『Chapter Thirty-One』
『council hybrid』

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   Bodie wasn't sure what he was going to do as a whole, he knew that he should trust that Klaus knows what he's doing, but at the same time he wasn't sure whether or not he should. He knew that working with Klaus gave him more of an insight into what he was planning in hopes that he could help others, but at the same time working in such close quarters with Klaus made him worried about what he was going to do. He knew that he held a disliking for Klaus at the moment, but there was still a lot of love that he felt still for Klaus and that was something that Bodie hated a lot, he couldn't love Klaus and hate him at the same time.

   He knew that he had to try and fight against his feelings against Klaus and try to act like he felt nothing, but any time that Klaus looked at him, he found that it was rather difficult. It was moments like this that he wished that he could be compelled, at least then he could ask someone to compel him to forget his feelings for Klaus, at least then it would be easier for him as a whole. it could have made all of this a lot easier for him than anything else.

   Klaus, being Klaus, was plotting everything that he could do in order to threaten the Salvatore brothers into giving his siblings back to him. A part of him wondered why Klaus hadn't considered just compelling Stefan to do such a thing, but he supposed that this was far more entertaining for him than anything else. Though, then again, Bodie supposed that they haven't really seen Stefan in order to do anything to him as a whole.

   He tried not to think much about any of this for a while given the fact that he knew that there was a chance that he was going to question everything to do with what Klaus was doing. That and the fact that didn't have much energy to ask Klaus about everything fully when it came to this entire thing that he had planned. He knew that sooner or later, there was going to be a possibility that Klaus would ask him about where his allegiance would be.

   Bodie shook his head. As much as he knew that he needed to do what Klaus asked him to, which was to find where his siblings were being kept, there was a part of him that found that he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing. There was a small part of him that wanted to talk to Damon or find where Stefan was in order to tell them that he knows, and that although he's working with Klaus, he hasn't told Klaus about any of it yet, and that he intends to keep it like that unless either of the Salvatore brothers does something rash against Klaus. He knew that if he did tell either Damon or Stefan, then there was a chance that they wouldn't take it too lightly, so that was also off the table.

   As much as he knew that he needed to do various things in hopes to help Klaus believe that they were working together, Bodie found himself looking out the window as Klaus stood in front of Rebekah's coffin. They hadn't spoken with each other fully since they joined one another, and despite the fact that there was a part of Bodie that wondered whether or not Klaus was going to say something about him still being here, he was rather grateful that he didn't. So, they enjoyed each other's company for now. At least, Bodie hoped that they could enjoy each other's company.

   Bodie tried to not think too much into all of this as a whole, knowing that the urge to get the dagger out of Rebekah would lead to Klaus being angry with him for doing such a thing, but all Bodie could feel was the need to protect Rebekah. There were moments that Rebekah reminded him of his sister. Ingrid, and all he wanted to do was protect her and get her away from all of this. But given that Rebekah knows about the fact that both Klaus and Bodie had a hand in killing Esther, he knew that once Rebekah wakes up once more, there was a chance that she'd come after them.

   Even still, even while knowing that Rebekah would try and fight him because of what he did, there was still a part of him that wanted to protect her. Bodie hated the amount of times that he sat back and watched as Klaus ruined her life, knowing that he could help her have the life that she wanted. He hated how Rebekah was treated a lot of the time, and he knew that the one time that he did make an attempt to help Rebekah escape left with Bodie wishing that he were more discreet with everything. He would always regret that one day that Klaus caught the pair of them, the day that Klaus caught Bodie trying to help Rebekah escape.

   All that Bodie could remember of that time was when Rebekah was ranting to him about the fact that Klaus doesn't like anyone that she loves and the fact that he has a tendency to threaten the ones that she finds herself attracted to and how she's had enough at her brother making a mock out of her as a whole. He remembered the way that Rebekah would come crying to him for comfort because her and Klaus got into an argument, and she needed a shoulder to cry on. He remembered all the times that he had to talk to Klaus about the way that he was acting with Rebekah, having to remind him that this was going to be the thing that drives his family away, but Klaus never listened and hated the fact that the pair were close.

