11 Faith

Klaus had left New Orleans for a couple of days and had just arrived back home. When he entered the plantation house, he heard heavy footsteps fast approaching. "No damn peace with Mikaelson," Klaus thought to himself, realizing something was up... again.

"Tell me it isn't true?!" demanded Rebekah, with a slightly afraid Hayley standing behind her.

"What isn't true?" asked Klaus with confusion, while looking over to Hayley for a reply.

"Tyler Lockwood came to town and stated that the blood of our child can be used to make more hybrids. He also mentioned that you knew about this," explained Hayley in a worried and anxious tone, but mostly sadness.

Klaus already knew about Tyler, as he had a little run-in with him when Klaus left for Mystic Falls. However, he was surprised by the reaction. Rebekah's outburst and anger weren't anything out of the ordinary, but Klaus was most happy about Hayley's reaction. While she was scared and angry, she seemed most hurt.

It was clear that Klaus's recent change had allowed him some benefits, seeing they didn't want to believe this rumor to be true.

"Let me assure you both, I had no idea of this fact, and even if I were aware, I would not use my own daughter as a bloody blood bag," replied Klaus calmly.- maybe a donor, but thats about it, Klaus thought to himself.

Klaus's reply caused both the women to give out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, Nik, I had to ask. I needed to be sure of your intentions," said Rebekah.

Klaus understood their concern. It was not long ago since he was reborn here as Klaus Mikaelson. Given his predecessor's history of slaughter, lies, betrayal, and doing absolutely anything in order to obtain power, he was just happy he had obtained enough trust from them to question him rather than run for the hills.

"I understand that my past behavior has indicated that I didn't care much for my family, that I would see you all merely as tools, but I do care. One reason for that may be because of my paranoia, another one may come from my fear to show my heart just for it to be crushed," Klaus said, starting to form a tear in his eyes. "I also know that I make it seem like I need no one, but I do need you guys to stand by me and believe that my intentions for my own child are pure. Because if not for you, I would have nothing," Klaus continued while a tear escaped his eye and slowly ran down his cheek.

As Klaus finished, both women were looking down, both in guilt and shame. Before anyone could say anything more, Hayley went past Rebekah and gave Klaus a tight hug. "I will trust you from now on, I promise," she spoke softly.

Klaus held onto Hayley's embrace, happy to know he had someone who would trust him, believe in him.

"I am sorry, Nik, for not believing you, truly," said Rebekah as she kept her hand on his shoulder.

(A little while later)

Hayley was not leaving Klaus's side ever since their hug earlier, which made him really happy. He made his way to the hall, where Rebekah was already present.

"Did Tyler Lockwood come here to tell you about this rumor?" asked Klaus.

"No, we were informed about this from Marcel. He and I were catching up recently so we exchanged numbers," informed Rebekah. "He made sure the information didn't reach the ears of the witches to avoid them from acting on it."

"What else did Marcellus have to say about the rumor?" Klaus asked with a concerned voice. He didn't want to fight his adoptive son this time around, hoping he had obtained enough trust from him to not jump to conclusions.

"He said that he will try to keep the vampires in check until we confirm this with you," replied Rebekah, to which Klaus gave a raised eyebrow. "Don't worry, I already informed him you had no such intentions and he said he will tell his men the same."

"What did you tell him when he asked where I was?" Klaus had not informed Marcel about him visiting Mystic Falls to retrieve his brother. He knew that Marcel and Kol didn't play well together, and he was also worried that Marcel's vampires would riot upon hearing that two more originals would be joining the party.

"Just told him you are busy with a plan to unbind Hayley. I think he bought it."

Klaus let out a sigh of relief. Everything seemed to be going as he planned, which then reminded him of a task he entrusted his little sister with.

"Sister, did you retrieve it?" asked Klaus.

"Oh, you mean this?" replied Rebekah as she revealed the knot, causing Klaus to give a proud smirk while Hayley raised her eyebrows in surprise.

(Flashback)

Now, as Rebekah had returned, Klaus could finally get the knot and unbind Hayley from the pesky witches. While the witches and vampires both kept an eye on Klaus and Elijah, they were yet unaware of Rebekah's presence.

He knew Rebekah was quite capable when it came to obtaining information and even being sneaky when the situation required it.

Klaus had told her that the object must be on Sophie Deveraux since it would ensure that the knot binding her and Hayley was somewhere she could keep an eye on.

Rebekah had been keeping an eye on Sophie for two days, either by compelling someone to follow her or blending in the crowd at the bar. Rebekah had realized in that time that Sophie never let her bag out of her sight, and then she compelled someone on the third day to bump into Sophie while she was leaving from her shift at the bar, causing her bag to drop, spilling the contents in it.

"I am so sorry," said the man.

"No, it's okay."

In that moment of chaos, Rebekah noticed the knot and then carefully exchanged it for a replica that was made by Davina.

(End of flashback)

"So does this mean I will finally be free from the binding?" asked Hayley, who was sitting beside Klaus this entire time.

"Yes, little wolf. I will call up Marcel and deliver the knot to Davina so she can unbind it."

Klaus takes out his phone as he gets up and dials the number of his adoptive son. "Hello, Marcellus, I need the help of your witch friend."

"Hey, Klaus, what's it for this time?" asked Marcel.

"I have retrieved the original knot that was used during the binding process, and so I want Davina to perform the spell I had given her."

Marcel was glad to hear this. "Alright, I can come and get the knot from you in an hour. Does that work?"

"Sounds perfect," said Klaus with a smile.

(At the compound)

"So, is Marcel gonna do something about Klaus and his child?" asked Tyler.

"No, and he actually seems to be helping them even more than before," replied Thierry.

"I told you, no matter how much Marcel acts like he hates them, he is a part of the Mikaelson Family," spoke Tyler.

"That's right. If this continues, the Mikaelsons will soon be running the city," said one of the newer vampires.

"And don't forget the blood of the child. He can have an army of slave hybrids at his command, completely wiping us out," another vampire agreed with the first one.

"Thierry, you are the one who knows Marcel and the city best. You are the only one who can put him down. We all follow you," spoke another vampire, receiving several nods from others.

"Have you made your preparations?" asked Tyler, looking at Thierry.

"Yes," replied Thierry.

(Plantation house)

Marcel arrived at the Plantation house, reminiscing about his memories there, which he hadn't been able to think of back when he had brought Davina. He was lost in thought when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"So, you're just gonna stand there like a statue or come in?" asked Rebekah with a wide smile. Marcel smiled back at her.

Marcel and Rebekah had once loved each other. He had thought that the feeling would fade away, but ever since the two started to catch up, he started to have those feelings again.

"Coming in," replied Marcel as he headed inside the house.

"Ah, you are here, Marcellus," spoke Klaus as he was setting the table for breakfast. "Care to join us?"

He remembered the conversation he had with Thierry, though he was on the vampire's side. He always felt like he didn't truly belong there. He always had a void inside him, and he wondered if he felt like this because he was always alone as a kid. But recently, as he started to interact with the Mikaelsons again, he felt that the void stopped being as big.

It finally occurred to him as he took in everything around him that through all the time he had spent on this planet, he truly felt like he belonged with the Mikaelsons. Because they weren't just any group of vampires, they were his family.

Marcel smiled at the realization. "Sure," he replied as he made his way to the table and sat down beside Rebekah. He was grateful to belong again, to be with his family.

(Compound)