"YOU LOOK SURPRISED TO SEE ME." Elijah speaks, wiping the blood from his hands with a white handkerchief. "So it wasn't you that removed the dagger from my chest?"

Klaus smiled nervously. "You look like you could do with a drink. And we have a lot to discuss, so shall we?" Dropping the piece of white fabric, Elijah lunges at his brother, throwing Klaus through the double doors, glass flying from the impact.

"Easy. I just finished renovating." The hybrid growled

Klaus rushes at Elijah, grabbing him by the shoulders and sending him into a small table and breaking it in the process. "You know you have every right to be mad at me. But I kept my word, I reunited you with our family."

Violet jumps as Elijah attacks her soulmate again, and Klaus is knocked against a coffin. Of course, she desperately wanted to help but she knew better than to intervene. Klaus quickly opens one of the large wooden boxes, revealing another of their brothers. Violet mentally wondered what their mother looked like. All of the siblings so far had been blessed with good looks and she knew they didn't inherit that from their father.

The younger of the siblings rips the dagger from the temporarily dead vampire, pinning Elijah against another coffin and holding up the dagger threateningly.

"Don't make me do this to you again Elijah!" He yells, a pained look in his eyes. "Come on. Use it. I dare you." Elijah mutters, his voice shaky as he struggles against Klaus' grip. "You'll have Kol to deal with."

With a clenched jaw, Klaus lowers the dagger. "Mikael is dead."

Once free of his brothers grasp, Elijah stands and looks at his brother in surprise. "What did you say?"

"I killed him. With his own weapon. He's gone Elijah. Forever."

Elijah looks back at where Violet stood, silently asking for confirmation. The small blonde nods and gives him a small smile. "Why do our family remain in these coffins? Finn for over 900 years, Kol for over a century." The noble Original asks the hybrid with a scowl.

"Because of Stefan Salvatore." Klaus replies. "He holds the one thing keeping me from freeing them. There are things that you do not know about our past, Elijah. Our mother's death. Things I never wanted you to know but I'm ready to tell you now. I only ask that you remember the oath of loyalty you once swore to me."

The younger Original walks over to a small table, dipping the dagger into the urn full of white oak ash, and then making his way to the man in the coffin.

Elijah looks at his brother, confused and slightly infuriated. "What are you doing?"

Klaus sticks the dagger into its former position in his siblings chest. Turning back to Elijah he speaks quietly, "Always and forever. I need you to stand by my side. Be my brother. Help me destroy Stefan and I promise you our family will be whole again."

━

Violet huffed frustratedly when she failed to reach the zipper of her dress. Klaus and Elijah had apparently invited over the Salvatore's to make a deal to get their family back. The human didn't exactly know why it was necessary for her to attend but in Elijah's words, "You're the only one who can keep Niklaus calm if he gets out of hand."

While she wasn't going to object to the statement, she didn't necessarily care if her soulmate were to harm the Salvatore brothers. They had brought her nothing but danger since they showed up and now that someone was finally making her happy, they make it their goal to destroy said person. Because god forbid Violet fall for anyone that has ever done something wrong.

Hearing the distressed noises coming from his soulmate, Klaus entered the room, smiling slightly as he admired the blonde girls beauty. Clad in a flowy royal blue dress with nude heels and her hair falling in natural waves, Klaus couldn't even count how many times he had been taken away by the sight of her. "Need help, flower?"

Violet's cheeks turned pink as she looked over at the hybrid. "Please?" The man chuckled and walked over to where she stood, their eyes locking in the mirror as he easily zipped up her dress.

A shiver went down Violet's spine at the feeling of his hand touching the bare skin of her back. He could hear her heart racing and took the opportunity to place a small, chaste kiss on her shoulder. Goosebumps arose on her skin but before anything else could happen, the doorbell rang, and Klaus was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving his soulmate flustered and confused.

Down the stairs, Elijah opens the door, revealing Stefan and Damon. "Niklaus," Elijah smirks. "Our guests have arrived."

Klaus enters the dining room, with Violet following a few feet behind, where there is a table set up with 5 chairs and a few random woman standing silently by.

"Damon. Stefan." Klaus speaks. "Elijah tells me, you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?" He says, gesturing with his hand to the table. Violet cleared her throat almost so quietly than any human wouldn't have picked it up, but Klaus heard and smiled in her direction. "And woman."

