Happy (Late) Thanksgiving!

to Niklaus Mikaelson's room opened, Evangeline Salvatore did not move an inch. Her tears long gone, her sadness dissolved, she felt almost nothing. The man knew she was exhausted and her will to fight was hanging by a thread. She was broken. She felt useless. The man who was supposed to be by her side forever and nurture her, care for her like he cared for himself had, instead, gotten into her head and convinced her that even her family felt that she was replaceable.

Fortunately, another man had come along. He was her closest and best male friend who cared for her like a brother for the century and a half. He would not allow her to give up being the strong woman he knew she was because her prophesized soulmate took advantage of his role. She deserved happiness and he was about to grant it to her, finally.

"Lina" Elijah murmured, entering the room with great caution upon seeing his blank faced best friend, "I have good news"

The oldest Mikaelson breathing took a seat on the bed beside the Salvatore girl. He noticed that she had changed not only her clothing but the bed sheets. She was now clad in a long sleeved blood red thermal and black leggings with her unruly mane in its natural state and the bed sheets were no longer tinged and covered in charcoal. Elijah wasn't surprised by the change, Evangeline had always been a stress cleaner. If she didn't feel any balance in her emotions, she would try to bring it to life with pristine surroundings. Her methods didn't seem to work that time, though, because the hurt on her face was crystal clear.

The suit clad Mikaelson took the caramel skinned woman's hand in his, causing her to tear her gaze from the bed linen to his hard brown eyes.

"What is it, Elijah?" She finally asked, squeezing his hand gently but not pulling away from his touch. She missed his friendly touch too much to pull away.

The brown eyed Mikaelson smiled slightly, "We'll be having dinner with your brothers this evening"

~*~*~*~

To say that Klaus's words had not crossed Evangeline's mind when her brother's entered the mansion would have been a lie. The statement he said to her crossed her mind multiple times, which was why she had not spoken to the Original Hybrid since she punched him to the other night. But, she was not going to let the harsh words cripple her, no matter how true that could have possibly been.

Instead, Evangeline allowed herself to feel giddy when she heard Klaus speaking to her brothers, even if he sounded like a dick.

"Damon, Stefan, Elijah tells me you seek an audience...very bold...shall we discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men?"

Elijah filled Evangeline in on the terms of the impending dinner. Stefan and Damon had come to make a truce with the Mikaelson brothers to stop all the violent chaos. But, Evan knew her brothers and how stubborn they were, they were trying to distract Klaus from something and she had a feeling Elijah knew about it but refused to tell her. That just meant she'd have to figure it out on her own.

As her brothers went towards the small table beside Niklaus, she made her entrance.

"My brothers, in matching leather jackets, I never thought I'd see the day..." The smirking girl stole the attention of everyone in the room, even the line of compelled women who were playing as the 'audience'.

Her hair was slicked into a beautiful, clean cut curly bun and she wore one of Rebekah's blood red long sleeved dresses that fell to her knees that made her stand out in contrast with the four men dressed in black. The paleness to her skin and the dull covering of her green eyes were evident but she still looked breathtaking, at least to Klaus.

"Evan" Both Salvatore men breathed at the presence of their sister before she shot into their arms, forcing them into a Salvatore sibling group hug.

Klaus rolled his eyes at the ordeal while Elijah smiled, basking in the sight of his best friend happy. The Salvatore siblings squeezed the daylight out of each other, holding in tears for prideful reasons until they finally broke apart. Even the 'emotionless' Stefan was affected by the sight of his older sister and held on to his resolve with an iron fist in order to remember what they came there for.

Damon opened his mouth to speak, probably to spew a million questions and attempt to march his little sister out of harms way but she shook her head, giving him a small smile.

"I'm fine Day, that's all that matters right now" She said squeezing his head, "I'm alive, so do what you came here to do, I'll still be here"

The oldest Salvatore reluctantly nodded as the youngest swiveled around and spoke, "I didn't come here to eat, Klaus, I actually wouldn't have come at all if you didn't have Evangeline"

Evangeline rolled her eyes as Klaus smiled at the rebellious Salvatore, "Well, we can sit down and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours"

The female hybrid ticked an eyebrow, "Because anyone would still have an appetite with an image like that in their minds"

Klaus ignored her while Damon chuckled and Stefan smirked as they all sat. Elijah of course sat beside Klaus while the Salvatore men sat side by side across from the two and Evangeline sat at the head of the table between Klaus and Stefan—her two least favorites from the pair of siblings.

The hybrid women immediately set out the plates and began pouring wine but Klaus and Damon were the only two to dig in. Stefan just stared blankly at Klaus while Elijah seemed too caught up in making sure Evan was okay no matter how many times she mouthed to him that she was fine. Everyone knew she wasn't but she didn't want to be a distraction, no matter how inevitable it was.

Klaus, of course, was the first to speak, "Lost your appetite?"

