Work Text:
A Fitting End
Millennion
It was a curious sight, watching Niklaus interact with the Blonde Headmistress.
His brother was clearly upset about something, likely his daughter’s possession by dark magic, and yet he looked content to be speaking to the woman. More than content. he almost looked happy, gazing at her with a depth of tenderness and longing that Elijah could not recall his brother ever showing before.
To his surprise there was a similar look in the woman’s eyes, some kind of unspoken intimacy that seemed to reverberate between them. They seemed to be gravitating towards each other, and yet from their body language, it did not appear they were engaging in flirtations.
Interesting to say the least.
Naturally, he considered eavesdropping to be rude, so he did his best to filter the details of the conversation. It was a necessary skill when one lived with their Siblings and were endowed with supernatural senses.
A half dozen incidents of accidentally hearing his sister in the throes of passion had made it near instinctive at this point.
Still, he had never seen his brother look so at ease with someone, not even with Camille, and he had to quell an urge to listen in on what they were saying. This was made even more difficult when he noticed his brother’s eyes widen in shock.
Niklaus appeared to be inching closer to her slowly, showing a rare amount of caution as his head bent to kiss the woman. The blonde headmistress closed her eyes and seemed to wet her lips in anticipation before the ringing of the bell broke the spell, they were under, and both pulled away.
There was no mistaking the anguish in his brother’s eyes
Elijah did not remember much about Caroline Forbes. He absently remembered the name being on Elena Gilbert’s do not touch list, and he did absently recall Rebekah complaining about his brother’s infatuation with the girl during their time in Mystic falls, but he had never met the girl, and he had not realized that his brother’s feelings ran that deep.
Something was wrong. Niklaus was not one to deny himself what he clearly wanted, and he was beginning to suspect that there was more to his magic solution to save Hope than his brother was sharing with him.
Caroline gave his brother a longing look before walking away, and Elijah watched Niklaus stare after her retreat with deep sadness, before his eyes turned to gaze at his daughter dancing with Landon.
Elijah used his Vampiric speed to vanish without being noticed, heading after the blonde vampire. He found her on a nearby bench, trying vainly to stop a flood of tears. Ever the gentleman he held out a handkerchief, noting her surprise to see him standing before her.
“My apologizes for the interruption, Miss Forbes, But I believe we have something to discuss” She looked almost resigned after he said this, but to his surprise she met his gaze firmly and without fear.
“Judging from your current state, Would I be correct in assuming that there is more to my brother’s plan than he is letting on?”
“Isn’t there always? Duplicity is kind of your brothers MO. “
“You know him well. Still, I cannot help but fear it is different this time.”
“I won’t lie to you. He’s planning to sacrifice himself to save his daughter’s life.” Elijah’s face turned ashen.
“He plans to take the dark magic into himself?” he realized. “I won’t allow it. Hope needs him.”
He made to Vamp away, eager to stop his brother’s foolish plan, when a thought occurred to him. More than a thought… a realization. He turned and examined the blonde vampire. She bristled slightly under his scrutiny but did not turn away.
Elijah smiled. “Miss Forbes, I have an important question to ask.”
----
She waits patiently, a glass of bourbon in one hand, her phone in another. Her attempts to distract herself with meaningless texts fail, as she finds her mind wandering back to her conversation with the Eldest Mikaelson.
‘Second eldest.’ she thought absently, remembering the newest edition to the oldest family in the world.
There was a certain irony in that. The family that had cheated the grim reaper for so many centuries, were now finding themselves in a headlong collision with him. She imagined Damon and the rest of her friends would be thrilled to know that the Original Hybrid was finally facing his end, finally going to atone for the devastation he had caused them.
The romantic in her even admired the way it was happening. A selfless sacrifice to save the life of his daughter, the one person he cherished most in the world. There was a certain symmetry in that, in fact it was almost poetic.
It made her want to hurl.
At her side was a nondescript package, oblong in shape, that was carefully wrapped in red paper, and tied together with a loose purple bow. Giving up on the menial distractions, she tossed her phone to the side, and sighed to herself.
She was a long way removed from the insecure control freak she had been as a teenager, and yet she could not help but wonder if there was something about her that drove the men, she loved to commit suicide. Seriously it was becoming a pattern, as if the author of her destiny had some weird obsession with finding new ways to snatch any glimpse of happiness from her.