"It's better to indulge him." Elijah mutters as he walks past the younger pair of brothers.

Stefan gave the hybrid a blank look. "I didn't come here to eat, Klaus." He continued to talk despite the amused look he was receiving from Klaus. "Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told I had to cause you would hear us out."

Klaus laughed. "Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours." He said as he pulled out a chair for Violet, letting her sit down before sitting down himself.

Damon gave his brother a slightly nervous look while Stefan just looked simply annoyed. But then they chose the former and sat at the table.

As everyone, minus Stefan, ate, one of the women came over and filled Damon's glass with wine. "Thank you, love." He says to her, his eyes trailing down her body as she walked away. Violet rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to say, "Pig." out loud.

"You lost your appetite." The younger Original commented to Stefan. "Eat." Damon demands. "I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home." He shoots Elijah a forced smile.

Klaus grins when Stefan finally picks up his fork. "That's the spirit. Isn't it nice? The five of us dining together? Such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger out of my brother?" He questions Damon.

"Well, I know how he felt about you, so I figured the more, the merrier." Damon replied,  winking at the eldest Mikaelson

"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the century. But we always make it through." Klaus says, sharing a look with his brother.

Stefan smirks. "Kind of like you and Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way? Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."

Klaus clenches his jaw, slightly calming down when Violet's hand was placed over his own. She nodded and him reassuringly and removed her hand. If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah."

Damon gave Stefan a look. "Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgment until dessert."

The comment made Violet snort, the blonde covering it up with a cough as she took a sip from her drink. Klaus smirked at the youngest vampires irritated look. "We're here to make a deal, Damon." Stefan spoke. "Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses."

"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself."

━

"Stefan. Where is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah questions with an amused look.

With a bitter smirk, Stefan replies, "I don't know. Ask Damon."

The soulmates both laugh, earning a confused look from Elijah. "I'm sorry, you've missed so much. Ah, trouble in paradise."

"One more word about Elena and this dinner's over." Stefan threatened.

Klaus smiles and puts a finger to his lips. "You know what, probably best just to keep Elena in the do-not-discuss pile." Damon suggests. "You're probably right." Klaus agrees. "It's just the allure of the Petrova doppelgänger, still so strong. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?" At the mention of another doppelgänger, Violet's shoulders dropped. She's had enough with Elena and Katherine, she really didn't want there to be more than those two.

Elijah chuckled. "Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"

"Well, given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line." Klaus voices as Violet gulped down her wine, looking over to one of the servants for more.

As more wine is being poured into Violet's glass, Damon speaks up. "Well, we're not going anywhere Elijah. Please, do tell." He raises his glass slightly and takes a sip.

Elijah leans back in his chair as he prepares to tell the story. "When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia. She was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she'd had a child by another man. And none loved her more than Niklaus." A sudden flare of jealousy sparked in Violet as she fiddled with her fingers. She didn't know about anyone else, but hearing how amazing the woman your soulmate was once in love with isn't much of a confidence booster.

"I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much." Klaus remarked. Realization flashed on Stefan's face as he began to grin. "Wait a minute. So you both loved the same girl?"

"Our mother was a very powerful witch." Elijah spoke, indirectly answering the question. "She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where our mother performed the spell which turned us into vampires." Violet sighed uncomfortably at the distant look Klaus had when his former love was mentioned, not noticing the confused looks she received from both Originals.

"Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time Niklaus and I...grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, we even came to blows, didn't we, brother?" He continued.

Klaus looked away from his soulmate and to the other guests. "But in the end we realized the sacred bond of family."

"Family above all." Elijah declares as he and Klaus raise their glasses, clinking them together.

"Family above all."

━

Violet narrows her eyes at Damon, noticing that he was looking down at what seemed to be his phone. He had been acting very well behaved and un-Damon-like all night and she knew they had to be up to something.

"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Suggested Elijah, catching the attention of both Damon and Violet.

"That's very simple." Damon uttered. "Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges." He said the last part to Klaus in particular.

Elijah kept his face neutral as he stared at the eldest Salvatore. "The deal sounds fair, brother."

"I don't think you understand." Klaus began. "Elena's doppelgänger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind." His words made Violet frown.

She cared about him, more than she could even process in her brain, but his need for these hybrids and determination to do whatever it takes to have them, even if it meant taking Elena with him, made Violet only feel more self conscious. Could he not be happy with just his family and her?