Stefan just raised his eyebrows in an indifferent manner before Damon turned to him in frustration, "Eat, I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home"

Evangeline laughed at that, causing Elijah to smile immediately and Damon to grin back at her.

"I'll take a bite if you do" Evangeline said, raising an eyebrow at her younger brother, "Just pretend like Klaus isn't staring into your soul and it'll probably taste amazing"

Stefan smiled slightly at her and they both ignored the annoyed expression on the Original Hybrid's face as they both took a bite of their food.

"That's the spirit" Klaus said, grinning wickedly, "This is nice, the five of us dining together, such a treat, never mind that you pulled the dagger out of my brother"

Evangeline was a bit surprised that he even mentioned his presence but didn't comment on it.

Damon smiled fakely in return, "Well I know how I felt about you so I figured, the more, the merrier"

"Well Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries but we always through" Klaus responded.

Stefan, of course, added more tension, "Kind of like, uh, Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way?"

Klaus glared but Evangeline found herself genuinely curious. She hadn't seen the blonde since she had been revived and she missed the presence of another female, even if Rebekah had pegged her for a traitor. She'd choose Rebekah over Klaus in a heartbeat.

Stefan continued, "Last time I checked, she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her"

Evangeline's eyebrows shot up but she still didn't interrupt as Klaus tensely responded, "If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah"

Evangeline's eyes immediately snapped to the older Mikaelson as he gave his brother a 'loving' smile and Damon snapped at his brother, "Stef, remember when you killed Dad? Might want to down on the judgment until dessert"

"Wait—you killed Dad?" Evangeline frowned at her brothers while the Mikaelsons both raised their eyebrows at the situation.

Damon instantly regretted his words and Stefan glared at his brother in discomfort from his little sister staring him down.

Stefan looked at Evangeline and shrugged, "Tore out his throat"

Damon winced at his brother's graphics while Klaus smirked, glancing between the two youngest Salvatores, waiting for the young woman to go berserk but being ultimately disappointed when she shrugged as well.

"Well he killed my real father anyway so, guess he had it coming" Evangeline retorted with a shrug as she cut a piece of steak and bit into it, ignoring the stares of the three men.

Damon looked at his little sister in surprise, "I see your stay here has turned you into a bit of a sadist"

Evangeline chuckled, "If you're worried that I've joined the dark side, you're wrong. Our parents hated me Damon, I'm not exactly upset that Stefan killed Dad—he was dead to me anyway"

Klaus licked his lips at the hurt woman before him, sensing the fire building up within her, and Stefan noticed and glared. There was something off, he could feel it.

Before the youngest Salvatore could speak on it, Elijah attempted to change the subject.

"Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?"

Stefan immediately pointed out that it was a bad change of subject, "I don't know, ask Damon"

Unable to help himself, Klaus broke out in laughter, "I'm sorry, you missed so much...uh, trouble in paradise"

"Mainly because of him" Evangeline added, nudging her head towards Elijah's younger brother who rolled his eyes at her but didn't deny it.

"You know, it's probably best to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile" Damon tried to neutralize the situation.

Everyone agreed except Klaus, who continued, "It's just, the allure of the Petrova doppelganger is still so strong, what do you say brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?"

Klaus's words definitely piqued the Salvatore siblings' interest as Elijah responded, "Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"

"Well giving their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests would be interested in the original nature of the Petrova line" Klaus gestured to the Salvatore brothers and locked eyes with Evangeline for a mere second before looking back to his brother.

As much as she hated it, the Salvatore woman felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of Elijah and Klaus fighting over another Elena lookalike. Evangeline could not stand Klaus at that moment, yet, she felt a bit of jealousy at the thought of him pining after another woman. She knew it was the mate bond, which was always going to affect her, but she still was unhappy that the jealousy had even made an appearance in her resolve.

Yet, she still poked fun, "You mean that you and Elijah were once babbling idiots over the same girl, just like my brothers? That sounds entertaining, definitely a story I'd like to hear"

Klaus was caught between glaring and smirking at Evangeline for her comment but Elijah just looked at her with disapproval. She ignored both.

Damon agreed with his little sister, even though she called him an idiot, "You and Elijah? Please do tell"

Reluctantly, Elijah began speaking on the subject. Evangeline learned that Tatia was a beautiful girl, of course, and was sought after, even as a young mother. Klaus and Elijah had a feud over her just like her brothers but the difference was their mother, the Original Witch, who decided to end the feud herself.

"Klaus and I later learned that it was Tatia's blood in the wine that we consumed on the night that our mother performed a spell, which turned us into vampires"

Elijah explained that Tatia couldn't choose between the two of them and that they were estranged for a bit, insulting one another, in attempts to have her to themselves.

"But in the end we recognized the sacred bond of family" Klaus said, giving the Salvatores a wicked look.

Elijah joined, raising his glass, "Family above all"

"Family above all" Klaus repeated with a dimpled smile as he clinked his glass with his brother.

There was a tense silence before Stefan looked at his older sister with an accusing glare, "Speaking of family, Evan, if you're as okay as you say you are, why are you willingly staying with them?"

