah," Elijah pleaded. "Take care of her."

Klaus nodded. "I will. I will make Marcel pay."

"No, no brother, no," Elijah said, shaking his head and pulling himself to his feet, turning around to face him with nothing but regrets. "This was not Marcel. This was me. This was my fault. I did all of this." He breathed heavily, as he struggled with the bite on his arm. "I'm the one who demeaned Kol. The one who daggered Rebekah. I'm the one who killed Marcel. I broke you when I compelled Aurora to leave. I've been tearing this family apart for a thousand years, and I called myself noble. This was all my fault."

Klaus shook his head, in disbelief. "How was this your fault?" He asked. "I'm the one who told you they were at the bottom of the ocean. I'm the one who daggered them in the first damn place. I'm the one who killed everyone Rebekah loved. You never gave up on me, Elijah. And that's my greatest regret: the many times I've let you down. So I don't care about your mistakes, because you never cared about mine. Because you are my brother. And I can't do this without you."

Elijah nodded slightly and walked over to Klaus, hugging him for possibly the last time. Klaus embraced it, allowing himself to be weak in Elijah's arms for a whole minute.

Before either of them could say anything else, Klaus's phone rang in his pocket. He answered it, and Rebekah started talking instantly.

"Nik, there's a bloody riot over here," she claimed, worriedly. "Marcel has them ready to search the city for you, but after a brief chat, he's come up with an alternative. Which I think might be worse. He wants you to come back here and stand trial for your sins."

"In front of a jury of people who hate me the most?" Klaus asked. "I think I'll stay here, thank you."

"If you don't, they'll hunt you down," she told him. "And given their current frenzy and newfound leadership, I doubt they'll be forgiving of anyone who stands in their way." When Rebekah spoke, Klaus's eyes flickered to his three brothers and his older sister, who were sat around the couch, all looking sadly at each other.

He hung up the phone and explained the plan to the lot of them. "That's not a trial," Elijah determined. "That's a suicide. Find Hayley. Find Hope. Take Caroline. Get the hell out of the city."

"No," Klaus said, plainly. "I won't leave you."

Before anyone could add onto that, Kol started having a fit and Elijah and Finn moved to pin him down and keep him still. Freya ran over to Klaus and talked to him under her breath. "There may be a way to save them," she whispered.

"Then I shall move the world to make it so," Klaus declared.

"I need time," Freya warned him.

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "You think I should stand trial before that death-dealing mob?"

Freya paused before slowly nodding. Then she wiped away a tear and gulped. "It's more complicated than that," she whispered. "To give me the power I need to save our siblings then I need you to make it out alive."


Hayley was so glad she'd chosen to wear boots.

New Orleans's sewers were connected to a series of underground tunnels, used in wars. Or so the people said. Really, they were the escape routes used by the Mikaelsons, should Mikael ever come knocking. Paved with gravel and dust, with narrow brick walls on either side, Hayley ran along these tunnels, covering Hope's sensitive skin and clutching her tightly to her chest. She tried not to use her vampire speed, fearing that the shock would damage her daughter, but she did run as quickly as her werewolf genes would allow her.

When she heard voices down the tunnels, following her footsteps, she growled. And ran a little faster, holding Hope tighter. But it was hopeless.

Her followers were vampires – old ones at that. And if she wasn't going to run with Hope as full speed, then she'd need to stop all together. So, she wrapped Hope's blanket tighter around her and set her down in one corner.

"I'll be back soon, little girl," she whispered, kissing her daughter's forehead before jumping into a round sewer tunnel and facing the horde of angry monsters coming for her.


When Elijah slept, he was in a field.

Well, not so much a field as a garden. Surrounded by trees and bushes, alive with ripe fruit and beautiful flowers – the markings of a gorgeous springtime. The grass was short and neat, and just where the land rolled into a hill, stood a little stone bench. Famous in the manor, as the bench couples retreated to, in order to enjoy the presence of each other, surrounded by the best possible scenery.

And sat there, was the most beautiful girl he had ever known.

"Katerina," he whispered as a greeting. He was stood, looking down on her as she sat, straightening out the long skirt of her emerald green dress.

She looked up at him as he mentioned her name, and she smiled. "There you are." She laughed slightly and beamed at him. "Sit." She shuffled over, giving him enough room on the bench next to her, and he did as he was told. "I was just thinking about the day I first told you I loved you. Do you remember?"

He nodded slightly, his expression still shocked over her even being there. "How could I ever forget?" He asked. "But do remind me."

She laughed and then he laughed. Her laugh had a habit of making him do that. Her smile was contagious, and her laugh was simply amusing. But seeing her eyes gleam with happiness, could make one's day. "We were both so terrified of saying it," she mused. "Klaus could have found and killed me at any moment, and he could have daggered you for even talking to me after I ran. We could have gotten hurt so easily. We couldn't say it just to get hurt. But our reluctance to say it just hurt us even more. And then one day, in 1643, Klaus had daggered both Kol and Rebekah, and you were hurt, and feeling alone. And I promised you that you would never be alone. Because I loved you. Do you remember what you said in response?"