Klaus stands from his seat, pacing around as he spoke. "Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection, what then? How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is...the two of you."

The younger pair of vampires look uncomfortable as they glare at the hybrid from their seats. Damon gives a weak smile, glancing at his brother. "I'm gonna get some air."

"Let me deal with this." The older Original breathes as he gets up and follows Damon out of the room.

Klaus sets his now empty glass on the table. "All this talk has made me thirsty." He mutters, giving a look to one of the woman standing by.

"What do you say Stefan?" Klaus asks when she reached him, moving her hair away from her neck. "Can I interest you in a little after-dinner drink?"

Before he could answer, Klaus quickly sinks his fangs into her flesh, wrapping an arm around her torso as he greedily drained the woman of the substance that kept her alive.

━

Once the blood has been drained from the servants body, Klaus let her fall limp to the ground. "Delicious. Aged to perfection."

Stefan smiled bitterly and got up from his seat. "Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening, Klaus, is to drive a wedge between me and my brother."

Klaus shook his head. "Oh no, you're doing that well enough on your own." He smiles in amusement. "Because of Elena, you're gonna lose your brother and you'll only have yourself to blame."

Damon and Elijah take that moment to re-enter the room. "What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter."

Elijah pulls out the chair where he had formerly been sitting, allowing his brother to take a seat with both him and Violet standing behind the chair. "Okay. I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot. And to fall in love with a human, maybe that nice football player, you know the blond one?" He suggests, Violet raising her eyebrow slightly.

"Matt Donovan? Really?" Damon questioned, wearing both and confused and slightly disgusted expression.

Klaus shrugged. "Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Stefan smiled falsely at the hybrid. "And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?"

"Consider it a small return on my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know it's what's best for her." The younger Original gets up approaches the fireplace. "So, what do you say Stefan, hmm? Do we have a deal?"

Damon looks at his brother, confused as he walks to the hybrid. "What are you doing?" The raven haired vampire muttered.

Klaus and Stefan lock hands. "Nice try, Klaus. But no deal."

The blonde Original growls and breaks Stefan's arm. He kicks the back of his leg and breaks it as well, pushing Stefan's hand into the flames. Damon attempts to rush over to him, but Elijah intercepts him and pins him against the wall by his neck.

"Stop!" Damon yells, his face showing concern for his brother and anger towards the hybrid.

"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." Klaus scowls.

Damon sneers at him. "I'll get it."

Klaus nods his head to the doorway. "Go with him, brother. You keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family."

━

Violet begins to grow nervous as her soulmate keeps the younger vampires hand in the fire. Though she may not care what happens to the Salvatore's, she did feel a bit guilty just standing by while Klaus hurts Stefan.

"Go ahead and kill me. I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin." Stefan groans out.

Klaus pulls Stefan out of the fireplace. "You really have given up, haven't you? Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?" He pushes Stefan by the shoulder, earning a harder push from the Vampire.

Suddenly, Elijah and Damon re-enter with another woman holding a tray. The soulmates give them a confused look. "Elijah...why haven't you left?"

Elijah smirks. Where are you manners, brother? We forgot dessert." The noble Original takes the cover off the tray, revealing two silver daggers.

Violet looks at her soulmate with a startled expression, her heart pounding faster when she saw his fearful look. "What have you done?"

"What have you done?" Elijah shot back. "You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now."

Another man enters the room and Violet recognizes his as their brother, Kol, from the fight Elijah and Klaus had the day before.

Klaus' eyes widen and he backs up and shields Violet subconsciously. "Kol."

Kol lightly smirks. "Long time, brother."

Another blur is suddenly seen as an older looking man speeds to Klaus, grabbing a dagger from the tray. "Finn, don't!" Klaus yells, screaming in pain when Finn stabbed the dagger through his palm.

He speeds away, only to run into a familiar female Original. "Rebekah."

She shoots him a fake grin and stabs him with another silver dagger. "This is for our mother." She grunts and pulls out the weapon causing Klaus to fall back into Kol, the younger brother restraining him.

Elijah looks over to Violet. "You may stay." He tells her.

Then looks over to the younger vampires. "You're free to go. This is family business."

━

"I like what you've done with the new place, Nik." Rebekah says before picking up a vase and throwing it roughly at a painting on the wall, making Violet jump from her spot next to Klaus. She had been awkwardly silent since her soulmates siblings had been woken up. Elijah told her to stay, so she did, but only to comfort Klaus. It was obvious how distressed he was with his family all awake and angry at him. She was going to stay whether he wanted her to or not.

