(Warning: Potentially triggering dialogue surrounding mental health) 

(Please comment throughout the chapter. I'm not a mind reader I want to know what you're thinking )

Greed, like a voracious serpent, coils around the heart, constricting empathy and distorting perception. It is the insatiable hunger for more, an unrelenting desire that blinds individuals to the needs of others.

The very essence of greed lies not merely in the accumulation of possessions but in the fervent belief that ownership equates to fulfilment. It's a toxic dance where the line between need and greed blurs, and the insidious whispers of ownership drown out the quieter callings of compassion and shared humanity.

In regards to Klaus Mikaelson, what he desired most was Mia Pierce, his greed for her was a dark and consuming force, an insatiable hunger that transcended the mere desire for possession. It was a covetousness that eclipsed material wealth, reaching into the depths of his immortal soul.

Mia, to Klaus, was more than a woman; she was an embodiment of something he craved on a profound level. His obsession with her went beyond the need for control, it was a voracious thirst for a connection that would fill the void within him, one that'd been prominent since the 1920s.

As the first light of dawn began to pierce through the dense foliage, Klaus Mikaelson moved with an eerie grace through the tranquil woods. The early morning air held a crispness that contrasted with the dark intentions that seemed to linger around him. Brodie, a silent figure trailed behind, laboured to drag a heavy bag, its contents concealed but undoubtedly ominous.

The forest, normally alive with the songs of waking birds, fell silent in the hybrid's wake. His steps were deliberate, each footfall echoing in the stillness of the morning. The sun, still low on the horizon, cast long shadows that stretched through the trees.

Klaus paused in a small clearing, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the landscape. The remains of his nightly endeavours clung to his hands, a menacing testament to the events that unfolded under the cover of darkness. With a purposeful flick, he wiped the blood from his hands onto a cloth, his expression unreadable.

In a sudden surge of supernatural strength, Klaus turned his attention to a nearby tree stump. With a primal roar, he ripped it from the ground as if it were a mere obstacle in his path. The stump, now a weapon in his hands, became airborne as the Mikaelson hurled it into the distance. The crackling sound of breaking branches and the thud of the displaced stump echoed through the waking forest.

The hybrid was never one to care about collateral damage usually but this was a twisted situation, he was having to take out the very things he'd created, throwing away the months he'd spent in the summer to accumulate his assets. And it was all because of her, Amelia Petrova.

Klaus yearned not only for her physical presence but also for the emotional and spiritual facets that made her unique. His greed manifested in a possessiveness that sought to claim her entirely, as if she held the key to unlocking an eternal satisfaction he'd been robbed of ninety years ago. She was the definition of enticing, even when she wasn't intending to be, however her magnetism also had its downfalls, pulling in people other than him.

One hybrid enjoying intimate activities with the Petrova was an annoyance but to hear about two more also landing in her bed was a dead giveaway that there was more to it. After a thorough interrogation he'd found out about the leaderboard his hybrids had been ranking themselves with and that one way to climb up was to seduce Mia.

They'd taken advantage of her, filled her head with the fantasies of truly being desired when in reality the thing they actually craved was superiority over each other. Despite the changes in her personality, that were initiated by vampirism, the Petrova had proven that her naiveness had yet to fade. It left her vulnerable and at risk of the dangers she faced when she was human.

Klaus' blood boiled at the thought of anyone violating her that same way, humans didn't stand a chance but there were vampires a lot stronger and older than her, ones that saw women the way they saw all humans, as prey. 

The hybrid had thought over locking her away, to guarantee safety. But another thing that method was certain to cause was depression, keeping her away from the things and people that made her happy would make her life unbearable.

Mia had once spoken the words, "I have no desire for the world, Nik. I have you, that's more than enough for me." Much to Klaus' displeasure that statement was no longer true, he coveted to be the one thing that brought the Petrova joy but all their interactions were evidence he was doing the opposite.

All this did was confirm that she wasn't ready for her memories to be returned to her, he had to find a way into her good graces to ensure that once she could recall their wonderful times together the thoughts weren't bittered by her new impression of him.

Klaus threw the crimson stained handkerchief on the floor then turned to face Brodie, who was still holding the burlap sack, "Burn it." He ordered before storming away, heading to his new mansion that was under construction.

Brodie nodded, his face pale as he watched his sire leave, once the Mikaelson was out of sight he slowly opened the sack, his heart sinking at the sight of bright pink hair strands that belonged to the detached head of Demetria, surrounded by the dismembered body parts of her and JP. Brodie quickly cinched the sack shut as he fought back the bile that was creeping up his throat, he made a vow to stay away from the Petrova, after all she was the reason Klaus had done this.

If there was something more dangerous than Klaus Mikaelson's terror, it was Mia Pierce and her allure.

~~~~

Mia emerged from the steamy embrace of the shower, tendrils of water trailing down her skin. The coziness couldn't erase the chill that settled in her bones as she pondered the empty space in her bed that greeted her that morning. The early light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room that felt more desolate than comforting.

Wrapped in a towel, she couldn't shake the pang of loneliness that gnawed at her. They had shared a night, the passion lingering in the air, but waking up alone left an unexpected ache. All they'd left behind was a note saying they were leaving town as well.

A disquieting realisation settled in, their encounter, despite the shared intimacy, had been just that, a momentary escape. The cold reality of being left alone in the aftermath felt like a sudden betrayal, a stark contrast to the warmth that had enveloped them only hours before. Mia understood the parameters of their liaison; they were both married, and the rendezvous was meant to be nothing more than a transient diversion.

Yet, the unexpected sting of being ghosted after the shared vulnerability of the night left her questioning the authenticity of the connection, she thought they would've at least said goodbye. After she'd gotten dressed the Petrova was sat in front of her dressing table, drying her hair as she pondered the boundaries of pleasure and the unforeseen emotional complexities that often accompanied such encounters.

"Hey." Stefan stepped forward, making his presence known. His sudden appearance caused Mia to flinch and drop her hair brush, the clatter sounding through the room. He watched as she picked it back up then he caught sight of a crimson dot on his hand, the Salvatore quickly wiped the back of his palm against his jeans.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Mia launched the brush in his direction, however his vampiric reflexes allowed him to catch the object before it could strike him. "Are you crazy, Klaus could be around..a hybrid could spot you. This is literally the last place on Earth where you should be."

Stefan couldn't help but smile, even when she was supposedly angry with him, she was still concerned about his well-being, "One already did, at the witches' house.." He held his hand up when he saw her eyes widen in anxiety, "Don't worry, we dealt with him but...imagine we hadn't. The hybrids are a problem, we gotta get rid of them."

Mia began to brush her hair as Stefan's gaze followed the movements, "I don't think any of them would go anywhere unless Klaus tells them too. Serena left last night for the mountains then Demetria and JP went this morning. Even then, they won't stay gone forever, they'll be back....with even more hybrids."

Stefan tilted his head, "Why just those three? I thought they were his strongest ones, why would he let them go?"

The Petrova just shrugged and avoided eye contact, she wasn't completely naive to ignore the recurring theme with the hybrids that were sent away. Stefan noticed the quick change in her demeanour and slowly began to put the pieces together, Damon had complained to him about the doggie sidekicks that followed her around and how friendly they seemed to be with her.

"Ah." The vampire just slowly nodded, he couldn't exactly blame them for their attraction to her, she was beautiful but also beguiling. Her spirit and light drew in others like moths, even when his humanity was off he couldn't stop himself from drifting towards her.

However since he'd turned it back on he was filled with the regrets of what he'd done, how he insulted her, mocked her close ones even gone as far as to lean in for a kiss, he didn't know why he did it but in that moment it was all he could think of doing, perhaps it was a way to get her to stop talking but it had made her uncomfortable and that was something he never wanted her to feel in his presence. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Mia let out a deep sigh, trying to push down the shame that was rising in her, "Apparently sleeping with me warrants banishment...maybe I should just hook up with the rest of them so they get sent to the mountains too...end our hybrid problem."

Stefan chuckled as he took a seat at the edge of her bed, after spending a whole summer with Klaus he'd become well versed with the hybrid's mindset, even in the 20s if a man even dared to gaze upon the Petrova for too long they'd find themselves hanging from the chandelier with their intestine wrapped around their neck, it was very doubtful that the Mikaelson would simply dismiss a hybrid after they'd managed to sleep with Mia.

He opened his mouth to say something but could see her already downtrodden expression and didn't want to be the reason it got worse so instead he sought to apologise for everything he'd done with his humanity off including their heated conversation the previous day. "Mia....I-"

"It's fine Stef." The Petrova cut him off before he could get another word out. She'd been observing him just as close as he had her. The look in his eyes told her immediately what he was referring to, their last interaction was something she'd been thinking about too, she couldn't explain it but her heart felt heavy whenever her and Stefan were on bad terms so she was determined to lighten the load.

"Don't worry about it...I know you've been working through some stuff, you've been through something I can't even imagine experiencing." The brunette turned in her seat so face him, deciding to test the waters of his regret. "But Elijah and Rebekah are my friends, none of this is their fault....so could you consider letting them go....please?"

A soft smile spread across the Salvatore's face, it was too soon to let the Mikaelsons go but how could he tell her that, especially when she'd just asked him so sweetly so instead he had to tell her what she wanted to hear. "I'll think about it." He'd then received a text from Matt saying that his surprise was in place, now he just had to get Mia to see it. "You wanna go for a walk?"