   He remembered the amount of times that Bodie tried to convince Rebekah to run with him the next time that he decides to leave, how Rebekah would remind him that she made a promise of 'Always and Forever' and how she couldn't turn her back on Klaus. He remembered the amount of times that he would try and argue against it, saying that she wouldn't be abandoning her family, more like seeing the world that isn't a life like being forced to move around so quickly and drastically, how it might be a little safer if she came with him.

   Bodie could still remember the time that she finally agreed to him asking her to come with him, and he remembered the fight that both him and Klaus got in because he caught them. He always hated the fact that Klaus had caught them, the way that they fought. Though, even though he hated all that happened when Klaus caught them, the one thing that hurt the most was when Rebekah had told Klaus that Bodie was making her go. That was what hurt him the most. He thought that he was helping her, and it hurt to think about there being a chance that Rebekah felt forced.

   He shook his head then, trying to push everything away, knowing that there was no use of him thinking over the past, but there will always be that wish inside him that wished that he could have taken Rebekah away from Klaus, at least for a while to allow her to know what life was like without Klaus and the threat of being daggered. Bodie knew that there was nothing that he could do in order to change the past no matter how much he wanted to do such a thing, that he would have to deal with what has happened, but it wouldn't stop him from wondering what would have changed. He wondered what life would have been like for Rebekah if Klaus didn't end up trying to control his siblings the way that he did.

   Bodie sighed. At one point, Klaus had gotten them both a drink, though Klaus had his in a cup, he'd given Bodie a blood bag. He supposed that the one thing that Klaus remembered about Bodie was that there were times when he forgot to drink blood or keep note of when the last time that he had blood in his system, he supposed that there was a chance that Klaus was keeping track or just wanted to help. Either way, he was somewhat happy to drink from a blood bag, it's different from drinking from the source but it gave him some form of satisfaction.

   Klaus resumed his place at Rebekah's coffin side, looking down at his sister before closing the lid of the coffin. He placed a hand on top. "Sweet dreams, Rebekah." He muttered. Mindy, one of Klaus' many hybrids, stood on the other side of the coffin. "Show her to her room, would you, love?"

   "Sure." Mindy responded. She'd gone to one end of the coffin and placed both hand on it and pushed.

   Klaus finished his glass of blood, and for a moment there was nothing, and then Bodie felt as if there was something else that he was missing, or that there was someone else in here that probably wasn't meant to be here. He was sure that Klaus felt the same.

   "I'm surprise you're still in town." Klaus said, a little louder this time. For a moment, Bodie wondered whether it was Will, but he quickly shook it off, knowing that it wouldn't be him, he knew that it was Stefan—who was leaning against a doorframe. "I gave you your freedom, you could've gone anywhere."

   "I live here, Klaus." Stefan told.

   Klaus walked down the steps and Bodie found himself following before sitting down on said steps. "Well, if we're playing this game, then, uh, we were here first." Klaus looked back to Bodie.

   "You know, I don't like your hybrid friends." Stefan said. Klaus picked up a bottle, going to pour some of the liquor into his glass before stopping to look at Stefan who'd pushed himself off the doorframe to come towards them. "They're everywhere. Kinda like flees. I want them gone."

   "Yeah, well, uh, I kinda like having them around." Klaus defended. Stefan hummed slightly, a smile on his face. "You know, I'm hurt. I hoped that, uh, I freed you and we'd pick up where we left off. But here you are," he poured the liquor into his cup, "guzzling vervain like the rest of them, I'm sure." He raised his glass. "So much for friendship."

   "Friends don't strip friends of their free will." Stefan said.

   Bodie was going to say something to that, but he found that he didn't really want to interrupt anything that was going on. Plus, he didn't really want to draw attention to himself as a whole. There were moments where he liked to watch as younger vampires tried to argue or negotiate with Klaus, knowing that there was a chance that Klaus could do anything resulting in murder at any point. And although, Bodie was never one to jump to murder unless provoked, there was something about watching as Klaus does his own thing when it comes to this. That and the fact that he wanted to see what Stefan really wanted and see how far Stefan really wanted to go when it came to getting Klaus out of the town.

   "Okay, granted, yeah, that was a little extreme." Klaus agreed. "But I get a little moody. Just ask Bodie, or my siblings." Klaus looked back when he mentioned Bodie before turning his attention back to Stefan. "Speaking of whom, isn't it time you handed them over?"

   They both walked towards each other then. "Klaus," Stefan said. "Get your hybrids out of Mystic Falls or I will remove them myself."