Caroline groaned. Klaus Mikaelson was still a pain in the ass even if he was trying to do the right thing for once.
She would rather be staked than admit it, but she had been rather anxious to reunite with him in Paris, despite the bravado in which she accepted Rebekah’s request.
She had not heard from him since the letter and ridiculously large check he sent to help them fund the school, and yet over the years she had found her mind drifting to him on occasion. She wondered what kind of mischief he was up to. Who he was spending his time with now that he could not immerse himself in his family’s codependent dynamic.
If he remembered his promise to her.
As the years passed and the rigors of running a school for the supernatural and parenting two precocious teenagers kept her busy, she would sometimes wonder if she crossed his mind as well. What his response would be if she ever worked up the nerve to actually take him up on his offer?
She suspected it would be centuries before she had an opportunity to find out and being forced to see the hybrid in person for the first time since their rendezvous in the woods, had understandable sent tendrils of uncertainty through her body.
How would he respond to her essentially ambushing him on behalf of his sister? Would he even be happy to see her?
She needn’t have worried.
The adoration in his eyes, the all-encompassing look that had both entranced and terrified her as a teenager was still there, and she felt the years melt away as they bantered.
The energy…. The Connection between them was as strong as ever, and she found herself smiling brighter than she had in a decade. It was clear he felt the same, as a soft smile never left his face the entire time, they were together.
She managed played it cool during their surprise road trip, despite the burning she felt in her chest just being near him again. His earnestness in the car, the wealth of unspoken emotions that he tried to communicate to her with his eyes, each of them was a sledgehammer annihilating what little remained of her barriers against him. She found herself laughing, even flirting.
Somewhere in the dark corners of her mind she wondered if this is what a future at his side would be like.
She wasn’t ready, not yet, not with the fate awaiting her daughters if she could not find a solution.
Still, she was able to admit to herself for the first time that she wanted to take him up on his promise.
Maybe that had never been in question. But for the first time in years, she found she had something to look forward to. Perhaps that should have been her first warning that things were going to go to shit.
She wanted to be furious with him, wanted to scream and rage that he was throwing everything away, throwing any chance of them away, just like Stefan had.
Instead, she just felt helpless. This was his daughter, an innocent young girl, and she would no more mock or belittle his sacrifice than she would her own. She’d do the same for her children. So, she resigned herself to her fate. To his fate.
Until Elijah. And his question.
‘Would I be correct in assuming you have feelings for Niklaus?’ and with her answer, an opportunity arose. If she could pull it off.
‘Just like old times’ she thought sarcastically as the Hybrid finally left the room where Hope was getting ready for her transformation. He looked surprised to see her, his eyes lighting up as they always did in her presence before the reality of that was coming hit him. He gave her a sad smile.
“Caroline…there is no face I would rather see before the end…and yet for the first time, I find myself at a loss for words in your presence. If you are here to stop me….”
“I’m not here to stop you.” she interrupted. She held up the package at her side. “Champagne. If you are going to off yourself, the very least you can do is have a final drink with me.” Opening it, she pulled two glasses from a nearby cupboard and poured them both a glass. She gave him a stern look when she saw the hesitation in his eyes, and he smiled and acquiesced.
“Still our thing then?” he said softly after clinking their glasses together. She merely smiled at him and took a drink.
The champagne was good, the company even better, and yet there was a sadness that pervaded the air that dissipated any sense of romance. She would have to fix that.
She leaned in closer to him, allowing the scent of her perfume to enthrall his senses. He briefly turned rigid, but wanting to enjoy his last moments with her, he allowed himself to move closer as well, until they were almost intimate in their closeness. His palms itched and he considered kissing her but held himself back.
Things were difficult enough.
“We don’t have a thing, Klaus.” she said finally. “you’re about to kill yourself after all. “
“Caroline….” he started. not sure what to say.
“it’s okay. I understand why…I just…”
“Wish things were different.” He finished for her. she nodded and he grinned. It appeared he was still able to read her after all these years.
“May I ask a question, Love?” he asked as he downed the last of his champagne.
“Who am I to deny someone their last request. Shoot.”