~~~~

"So...I heard about Jeremy's car..." Stefan started, he glanced at the Petrova with a smirk as the two walked down the sidewalk. "The thing's a total wreck, he was pretty beat up about it."

Mia bit the inside of her cheek with a twinge of guilt, "Seemed like a good idea at the time but in retrospect, we may have gone a teensie bit far...not that he didn't completely deserve it and I won't lie...If i had the chance I'd do it again."

"Don't feel so bad, it was impressive." Stefan nudged his arm against hers, "It was also a reminder for me to get out of your bad books, my car is one of the only nice things I have."

Despite his vow to steer all his loved ones away, he couldn't live with himself knowing that Mia was upset with him, it filled him with self hate and disgust, very similar to the feeling he'd get after recovering from blood binges.

Mia chuckled, a lightness in her tone. "I would never do that to you, your car's too pretty to be ruined like that. Jeremy's was practically on its last breath anyways, I saved him a trip to the scrap yard." Her brows flinched at the feeling of Stefan's hand brushing against hers and quickly placed her own inside her pocket so he wouldn't think she was trying to hold hands, unaware that it was actually his goal. "Um....you didn't feel like going to school today."

Stefan's expression grew contemplative as he considered her question, "With everything that's going on...school just doesn't seem that important you know."

"Tell me about it." The brunette sighed, "To be honest...I only go so I'm not alone during the day...well alone with Damon." Even after almost a year at Mystic Falls High School Mia's opinion on education hadn't changed, she spent classes day dreaming or chatting and then used compulsion to get good grades.

As they strolled down the pavement they came across sleek, black Porshce that was parked alongside the sidewalk, Mia couldn't help but comment. "Wow, looks like someone got an early Christmas present." She stood by the front of the vehicle admiring it, "I swear to God these Founding Family kids were born with golden pacifiers in their mouths."

Stefan stood beside her, his grin widened as he casually remarked, "It's yours."

Mia blinked repeatedly in confusion after processing his words, she glanced at Stefan then at the car then back at her friend with wide eyes, "What?!" At first she thought it was a joke until she'd seen what he did next.

The Salvatore pulled out a set of keys and held them in front of her, "I thought you'd need something fancier to hit Klaus with." The Porsche, now revealed to be a gift for the Petrova, glistened in the sunlight, its polished exterior reflecting a touch of extravagance that seemed almost too good to be true. "You said if you ever got a car you wanted one like mine...but in a newer model."

"That didn't mean you had to buy me one." Mia exclaimed, still in a state of disbelief. She looked into Stefan's eyes that were full of warmth and affection, it was a sight she'd missed in the past month. "Why would you get me this?"

Stefan beamed, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face the vehicle, "To give you something to work up to, an incentive to make you drive better...we should probably keep it parked until we're confident you can fully drive but then...it's all yours."

Mia hesitated, she'd be lying if she said the car wasn't perfect for her but didn't feel right taking it when she'd done nothing to deserve it, "I....I can't accept this."

"Too bad." Stefan replied instantly, putting the keys into her hands. "I'm not taking it back and I don't think Matt will ever let you borrow his truck again...not after you put a Klaus sized dent in it."

"He told you that huh. Hey, I paid for all the repairs." The Pierce girl laughed softly, taking hold of Stefan's hand as he tried to slow the sound of his suddenly racing heart. "Thank you Stef, seriously...I don't...I don't even know what to say."

Her mind suddenly went to the fact she witnessed his brother and ex girlfriend kissing, as much as she wanted to tell him as a way to show gratitude she knew the news would be best coming from Damon or Elena and for once didn't want to be the cause of drama.

"You don't have to say anything." The Salvatore stroked his thumb over the back of her palm. In contrast to her belief Mia had done more for Stefan than he could ever thank her enough for, she'd managed to pull him back from the edge many times, even when she didn't know he was tipping off. "You can borrow my old one while you practise, just no drink driving and this will be waiting for you.....if you ever decide to come home."

Home, Mia couldn't stop herself from chuckling at the word, it seemed so empty and meaningless. "Your house Stefan." She corrected, causing the Salvatore to tense up and furrow his brows in confusion. "It's not my home, I don't know if it ever was....I don't even have a home."

"Hey." Stefan's body moved on its own accord, he lifted a hand and cupped the side of her face, the action caused her gaze to be glued to his as he spoke, "Home's not about the actual building... it's about the people who are there."

His words carried a profound truth, reminding her that in the intricate tapestry of life, the concept of home transcended physical structures. It was a sentiment woven into the relationships and connections forged with others, a reminder that true comfort and belonging were found in the company of those who mattered most.

Mia fought hard to restrain her eyes from looking at his lips. She took a step back, leaving his hold, his body grew cold from the loss of contact but the Petrova simply took out her phone and looked down, "You should write your own line of greeting cards." She mused sarcastically, "Even if I wanted to come back, my room's destroyed...it wouldn't feel the same being in another one."

Stefan opened his mouth to respond but the sound of her phone pinging interrupted him, the device buzzed with a text from Bonnie telling her to meet in the graveyard for the party. Mia let out a gasp as the realisation set in, "Crap, I forgot about Caroline's birthday!" Without giving Stefan a chance to reply she quickly threw her arms around him in a quick but tight hug and gave him the car keys back, "I gotta go but I'll see you later."