   Bodie somewhat smiled at that. He would have to admit, Stefan had balls for trying to negotiate with Klaus. Bodie's watched so many vampires believe that they could do such a thing, only for Klaus to be Klaus and retaliate against it. Bodie knew Klaus well enough to know that the likelihood of Klaus liking anything that Stefan just said was low, he just couldn't wait for the bloodbath that he knew was going to come soon. He somewhat hoped that there would be a bloodbath for it, he would love to see what Stefan would do when he realises that no matter what he does, Klaus wouldn't give in.

   Klaus somewhat hummed then. "You see, if you continue to threaten me, I'm going to be forced to retaliate. Kill people. And it'll get messy again."

   "Do whatever you want, I don't really care." Stefan said. "Or, you know what? Maybe I do. Yeah. Yeah, maybe I care so much that I drop Elijah in the Artic."

   "Well, maybe I'd be willing to lose one brother if it meant killing yours." Klaus spoke. Bodie knew that there was a smile on Klaus' lips.

   "Try me. Let's find out." Stefan egged on.

   The pair of them smiled at each other and for a moment, Bodie wondered whether or not there was a chance to watch a fight. Of course, Bodie knew who would win, but he would love to see how Stefan would do when it came to fighting Klaus. There were times even Bodie found it hard to fight Klaus, and they shared similar strength. He might be thinking too much into this, but it was amusing to think about what a fight would be like between both Klaus and Stefan.

   It was then that Mindy came walking into the room. "Is everything okay?"

   Klaus quickly glanced towards her. "Everything's fine, Mindy Stefan was just leaving after failing to make his point."

   For a moment, there was nothing, just Stefan staring at Klaus and then over Klaus' shoulder to Bodie as if he were thinking about doing something that he shouldn't. However, before Bodie could even think about it fully, Stefan had grabbed something and beheaded Mindy. It made Bodie jump given that it was something that he wasn't expecting at all, though had a feeling that he should be ready for anything.

   Stefan turned back to Klaus. "Well, one down. You may want to, uh, send the rest of them away before it gets messy. . .again." He threw the now bloody object onto the bench and walked away.

   Bodie knew that Klaus wasn't going to take any of this lightly, but at the same time he knew that it didn't matter, that Klaus would think of a way to get back at Stefan or everyone just to let out what he was feeling. Which was why, Bodie decided that it was best if he stayed silent. No matter how much Bodie wanted to say something, to comment about the situation as a whole, he knew that there was a chance that it wouldn't be best to.

   He wasn't sure how long they were there for Klaus hadn't said anything other than demanding that his other hybrids sort out Mindy's body and disposing it somewhere and cleaning the blood. Not long after that, the other hybrids that he had continued to work on the house. There was one hybrid that was now cleaning the floor in hopes to get rid of the blood that stained the wooden floor.

   Bodie was tempted to say something but found that he didn't know what to say as a whole. What could he say? He had a feeling that he knew where Klaus' siblings were, but at the same time he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to give that he wanted to see where this entire game was going to lead though he knew that it was going to end in bloodshed.

   Another hybrid—a blond dude who Bodie remembered Klaus calling Daniel—had come in with a bag in his hand. Bodie knew that Mindy's head was in the bag, he could smell the blood. "What do you want me to do with her head?"

   "Just get rid of it, burn it." Klaus said. There was something rather soft in the way that he spoke, and it sent a bolt all the way through Bodie as if he needed to actually comfort Klaus in the loss of one of his hybrids. "I honestly don't care, Daniel."

   Daniel left with the decapitated head, and Tyler appeared. It was one of the few times that Bodie was in his presence, not that Bodie cared much but Bodie wondered what life was like for Tyler knowing that he was under Klaus' control every waking moment. He supposed that he could always ask but at the same time he didn't fully care enough to know what it was like, but at the same time knew that it must be painful as fuck to be controlled by someone like Klaus.

   "You called?" Tyler asked. "I'm here." Tyler looked towards where Mindy's body formally was before looking back up to Klaus. "What happened?"

   "What happened is Stefan had two paths in front of him." Klaus explained. "He chose the one that made me angry." He'd moved away from where he was previously stood and went towards Tyler. "I need you to help me do something."

   "Can't you just leave me out of it?" Tyler asked.

   "What would be the point in that?" Klaus shot back.

