"So last night." began Caroline looking at Maeve who sat across from her in the Luncheonette coffee shop.

"Yeah...before that." Maeve reached over the table and grabbed Caroline's hand, "How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Really? How many have accepted that answer?" Caroline didn't respond. 

"Did it get easier for you?" Caroline asked nervously. "Accepting that you are okay? Being okay?"

"Caroline our situations are different. I cannot tell you it will be okay or that it gets easier. But I can tell you that it is possible. One day, you can live with memories of him and not be haunted by them. Maybe not today, but one day you will be okay." said Maeve softly. "I am sorry I wasn't there that night. I didn't know. I found out yesterday and basically..."

"Got distracted by Elijah." Caroline cut Maeve off. Maeve blushed red and looked down. 

"I am sorry Care."

"Its alright."

"It is not alright. I should have been there for you."

"Its fine Mae, really. I had Elena and Bonnie and Matt."

Maeve sighed apologetically. "Yeah...But I wasn't there. I wasn't there to comfort you. I wasn't there to let you know that everything would be okay. I was at a stupid dinner with the Mikaelsons and Salvatores. That was wrong."

"Maeve. Its fine. I'm okay. I will...although forgive you if you tell me something." Maeve raised a single brow at the sudden suggestive look on Caroline's face but nodded her head anyway for Caroline to continue, "Tell me you kissed last night."

Maeve chuckled deliriously shaking her head. "We didn't. We talked."

"Just...talked? Really? I don't believe it." exasperated Caroline. "I saw you two last night. It was romantic. You are bore." Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Sorry. If you want smut...go online." Caroline made a face at Maeve. Both continued on eating in silence for a moment. Maeve thought back to the night before. The conversation she eavesdropped on between Elena and Esther. 

"Can I ask you something" asked Caroline setting her fork down on the plate.

"Sure."

"What happened last night? Other than the almost romantic moment with Elijah. You look distracted."

"Esther is planning to kill them all, Care. I don't know how but she is going to do it. I don't know how to help them." told Maeve to Caroline in a grimly voice. 

"Holy shit! What?"

"Yeah and Elena is most likely helping them." Maeve sighed. "I know she's your friend and I am not going to pretend that her grudge against them is non-reasonable...she should hate Klaus...he is using her as blood bag but what about the rest? Rebekah and Elijah only wanted to help her but she was the one who betrayed them. Elena hasn't even talked to Finn and Kol and she basically signed their death warrants. Why? Because Esther said so.."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'll figure something out." Maeve told her with an assured smile. "Now, what happened between you and Nik?"

"He's annoying." Caroline said matter of factly.

"Oh...really?" Maeve said with a knowing look. "What did you say?"

"I──how did you know I said something?"

"You are Caroline Forbes and he is Klaus Mikaelson. Stubborn and egoistic, respectively, idiots is what you both are."

Caroline sighed before narrating the night. "I may have spat some truth and he dismissed me. Later he sketched me with his horse and thanked me for my honesty." Maeve squealed clapping her hands together like a child.

"Oh this is amazing! Klaroline is happening! I can't contain my excitement! Just so you know...enemies to lovers is my all time favourite trope." Caroline gawked trying to avoid showing her smile and threw a scone at her.

Maeve's phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up and looked at the screen. She ignored the text she had received and continued to eat the scone Caroline threw at her.

"Who is it?"

"Oh that's my brother. Wishing me. I'll call him later. Figures, the pack would also talk then."

Caroline chuckled confusedly, "Wishing you for what?"

"Oh...its my birthday." she answered nonchalantly.

"WHAT?"

Caroline stood inside the Gilbert house as Bonnie tested a spell Esther performed the previous night, as Elena filled them in on their conversation.

Caroline cast her gaze around the room, scrutinizing every detail. "First, the spell isn't working. And second, let me get this straight... what exactly went down last night?" she mused, privy to the events but keeping them close to her chest.

"Its Esther. She is planning on killing them all." revealed Elena. "I met her last night, she is going to kill them all. She linked them all using my blood."

Caroline shook her head, flipping her hair over her shoulder, trying to gather together the thoughts. "So to kill Klaus...you are willing to kill the rest of them...two of them who haven't talked to you and the other two whom you betrayed when they wanted to help you. You do realise you are murdering those who don't even deserve it?" shouted Caroline frustratedly. "Are you hearing yourself?"

"I know Caroline. It's bad. I just keep thinking....Before the sun and the moon ritual, Elijah found a way to keep me alive. And now I'm in exactly the same position and I'm just gonna let him die? It just doesn't feel right." Elena paused for a moment before continuing, "she's also going to deal with Maeve."

"What?" yelled Caroline. A feeling of concern started to fill her heart.

"Esther said that Maeve was never supposed to exist. Her kind has always been known for dark magic and too much power. That kind, nature never wanted. She is going to set things right." Elena said it so convincingly that anyone would have been convinced of it.