Stefan watched her leave, a new determination settling in his eyes as he set his mind on a new mission but first he had to check if the hardware store was open.

~~~~

"Wait here please, I'll only be a short while." Mia told her taxi driver as she got out of the car, she hated the way he stared at her perversely but it was a guarantee that he would wait no matter how long she took. The brunette held down the bottom of her dress while she made her way up the Founders' Hall stairs in her high heels.

Tyler had asked her to pick him up from there so they could go to Caroline's party together, considering they were yet to make up since Homecoming night, what Mia didn't know was the Lockwood had forgotten to update her on his whereabouts, causing her to interact with the last two people she wanted to talk to.

The Petrova entered the Hall, peering over people's shoulders to spot her friend, however that move had caused her to be spotted by Damon. "Hot." He remarked as he approached her, ignoring her deep sigh of annoyance. "They should've put you on the sign outside, maybe more people would be willing to donate."

And of course he wouldn't be Damon Salvatore without taking the opportunity to tease her, especially after he'd seen what his brother had parked in their garage. "Or they could just ask Stefan...since he's being so generous recently." A grin spread across his face when Mia glared at him.

"A car...I gotta say I've never seen Stefan do anything like that for a friend before. I'm pretty sure he's never even gotten Elena something that expensive...There was that shitty necklace but that was second or...third hand.." He took a sip from his glass and chuckled, "I lost count of how many people were claiming that ugly hunk of crap...unlike this one."

Mia glanced down at her diamond halo necklace that he was gesturing to then back up at the older Salvatore, she saw his intentions clearly. "Don't try to manipulate the situation to make it easier for you." She spoke sharply, snatching his glass from him, "I saw you and Elena last night...kissing."

And just like that she'd gotten the reaction she wanted, if there was something the two of them were good at, it was striking each other's sore spots. "You saw that huh." Damon poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, it was clear he didn't regret what he'd done at all but that didn't mean he wanted his brother to find out, not with the way he'd been acting recently.

"You can wipe that selfish worry off your face, I haven't told him." It irritated her that Damon seemed to be more concerned about being caught than feeling guilty about what he'd done so she provided an ultimatum to incite some genuine emotions for someone other than himself. "But if by the end of the week you or Elena haven't said anything to him, then I will."

Damon simply scoffed, believing it to be a bluff, "Come on, Pierce. You wouldn't do that to me." He stepped closer to her, tracing his finger around the top of the glass she was holding, "Especially when I've been so good at keeping your little secret...how'd you think your bestie would feel if he knew your caring attitude isn't as platonic as he thinks it is."

This motherfucker. It wasn't a surprise to her that Damon would resort to using things she'd shared with him against her. However his flawed logic caused her to laugh mockingly, "Tell him....who'd you think he'll believe?" As his lips straightened hers curved into a smirk, "You've got a track record as long as Wickery Bridge and with everything that's been going on he won't even doubt it for a second....But you tell him my secret and he'll think you're just messing with him, tryna stir things up with him and Elena...like always. The only person you're screwing over is yourself."

The glass in her hold was seized back from him, his eyes burned with aggravation, hating that she'd won this round. "Yeah, well...now's not the right time." He murmured, finishing off his drink, "Stefan's officially gone crazy, you snitch on us and there's no telling what he'll do."

"Spare me the dramatics." Mia rolled her eyes, "I just saw him earlier today and he's okay...like his old self again." Which was a lie, she could tell he was still reeling from everything he'd done in the last few weeks but she hated when Damon would act superior. "He's fine."

"If by fine you mean on a death mission then yes, Stefan is totally fine." The older Salvatore retorted, he caught sight of a certain individual across the room and spoke quieter, "He killed a hybrid in front of Klaus today, says that unless they're sent away...he's gonna kill them all." Mia tilted her head, recalling how Stefan was complaining about the hybrids but he didn't mention wanting them dead.

Damon gripped her wrist to get his order across, "From what I've heard and seen, you have a vested interest in those freaks so if you want your little bed buddies alive, talk some sense into Stefan...or you know talk to Klaus and convince him to send the rest away."

"Screw you, dick." Mia fumed, yanking her arm from his grasp, "I'm not your little errand girl, if you've got an issue with Klaus talk to him yourself, I have no interest in doing so, so you can go fuck yourself." She picked up a glass of champagne and was about to make her leave until she glanced down and saw the first four buttons of Damon's shirt open. "And do your shirt up you look like a fuck boy."

Then within a flash she tipped the glass over, splashing its contents onto his chest before placing the glass back onto the table and strutting away. Just as a dripping Damon was about to go after her he was blocked by Alaric, who had a bigger problem.

The Petrova continued her search for Tyler, sending him a text as she surveyed the room until a voice got her attention, "Mia." Carol Lockwood looked down at her outfit, in the recent weeks she had been a bit warmer towards the vampire, mainly when she saw how happy she made her son. "I wasn't expecting to see you here today, I thought you had a party to get to."

"Yeah, that's why I'm here." Mia replied, subtly pulling her dress down as she became self conscious of how she stuck out in this room full of council members. "Tyler told me to meet him here so we can go together but...I can't find him."

The Mayor let out a laugh, which caused the people around her to chuckle as well, even though none of them knew why she was amused, "Tyler's not here, he had such a sour face on so I told him to go."

Would a fucking text be so hard? Mia sighed deeply and plastered on a fake smile as she fought back the urge to smash all the glasses on the table, "Oh....Okay.." She could feel the gaze of close council members burning into her judgingly, it was clear that it didn't matter what time period she was in, there was something about her they didn't like and the only reason they didn't act the same way with Carol was because she was someone of status. "Thanks....I'll just go then."

As soon as she spoke those words they'd all turned their attention to something else and kept their backs to her, however Carol smiled politely and mouthed bye. Fucking stuck up pricks. Once again she attempted to leave, the never ending chain of texts from Bonnie urging her to hurry up, however this time was intercepted by a figure standing in front of her. "Fancy seeing you here." Klaus smirked.

"I was just leaving." Mia pursed her lips, irritation evident in her voice, "I seriously don't have the time or care to deal with you today so go bother someone else." She sidestepped around him to walk past but of course the Mikaelson simply followed her.

He chuckled, his gaze travelling down her body as he grew envious of everyone who had a chance to look at her, "Now, where are you off to in such a rush, looking quite ravishing , might I add?"

"None of your business." Mia shot him a withering look, brushing past the people in the hall, desperate to get to the exit. "I don't need you spreading your misery and woe, especially at a birthday party." She closed her eyes and sighed in annoyance that she'd just let it slip but she couldn't help it, whenever they'd speak it filled her with such a rage she would say whatever came to mind.

"A birthday party, sounds delightful." The Mikaelson could spot the exit creeping closer but was reluctant for the conversation to end so once again blocked her way, "Tyler wouldn't happen to be there, would he?" Unfortunately Klaus was too busy making deals with Carol Lockwood to be able to witness Tyler undertake the job that was given him, he hoped Damon would attend the party so he could be on the receiving end.

"I'm not his keeper." Mia shrugged, after their conversation the previous night the last thing she wanted to talk about was her friends. "You're the one who enslaved him...not me."

"Well you can't really blame me for assuming what you know....considering how fond you are of my hybrids." Klaus teased, inciting a scornful look to spread across her face, he hated when she looked at him like that but after ninety years of being apart he was grateful for any time she gazed upon him.

He couldn't help but mock the situation further, just to get her to stay longer, "The mountains suddenly seem so far away, don't they?" The Petrova's eyes narrowed as her suspicions were confirmed, "Oh well, life is a conundrum of esoterica."

Mia scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as Klaus fought the urge to glance down at the way her breasts squeezed together, "It's kinda hilarious listening to you tryna fit your whole vocabulary in one conversation...but I have to admit it's very sweet watching you play generous townsperson, donating money for a bridge you'd throw everyone over if they crossed you, little Klausie trying to fit in."

Klaus raised his brows, he adored how her confidence had grown over the years also how witty she'd become but he found himself, more times often than not, yearning for the sweet version of her that hadn't a bad word to say about him.

His heart began to flutter as she stepped closer, "No but seriously, I know what you've been through...and if you ever need someone to talk to, someone who could relate to you in some way." A small smile danced on his lips as the Petrova grew eager to wipe it off, "I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends in the psych ward."

She held back a laugh at the speed his face dropped as it filled with disappointment and annoyance, Mia tilted her head to the side and smiled brightly, "Now if you don't mind, I have a party to get to." And with those words she made her way out the Founder's Hall, leaving behind the Mikaelson, who wore a look like a wounded puppy.

"Excuse me, Mia is it? An older brunette woman called after her, speed walking out of the building to catch up to her, she grinned once the Petrova had turned around. "I thought it was you. I have to tell you, this era suits you a lot better than the 20th century."

Did I miss the memo of today being Piss Off Mia Day with useless conversation? The vampire rolled her eyes, "Am I supposed to know who you are?" She knew she was being rude but her patience was wearing thin, an effect that usually graced her after every conversation with Klaus Mikaelson.

"Oh...sorry." The woman shook her head and held out her hand, offering a hesitant smile "I'm Meredith....Fell." She noticed the subtle hardening of Mia's eyes, and continued, "My ancestors were pretty thorough when it came to making it seem like you didn't exist. But I found a locket once, in the attic of my old home. A picture of you inside and some curly-haired boy."

Mia bit the inside of her lip at the mention of the trinket, it was a gift from Jesse for her 17th birthday, he'd spent all the stolen money from his uncle just to get the picture that he couldn't afford to buy a proper necklace so instead had to fashion one with a carved wooden pendant and string. Unfortunately when she ran away to Chicago she'd accidentally left it behind.

Before the woman had the chance to speak any further Mia held her hand up, "I'm gonna stop you right there...Meredith was it?" The human nodded, preparing herself for the Petrova's next words, after eavesdropping on her conversation with Damon she already had an understanding on how fiery the vampire was but Mia wasn't in the mood to insult her so soon. She knew Meredith wasn't responsible for what her ancestors had done but couldn't help but feel disdain just looking at her.

"As much as I would like to stand here and tell you what pieces of shit your family was, and trust me I have 15 years worth of stories to tell you...I have somewhere to be." She gave a small nose scrunch and spoke in a mocking tone, "But it was really nice to meet you." With that, she waved her fingers in goodbye and walked down the steps, pledging to physically hurt the next person who stopped her, luckily for her no one did and she got back into the taxi and left.