   "Seriously, can't you get one of your other hybrids to do your bidding?" Tyler asked. He looked past Klaus and looked towards Bodie. "Or get him to do it?"

   Bodie hummed. "If he could control me the way he controls the rest of you, I'm sure he would take pride in asking me to do whatever he wants."

   Tyler didn't say anything to that. "I lost my friends," he'd said, as if to add onto what he was saying before, "my girlfriend—"

   "Right, your, uh, girlfriend." Klaus said, cutting Tyler off. "Um, about her, I need you to bite her."

   Bodie gave Klaus a look, despite the fact that Klaus wasn't paying attention to him, he felt the need to glare at him. Bodie rather liked Caroline, though he didn't know her fully, he thought that she was rather nice, someone who Bodie thought was rather cute. He knew that there was a chance that if Tyler did bite her, she would die without either Klaus' blood or his own. Unless that was Klaus' intent, then that was something that Bodie didn't like as a whole.

   "What?"

   "Don't make me repeat myself." Klaus said.

   "A hybrid bite would kill a vampire." Tyler stated as if it wasn't something Klaus already knew.

   "I know exactly what it'll do." Klaus said. "Uh, Stefan pushed me too far, so I'm pushing back."

   "I'm not biting Caroline." Tyler told.

   Klaus looked at Tyler, and Bodie knew that he was smiling. "Tyler, I've been supernaturally blessed with the good fortune of a sire bond to you so one could consider this me putting your undying loyalty to the test."

   Tyler took a few steps towards Klaus then. "What the hell is wrong with you? I'm not hurting Caroline."

   "All right." Klaus said. "All right." Klaus took a few steps back and turned away. "I'm disappointed. But it's your choice, free will and all that. I'll find another way to strike at Stefan." He looked back at Tyler. "You can go now."

   Tyler didn't say anything, he simply turned and left. All Bodie could do was stare at Klaus as if Klaus had just insulted Bodie in some way. Caroline was sweet from what Bodie could make out, granted, Bodie hadn't been round Caroline much to form a decent opinion on her, but from what he could make out from the amounts of times that Henry gushed about her, Bodie knew that Caroline was nice. Not only that but Bodie thought that Caroline was rather attractive, though he didn't want to place his need to tell Caroline on the thought that she was attractive but rather the fact that he didn't want Caroline to die because of this.

   "As much as I get that you want to find your siblings," Bodie said, "you could have just gotten Will or another witch to try and track them. Or you could have just killed Stefan before he left." He somewhat scoffed. "I get that you're still trying to install the entire bad guy thing, killing innocent people, like Caroline, is just wrong."

   Klaus turned and looked at him. As much as Bodie knew that Klaus wasn't in the right mood to have this debate, he found that he didn't want to care all that much. Bodie knew that he wasn't innocent in the "killing innocents in order to get my own way," but he felt that this was somewhat different. This was someone that he somewhat knew, someone that was probably going to die. Klaus hadn't told Tyler to not kill Caroline, so there was that chance that Tyler might still do what Klaus asked.

   "I didn't ask for your input, Bodie." Klaus stated with a glare. "If she dies, then she dies."

   Bode scoffed. "You're a real ass, Niklaus."

   Klaus looked as if he were about to mock Bodie for talking but decided to walk off. "There's a council meeting tonight, Erikson, wear something nice for me."

   "If I wore something nice, it wouldn't be for you." Bodie called out after him."

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   Bodie wished that he were anywhere else other than this stupid fucking council meeting and as much as he knew that he didn't have to come here, he knew that Klaus would have dragged him here no matter what. And Bodie couldn't pass off the opportunity to piss off Klaus—or at least make an attempt to do such a thing. Between their previous conversation after Tyler left and their multiple conversations with many people at the council meeting, Bodie had text Henry to let him know to keep an eye on Caroline.

   He knew that today was Caroline's birthday, given that he'd heard Henry talk about it a while ago over the phone with Caroline. He wasn't sure what was happening for it, but Bodie hoped that there was a chance that Henry was there. He knew that there was a chance that Henry wouldn't be able to do anything if Tyler did bite Caroline, but Bodie just wanted Henry to be there just in case anything did happen. This was the right thing to do, wasn't it? He didn't want to worry anyone else, and he didn't want to ruin anything that was happening.