"I wanted it to be for all of us." Klaus whispered through clenched teeth, his voice strained. "A place we could all call home; dA place we could all be a family. None of us would ever have to be alone again."

Elijah then speaks up, "Well you're right, none of us will be." He says, walking across the room with his siblings following one by one. "You're staying behind." Finn informs.

"We're leaving you, Nik. Right after I kill that doppelgänger wench, and compel Violet to forget you, then you will be alone. Always and forever." The blonde vampire said, ignoring the hurt look from the human. Rebekah wanted revenge, and although she would never want to take away Violet's free will like that, it was the only way to hurt Klaus like he had hurt her.

Klaus stands up angrily. "If you run, I will hunt all of you down." He growls.

Elijah steps forward. "Then you'll become everything you hate. Our father." He voiced with a smug smile.

"I'm the hybrid!" Klaus shouts, the veins in his neck protruding from the amount of anger he felt. "I can't be killed! I have nothing to fear from any of you."

"You will when we have that coffin." Elijah speaks lowly, gaining a scared reaction from Klaus.

The sound of a door opening suddenly sounds through the house, each of the siblings turning and being met with another woman who shared similar features with the newly awakened siblings. The sight of the woman causes the family's mouths to gape open and Klaus gasped.

"Mother?" Rebekah speaks up.

The witch slowly approached Klaus, the hybrid looking down and avoiding eye contact with his mother, tears falling from his eyes. "Look at me." She orders. "Do you know why I'm here?"

Through small intakes of breath, Klaus looks up at her and talks. "You're here to kill me."

"Niklaus, you are my son and I am here to forgive you." She states, a hard look in her eyes. Turning back to the rest of her children, she gives them a small smile.

"I want us to be a family again."

━

Later that night, in the room Violet had been staying in, in the mansion now claimed by the Mikaelson family, a knock sounded. Violet looked up from her spot on the edge of her bed, slipping off her shoes. "Come in."

Rebekah then entered, now still clad in her bright red homecoming dress and her hair still looking flawless even after being daggered in a box for weeks. Violet swallowed thickly and sat up straight. "Rebekah. Hi."

The blonde Original gave her a weak smile, stepping into the room. "Hey."

There was an awkward moment of silence before the vampire spoke again. "My, um, my mother asked to see you. She's downstairs." She informed. The human nodded wordlessly and got up, beginning to walk past Rebekah.

The female vampire sighed and gently grasped Violet by her arm. "Violet, wait." The petite blonde turned around and faced Rebekah, her mouth in a thin line, waiting for whatever she had to say.

"Look, about earlier...I'm sorry. I would never take you away from my brother, or vice versa, ever. I was just angry–I still am angry–but I realize that what I threatened to do what uncalled for. You care about Nik, and it's been a long time since someone has been able to get through to him like you have in just a matter of months."

Violet gnawed on her lip and looked down. Rebekah pulled her closer. "I am truly sorry. You know, you've become like the sister I never had, in that short time we spent together. You're a wonderful girl and I wouldn't wish to take you away from Nik. Do you think you could find it in your heart to forgive me?" There was a pregnant pause before Violet glanced up at Rebekah and cracked a smile.

The human threw her arms around the vampire and after a second, Rebekah came down from her moment of shock and smiled, wrapping her arms around Violet. The two girls embraced for a moment before pulling away and smiling.

"You said she was downstairs?" Rebekah nodded and let Violet leave the room before following and making her way to her own bedroom.

When Violet reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see a figure standing by the fireplace in the dining room. By then, all of the siblings had retreated to their own rooms in the house, but Esther was still there, patiently waiting for Violet.

The blonde human quietly walked closer and cleared her throat, catching the attention of the Original Witch. "You wanted to see me?"

Esther smiled and motioned for Violet to come closer, the smaller blonde complying. The witch placed her hands on the girls arms, a grin on her face. "My...you sure are a natural beauty." She complimented.

Violet blushed and looked down. "Oh, um, thank you, um..." She trailed off, unsure what to call the mother of her soulmate. Esther chucked. "Just call me Esther, dear. Now," She speaks. "I hear you've had quite the impact on my son."