"Her kind?" reiterated Caroline aggressively. "What are you talking about?"

"What she means is..." began Bonnie, "Maeve is a serene witch and a Lycan. That is something nobody wants around. So Esther is going to set things right by dealing with them all, for us." She dropped the sate in hand and faced her friends. "There's no time to change your mind, Elena. He'll be dead by the end of the night. So will be Maeve. It's a full moon. Esther needs to harness the energy of a celestial event. She asked me and Abby to join her."

"You can't do that!" exclaimed Caroline. "What has Maeve ever done to you?"

"What hasn't she done?" spat Elena. "Hurt me. Tried to harm me. Almost killed Damon. Care she's been helping Klaus."

"With good reason!" Caroline argued getting defensive over Maeve. "She was possibly Damon's best friend. What has she ever done to everyone here? All she ever did was save them, help you and even took your side. You have constantly used her and abused her and this is your final act? She is the reason Damon is alive, and so am I and Jeremy!"

"What?"

"She struck up a deal with Klaus the first time he came here to protect us. When the hybrid hit Jeremy, she fought with Klaus for him! Maeve was the first one to figure out that Katherine knew about the ritual and whatever she was doing was with a plan. She struck a deal with Klaus to save me from getting sacrificed. And this is what you're doing. Helping a total stranger to kill her?" she breathed out strongly.

"Caroline, you know what she did to Damon. She let her pack members hurt Damon. She's been helping Klaus since summer time. She is not our friend anymore." said Elena, trying to persuade her. "She hurt me, she could hurt you too." she added.

"No. She wouldn't! Frankly, Elena I don't think you know Maeve at all. She is nothing like what you think she is. I'm not sure you know what it is like for her to see the town she found friends in go against her. The man she called a best friend root for her death! All you have ever done is make her feel guilty for everything she is." Caroline was fuming. She glared at Elena. Whatever Caroline chose to do, Esther and Elena were willing to do anything to hurt her friend. Someone who has always been outcasted.

"Caroline please. You know how hard he's making our lives. Klaus is the bad guy."

"Its not like you are going to listen to me anyway. When has that ever happened. Do what you think is best." spat out Caroline. Caroline scampered out of the house without giving them any chance to say anything more. She ran to the only place she knew she would find Maeve. She ran toward the mansion. She knocked on the door and then burst inside, "Maeve?" she searched around.

"Caroline?" came the sound of Maeve's voice. She followed it into the living area to find her standing next to Elijah. Caroline huffed a breath out. 

"Are you okay?" asked Maeve placing a hand on Caroline's shoulder.

"You were right. Esther is planning on killing the originals." she turned to Elijah with a sympathetic look, "Elena gave her blood to Esther to use for some link between you all. Esther is going to kill you all."

"I appreciate you coming all the way to warn us Ms Forbes, but are you not supposed to be on their side?" asked Elijah curiously.

"Its also because of what she's going to do to Maeve that I am here." said Caroline growing more panicking and fearful. "She plans on killing you too Maeve." Maeve stepped away from Caroline slumping her shoulders and sitting down on the arm of the couch. "Mae? Are you okay?"

"Quick question..." she began looking from Caroline to Elijah, "now that both you're parents have death wishes for me...does that make me an unofficial official Mikaelson?" she tried joking. Elijah gave her half a smile but Caroline only rolled her eyes. 

"This is serious, Maeve."

"Yeah I know Care. Look, this is how we'll do this; Elijah can go and interrogate Elena. I'll go the the Mystic Grill and talk to Klaus and Kol. You are going to your home and staying there."

"What? No. I want to help."

Maeve stood up and stepped closer to Caroline, "Care...just by standing here you are basically throwing away years of friendship. I don't want you to throw it away. I'm not that special. Please don't betray your friends. I mean it. Go home and act like you've been there this whole time. We can forget you ever came here. We can pretend it never happened."

"But Maeve..."

"Elena is your friend, Bonnie is your friend. I won't live with myself if you throw away that for my sake. Thank you for the warning Caroline, I appreciate it very much. Now go before they get suspicious." Maeve offered her a smile trying to keep it as genuine as possible. "If anyone asks your conscience started to bug you and so you went to your home to be alone."

Caroline nodded reluctantly rolling her lips into a thin line. "Don't die."

"I won't. I promise."

Caroline turned to Elijah, "just...don't kill Elena."

"I cannot make any promises, Ms Forbes. She has lied to me for the second time now." replied Elijah keeping a stern tone. Caroline nodded and left immediately.

Elijah turned to Maeve, "that was nice of you."

"Thanks. Caroline's always been hammered in the middle of these two teams of Mystic Falls. I didn't want her to face the same wrath I face just because she's siding with me." said Maeve smiling half heartedly.

"Maeve please go back to your apartment. Let me handle this." Elijah told her worriedly.