“Would you even be here …with me. if I had longer to live?” She gave him a searching look before gulping down the last of her drink.
“Maybe I would have let you chase me around for a few more centuries. That was always the fun part.”
“Caroline…” he started. She hadn’t answered the question.
“Don’t Caroline me, Niklaus Mikaelson. You made me a promise and now you are breaking it, so forgive me if I don’t want to rip my heart open any more than it already is.”
“I apologize for returning to mystic falls, Love. But as I stated before, I had no choice…Hope was in danger.” She glared at him and the glass in her hand shattered.
“That’s not the promise I’m talking about.”
Oh.
There was only one other promise he had made her, and it was the one he was trying his hardest not to dwell on, especially here at the end.
However long it takes had been such an easy vow for an Immortal Hybrid,and yet it seemed even he had run out of time.
It appeared the fates had a sense of humor.
He couldn’t think of a response and before he could think further, she moved forward and kissed him.
He hesitated only briefly, shocked that this was happening, before his hands curled around her head and pulled her closer.
it had been so long since their romantic interlude in the woods, and yet he had not forgotten how sweet she tasted, how her very scent sent shivers of pleasure coursing through his vein. He kissed her hungrily, trying to impart the depths of the feelings that had always been there for her. She kissed him back just as hard, both getting lost in each other.
Neither of them even noticed the shadow creeping up behind him, not until Elijah Mikaelson gripped his brother from behind and snapped his neck with a single motion.
Klaus fell boneless towards the ground, and he was so tangled up in Caroline that she fell to the floor with him.
“Thank you for your assistance, Miss Forbes” Elijah said calmly, before helping the younger vampire to her feet. “Please take care of him.”
“Your brother doesn’t exactly make caring for him easy.”
“A fact I know well. Still… from what I can tell you will be able to manage him just fine.”
He gave her a comforting smile and before she could respond, he whooshed away, leaving the blonde alone with the temporarily dead hybrid. She sighed and used her vampiric strength to arrange him on the couch, positioning his head in her lap.
He was going to be furious when he woke.
---
Klaus awoke with a silent gasp and glanced around furtively, his quick mind already assessing the situation and figuring out what happened. Someone had broken his neck and he had a pretty good idea as to the culprit. To his surprise though, despite the tell-tale soreness of a broken neck, he also felt an odd sense of peace.
Someone was holding him, someone familiar based on the smell. Breathing deeply the familiar scent… his eyes opened fully.
Caroline. he glanced up to see her typing a message on her phone with one hand, while absently running her fingers through his hair.
“Elijah?” he asked softly, his voice calm despite the burning rage beginning to course through him.
“Currently unconscious. He was able to take on the dark magic, but Hope knocked him unconscious before he could finish the deed.” Her voice was equally calm. She knew that the quieter he was, the more intense his rage
In fact, she could feel his body start to tense in fear and anger. Still, she just continued to run her fingers through his hair, her eyes gazing sharply at him. She had never been cowed by him and she was not about to start now. “Rebekah has been informed. She says the rest of your family will be here by morning”
“It appears you have everything in order” he said, nearly snarling.” And here I thought your days of being my distraction was long gone. You must tell me what my brother said to lure you out of retirement.”
His eyes had turned hybrid yellow now, and yet despite nearly vibrating in anger, he made no attempt to move his head from her lap. “I hope it was worth it.”
She ignored the menacing tone.
“Save me the veiled threats. I wasn’t afraid of you as a teenager, and I’ll be damned if I start now” She gave him an understanding look. “Look. I know you are scared and angry. Elijah made the choice he did, because he loves you, because he loves Hope.
“You have no idea how I feel” he snarled.” I won’t allow my brother to die. Not for my mistake. Not for my daughter. the responsibility is mine.”
“Your responsibility is to not leave your daughter an orphan” she responded tersely.” And married and widowed the same day remember. I know firsthand what it’s like dealing with self-sacrificing morons with a brother complex.”
“I lost my brother once, Caroline… I can’t do it again… I won’t. I refuse to allow him to go through with it.”
“And I refuse to watch you die” she screamed at him, causing him to stare at her in shock. “You wanted to know what Elijah offered me?. An opportunity to save Hope, without losing you in the process, you stubborn, narcissistic asshole.” She was breathing heavily now as the emotional toil of the day was finally hitting her.