Elijah nodded, sighing at himself. "Oh, what a fickle emotion as is love."

"And then you left," she added, giving him a pointed glare. "Only on the year 1700, at the start of a new century, did you return the sentiment."

"I have never hidden my regret," he claimed, defensively. "Just because I didn't say it, doesn't mean it wasn't true."

There was a pause as she reached out to take his hand, sighing. "People say I am manipulative, and this is a prime example of such a word," she mused, thoughtfully. "This whole scene. I should have shown myself in a leather jacket and heels, and given us a space we know today. But if this is the end of our love story, then I want it to be here."

Elijah almost gasped as she said that, and only then did he realize what this was. Their goodbye. "The end…" he repeated, thoughtfully. "Why does it have to be the end?"

"Because you're dying," she reminded him. "And I can't save you. And I can't come and see you, either, to say goodbye in person. I have to do it here."

He shook head, gritting his teeth as he tried not to get emotional. "I don't want to die," he admitted. "I want time. Time to earn your forgiveness; I want to give you the life you deserved. You fought so hard, and still you were stuck with my brother."

"No," she whispered. "No, no. These last few months with you have been incredible. The perfect ending to a long story." She took a deep breath, clearly trying to hide the emotion, like him. "I never wanted this. I told Marcel not to move against your life. Any of yours. I wouldn't have been upset if it was Klaus, but you can't blame me for that. You have to believe me, Elijah, I didn't want this."

"I know," he nodded, squeezing her hand. "I trust you."

She swallowed and looked up at him, her big brown eyes welling with tears, but still she smiled. "In these past months… I never told you I loved you." She paused, her smile turning into a grin as she finally said it. "I love you, Elijah Mikaelson. Always have, always will."

He nodded and leaned forward, catching her in a long, sad kiss. When they broke up, his smile matched hers. "I-"

Before he could say those three little words that would end their long, sad story, he was awakened by a distressed-looking Freya at his bedside. "Kol's having another fit!" She told him, urgently. "Come on, I need your help."

She ran out of the room to aid his youngest brother and Elijah couldn't move.

He hadn't said it.


Klaus arrived at the back entrance of the courtyard and met with Rebekah and Caroline in a corner, far away from the riley crowd of his enemies. He wasn't able to smile at them given what was to come, but he did want to. He walked in front of them and sighed.

"Give us a moment, Rebekah," Klaus requested. His sister nodded and stepped away from Caroline and himself.

"Klaus," the blonde whispered. "It's too dangerous. Please don't do this." There was a pause before he turned to her. She'd been crying, the poor thing. "Or at least let me come with you. We can take them together."

Klaus just shook his head. "No, I need you to do something else," he said. "I may be able to save myself, but my siblings are adorably clueless. You need to save them. With or without the power running in your veins, you are remarkable. You can do it."

He kissed her slowly and attempted to call Rebekah back, but Caroline stopped him.

"Klaus!" She pleaded. "Klaus, please."

There was a pause before Klaus looked into her eyes. When he did, in that moment though, he didn't see the compound, or the angry mob. He saw the same fear on her face. That was the first expression he'd ever seen on her. Those few years ago, the ones that seemed like a lifetime, when he walked into that classroom, and saw Rebekah, and then Tyler and then her. And when he turned to look at her, it was like the very first time.

And that time was almost as magical as his mother's ball. When he turned to face her then, she'd looked so majestic. So utterly beautiful and at ease in his world, yet so out of place. Like a heaven had sprinkled it's like into his dark world, and now he got to enjoy the wonders that was Caroline Forbes.

He'd seen that look of determination before as well. When she lay dying on her birthday from the cruel wolf's bite. She'd been so determined not to give him the satisfaction of begging for her life. So determined not to look grateful when he gave it to her. So determined not to be charmed by his pretty words.

But the look in her eyes… that had come later. When, in the forest, she'd finally told him what she wanted. She finally gave in to those pretty words. She kissed him first and caved to her desires. That was not the first time they truly connected as a pair, but that was the best time.

He took a long, long look at her. Everything about her that made him so enchanted. The shine of her blonde hair, the depth of her eyes, the way her smile – now completely vanquished – could lighten up the entire room. And he remembered something she had said the night before.

Did you love her? Camille?

"It was never Camille I loved," he told her. Her face fell with the realization of what he was telling her and he moved forward, cupping her face with both hands and kissing her forehead. Then he kissed her temple. Then her cheek, and finally her lips. It wasn't a quick kiss like the last one. This one was long. He savored it. It may just be the last one he ever got. "This may be my last chance to say it," he whispered, when they finally parted. "The words I haven't said in centuries. The ones I struggled with for so long."

"You don't have to say it," she whispered, quickly. "I know. I know you do."

He nodded, thankfully. "I do," he promised her. "I really do."

He kissed her again before turning to the door and trying to mimic her expression of determination. But he could never be as strong as her. In fact, when he walked away, and heard her sob, it damn near broke him.