~~~~

"Sorry I'm late." Mia hastened into the dark crypt, where the warm glow of candles cast flickering shadows on the walls. The gathered friends, Caroline, Matt, Bonnie, Zander and Elena, turned their attention towards her as she apologised, "I come with drinks... and a very sorry happy birthday hug." She embraced Caroline tightly, the dim light catching the genuine warmth in her smile, and then planted a gentle kiss on the blonde's cheek.

"I'll give you your present later," she added as she pulled away then went to each person individually and handed them a bottle of bourbon before placing the bag of drinks on the floor, "Courtesy of the Lockwood cabinet...I'll replace it before Carol realises." Whilst she was on the topic of Lockwood's Mia noticed that Tyler had yet to show up, what she didn't know was he was currently fighting a war with himself about orders he'd been given.

"So..."Mia took a seat on the bench beside Caroline as the rest were sat on a picnic blanket, she smiled softly at the sight of Zander with his arm around the Bennett, however she seemed to be the only one who was comfortable with his presence. "A funeral birthday, very chic."

She took a swig from her bottle, winked at Caroline and then noticed the cake on the side and questioned, "You guys cut the cake already?"

Matt chimed in with a hint of mock annoyance, "Yeah, because you were supposed to be here an hour ago." He handed her a paper plate with a slice, causing Mia to frown about how he'd given more frosting than actual cake.

Elena joined in, raising an eyebrow, "Yeah, what took you so long?" Her gaze held a mixture of curiosity and a subtle yearning for a reconnection, a silent invitation for Mia to bridge the gap that had formed between them since their recent falling out two days ago. Much to her despair the Petrova simply ignored her, if anything Mia's anger towards Elena had increased over time, especially after finding out about Rebekah being daggered.

Caroline noticed the silence that followed the doppelganger's question and rested her head upon Mia's shoulder, "I'm just glad you're here." She then tilted her head upwards to whisper in her ear, "The tension in here is becoming too much to bear." Luckily for them, only Zander had supernatural hearing, he took this comment as a sign to say something.

"I just wanted to thank you for having me." He looked around at all of them and smiled as Bonnie gazed at him affectionately, "It's really nice to be around a group of friends, so thanks for inviting me."

"We didn't." Elena mumbled, causing all heads to whip in her direction. "Sorry, I'm sure you're a good guy...but you're also one of Klaus' hybrids, part of the same group that almost got my brother killed yesterday and now all of a sudden you're with my best friend...you can't blame me for thinking something sketchy is going on."

Zander held his hands up, "Look, the last thing I want is to stir trouble or make anyone uncomfortable, especially on someone's birthday." He began to stand up from the ground, "So if there's a problem I can go."

"No." Mia and Bonnie spoke in unison, the Bennett witch held onto his hand, "You don't have to go anywhere, I invited you here." She then focussed her sight on Elena with a challenging gleam in her eyes, "Unless there's an issue with me being here too."

"No Bonnie, of course there isn't." Elena objected, looking to Mia for some support but the vampire continued to drink from her bottle, ignoring her helpless state. "I'm just saying that it's hard to be around hybrids when Klaus has complete control over them...and I'm not the only one who thinks that, Caroline hasn't spoken to Tyler since homecoming because of it."

"Actually we spoke this morning and he gave me a present.....and I just texted Tyler and told him to meet us here." Caroline smiled sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with everyone, "What? I'm delicate."

Elena cocked her head to the side with a stern look, "You said you couldn't be with him because of the sirebond, and after what he did to Jeremy yesterday." Mia furrowed her brows, confused on what she was referring to. "You said..."

"Give her a break! You can't control what everyone does all the time." Bonnie snapped, the pent up anger that was bubbling inside her had finally burst through. Silence filled the crypt while the others looked at each other, trying to deal with the awkwardness.

Elena looked down and nodded as the weight of her friend's words sunk in, it was clear she meant every word. "Wow.....don't hold back on my account Bon."

The Bennett witch shook her head, slightly disappointed with herself for the outburst, "Sorry, I know it's Caroline's birthday, funeral...or whatever. But I just feel it's really wrong that you compelled Jeremy to leave town."

"Wait what?" Mia exclaimed, turning to make eye contact with Elena for the first time since she arrived. After seeing the way Jeremy reacted to being compelled the previous year she couldn't believe Elena had done the same thing. "But it's his birthday in three days, you can't send him away before that."

"And I'm doing this so he can live to have another birthday." Elena retorted, becoming fed up with having to explain her choices about her own brother. "I'm doing this to protect him, I want to give him the chance to have a quiet, normal life." At that point Mia felt like she could no longer say anything, knowing she too would do anything to protect her sister if she was alive.

However Bonnie was less inclined to stay silent, "He should be able to choose how he wants to live it. You're taking his choices away." She glanced over at the hybrid and realised how it must've looked with her defending her ex so passionately, she then lowered her voice. "It just feels like you're not being very considerate of his feelings....or Stefan's."

Oh shit. Mia lowered her head, practically burying it in the red solo cup she was drinking from. She and Bonnie had both agreed to stay quiet about what they'd witnessed the previous night and was now left in an uncomfortable position.

Elena's eyes widened as she blinked in surprise, trying to grapple with the fact they'd been caught and the shame that surrounded the event. "Bonnie....you can't tell him, either of them."