“Why would you even care.” he said finally, not quite meeting her eyes. Her words had drained him of what remained of his anger, and now he lay boneless and lost.
“Because I love you, you idiot” She should probably be amused at the stunned look on his face, but she had to get something off her chest before she lost her nerve. “perhaps a part of me always has. But reconnecting with you the past few months, made me remember your promise. And for the first time in a long time, I felt some hope for the future. And here you are trying to take that away. You told me however long it takes…you owe me that. “
“Caroline…” he started… trying and failing to come up with a response.
She met his gaze head on, and he was shaken to his core by what he saw there. Acceptance. Love…and yes…frustration.
He felt the connection that had always existed between them burn…and unbidden his head tilted towards hers, his body moving to unconsciously to claim what he had always craved.
Caroline felt the same urge as well, and she matched his movements, leaning in until their lips were a hairs breath apart. Anticipation and uncertainty, matching unresolved passion, and for a moment nothing else existed but the two of them.
Until a loud cough shook them out of it.
Both turned to see the tall form of Elijah Mikaelson, who appeared both embarrassed and amused at what state he found them in. Despite taking on the dark magic, he appeared as calm and regal as ever.
"Pardon the Interruption, Miss Forbes. But might I have a word alone with my brother.?”
Caroline nodded, and after giving Klaus another once over, she smiled supportively at him before vanishing.
“It seems your timing is as convenient as ever” Klaus said, his eyes lingering briefly on where she exited before turning swiftly to his brother. “And you are still a sentimental fool.”
“Yes, well considering my now limited time, I thought it best to get your tantrum out of the way as soon as possible.”
“A tantrum you say? surely you don’t expect me to go along with another one of your foolish whims. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for me. not this time. there’s still time to have Caroline’s daughters transfer the magic to me… I’ve burdened you enough”
“Now who’s being a sentimental fool Niklaus? You’ve always been a bit narcissistic, but this is a bit much even for you… has it ever occurred to you that I am not doing this for you?”
Elijah walked over, poured himself a glass of champagne, sipping it briefly and savoring the taste before turning back to his brother.
“I failed our family once, and it cost Hope her mother. I will be damned in time and eternity before I allow her to lose you as well. “He fixed Klaus with a firm look. “it’s time to stop running Niklaus. “
“And what pray tale am I running from?” the hybrid bit back sarcastically.
“Happiness. You have allowed your hatred and shame to ruin your life and your relationship with your daughter long enough. You have a chance for a real future if you can stop being such a coward. “
Klaus bristled at this and growled warningly at Elijah who merely ignored him. “You have a daughter who wants nothing more than to be with you, a chance to be the father that Mikael never was… and unless I’m very much mistaken, the love of a good woman as well. You can have the future you always wanted, Niklaus…you just have to be strong enough to seize it. “
Klaus looked stricken “Still haven’t given up on me Brother?”
“Never.” Elijah responded with a smile. Klaus followed him over and drank the rest of the champagne directly from the bottle before throwing it hard against the wall, relishing the sound of the glass shattering.
“I don’t know how to live in a world without you, Elijah. For a thousand years you have been by my side.my conscience, my friend.my partner. You’ve followed me into the fire time and again. I honor you for that.”
“It’s been a hell of a ride, Niklaus.” The brothers smiled briefly at each other before Elijah moved forward quickly and embraced him as hard as he could.
“I should have protected you that day when father bound you. or so many other times when he tormented us. For a thousand years I have tried to make up for that mistake…to protect and guide my family as I should have in the beginning. I have had one purpose. The redemption and the protection of our family. Now father is dead, our family is safe and at peace. you all have a purpose, a future. you don’t need me anymore Niklaus. You have your daughter. Caroline. the rest of our family. embrace your future, brother. Be happy.”
“And what about your happiness Elijah? You have sacrificed everything for us. for me. you deserve a future as well. “
“The women I loved are dead and I’ve lived a dozen lifetimes with the people who mean the most to me in the world. I have no regrets Niklaus. I love you, Always and Forever. Not even death can tear apart our vow.” Klaus embraced his brother, longer this time and then turned and gave him one of his signature smirks.
