Walking into the kitchen, Alaric is already roaming around in the cabinet. "Morning... what are you looking for?" I ask him, grabbing a water bottle from the refrigerator. "Aspirin. I thought we had aspirin?"

"I don't know where it is." I respond and Elena walks into the room with us, answering Alaric. "It's in the vitamins."

"Why are you hungover?" I ask him, crossing my arms. He turns around and gives me a sympathetic look. "Yeah, sorry about that. It was a bit of a weird night the other day."

"I told you, you don't have to feel guilty about inviting Meredith over here." Elena jumps in as she drinks her glass of water. Alaric nods, "I know. And I thank you for that. But I do feel a little guilty for whisky dialing her at 2:00 in the AM."

All I knew was that Alaric and Meredith, the doctor, kissed and Elena walked in on them. "Ohh. No, you didn't." Elena laughs and Alaric laughs along, "Oh, yes, I did."

"Ohh. Was she cool about it?" Elena asked him. "Well, as soon as these aspirin kick in and I remember the conversation, I'll let you know." He told us and I laughed.

"Good luck with that." I smirked and patted his shoulder. The doorbell rang so I quickly walked to the door and opened it, seeing Sheriff Forbes there.

"Oh, hi." I smiled. "Is everything okay?" Elena asked as she and Ric walk out the door with me. "This is an unconventional conversation were about to have, so I hope you'll protect me on it." She told us and I crossed my arms, nodding.

My smile quickly turned into a frown. I don't feel good about this.

"Of course." Alaric nods, full of concern. "I assume you guys heard our medical examiner was murdered the night of the wickery bridge fundraiser." She told us and we all nodded, knowing what she meant.

"Yeah, Brian Walters. Why?" Alaric asked. "We've been investigating. Someone drove this stake through his heart." She showed us a plastic bag and inside it was a wooden stake, covered in blood.

Alaric took it from her hand and I was confused. "It's one of ours." Alaric scrambled on, "I mean, this is one of a set from your parents' lake house."

"That's why I'm here. I haven't told anyone, but forensics ran it for prints and found only one clean set." Sheriff Forbes sighed. "Yours." She looked at Elena.

"What?" She asked, clearly confused as I am. "I- I don't understand."

Later, Elena called Damon on her phone and put it on speaker. Alaric came to the kitchen and set down the bag of wooden stakes as Damon was speaking, "So you're the prime suspect, huh?"

"She doesn't think that I did it. She's just trying to find out why someone used on of my family's weapons to kill a council member." Elena explains to him through the phone.

"Well, why don't you just ask Ric if his dirty little doctor had access to the weapons." Damon points out and Alaric snaps,. "You're on speaker phone, dick."

"I'm just saying, first suspect is usually the right one. Don't get so defensive." Damon replies, "Brian Walters was killed days ago, all right? I didn't show Meredith this stuff until last night."

"It wasn't Meredith." I tell Damon, grabbing the phone from Elena's hand and she gives me a look. "But Brian Walters was her ex-boyfriend and Ric saw them fighting that night." Damon answers back.

"I don't think it's Meredith, just leave it at that." I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "I refuse to believe that your luck with women is that tragic." Elena says as she looks up at Alaric.

"Who else knows about your secret little slayer slash?" Damon asks Alaric. "Who doesn't? I got weapons everywhere. Here, the school, my loft, your car." Alaric responds.

"It's Klaus. Has to be. He's screwing with us." Damon says and I shrug, "You're probably right." I roll my eyes at the thought of him.

"I wonder if it was Stefan. He was crazy that night. You know, he was trying to get underneath Klaus' skin. He was capable of pretty much anything." Elena tells all of us.

"Ah, makes me nostalgic for the time when Stefan was a bunny-snacking pacifist. Anyway, got to go. More later." Damon says.

"Hey, where are you?" I asks. "Tea with an old friend." he replies and hung up afterwards.

§

"How was your tea with an old friend?" I ask Damon as he walks into my house. I close the door after him and immediately knew he wanted something from me. "Oh, it was great. Which is why I need you to come with me."

"And where would that be?" I question him and he flashes me his charming smile that I got used to already, so it doesn't work on me. "You, miss Maya Gilbert are invited to a little dinner."

"I'm not going to any dinner." I respond, opening the door so he can leave. "Oh, yes you are. Klaus and Elijah are willing to make a deal and Klaus probably won't agree unless you're there."

"Just because I agreed I'd distract him, does not mean I want to join on a dinner date." I tell him and he closes the door and leans his hand on it. He looks down at me, giving me a look. "Pretty please."

"No."

"You and Stefan are soo difficult. Why can't you just say yes and get this over with?" he inquires and I shrug. "Because,"

"Because?"

"Because Klaus is showering me with gifts and I don't want anymore." I confess with a sigh. I'm not wrong, last night I received a bracelet and I refuse to put it on.

"Well, act like you want them. You can't back out of this now." Damon says and I roll my eyes with a scoff. "Fine, I'll go. But no more bossing me around, got it?"

