Always and Forever

The River In Reverse

'My brothers and I are the first vampires in history, the Originals. Three hundred years ago, we called New Orleans home. I was happy here. For a time. Now we've returned, only to find a miracle.'

"Niklaus, the girl is carrying your child."

'And with it, a new responsibility.'

Elijah sets an old cloth to the side, looking at Hayley. "I will always protect you. You have my word on that."

'But our family has many enemies.'

Tyler stands over Hayley, holding a syringe. "Klaus destroyed everything good in my life. So I'm gonna take away the thing he wants most."

'These threats should have united us, instead Klaus has driven us apart.'

Rebekah glares at Klaus across from her on the couch. "Why should I help you after what you did to Hayley and Elijah?"

He stares at her, shrugging his shoulders. "You're my family."

Marcel stands in the Garden with Rebekah, putting away the blue prints. "Klaus will never stop trying to control you. What do you want?"

'My brother expects my loyalty as he has for a thousand years. But now perhaps it's time to make a different choice.'

Rebekah sits in the confession booth, with Father Kieran in the other. "I should have never come back here. This is the town where I fell in love - and where love failed us. I assume you know who I'm talking about?"

"You should know Marcel and I are not on the best of terms right now."

"But you are an active priest, are you not? Ready and able to hear my confession?"

"Usually the word 'willing' falls somewhere in that sentence. Are you even Catholic?"

"I've been on this Earth for a thousand years. I can't say for certain that I believe in anything like a God, but I need absolution. From someone. Anyone. So will you hear my confession or not?" She turns her head to look at him.

He nods, signaling to continue.

She turns her head back to the front of the box, and breathes in. "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I am a liar, a betrayer. I have conspired against my own blood and I doubt even your God could save me."

24 hours earlier~

Sitting at a small table in the study, Klaus bites a woman's wrist. Rebekah sits opposite to him, drinking some coffee out of a tea cup. Between them, the table is full of food. "Have you spoken to our good friend Marcel today?" Klaus asks as he lets the woman's wrist go.

She sits back in her chair, resting her elbows on the chair arms. "No, should I have?"

"He's been mysteriously silent - avoiding me, some might say. I thought perhaps he may have whispered reasons into your ear. Along with sweet nothings."

"If I see him, I'll be sure to ask if he's still sore at you."

"Let me give a voice to that look in your eyes. My saintly noble brother lies writing in agony in the bayou, victim of my bastard-brother's-bite, when just one of two drops of his blood would ease his pain."

"On the contrary, Nik, I am simply enjoying my breaky waiting for Elijah's healthy return."

"Oh, come on Rebekah, you've been giving me the devil's eye all morning. Out with it!"

"Perhaps I'm concerned that if I voice my opinion about what you did to Elijah and Hayley, I will end up on the wrong side of your toxic hybrid teeth."