“Come brother. If this is to be your last night, I would have us make it a night worthy of remembrance. “
Elijah smiled in turn. “of course. I believe I can hear our sister now. “
The two vanished and reunited with their siblings. They spent the night drinking and entertaining Hope with stories of their past exploits. Elijah’s eyes burned with love as he watched her smile and become entranced with each humorous or bloody tale they told. His family was safe.
After saying his final goodbyes, he made his way outside, followed closely by Rebekah and Klaus. They held his hands silently as they watched the sunrise. No more words needed to be spoken, and with a nod, he removed the white oak stake from his jacket.
And stabbed himself.
---
Klaus was sitting in the study of his old mansion when she found him. He was still on quite a bender judging from the various bottles strewn about the dusty floor. His eyes were red and the remnants of tears remained on his cheeks. She moved slowly over to him, allowing her hand to find his before giving it a gentle supportive squeeze.
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” she said quietly.
“Hope is safe now, but my brother is dead…. I don’t…. I don’t know what to do now.” He confessed morosely.
“Mourn. reconnect with your daughter.... try not to compensate for your pain by doing anymore killing sprees. “
“You know my predilections so well, love.” He said softly. He gave her a searching look. “We never finished our conversation at the school.”
“I suppose we didn’t.”
“Having regrets now that my life is no longer in eminent danger?” he said it lightly, but Caroline knew it was not an idle question. Despite his reputation as a fearsome monster, Klaus had always been tender and dare she say fragile when it came to her. it was real fear in his tone.
She understood it well.
Pulling out her phone she scrolled before placing it on the table near him. A voicemail started playing, one he instantly recognized.
“You saved it” he said, a touch of awe in his voice. For sixteen years, She had saved his voicemail about wanting to give her a tour of New Orleans. He wasn’t sure how to respond.
“The truth is, I’ve always felt that we were connected. As much as I tried to deny it or push it down, I have felt your absence on my skin every day we were apart. You wanted forever with me, and I wasn’t ready for that. I was just a kid then, with no real understanding of the world or who I was. And yet, looking back, I always felt the strongest, most like myself when I was with you. no one has ever looked at me the way you have. I suppose a part of me always knew that one day I would take you up on your promise.”
“What about Stefan?” he couldn’t help but ask. She sighed but couldn’t disguise the hint of pain that flickered in her eyes.
“I loved Stefan. But if I’m honest I don’t think he really loved me,not the way I needed him too. Perhaps I couldn’t love him the way he needed me too either. I wonder sometimes if we were just best friends trying to lose ourselves in each other because we couldn’t be with the one we really wanted. I don’t think our marriage would have lasted. Elena was his epic love, not me. He sacrificed everything for his brother because Damon is who Elena chose. And her happiness meant more to him than anything, even me. “She gave him a smile before bending and placing a chaste kiss on his lips. “I’ve never been anyone’s first choice, except you. I’ve always cherished that.”
He turns and kisses her hungrily, pulling her into his lap. She tastes the bourbon on his lips, feels his tongue caressing hers, before closing her eyes and melting into him.
“I will always choose you first, Caroline. I have loved you since the beginning. I will spend the rest of our eternity showing you just how much. “
She kissed him hard., part lust, part gratefulness. “I will hold you to that, Nik. But I can’t be with you just yet”
“Why not?”
“The twins. They have a curse on them, and if I can’t find a solution they are going to merge and one of them will die. I’ve been searching the world for the past few years but haven’t had much luck. Once ai do, I promise I will show up on your door and eagerly take you up on your offer.”
He embraced her. “No more waiting, Caroline. You gave me a chance to save my daughter. I will do everything in my power to help you save yours. We will search together. Any idea where we should start?”
She felt tears hit her eyes before she kissed him again. “How about New Orleans?”
--
Not my best work, but it was a plot bunny that refused to leave. I despised the way The Originals ended, and I thought Elijah being the ultimate sacrifice made so much more sense based on the Character arcs.
Klaus gets to find happiness and be a father. Elijah gets to save his brother and see him redeemed, which was his overarching desire throughout the series. Both Klaus, Hope and Caroline get happy endings. I know there are a dozen canon ways they could have handled the hallow, but I think this one made the most sense from a story perspective.