"Deal's a deal."

§

"I just don't understand why I have to be here." I retort, letting out a deep sigh. Damon let's go of my arm and gives me a glare. "You know why. Just at least try to enjoy it."

Stefan rings the door bell and a brunette male opens the door; Elijah. "Niklaus, our guests have arrived." he says with a smile. His eyes lands on mine and gives me a questionable look before leading us inside.

"Damon. Stefan. Maya."

I turn my head and see Klaus standing in the middle of the room with a smirk plastered on his face and his hands behind his back. Behind him was a table full of food and a few girls near the table. I'm assuming they're there to serve their blood. I shake that thought out of my head and listen to Klaus.

"Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold." he says and continues on, "Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?" he questions and I knew I wasn't going to be engaging in their conversation.

Elijah walks down the short set of stairs. "It's better to indulge him." he says and sits down at one of the chairs.

"I didn't, uh, come here to eat, Klaus. In fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told I had to, 'cause you would hear us out." Stefan says while looking at his brother. I nod at his statement, agreeing with every word.

"Hmm. Well, we can sit and eat, or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. Choice is yours." Klaus smirks and joins Elijah at the table. Stefan and Damon also sit and the only chair available was next to Klaus... of course.

Klaus gets up and pulls the available chair out for me. I roll my eyes and sit in it, thanking him anyways.

I refuse to eat what was plated in front of me. But, I pick up my fork and nibble on the food. I don't want to be here at all and it's making me nervous because I'm not sure how two original vampires deal with agreements.

"Thank you, love..." I hear Klaus whisper to one of the girls and fed him her blood. I raise my eyebrows at him as the girl walks away. He throws me a grin once he sees me looking at him.

"Lost your appetite?" Klaus asks Stefan, who hasn't touched a thing on his plate. "Eat." Damon tells Stefan, "I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home."

Stefan puts on a fake smile and picks up a fork and knife before shoving food in his mouth. "That's the spirit." Klaus smirks, "Isn't this 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?" Klaus asks Damon. "Well, I know what he felt about you, so I figured the more... the merrier." Damon responds and takes a bite of his food.

"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries, but we always make it through." Klaus looks at Elijah.

"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." Stefan says.

"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." Klaus tells him.

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

"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses." Stefan replies. "I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself."

"Maya, where's is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah asks me. I look up at him and shrug, not knowing the answer. Last time I saw her we were discussing about Alaric and his stakes.

Elijah looks at Stefan for answer, who replies with an attitude. "I don't know. Ask Damon." he rolls his eyes. Elijah furrows his eyebrows and looks at all of us.

Klaus started laughing, placing his hand on my thigh. My breathing hitched and I tried to move his hand but he wouldn't move it.

I looked up at Klaus, who was already looking at me; grinning. He looks back at Elijah, "I'm sorry, you missed so much. Ah, trouble in paradise."

"One more word about Elena, and, uh, this dinner is over." Stefan snaps.

"You know what, probably best to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile." Damon looks at the two of them.

Klaus' hand was still on my thigh and I gave up on taking it off, so instead I quickly get up from my seat and all eyes were on mine. "Where's the restroom?"

"Down that hall and to your left." Elijah answers for me and I give him a quick smile and leave the dinning room. I listen to Elijah's directions but this mansion is huge and I ended up getting lost.

I step foot into a fairly large main entrance, which has a large stair case. The place is indeed beautiful, but you'd get lost in it and that's exactly what happened to me.

I start to open up different doors which led to different rooms or more hallways. I close the last door and hear a whoosh sound behind me. "Are you lost?"

"No."

"Really? Because the bathrooms all the way over there and you're all the way over here." Klaus says, pointing across the whole house.

He puts his hands behind his back, giving me a smirk again. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I'm alone with him again.

He starts guide me to our destination and I walk side-by-side next to him. Klaus stops and turns to me. "Do you want to be here?"

I knew this was a trick question. If I say no, I'll just end up dropping this whole distraction plan. "Yes. I do want to be here, Klaus. But I don't think I'm needed here."

"I've come to assumption that Damon has forced to here hoping you'd shine a light for my brother and I to agree to their deal."

I look at him, wondering how he figured that out. I shake my head, changing the subject. "Is that the restroom?" I ask him, pointing to the door and he simply nods. I could tell he's annoyed, but I didn't know how to respond to that.

I open the door and close it, pulling out my phone immediately and text Elena. She'll just keep my mind off of the thought of Klaus' eyes piercing down at mine.

I'd text Caroline, but I just found out her dad is in transformation. Apparently he was stabbed with a knife with vampire blood in his system.

I put my phone away once I realize that she's not answering anytime soon. I look at the huge mirror in front of me and let out a small sigh.

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I'm leading this 1000 year old hybrid on and he's starting to catch on that it means nothing, and I kind of don't want it to be nothing.