   Bodie wasn't sure as to why he was overthinking this, but he felt as if there was a lot on his mind at the moment and he couldn't keep his mind straight as a whole. He wasn't sure as to what was going on, but all that he knew was that he needed to focus on what was going on in front of him, knowing that there was a chance that Klaus would snap at him soon for not paying attention.

   He wasn't sure how many alcoholic drinks he'd had, but he knew that he wanted more. He felt like the only way for him to get through this night was to drink his entire body weight in liquor, but even then he knew that it wouldn't be enough. He wanted all of this to be over and done with. Bodie didn't like these events normally, though he supposed he was too used to doing these events with Will and Henry by his side, he wasn't used to being social with Klaus by his side, so he guessed that it explained something.

   At one point, he was sure that he saw the Snow's—of course, without Leo and Elliot—and they all gave him a glare as if Bodie had offended them in some way. Of course, Bodie did offend them and continued to offend them given the person who was his date for the evening. He wouldn't even say that Klaus was his date, it was just a term that Klaus had tried to jokingly use to try and lighten up the mood between them. Either way, Bodie felt as if he were in need to fix the bond that he had with the Snow's despite knowing that there was that chance that they weren't going to trust him anymore.

   Bodie tried not to think too much about it, knowing that it was something that he needed to worry about later on. Right now, he knew that he needed to focus on everything that was going on around him. All that he knew that was going on was that Klaus promised to match every dollar that they raised here and that Bodie was apparently going to do the same. Of course, that lead to Carol being amused on Bodie and his wealth, not like it was something he enjoyed stating, though it lead into a brief discussion about both Tyler and Henry which was something that was rather odd.

   Of course, Klaus ended up taking control over the conversation once more, given that Bodie wasn't in such a social mood and he had a feeling that Klaus could tell, so he was somewhat grateful that Klaus knew. "You know, Carol, when I think of a mayor, I think of an old fuddy-duddy, but you really have changed my perception."

   "Thank you." Carol said.

   Bodie looked around the room and he took notice of Damon who seemed to be watching them. "What colour are your eyes?" Klaus had asked Carol which made Bodie shoot a look at Klaus wondering what the fuck was going on. Was this Klaus' attempt at flirting? He knew that he shouldn't judge, but what the fuck?

   "They're blue," Carol responded.

   Bodie was somewhat grateful when Damon walked over to them to interrupt the conversation, Bodie wasn't sure how long he could last with any of this anymore before he got the need to make himself go deaf. At least then he wouldn't have to listen to whatever the hell was going on in this particular conversation.

   "Look at what the cat dragged in." Damon said when he was close to them. "Nice vest." He'd complimented towards Klaus.

   "Thank you very much." Klaus said. "Good to see you, Damon." He somewhat turned towards Carol. "Uh, Carol and I were discussing if you would be tonight's other big benefactor."

   "What do you say, Damon?" Carol asked. "Klaus and Bodie have made a very generous pledge. You know how we're chomping at the bit to begin the renovation."

   Damon was staring between both Bodie and Klaus as if he'd expected either of the hybrids to do something. He hummed. "Carol, don't take this the wrong way but do you realise you've been kissing the ass of two immortal hybrid, where one has ruined your son's life and the other is threatening the elderly?"

   Bodie already wished that Damon would just leave, he didn't know why he thought Damon would make things less awkward. Now all he wanted to do was drag Damon's ass out of the building and kill him slowly. He wondered whether or not he should take up Mikael's weird diet of consuming the blood of vampires.

   "Oh, come now, some might say I saved it what with that nasty full-moon business." Klaus said.

   "At least Tyler no longer has to go through all that pain." Bodie muttered.

   Klaus turned towards Carol, continuing as if he hadn't heard Bodie. "I never had to go through it myself more than twice, to be honest, but still, I'm very sympathetic." Klaus looked briefly towards Bodie before turning back to Carol. "Bodie's more familiar, though we both understand."

   Carol nodded as if it was a way for her to say 'thank-you.' She turned towards Damon. "Klaus has promised to protect Tyler, Damon. And our town. They both have."

   "From whom?" Damon asked. "His hybrids are the ones this town needs protection from."

   "We'll, I'd have no use for them if your brother would kindly return my family." Klaus told.

   "Not gonna happen." Damon said.