"Why?" Bonnie tilted her head with a clenched jaw as if she was challenging the doppelganger, "Are you gonna compel me not to?" The Gilbert girl was left speechless, she understood why the witch was concerned but after recent events she knew she wouldn't be able to take it if she lost her brother.

Matt refilled his cup and shook his head with disappointment, "You know, you guys are ruining a perfect funeral. This is meant to be about Caroline." Mia hummed in agreement, noticing how Zander's gaze was glued to the ground but his hand was wrapped around Bonnie's.

Bonnie sighed, "I'm sorry...I should go, I'm just gonna sleep it off or something" She turned to Caroline and gave an apologetic smile, "Happy birthday." And with those words, she stood up and made her way out of the crypt, with the hybrid trailing behind her.

Mia looked at Elena to see if she had any intention of going after their friend, after a few seconds it was obvious she didn't, "Bon, wait up!!" The Petrova called out to the witch, following her into the woods and grabbing her arm, "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Bonnie mumbled before looking up and seeing the vampire's look of doubt, "I just...." She watched as Zander walked to the car and waited until he was out of ear shot, ignoring his supernatural hearing, "I know what you're probably thinking...but this isn't about me still having...feelings for Jeremy. I mean of course I care about him even after he hurt me but I just...." The witch sighed, becoming frustrated so Mia gently rubbed her arm. "I don't want his right to choose his own life to be taken away from him, it's not fair."

Mia looked down with furrowed brows as she thought about the situation and its complexities. "What Elena's doing is wrong, getting his mind controlled like that but I guess from a sister's point of view I understand why she's doing it. She's lost her entire family and now she's desperate to protect the only person she has left....she hasn't thought this through but she's doing what she thinks is best for her brother...I think losing him would actually break her."

The Petrova hooked a finger under Bonnie's chin and raised her head, "I know you care about him, but Elena is his sister, she wouldn't be doing this if she didn't think it was absolutely necessary. It's sibling stuff....it's best not to get involved." She slowly turned the Bennet around to face the parked car where Zander was waiting, "Now you go home with that fine as hell hybrid and focus on something other than the rest of us, you deserve to be taken care of too."

Bonnie faced Mia with a slightly teary smile and embraced her tightly before saying goodbye and leaving with her hybrid lover. The Petrova made her way back into the crypt only to find Elena stood up, her eyes also glazed, the fact Mia had sided with her even after their issues meant more to her than she could express. "Thank you....for understanding."

As much as the vampire wanted to hug the girl, she was still incredibly vexed with the daggering of the blonde Original, so instead she just brushed past the Gilbert and sat back down on the bench. "This doesn't mean I agree with what you did." Despite her coldness Elena wasn't offended, her priorities were finally understood by someone and that was enough for her.

The group spent the next few minutes with no interactions, they simply listened to the music playing as they all ruminated over different things about their lives. It wasn't until Tyler had entered the crypt that Mia broke the quiet. "Finally, do you know how much annoying shit I had to go through because of you today."

The hybrid ignored her scolds and looked straight at Caroline, he'd spent so long avoiding the party until the desire to see her overtook him but his sirebond was also what pushed him to go. "Sorry, I don't mean to crash the party." He apologised, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"Then don't." Matt deadpanned, earning him a nudge in the ribs from Mia's heel.

"No it's okay." Caroline intervened, gazing up at her ex boyfriend with a soft look, she appreciated all the effort he was putting in to make up with her even after she was the one who turned her back on him. The least she could do, she thought, was hear him out. "Hi."

"Hi." Tyler smiled, glad she wasn't holding a grudge from their disagreement earlier that day. "Can I talk to you for a second...it's kinda important." He gestured for Caroline to follow him and they both exited the crypt, leaving behind a quiet tension that hung in the air.

Mia's gaze lingered on the stone doorway, "Do you think they'll get back together?" She asked after checking to see if she could hear them nearby. It bothered her to see her friends become distant because of issues that could be solved if they just communicated with each other.

Matt sighed softly, his expression thoughtful. "I want her to be happy, you know? It's what I want for all of you, in the middle of this crazy life you're stuck living."

"Is that how you see it? That we're stuck?" Elena questioned, her tone probing. Mia looked down, her mind drifting to her own century long existence, weighed down by the burdens of immortality. While her friends had only recently been thrust into the supernatural world, Mia had borne its consequences for decades, even before she became a vampire.

"Those two are taking ages," Mia interjected, her words a subtle diversion even though she knew they'd only been gone a few minutes. "Imma go check on them." With that, she slipped out of the crypt, not in the mood to discuss the prison that was their lives.

~~~~

"Hello?!" Mia called out as she trudged through the woods. "You guys better not be dead!" She exclaimed, a touch of exasperation in her voice. "I can't drag your corpses wearing these heels."

The forest responded with pure silence, prompting her to add, "You better not be fucking either, not in the woods. It's unhygienic.....Aren't you scared a bug is gonna crawl up your a-" "Boo!" Her sentence was cut off as she let out a piercing scream in response to Tyler jumping out from the shadows, a mischievous grin on his face as he revelled in her reaction. "You bastard!"

Caroline came out from behind the tree with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, it was his idea." She felt guilty about scaring her friend but was happy that her and Tyler were finally in a good place.

Mia shot Tyler an annoyed glare before shoving him, "Dick." She muttered, but beneath her irritation, there was a hint of amusement and relief. Despite his antics, she was glad to see that the couple had made amends.

"Hey, I'm a hybrid, have some respect." Tyler playfully retorted, crossing his arms.

The Petrova couldn't help but laugh, "Ooh sorry mighty hybrid." She teased, pushing him once more "Last I checked it only took a pillow to take you down. I'd win easily"

"Oh yeah?" Tyler chuckled, flashing his gold eyes for a second before speeding towards the vampire. Their laughter echoed through the woods as the two began to play fight, ignoring the scolds of Caroline who was warning them to be careful.

Mia bared her teeth, lightly grazing them on the Lockwood's arm before darting away in a swift motion. However she was no match for Tyler's hybrid speed, he was quick to catch her, spinning her around with surprising strength.

In the midst of their roughhousing, they accidentally collided with low hanging branches, the rough bark scraped against their skin and during this collision Mia felt a sharp pain on her neck. She brushed it off as a minor injury caused by the impact of the tree and paid it little heed, unaware of the ominous truth.

Little did she know how wrong she was.

~~~~

Almost a half hour had passed, the group were sat back in the dimly lit crypt, their faces illuminated by the flickering candlelight. Meanwhile, Mia swayed in the corner, her movements fluid and inhibited as she danced to the music, drink in hand. She dismissed the unusual rise in temperature and simply shrugged off her jacket, her mind becoming hazier by the second.

A few minutes prior Elena had excused herself to make an apology phone call to Bonnie but she was yet to return. Matt's eyes followed Mia's lively antics. "She's wasted." He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Someone get her home."

Mia's giggled echoed through the crypt as she twirled, "Stop being a party pooper." She taunted with a roll of her eyes, bringing a hand to the wall to steady herself as her head began to throb.

"Don't you just hate it when someone tries to spoil the fun." A familiar voice spoke from behind. Mia's action immediately halted as she recognised it, she slowly turned around and saw Jesse stood by the opening of the crypt. Jesse, her best friend Jesse, her very much dead best friend Jesse, yet there he was stood, dressed in formal attire that did not match this era.

The Petrova continued to stare, blinking in surprise to check if she was dreaming. Her body suddenly grew even warmer, she glanced down at herself and softly gasped when she saw that her black dress was no gone and replaced with an old gown, one that she wore often when she was a human. The early 20th century dress draped gracefully around her figure. The sudden transformation left her speechless, her mind struggling to comprehend the inexplicable change.