Violet began to stammer. "Well, I, uh, I really care about him. A lot actually....he makes me really happy." She admitted, her heart hammering against her chest at the sudden realization. Esther smiled warmly at the human. "Well, from what I've seen, you effect more than you realize. I'm glad you were chosen for my son."

The blonde beamed. "Me too."

━

The next day, Violet along with Rebekah are sitting in the main room of the Mikaelson Mansion. Music is playing as the two girls get their nails painted. Violet wasn't used to being so pampered but according to Rebekah, she was now and honorary Mikaelson and deserved the best treatment.

The youngest brother in the family, Kol, is standing before a full-length mirror wearing a black evening suit while a tailor adjusts it. Finn doing the same while Elijah polishes his shoes.

"Rebekah? Tell me how handsome I am." Kol spoke with a smirk, looking at his younger sister through the mirror.

Rebekah smiled. "Oh Kol, you know I can't be compelled." She retorted, earning amused reactions from the rest of the siblings and a giggle from Violet.

A sudden slam was heard as Klaus stormed in, a furious look on his face. "You went after Elena? What is wrong with you?" He said to Rebekah.

The female vampire looked as if she had expected the reaction and leaned back in her seat. "Here we go."

"Do you want another dagger in your heart?" Klaus questioned in a low tone, receiving a 'really?' look from his soulmate. "Again with the dagger threats?" Kol speak up. "Don't you have any other tricks?"

Klaus turned and sneered at his brother. "Oh, go back to staring at yourself."

Kol, unfazed by the insult, continued to talk. "And who are you, my father?"

"No, Kol, but you're in my house." The hybrid growled. The younger of the brothers stepped forward challengingly. "Then perhaps we should go outside."

Klaus and Kol glare at each other, both too stubborn and proud to back down. Esther then walks into the room, looking annoyed with her sons. "Enough! Niklaus. Come."

With a final death stare, Klaus follows his mother out of the room, Kol staring smugly at him. When he had left, Violet turns to Rebekah with a curious expression. "When did you go after Elena?"

The vampire rolls her eyes. "Last night I believe. It could have been this morning, I'm not sure. Why?" Rebekah asked, expecting for the human to politely ask her to go after her friend again, but was confused when she just shrugged. "Just wondering."

"That's it? No lecture about hurting your friend or just innocent people in general? I thought you and Elena were best friends?"

Violet looks down at her newly manicured nails. "We were. But then the whole thing with them daggering you and trying to kill Nik, and hurting me in the process. If they're too blinded by their hatred towards him then I want nothing to do with any of them. Nik makes me happy. And if they can't except that then fine. I don't care." She petite blonde declared, the siblings sending her admiring looks.

Violet Robinson was truly and extraordinary girl.

━

Rebekah and Violet enter the Grill, their eyes immediately landing on Elena and Caroline sitting at one of the tables, talking quietly.

The Original smirks at Violet, the human only chuckling and rolling her eyes, following after Rebekah.

"Careful Caroline. It's all well and good until she stabs you in the back." The older vampire comments. Elena looks up at them, glancing at Violet with a slightly upset expression. "What are you doing here? I know your mom's rules. No hurting the locals."

Her remark caused Violet to roll her eyes, this time in annoyance. "Get over yourself Elena." Rebekah says. "It's not all about you." The vampire walks over to where Matt is standing, leaving Violet there with her former friends.

The human would have gone with her but seeing as how Rebekah seemed to genuinely like Matt, Violet wanted to give her some time to talk to him.

Caroline and Elena look over to where the vampire had walked, seeing her hand him an invitation similar to the ones they both had gotten. "Oh my god. She's inviting him to the ball. Why is she inviting him?" Caroline began to question.

Elena just raises an eyebrow. "Probably to get this reaction from us."

Violet sighed. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe Rebekah actually likes Matt? And she's not doing it just to get under your skin?" She suggests, irritated with how they just assumed the worst.

Caroline looks up at the fellow blonde with a defeated look. "Violet, I know none of us have gotten along recently but do you really think that the Mikaelson's are the best replacement-"

Violet scoffed, looking at the girl that was once her best friend, disappointed. "I'm not being friendly with the Mikaelson's because we're on the outs. Although they do treat me a lot more like family than you guys have been."

━

I haven't updated in forever so here's a little chapter for y'all to read while I work on the next chapter. I know it's a little boring but the Mikaelson ball is next and I've already started to write that so let hope I can update again soon. Love y'all!

– alexis