   "Would be a shame if old buildings suddenly caught fire." Bodie spoke up. Damon gave him a look and Bodie smiled. "I always loved stretching my legs, running through the woods."

   Bodie noticed the way that Klaus looked at him, as if he were surprised or was wondering as to what Bodie meant. Though even still, Klaus expected that answer from Damon. "That's what I thought, Damon. Which is why I've come to an agreement with the mayor. You and the Council stay out of my hair, I'll stay out of yours. Your town gets protected, my hybrids get left alone, everybody will be happy." Klaus took a step towards Damon. "All you have to do is to get Stefan to stop decapitating my friends or I'll let Bodie burn everything to the ground."

   "Please, Damon, just get your brother under control or the Council will be forced to take action against him before Bodie commits arson." Carol said.

   Damon turned towards Carol then. "You've gotta be kidding me."

   "Oh, come on, mate. Give peace a chance." Klaus said smiling.

   Damon looked between all three of them before walking off. Klaus turned to Carol and told her to give him a moment before he decided to drag Bodie out of the room. Klaus dragged Bodie to a quieter part of the home before giving him a look.

   "Did you find something and not tell me?" Klaus asked, forcing a smile.

   Bodie just shrugged. "Not sure if it was anything. I found something, yes, but I couldn't be one hundred percent sure." He knew that there was a chance that Klaus was going to hate that answer, knowing that Klaus would have liked  to know before he said anything, but the look on Damon's face was as if he knew what Bodie meant. "And now I know. Before I tell you, I need to have a look, just in case there's a chance that I might be wrong. I don't want you to get your hopes which was why I never told you and I don't plan to until I'm sure."

   "You should have told me, even still." Klaus told. "I need you to tell me what building. Is it in the forest?"

   Bodie shook his head. "I'm not going to tell you. Not yet. Just let me be sure before I tell you and I promise that you will know once I'm sure."

   Klaus didn't say anything, and it stayed like that for a moment. Though just as he was about to say something, Damon found them and came over to them. There was a moment when Bodie wondered whether or not he was ever going to get a break from Damon just as a whole but knew that it was too much to ask for. Like it is when it comes to Klaus.

   "What now?" Klaus asked, once Damon was close. "You're interrupting an important conversation about my plans for this town." Bodie looked at Klaus, though understood as to why Klaus would lie to Damon.

   "Stefan just grabbed Elena." Damon told.

   "Well, he's getting desperate." Klaus stated.

   "He's gonna try and use her against you." Damon said. "Do what he says. Get rid of your hybrids."

   "Or what?" Klaus asked. "Stefan would never dream of killing her."

   Bodie felt his phone buzz. He got his phone out and looked down at the message that was across his screen. From Henry. Tyler bit Caroline. Bodie felt the way that something within him dropped, as if the reality of everything was somewhat setting in more than he expected. He knew that there was a chance that Tyler was going to bite Caroline, but he'd hoped that there was a chance that Tyler wouldn't go near her in order to do such a thing.

   He shook his head slightly and text Henry back. Get her back home, there's things I need to deal with, be there soon. As much as he knew that there was a chance that Henry wasn't going to like his response or there being a chance that Klaus wanted to be the one to save Caroline, but at this point in time it was something that he didn't fully care about as a whole. He knew that there was a chance that he was about to overthink everything, but he found that he didn't care much—or he tried not to care much.

   "He tried to behead someone in the middle of a Council party." Damon argued. "He's operating on crazy right now."

   "Well, crazy or not, that kind of love never dies." Klaus said. There was a brief moment where Bodie thought that there was a chance that Klaus was talking about him, but he wanted to push that aside knowing that there was a chance that he was being crazy. "He's bluffing."

   "Maybe he is, maybe he isn't." Damon said. He came walking over towards Klaus. "But if you don't want to believe him, believe me. I know my brother better than anyone, and right now I don't have a clue how far he's willing to take this, so if he says 'blink,' I suggest you blink."

   Bodie wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he knew that at one point in his disorientation, Klaus had guided Bodie outside. He knew that there was a chance that Klaus was just trying to be nice, but Bodie knew that there was more to it, he knew that there was a chance that Klaus was thinking everything over. Given Damon's warning and knowing that Stefan had the only person that could help Klaus make his hybrids, Bodie knew better than anyone that Klaus needed time to plan or think things through.