Her fingers brushed over the intricate fabric of the dress, the sensation unfamiliar yet strangely comforting. With a mixture of wonder and trepidation Mia slowly turned to face her friends, only to find that they had vanished without a trace. Instead, there stood someone else from her past, a figure that hadn't been seen since her tragic passing over a century prior. "We're going to get in trouble Millie." Warned her twin sister, Ariana.

Mia's eyes filled with tears at the sight as her mind raced with confusion. She couldn't help but be mesmerised by her sister's fair complexion and piercing blue eyes, a stark contrast to her own features. Ariana embodied everything Mia was not, the epitome of what the Fells desired and the reason Mia had always felt like the constant disappointment, forever falling short of their expectations..

"Mama will be furious." She added as the vampire Petrova was too busy trembling with shock, Mia gazed around and to her astonishment the old weathered crypt had undergone a dramatic metamorphosis. Mere minutes ago there had been antiquated stone benches and crumbling moss covered walls and now stood a space that looked considerably newer.

The decor exuded an air of sophistication that clashed starkly with the crypt's former appearance. And then within a split second all her confusion and worry had disappeared, nothing was out of the ordinary. She was 16, human and had just snuck out of the Fell house with her sister and friend. The music playing in the distance was from the dance in Town Square, where they were all heading to.

"Oh don't be such a square Ana." Mia sassed, the words leaving her mouth before her mind had even processed them, as if she was reciting from a script. "We deserve some fun too, we are Fells by law. They signed the papers to claim us so why shouldn't we reap the benefits."

Upon hearing all this Caroline, who had actually been there all along, scrunched her brows, "What is she talking about?" She stared in alarm at the Petrova as she seemed to be talking to the wall because there was no beside her. The blonde turned to Tyler and whispered, "Who is she talking to?"

Tyler however remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, a telltale sign that he'd been compelled not to speak until the effects of his actions had fully sunk in. An uneasy silence settled over the room as Caroline exchanged a worried glance with Matt, uncertainty gnawing at her insides. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, that Mia's behaviour was more than just a side effect of the bourbon.

"Come on, we're going to be late." Mia urged, running towards the exit of the crypt, grabbing Jesse's hand, which actually belonged to Tyler and dragging him into the woods. She twirled around, smiling at the sound of laughter that belonged to her sister and Jesse, all the while her other friends were watching her in shock.

"Mia stop it." Tyler held onto her shoulders as she continued to sway but he knew there was little chance she would pay heed to him, not in the state she was in.

"What the heck is happening to her?!" Caroline exclaimed, cupping the brunette's face, her breath hitching when her fingers came in contact with her boiling skin, a lot warmer than usual vampire standards. The scent of blood alerted her and she followed the smell, brushing away the strands of hair from Mia's neck and gasping at the sight.

A bite mark, its jagged edges tracing a sinister pattern against her delicate skin, the flesh around the wound inflamed and swollen, practically throbbing with the toxic venom that burnt it. Thin rivulets of blood trickled from the wound, staining her skin with crimson droplets, the mark growing more hideous the longer it was looked at.

"Oh my god! She's been bit!" Caroline gasped, her hands shaking as she tried to keep the Petrova in her hold, "God, I knew it was a bad idea, her spending so much time with those freak hybrids!"

"It wasn't them." Tyler mumbled shamefully, "It was me..." Caroline jerked her head to him, her eyes burning with outrage to which Tyler responded with a desperate tone, "I didn't want to! Klaus forced me, he told me to bite a vampire and.....Mia was just there."

"See this is exactly what I mean Tyler." Caroline scoffed with resentment, "This sirebond is a bad thing and it makes you do even worse things. You're just embracing it instead of fighting against it and now our friend is hurt."

Tyler's nostrils flared with offence, he spent his every waking moment resisting the bond, despising that someone else had the ability to control his actions and decisions but before he could voice that Mia spoke.

"Our friend's hurt?" Mia's words tumbled out in a frantic whisper, her gaze fixed on Caroline but her mind lost in the grip of the hallucination. In her eyes' Caroline's features morphed into one of a dear friend long gone, "Lexi who's hurt?"

Caroline's heart ached at the sight of the Petrova's confusion, "No, Mia, it's me....Caroline." She emphasised, her voice filled with sorrow as she gently tried to bring Mia back to reality. "Lexi's not here....she's dead, remember?"

Mia's breath caught in her throat, "What...no." She gasped, her body trembling with disbelief. "No she's not dead, she just went to get drinks I just saw her." The brunette insisted, her voice rising in panic as tears streamed down her cheeks, "Who the fuck are you anyways, you know nothing! She's not dead, she's not dead" Mia repeated like a mantra, burying herself deeper into the hallucinations.

Tyler's voice cut through the chaos, his tone filled with concern and empathy as he reached out to comfort the Petrova, "Em, it's okay, just come here." He urged, his words soothing yet firm as he tried to calm her.

However Mia recoiled from his touch, her eyes wide with fear and anguish as she backed away. "No, stay away from me!" She cried out, her voice laced with fear. "What did you do to them?! Where are my friends?!" Her eyes darted around in search for her old friends, wondering where they'd disappeared to and why these strangers before her were saying they were dead.

"It's my fault." The brunette sobbed, "It's all my fault, I left them...I left the house...I abandoned them." Tyler gripped her arm as she bent over, holding her stomach as her cries echoed through the forest. "It's all my fault!"