But nevertheless, he moved over to where Rebekah was standing. She was the one who'd march into battle with him.

"Are you ready?" She asked, solemnly.

"Are you?" He retaliated.

Rebekah looked down, hiding a tear behind her hair. "Don't let this destroy you, Klaus," she begged. "It will be hard, but you've suffered worse, I'm sure."

He smirked. "Wasn't it you who once said I could talk my way out of Hell?" He asked.

Rebekah smirked and pulled her brother in for a tight hug. Then she took his hand and lead him before the cheering crowd.

They grew violent the moment he walked in. Their cheers turned to slamming fists and they howled upon the sight of him. They threw things and leered at him, but he only looked upon the roar proudly. He'd made such a cruel bunch.

"Silence!" Called the voice of authority in the room. Marcel raised a hand to hush the vampires, and they silenced to his command. Marcel got to his feet and began walking forward, studying Klaus. "The great Klaus Mikaelson has decided to honor us with his presence." He stopped in front of his sire and grinned, maliciously.

"I have nothing to hide, Marcel," Klaus began, unashamedly. "You wish to put me on trial for all my sins? Have at it."


When Kol was calm, Caroline called Rebekah, to check in on the situation – and hopefully hear Klaus's voice again, even if it was just in the background. "Is it over?" She asked, desperately. Looking around the table, she noticed how weak everyone looked. Freya's skin was waxy and her eyes were sunken. She held a cool cloth to Kol's face, who was seemingly on the verge of falling back unconscious. Elijah had his head slumped down on the table, and Finn was soothingly trying to rub his back.

"It is," Rebekah informed her, her voice breaking. "Our plan worked." Caroline ran a distressed hand through her hair and released a sigh. "Now it's up to you, Caroline. Make his sacrifice count."

"I will," Caroline promised, nodding. "Hang in there, I'll come and get you soon." She hung up the phone and slipped it back into her pocket, turning to Freya who looked paler by the minute.

"Rebekah's dagger," she requested, clearly too tired to say any more words than were necessary. "It has her blood." As ordered, Caroline handed her the stained dagger and Freya placed it over her name – written in old Norse – on a piece of paper. She panted heavily and coughed as she began to chant.

Elijah lifted his head and reached out to take Kol's hand as the magic began to course it's way through them. They both began to shake with the power, and Finn merely swayed. And then, all at once, they passed out in their seats. Even Freya.

And Caroline suddenly felt so… alone.

She had all her family in Mystic Falls. Her friends were alive and well – save Elena. But she was stood there, alone in that room with four unconscious Mikaelsons, and god did she feel alone. It was her job now, possibly over the next few years, to find a cure for all of these people.

What if she failed them?

What if, because of her, Klaus never got to watch his daughter grow?

Over the next hour or so, Caroline retrieved the four coffins that Klaus had kept his siblings. Rebekah, being unharmed, had no need for hers, so now it hosted Freya, however. She loaded them into the back of a moving truck and took a final look at them all before whispering a promise to all of them.

"I may not know any of you very well," she whispered, "but I swear to you: I will save you. And bring you home." She closed the back of the truck and walked around to the driver's seat, plugging her phone into the system and calling a new friend. "Hayley. Did you make it out okay?"

"Yeah, I did," the wolf said, breathlessly. "I stole a car from an out-of-town dealer and I'm taking Hope North. I'm considering leaving the country."

"Smart." Caroline nodded. "I've memorized your number, so keep your phone for a few days more, okay? I'll put it into my new one, and every few months I'll call you. Update you on what's going on with the cure-search, and… and make sure Hope's okay."

There was a pause, and when Hayley replied, she sounded close to tears. "We can do this, Caroline. I know we can."

"Good luck, Hayley," Caroline wished before hanging up and taking off down the road.


"Not exactly what I was expecting," were the first words Elijah heard when he opened his eyes. He looked around at the second dream world he'd stepped into that day and smiled. He was wearing clean clothes – his bite having disappeared, and he was standing in a luxurious garden filled with different coloured flowers, and a beautiful fountain. Behind him was a big house – not a mansion, was spacious nonetheless. And it was Kol who spoke, standing a few feet away from him and smiling. "I guess beggars can't be choosers."

"So, you like it?" Freya asked, looking proud of herself as she admired the view. "It's what I always dreamed of." She stepped closer to her brothers and looked almost sheepish as she awaited Elijah's reaction. "A home away from the city. Just family."

"This creation," he mused in response, "is this yours or Niklaus's?"

"We're linked to his life force by the same spell our aunt Dahlia used to keep me alive for a thousand years," Freya explained. "I realized it was the only way. Put us in a deep sleep. Buy Caroline and Rebekah enough time to find cures for us all. My own addition to the spell, however, is that we can remain in here together until we wake."

"To do so," Finn mused, "we'll have to get along."

Kol turned to him and smirked. "I think I could try if you can, brother mine."

Elijah didn't reply. After a while, his siblings began to file into the house to look around, and so, he followed, taking each other's hands as they explored their new home.