   He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he felt like that there was something itching inside of him trying to tell him that he needed to go, that he needed to see if Caroline was okay. He wasn't sure as to why he suddenly cared all of a sudden, he knew that he didn't fully know her, or cared much, but he didn't like the idea of Henry losing a friend. Bodie knew that Henry never had a chance to make friends so him being close to Caroline and then there being the small chance of losing her was something that Bodie didn't want to think about much.

   "Stefan, how nice to hear your voice." Klaus was saying in his phone.

   Bodie knew that he shouldn't be listening in, but he found that was the only thing that he could focus on that could distract him long enough before he decided to do anything drastic. "Tell your hybrids to get out of town, Klaus."

   "Well, that's not gonna happen until I get my coffins back." Klaus countered.

   "Okay. Well, I'm gonna drive your blood source off Wickery Bridge." Stefan said.

   "I don't believe you, Stefan." Klaus spoke. "You won't kill her."

   For a moment there was nothing over the phone, Stefan hadn't said anything, though a few seconds of nothing lead to the sound of tires squeaking across the road, Bodie thought that there was a chance that Stefan had actually done it. Though it was then that Elena's cough through the phone was enough to know that Stefan forced his blood down her throat. He could hear the faint question from Elena though he couldn't fully make out the words.

   "What's going on?" Klaus asked.

   "I just fed her my blood." Stefan explained. "No more hybrids if she's a vampire."

   "You won't do it."

   "Really? Try me because your coffins are next to go." Klaus pulled a face then. "Say goodbye to your family, Klaus."

   From what Bodie could here there was a commotion on the other side of the phone though Bodie found that he couldn't focus on anything. He thought about there being a chance that the family that he did know would be gone if Stefan were true to his word, he knew that it would be hard on Klaus, that no one would be safe on his path of revenge. He shook his head, he needed to focus, he wasn't sure what had gotten into him as of late, but it was something that was slowly starting to annoy him more than anything.

   "Fine." Klaus said. "I'll send them away. You win." Again, there was nothing on the other side of the phone. "Stop the car, Stefan." For a moment, there was nothing, and then Klaus hung up the phone, which Bodie wanted to take as there being a chance that Stefan didn't do what he was threatening.

   After a moment, after what felt like forever, Bodie found himself snapping back into reality. He knew that he needed to go, he knew that Henry was waiting on him. He needed to show Henry that he still cared. That there was still a part of Bodie that was on Henry's side, that hadn't abandoned him. He knew that there was a chance that Henry wanted him to come and that was something that he was going to do.

   Bodie cleared his throat. "Tyler bit Caroline." That was something that caught Klaus' attention. "Henry told me, I'm gonna go help."

   "I'll do it." Klaus said.

   Bodie straightened himself. "Klaus, I'll do it. I need to do this for Henry."

   Klaus looked as if he were about to argue but it was then that Tyler had come walking towards them, calling for Klaus which was a big enough excuse for Bodie to leave. He wasn't going to stay here for another conversation that he couldn't deal with as a whole.

⋅⋆✯✼⋆⋅

    Bodie knocked on the door of the Forbes household and for a moment, Bodie thought that there was a chance that he'd gotten the wrong house. He wondered whether or not there was a chance that he read the address wrong. Though it wasn't until Matt came walking down the hall that Bodie thought that there was a chance that he was at the right home.

   Matt swung the door open. "What do you want?"

   "Henry messaged me about Caroline. I wanted to help." Bodie explained.

   "We don't need your help." Matt argued, giving him a look.

   "My blood can help her. Heal her." Bodie said. He tried to keep his voice as calm as he could. "It's either me or Klaus." He somewhat sighed then. "Just get the sheriff to let me in. All I intend to do is help, that's all that I want."

   Liz came walking out into the hall, looking at Bodie. "You want something in return, right?"

   Bodie shook his head. "I'm not Klaus. All I want is to mend the bonds I've broken."

   For a moment, Bodie thought that there was a chance that Liz wasn't going to let him in or was going to send him away. But she didn't. "Come in."

   Bodie felt the relief sweep over him as he took a step inside. Matt looked a little defeated, though it was then that he noticed Henry standing there, looking at him like he wasn't sure what to do with Bodie. In all honest, Bodie wouldn't blame Henry if he decided to throw him across the room, he was still waiting for that. But there was a part of Bodie that thought that there was a chance that Henry was at least happy that he was here rather than Klaus.