Suddenly a sharp snap sounded and Mia's body fell limp into Tyler's arms as tightened his hold with concern. He looked up at a pale faced Caroline, who was the cause for the Petrova's subjection. "We have to get her home."

~~~~

Now back in the Salvatore House, Mia lay still on her bed, her body enveloped in a thin layer of sweat, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Every movement sent waves of pain rippling through her, she was trapped in the torture chamber that was her own body.

Tyler had driven them there but wasn't allowed to take another step into the house once he explained what happened. Damon gave him three seconds to disappear from his sight otherwise he would kill him. Not wanting to cause anymore chaos that night Tyler obliged, texting Klaus that he'd completed his job and that it was Mia who'd been bitten, which of course caused a wave of rage to crash in the Mikaelson.

Elena sat quietly beside her ancestor, glancing around Mia's room that had been newly rebuilt that afternoon by Stefan. It was baffling to her that the same vampire who'd shown so much care for the room was the one that had almost killed her on the bridge, may have even gone through with it if Klaus hadn't offered an ultimatum.

When Stefan had called the hybrid, threatening to run Elena off the bridge and turn her into a vampire unless all the hybrids were sent away, he had no idea of the other events that were occurring. Not until Klaus had mentioned that Mia was on the brink of death, causing the Salvatore's breath to hitch, the Mikaelson then went as far as to say if Stefan didn't stop the car then he wouldn't heal the bite.

Of course he was bluffing, he knew that Stefan would have that thought in his head too but after the events of the past few months the Salvatore had learned to never underestimate Klaus' capacity for cruelty.

Much to Elena's shock the vehicle was halted almost immediately, that was all it took to get through to him. Her scream and pleas were futile but the fear of losing Mia was what brought Stefan back from the edge. Elena couldn't help but let her mind wander with all sorts of theories but pushed them aside when Mia began to stir.

The vampire's eyes fluttered open and met Elena's gaze, the Gilbert's heart sunk as she observed her ancestor's confusion. She could see the distant look in Mia's eyes, a reflection of a reality long gone, "Ana." Mia murmured, her whispers tinged with longing and desperation.

Elena's bottom lip wobbled, she knew that correcting her would most likely cause her to panic so decided to go along with it, with a heavy sigh she stroked the back of her fingers across Mia's cheek, her touch gentle and comforting. "Yeah, it's me." The doppelganger replied softly, she then recalled what nickname Jesse kept calling Mia on the Night Of Illumination and assumed her sister used the same one, "I'm here with you, Millie."

"I'm sorry Ana...I'm so sorry, it should've been me." Mia's voice broke as she spoke, letting out thoughts that she'd been carrying for a century. "It should've been me....I should've died that night....you deserved to live with your baby, I stole your life."

She held tightly onto Elena's hand, almost as if she believed it would pull her sister back to her. "I left her Ana, your baby...I ran and left her behind." Her body shook with sobs, "I'm sorry, I should've died...I should've died like my baby, this is your life, it's your life that I took, you should be here."

"Shhh don't talk like that." Elena's eyes also glistened with tears, she patted Mia's forehead with a damp cloth to cool her down, "Everything happens for a reason, okay? I'm at peace now, you don't need to worry about me, you're where you belong."

Mia shook her head with a whimper, "No, I'm not....I don't belong here." Before she could elaborate she doubled over, her body racked by violent coughs, each one tearing up her throat like sandpaper.

Elena immediately began rubbing the vampire's back, reaching over for the glass on the side table only to find it empty, "I'll get you some more water, I'll be right back okay." She gently set the Petrova back onto the pillow and left the room, walking past the last person she expected to see. As much as she wanted to yell at him, he was the only one that could help them.

Klaus stood in the doorway, looking at the bed where his ex lover lay as he went to take a step forward the creak of the floorboard alerted the Petrova. Mia's eyes darted up to him, her face contorting with disdain as she began to speak, her voice strained with exhaustion, "You know....how I normally say I don't have the...." Her words were interrupted with a wheeze, "...energy to deal with you....I've never meant it more than I do right now....Just go....please just go."

However the Mikaelon man ignored her words, he wouldn't leave her in this state, how could he, it would mean losing her forever. "Tyler told me what happened." Klaus started, walking towards the bed, stretching out his once clenched hands by his side. "He will be punished for this, I can assure you."

"Don't you fucking touch him." Mia snapped, even with her extreme fatigue her protectiveness over her friends were enough to fuel her rage. "You made him do this you bastard, you fuc-" The Petrova rested her elbows against the mattress, trying to prop herself up. Her efforts to rise were thwarted by the searing ache coursing through her, forcing her back down with a quiet thump.

Klaus winced at the sight of her suffering, his heart heavy with remorse and anguish. The last thing he wanted was for her to be hurt and here she was on her death bed and it was all because of him. "I didn't say you." He protested, his voice laced with desperation, "I would never....Mia, I swear to you..."

Mia let out a faint scoff, insulted that he was even attempting to put himself under a positive light. "You still told him to hurt someone, one of my friends." She accused, her voice barely above a whisper, "That's not any better."

"I know..." Klaus said shamefully before taking a seat on the side of her bed, grimacing at the hideous bite wound that had tainted her once smooth skin. "You need to feed." The Mikaelson brushed a hair out of her face, bringing his wrist towards her face. Much to his surprise his arm was instantly pushed away by the Petrova, so he repeated his action, only to get shoved once more. "Mia." The hybrid scolded, looking at her sternly.

"Shut up." Mia rolled her eyes, nudging him with her knee. "You don't get to do these kind of things then expect a quick fix....you did this yourself and now..." Her eyes began to droop, coming to a close as Klaus felt his heart drop, listening intently to her pulse which was thready but still there. He let out a quiet sigh of relief when her eyes opened.

"You can prove your point to me in other ways that don't include dying." Klaus huffed, irritated that she decided this was the best time to be stubborn. "Now....feed."

"No." The Petrova refused weakly, her mind beginning to feel hazy once more, "Just let me go...it's easier now, it wont'.....it won't hurt them as much."

Confusion clouded Klaus's expression as he sought to comprehend her cryptic words. "What do you mean?" He inquired, his concern deepening.

Mia's breaths came in ragged gasps, her strength waning with each passing moment. "I'm so....tired." She confessed, her words leaving her mouth before she could even process them, "I'm so tired of losing people, of having everyone I love in danger. It's too much...I can't breathe.. I can't." More harsh coughs raked through her body, each one stressing Klaus out even more.

Her confession carried with it the weight of a lifetime of pain and loss, the accumulation of sorrow etched into every word. "Sometimes it hurts just to exist." She continued, her voice trembling with the raw emotion of her admission. "I can't do another thing wrong...I can't take it.." She choked on a sob that was trying to escape, "What's wrong with me?"

Klaus listened to Mia's words, the pain evident in her voice, cutting through him like a knife. "There's nothing wrong with you Sweetheart, absolutely nothing." He insisted, his tone gentle yet firm, he hated that she saw herself as anything less than perfect.

However Mia's turmoil persisted, her voice cracking as she continued, each word heavy with the load of unanswered questions. "There has to be...why would someone cheat on me if there wasn't...why would...someone have to be compelled to go out with me.." Klaus looked down in shame as she reminded him of the Dana situation, "Why was I neglected more than my sister.....Why....Why do people leave before morning?"

But they didn't leave, they were killed and their murderer was sat in front of her, wishing he could take away her burdens whilst simultaneously being the reason they were placed on her in the first place. Before he could confess Mia spoke again, her next words causing Klaus the most pain.

"Sometimes I think about it....taking my daylight ring off...or throwing myself in danger on purpose." Mia whispered, the hybrid felt his eyes prickle with tears as the intensity of her confession hit him. "But then I think how much it would hurt them, my friends, if they knew my death was intentional. But this way...they have a reason...something to justify it....One of us was bound to die in this battle between you and us anyways."

"But not you Mia." Klaus let out a shaky breath, struggling to keep his composure. Her confession ran through his ears like fire, the thought of her hurting herself. He'd always been worried about protecting her from others that he completely disregarded the possibility of her biggest danger being herself. "Listen to me, not you."

Mia's resolve wavered, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she searched for answers in Klaus' gaze. "Why not me?" She questioned, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "They're kids...they have so much time to do things. I've lived for a century and what do I have to show for it? No sister, no parents, no child....my best friends are dead."

Tears rolled down her face as she spoke now, each sob causing the Mikaelson to fill with self hate. "Why me, why do I have to stay alive to see all of this? When do I get a break, when do I get peace?" Her skin was becoming paler every second, Klaus fought hard against the temptation to force feed her.

"Death is not the only way to find peace.." Klaus began, his voice soft yet full of conviction. "You can find it with a person...with people who care for you deeply. The actions of others are not a reflection of your worth, their decisions are often influenced by their own struggles and flaws, not by anything lacking in you. Yes, life has dealt you a cruel hand but that doesn't diminish your character. You've endured hardships that would break lesser souls and yet you persevere, as resilient and defiant as you've always been."

He placed his hand on hers, caressing it despite the extreme heat of the skin. "Now I'm begging you Mia." Klaus swallowed, a stray tear dropping from his eye. "Live...live and thrive the way I know you will, the way you have been despite all your troubles. Your pure heart is not a weakness, it speaks of your stature...shows that although we as a species are known to be evil and ruthless, there are some who contradict this belief tenfold."

"I am not insensitive to your struggles, you have indeed lost many important people but you are not alone...There are still plenty who love you...who need you. I....I..." He hesitated, feeling another presence in the area, the reflection of the window showing Stefan and Damon both stood across the hall, watching and listening in.

Mia's gaze lazily lifted up, making eye contact with Stefan whose face was full of worry, even after everything they'd gone through when his humanity was off the pair continued to show up for each other in their time of need. His expression was enough to tell her that losing her would break him, he needed her.

She hadn't even noticed the older Salvatore brother but despite their constant feuds Damon also couldn't stand the thought of not having Mia around. She'd become an integral part of all their lives, a light that guided them through the darkness that was the supernatural world.

"What do you say Sweetheart?" Klaus stroked a finger across her cheek, "You can't go...our story's not over yet." And then he saw it, a flicker of determination, a glimmer of resolve that spoke of her unyielding spirit, whether it was the knowledge of how loved she was or the guilt of leaving her friends that caused this sudden change Klaus was glad to see it. In her vulnerability he saw a beauty that transcended pain, a strength that defied the weigh of her burdens.

Mia slowly nodded her head, luckily for her because moments before that Klaus had decided that if she continued to refused he would simply make her feed. The hybrid placed himself behind her, her back against his shoulder as he helped her sit up. "Come on Trouble." He murmured softly, rising his arm in front of her again.

The Petrova tilted her head away from him, "I'm not gonna bite you." Not only did she feel she had no energy to but she also knew that this type of physical intimacy wasn't something she wanted Klaus to experience from her.

"Of course.." Klaus chuckled softly, "How foolish of me." He bit into his own wrist, piercing the skin before leading it to her mouth. Mia loosely held onto his arm, her lips touching his wrist as she gently began to suck. The blood travelling into her mouth, already causing the pain to slowly cease.

Klaus' breath hitched as she continued to drank, her grip tightening around his forearm. Back in the 20s they'd never gotten to the point of blood sharing, he'd thought about it several times but decided against asking not wanting to push Mia's limits. And now here they were 90 years later. "That's it love." The hybrid stroked her hair, coaxing her, "There's a good girl."

After a few more seconds Mia pulled away, her lips tinted with his blood and her skin already brightening with its natural glow. However she was well and truly exhausted, so much so that sleep had overtaken her mere moments after she'd stopped feeding. Klaus gazed at her with a soft smile, gently stroking her face, cherishing the moment of tranquillity that enveloped them before laying her back down on the bed.

However just as he was about to rise from the mattress, Mia's hold on his arm became tighter. Klaus blinked slowly, admiring her beauty, how she looked just an innocent as the day they'd met, just as pure, despite her mind and vocabulary becoming quite the opposite.

Tears stained her cheeks, evidence of the emotional trauma she'd gone though and spoken of. Tenderly, he brushed his thumb over her tear streaked skin, offering her comfort even in her sleep.

Unable to resist the pull of her presence, Klaus settled beside her, their bodies close but not touching yet his love for her palpable in their air between them. Leaning in, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, a silent apology. "I'll never forgive myself for this, my love. I never wanted you to be harmed and I promise I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety from this moment on."

Outside the room, across the hall, Damon observed the exchange with a scowl, his anger evident in the tense set of his jaw and the sharp glint in his eyes. Though he stayed silent, his disapproval radiated from him like a tangible force, the flame of jealousy burning in his chest. His glaring was interrupted by Stefan walking away, not wanting to watch Klaus and Mia in that position.