Evangeline and Klaus both tensed on impulse and it did not go unnoticed by the other three people at the table. Evangeline knew her brothers would have to find out about the bond sooner or later but she preferred it to be as late as possible.

So, she avoided the subject, "Well, you both know that I wouldn't be walking around freely without any barriers, Klaus has had every door charmed in the mansion by his voice. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. I was locked in a room—"She paused to glare at the blonde hybrid, "—until Elijah showed up"

Damon nodded in understanding but Stefan didn't stand for it, "There's something more...your heartbeat is moving too quickly...why are you so nervous Evan?"

Evangeline glared at her suspicious brother, covering her anxiety with aggravation, "Why are you so untrusting, Stefan? I haven't done anything to betray you and you're the reason I'm here in the first place!"

Both in on Evangeline's secret, the Mikaelson brothers looked between the siblings with dismay, both wanting the secret to stay hidden for various reasons.

Damon decided to change the subject, "Why don't we move along in our discussion of our agreement. We give you the coffin as long as you and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, Elena, and Evangeline live happily ever after"

Evangeline felt a tug on her heart at the thought of never seeing Elijah again as well as being apart from Klaus.

"That sounds like a fair deal brother" Elijah said, with a blank look on his face as he glanced at a tense Evangeline.

Klaus ruined the moment by speaking, "The two of you have failed to realize that the doppelganger blood ensures that I will be able to make more hybrids to fight those who oppose me" He turned his gaze to Evangeline, locking eyes with her, "I will never leave her behind"

The brown haired Salvatore felt a chill down her spine, knowing that he was no longer speaking of Elena, even though he brother's did not know it.

Klaus stood up breaking eye contact, "And 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 from being caught between the two of you? Each one of you believes that you have what it takes to protect her and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you"

There was a short silence before Damon said "I'm gonna get some air" and stood up before leaving the house without a glance.

And that was when Evangeline knew that Klaus had gotten into her brother's head.

Elijah stood, speaking directly to a worried Evangeline, "Let me deal with this"

The Salvatore woman nodded as the eldest Mikaelson left, leaving her with an arrogant Klaus and brooding Stefan.

Klaus downed his drink and stood up straight, "All this talk has made me thirsty"

He turned towards one of their human waitresses with bloodlust in his eyes, "What do you say Stefan, can I interest you in a little after dinner...drink?"

"No!" Evangeline snapped at the blonde haired man before her brother could respond, "He's perfectly fine not being barbaric for one night"

Klaus chuckled at Evangeline's feistiness before he bared his fangs and sunk them into the neck of the blonde. Evangeline inwardly shuttered, fighting against her memory of the same set of fangs being sunk into her skin not too long ago and how she actually found pleasure from it. She also remembered her fangs being sunken into his flesh as well and him having the same response. The guilt and disappointment she felt from that intimate moment washed over her but she fought against it as the body of the woman collided with the table.

"Delicious" The hybrid retorted with a grin as he wiped the excess blood from his lips and giving Evangeline a look that made her shift in her seat.

But nowhere near as exquisite as you, Dear Angel

Evangeline's eyes went wide for a split second as he grinned at her but Stefan didn't notice the exchange for once as he addressed the hybrid.

"It seems that your motive for this dinner was to drive a wedge between me and my brother, Klaus" the youngest Salvatore looked completely unamused.

"The two of you are doing that on your own" Klaus snapped back as Damon and Elijah returned.

"Back to the deal, Klaus" Damon said, "What do you say?"

Klaus, then, put it in terms of 'Elena's wellbeing', suggesting that the two Salvatore brothers back off from her and let her fall in love with a human. The agreement would ensure that there would be more doppelgangers to come to fulfill Klaus of his need for the doppelganger blood for more hybrids. Evangeline almost agreed with the deal herself, hoping that her brothers could also then find two women to fall in love with and never fight over a girl again.

Yet, of course, things did not go smoothly and Stefan disagreed to the deal causing Klaus to break multiple bones in his body and threaten to burn him alive unless they brought back the last coffin. Elijah and Damon went to do so while Evangeline watched the ordeal in tears, wishing she could do something for her brother that wouldn't get him ultimately killed by Klaus.

What happened next was a complete surprise to Evangeline, Klaus, and Stefan.

In the midst of fighting with Stefan, Elijah returned with a tray of daggers, meaning that the other Salvatore siblings were awakened. Soon enough, Klaus was being held by who he called 'Finn' after being stabbed in the hand by him and in the gut by Rebekah while Elijah and the 'Kol' brother watched. Elijah allowed for Stefan and Damon to leave but they paused, looking at their utterly confused sister.

Evangeline almost cried at the thought of not being able to leave with her brothers.

"I'll watch over her" Elijah promised, causing the new guests in the room to turn their gazes to the Salvatore woman before looking back to Klaus, "But for now, this is family business"

~*~*~*~*~*~