   Liz showed Bodie where Caroline's room was and Bodie smiled at her as if to say, 'thank you.' He knew that there was a chance that they were all guarded because of Bodie being here, but he was grateful enough that they trusted him to do what he came here to do. He knew that he didn't deserve their trust and he was sure that they argued about getting Bodie here, but he was grateful that they did.

   He walked into Caroline's room, and he took notice of the birthday cards on her bedside table and Bodie felt bad for her more than what he did as if he were the one to do this to her. He knew that he shouldn't feel guilty over it, but he felt as if he had the power to stop this from happening before it was too late and he didn't do anything. He knew that Klaus had done this, but he felt responsible in some way.

   Caroline—who was laying on her side in bed—opened her eyes and looked up at him. For a brief moment, Bodie wondered whether or not she was going to throw him out of her room and tell him to leave her alone, but what she asked made his already dead heart, break a little more. "Are you going to kill me?"

   "On your birthday?" Bodie asked. "I would never."

   "I don't know if I can trust you." Caroline said.

   Bodie tried to put on a smile to cover up his pain, but he knew that it was worthless. He took a step towards where Caroline was and moved his hand slightly as if to ask if it was alright to move the blanket. He didn't know what position Caroline could be in underneath and didn't want to jump into anything that she might not be comfortable with. Caroline nodded as if she knew what he was trying to ask without asking.

   He moved the blanket and she let out a small hiss of pain. He took notice of the worsening hybrid bite on her neck. "I didn't realise how bad it got." He moved his hand away, not wanting to cause it any more irritation. "I should've came here sooner, I'm sorry. Klaus viewed you as collateral damage, trust I never saw you as it."

   Caroline somewhat scoffed at that as if she didn't believe that as a whole, which Bodie wouldn't blame as a whole. Bodie looked towards the bracelet on her wrist though didn't move to touch it, instead he averted his gaze towards the cards in her room as if he hadn't seen them on his way in.

   "You know," Bodie told, "birthdays were never really my thing."

   Caroline looked at him. "I can see why, aren't you prehistoric?"

   He found himself smiling. "Somewhat. But my view on time has been adjusted since becoming a vampire, as will yours. Living without the bounds of human life should be something worth celebrating. Think of it as being free. Free for all time."

   For a moment, he wondered whether or not he said something wrong, whether he was saying what he really felt or speaking a lie. Though it wasn't until Caroline spoke; "No, I'm dying." That he realised why he was here.

   "I'm not going to let that happen, Caroline." Bodie told. He gestured towards the space on her bed, as if to ask if he could sit, again she nodded, and he sat. "Unless this life isn't one you chose anymore. But I can assure you that your life has just begun, one that you can enjoy with all the art, cities, books, and more than you can think of." He put a smile on his face. "However, if these things don't have meaning, then tell me to leave and I will, though not without arguing. This world is too pure to miss out on, Caroline, and selfishly, I don't want you to die. You have so much to experience, so many birthdays to have, so much beauty to see."

   He knew that he'd rambled, something that he didn't mean to do, but there was a small part of him that thought that there was a chance that he needed to convince Caroline that there was so much in this world that she needed to see. He still felt like there was so much more that he needed to tell her about this world, that there was so much more life in a world as large as this.

   She looked at him, and he wasn't sure if this was him seeing things, but for a moment Bodie thought that there was a chance that she was crying or was about to. There were tears in her eyes and a pang that went through his chest. "I don't want to die."

   Bodie half-nodded. He pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and carefully pulled Caroline up and into him. "Take as much as you need, Care." For a second there was nothing and then he felt the way that she bit the inside of his wrist. He found himself placing his chin on her head. "Happy birthday, Caroline Forbes."

   Bodie closed his eyes for a moment as Caroline fed from his wrist. Ironically, this was the closes that he ever felt to someone, and he felt happy that he was doing this for a good reason.

   He wasn't sure what time he left the Forbes resident, but he knew that one point Caroline had fallen asleep. He remembered leaving afterwards before returning with an old necklace that he remembered was once his mothers and leaving it on Caroline's bedside table. He wasn't sure as to why he decided to leave his mother's necklace with Caroline, but he thought that she deserved something beautiful after the night that she had.