~~~~

Whilst Mia had slept peacefully the whole night, the same could not be said for Tyler, who hadn't even gotten a minute of rest. He'd spent the full night loathing what he'd done, hating Klaus for it even more and wondering if there were any methods to break a sire bond.

After hours of contemplating with no conclusion the Lockwood decided to go for a run to clear his mind. Just as his hand touched the knob, the door was suddenly flung open and within a flash Tyler had been shoved against the wall with force, a hand wrapping around his neck as Klaus stood before him, his expression livid.

"What the bloody hell were you playing at?!" The Original seethed, his voice tinted with a dangerous growl. "When I instructed you to bite one of your friends I did not say Mia."

Tyler's eyes widened in outrage as he tried to defend his action, "You didn't say not Mia either. What was I supposed to do, bite Caroline, my girlfriend?"

In response to his attitude Klaus tightened his grip on Tyler's throat, the pressure causing the Lockwood to gasp for air. "Let me put it this way," The hybrid started, tone low and menacing, "If there's a choice between harming Mia or someone, you choose the latter. Do you understand?"

Then with a final shove he let Tyler go and stormed back out of the Lockwood house, knowing that the simple threat was unlikely to be effective in protecting Mia. Klaus deduced that he'd have to take a more unconventional approach, but to do that, he had to call in a favour.

~~~~~

Mia sat up in bed, the sun shining through the gaps in the curtains. Stefan had urged her to stay in bed until at least noon, not wanting her to overexert herself after what she'd been through. Although his dramatics amused Mia she decided against objecting, it was hard when he was so concerned about her.

He'd spent the whole morning sat by her side, talking about anything that came to mind, anything except the things she'd said to Klaus the previous night. It was clear the Petrova had very little memory of the secrets and confessions she'd aired and Stefan had no interest in upsetting her with a reminder.

That didn't mean he stopped the words from playing in his mind, disappointed that he hadn't noticed that the entire time she'd spent pulling him from the edge, she too was swaying precariously by it. 

She'd gotten a few visitors that day, holding back a laugh every time they walked in as if it was a hospital ward and not her bedroom. Her bedroom, that Stefan had spent hours reconstructing, she couldn't help but smile as she imagined him working on it.

The last person to visit was Jeremy, he stopped by on his way to the bus station and apologised profusely for his actions in the last few weeks. As much as Mia believed all cheaters deserved pain and loneliness she couldn't help but give him a tight farewell hug, urging him to call her if he needed anything and to take care of himself.

It was then she presented him his goodbye/birthday present, an aluminium baseball bat, with a sentence written on the side in black permanent ink. "Don't fuck any ghosts in Denver x" To which he rolled his eyes and laughed, glad to find the humour in the situation, as he left he pointed out a small box that side on Mia's bedside table.

Mia's brows scrunched with confusion, waiting for Jeremy to leave before opening it. Finding that inside was a necklace, a long silver chain and at the bottom was a jewel type stone, black opal. The Petrova picked the jewellery up, trying to remember where she recognised it from, it wasn't until she read the note that came with it that she could recall that event.

𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴                                                                                                                         𝘍𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘒𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴

With a scoff and roll of her eyes Mia placed the box onto her table and lay back in bed, dangling the necklace above her and watched as the sun reflected on the stone, all with a soft smile on her face. As if her near death experience had given her a new sense of clarity, hope for the future...

That would be swiftly crushed by the events that were to take in the following weeks.

A/N: HELLO MY DARLINGSSSS. I hope you enjoyed that chapter...can you tell I got tired by the end 💀

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE

Just wanted to tell you guys that you are so loved and important, even if you don't always feel that way. Klaus is a cunt but his little speech to Mia was actually uplifting and certainly something I know a lot of people need to hear. I know I'm kinda like your guys absentee dad who just appears every few months with a gift, but if you need to talk im always here ❤️❤️❤️

In other news...I'm gonna skip the next episode bc its boring so the next chapter will be the Mikaelson/Salvatore horny dinner...(yall cant tell me those boys werent feral that day) soo that also means ......SOMEONES COMING BACKKKK!!! 

Also ik some of the outfits in this book arent exactly everyones type but im tryna stick to the 2010s kinda style a bit (kinda not rlly). Same with Mia's car...even tho i lowkey find porsches ugly...

My babies, look how cute they are 💕💕💕 such a shame one of them is going away for a while next chap... Thank you lykiri   im in love with you

ALSO I STARTED A DIVERGENT FIC....bc you know....Theo James. It's gonna be a lot of fun and will hopefully fix the plot holes the movies left. So go ahead and give that a read <333

LOVE YOUUUUU

Published: 10th March 2024 (unedited)