Return and Remember

Getting Even I

He stroked her face and gave her a reassuring smile. "Love, as much as I would love to hold you and make love to you right now." He started, and then paused with a deep breath and a dangerous look in his eyes. "I have to go deal with Mikael."

Caroline opened her mouth to protest, but recognized the look on his face, and closed it.

"Be careful, Nik." She replied, clutching his shirt around the shoulders in her hands. "Remember what I told you, I don't want to lose you a third time." She replied, sternly and narrowed her eyes.

Klaus nodded, and pulled her close. He kissed her with a passion that brought them both to a fever. He pulled back and stroked her hair. "Go to the mansion. The family will be there to protect you." He stated strictly.

"Who's going to protect you?" She whispered, fearfully but with seriousness.

Klaus cocked his head. "I can take care of myself, Caroline."

Caroline nodded, but still felt unsure.

"Don't make me compel you, love." He replied, recognizing that look in her eyes.

Caroline tilted her head. "You wouldn't dare." She said, almost dropping her hands from his shoulders.

Klaus lifted a brow and nodded. "To keep you safe, I would."

Caroline narrowed her eyes, and Klaus nodded. He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the lips, and sped away, leaving her standing there alone in the woods only a mile away from home.

She looked through the woods to the direction of the mansion and saw the lights on. She smiled as the she remembered the family, her family, but the smile disappeared as quickly when she turned back to the direction where Klaus had disappeared moments before.

"Not a third time, Nik." Caroline stated with determination, and followed Klaus into the darkness.

Beauty had just found defeated her inner beast; she was not about to lose her beast. Not a third time.

~Mikael's~

"What are you doing here, Esther?" Mikael asked, sneering at her new body.

Esther smirked. "I'm here to help you."

Mikael crossed his arms. "Why would I listen to you? You have protected that little ingrate since the day he was born, all because of Garrett. I should have killed him the day he was born." He shouted with malice.

Esther's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you kill me, Mikael? I was the source of your problems, of your embarrassment. Why not kill me?" She shouted in his face. "Why take it out on Niklaus?"

Mikael sneered, and let out a harsh laugh. "He's YOUR son, Esther!" He shouted, in her face, his fists clenching tightly at his sides.

"Then why punish him, Mikael? Take me. I'm the reason you have suffered for a thousand years." She stated stepping towards him, eyes narrowing.

"I know. Why do you think I punish him?" He replied circling her like a predator would a prey. "I do it because I know he is your favorite. Your favorite, Esther! None of MY children were enough for you. You had to bear the child of Garrett Wolfe." He shouted in her ear.

Esther winced at his words. "I thought you were dead, Mikael. Garrett helped me. It was one night, Mikael." She replied, glaring at him.

Mikael scoffed. "One night to punish me for an eternity." He whispered. "I was never good enough for you, Esther. You know that." He replied, harshly.

Esther glared harder, and Mikael grasped his head and fell to the ground. He felt a few blood vessels beginning to burst and boil as the power of the Original witch radiated from the body of the newborn Bennett witch.