And for all I know, he could be using me to get in on Damon and Stefan's plan. I just have no idea where to start.

I step out of the bathroom and make my way back to the dining room. I walk in and see all four men chatting away about a topic I have no interest in.

"Lovely, Maya's back. What do you say, brother?" Klaus asks Elijah, "Should we tell them about Tatia?"

Elijah chuckles, "Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" he asks. "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 says.

"Well, we're not going anywhere, Elijah. Please, do tell." Damon shrugs and leans forward, probably eager to know who Tatia is.

"When our family first settled here, there was a girl name 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." Elijah starts to explain.

"Oh, I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much." Klaus looks at his brother and I narrow my eyebrow, but listen on.

"Wait a minute, so you both loved the same girl?" I ask them. Elijah nods, "Our mother was a very powerful witch. She sought to end our feud over Tatia, and so she took her and Klaus and I would later learn that if was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine of the night where our mother preformed the spell which turned us into vampires."

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

"But in the end, we recognized the sacred bond of family." Klaus tells us. "Family above... all." Elijah grins as he picks up his drink and Klaus repeats those steps. "Family above all." And they both clink their cups, taking a sip afterwards.

§

"So why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah questions as one of girls takes my plate from the table.

"Well, it's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back. In exchange, he, and the original extended family, leave Mystic Falls forever." Damon replies while smirking.

"Me, Stefan, Maya, and Elena live happily ever after, no grudges." he adds on and picks up his drink, and takes a sip of it. "Deal sounds fair, brother." Elijah agrees with a nod and looks at Klaus.

"I don't think you understand. I can't do that because Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me and I have something else in mind," Klaus quickly glances at me before looking at everyone, "I will never leave her behind."

He gets up, grabbing his drink. "Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection. What then? How long before one of you turn her into a vampire? Or worse. How long before she and Maya dies, caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect them. And that's is simply a delusion."

"Gentlemen," He starts and looks at Stefan and Damon, "the worst thing for Maya and Elena Gilbert is... the two of you."

It was a few moments of silence before Damon speaks up. "I'm going to get some air." He gets up and leaves. "Let me deal with this." Elijah gets up as well, leaving.

"Mmm, hmm. All this talk has made me thirsty." Klaus licks his lips and motions to one of the girls that are standing.

"What do you say, Stefan? Can I interest you in a little after dinner drink?" Klaus gets up from his seat and stands behind a blonde girl, moving her hair to reveal her neck.

"Stefan, don't do it." I warn him and stand up from my chair. Klaus lets go of the girl and walks towards me. He places his hand on my arm and leans downwards, "Just stay seated, sweetheart."

I push his hand off of me, "What makes you think I'll listen to you?" I cross my arms, again. He raises his eyebrows at me before answering. "You don't want to create more problems. Would you, love?"

"I'm not scared of you, Klaus."

Klaus inches closer to my face, "Really?" I nod. "Oh, I assure you that your bow and arrows can't defeat me."

I didn't respond to his comment and he nods, walking back the blonde girl and sticks his fangs into her neck. I turn my head to Stefan, making sure he won't fall into Klaus' trap.

Klaus pulls his mouth out of her neck. "Mmm. Delicious," He throws her on the floor, taking his fingers and wiping the blood off from his mouth. "Aged to perfection."

"Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening, Klaus." Stefan starts and gets up. "It's to drive a wedge between me and my brother and possibly seduce Maya."

"Oh, no, you're doing that well enough on your own be chase of Elena, you're doing to lose your brother, and you'll only have yourself to blame."

"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table." Damon walks back inside with Elijah by his side. "We've made our offer. Now you counter."

Klaus walks around and picks up a napkin. "Okay," he wipes the blood off his mouth, sitting down.

"I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot, and fall in love with a human. Maybe that nice football player, you know, the blonde one." Klaus smirks.

"Matt Donovan? Really?" Damon asks, annoyed. "Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family," Klaus continues.

"And continue the Petrova bloodline." I caught up what his plan was. He nods, "Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never run out of hybrids. Right, Klaus?" I add.

"Consider it a small return on my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand my back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know it's what's best her her."

"How do you know what's 'best for her'?" I asks, getting aggravated by his words. Damon steps in and holds me back, putting his arm over my chest.

"So... What do you say, Stefan?" he asks as he gets up. "Hmm? Do we have a deal?"

Stefan walks towards Klaus. "What are you doing?" Damon asks. Klaus sticks his hand out and Stefan holds it. "Nice try, Klaus. But no deal."

Klaus smirks drops, so he grabs Stefan's hand and forces him to the ground. I gasp, watching the scene unfold. Stefan grunts and groans as he kneels on the ground and Klaus puts Stefan's hand in the fire.

Damon inhuman speeds to Stefan but Elijah stops him, pushing him to the wall but his neck. "What are you doing?" Damon asked.

"Klaus, stop!" I retort, but he refused to listen. "Now bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." he tells us. "You wouldn't." I challenge him.