"Elijah...let me help. I'll be fine. You can interrogate the doppelbitch and I will warn Nik and Kol." said Maeve determinedly. "As for the death threat. I'd like to see her try." Maeve began strolling out of the room but Elijah grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Maeve don't underestimate my mother."

"And you shouldn't underestimate me." she told him. "I'm not as scared as the last time we met Elijah. You helped me realise that remember?" Elijah smiled fondly remembering the conversation he had with her before the day of the sacrifice where he in fact told her he didn't like that someone like Maeve was scared of her own shadow.

"I remember it perfectly."

"Then let me help." Maeve smiled.

Both parted ways outside the mansion. Maeve rode her bike to the Mystic Grill while Elijah took the way to Elena's house.

Maeve sauntered inside the grill, immediately searching for the two Mikaelson brothers. A raised hand waving at her caught her attention.

"Maeve!" shouted Kol rather loudly pulling attention from the rest of the people inside the place.

"Hey Kol." She smiled making her way over to them. She looked over at the bar, "Hey Dahmer! Get me the usual." she shouted out to the bartender.

"The name is Jeffery, Dumbo!" he yelled back. "And a Mochatini coming up."

"A what?" asked Kol.

Maeve grumbled rolling her eyes. "Get one for him too, Dahmer."

"It's Jeffrey. Jeffery." He enunciated turning away to make her drink. Maeve looked to her left to see Alaric and a woman next to him staring at her.

"Hey Ric."

"Hi kiddo. All good with you?" he asked her, acting oddly calmly.

"Never been better since I came here."

"I just don't understand. One spat and you're suddenly team Klaus?" Alaric inquired.

"Did you know that the silver dagger I was stabbed with left a scar. I was left for dead, nobody has cared for me in a long while other than the very man you hate. Every time I stare at it, it does nothing but remind me that this is what happened when I trusted you people. Not to mention ever since my true identity came out things have changed. There's uncertainty, hostility and more importantly no trust. So, yes I am team Klaus. If you'll excuse me, I am here to meet them." Maeve sassed and turned to look at Klaus and Kol.

"You're absolutely badass." complimented Kol.

"Ask Wolfie of just how much I can be." Maeve sneered. 

"You haven't killed her yet for calling you names?" Kol was shocked when it dawned on him that she has been calling his elder brother all sorts of names and he hadn't done anything.

"Like he could!" Maeve scoffed.

"I could." Klaus argued.

"But you won't." Maeve retorted. Klaus just smiled and went back to his drink.

"What do you mean it left a scar? Shouldn't it have healed given your healing abilities?" Klaus inquired. 

"Silver and Witch hazel. Bad combo." Maeve shrugged.

"What else can you do darling?" Kol flirted. Maeve gave him a sly smirk. She turned around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. All she could see were the not-so-discreet looks of Alaric and the doctor lady.

She turned back to face Klaus and Kol. Klaus realised what she was going to do. She turned her eye colour to red and bared out her pointed fangs. She raised her hand to show her long claws. Kol was astonished to see her transformed partly into a wolf. Maeve sensed the wide eyes of Alaric on her. She turned to face him and waved slightly with her claws at him mockingly.

"That's brilliant." Kol complimented. "What else?"

Maeve blinked hiding away her claws and fangs. "Oh, I got this new package full of herbs and everything. Like a proper witch's workshop. I can experiment so much now and create potions and so much more. I feel like Slughorn, except younger, better and more beautiful." she giggled before she cleared her throat. "Now, the reason I am here." Maeve's face turned serious.

"What is it?" asked Klaus furrowing his brows.

"let's play some pool" Maeve suggested. The original brothers looked at her confused but followed suit. "Excuse me Dahmer? Bourbon and put it on their tab."

"You're lucky I like you or I would have killed you, Mochatini" he spat handing her the two glasses of Mochatini. Maeve led the brothers to the pool table in the corner.

"Do you even know how to play?" Maeve asked, walking around the pool table.

"Do you even know how to play?" Maeve asked walking around the table.

"You could teach me." Kol pouted. Klaus picked up the sticks and handed each of them one.

"Alright. Here we go." Maeve walked closer to Kol. She held his hand and showed him out to grip it at the end. She directed him on how to hold the stick and to aim.

"Cool?" asked Maeve seeing him grip it firmly. "Now follow my lead and listen very carefully." she said. Maeve turned over to the side, her back to the bar counter.

Maeve bent over slightly, holding the stick and aimed. "One hand here and the other set on top of the table, okay? You take aim..." Maeve lowered her voice to continue, "and your mother is trying to kill you." she said and made a shot.

Both brothers stiffened in place hearing her last words. Both looked at her with a plain look. She looked at the two giving them a look they deduced as "play along"

"You could do it like that. But, I like my way better." Klaus said and pushed Kol away, "How do you know that?" He made a shot as the balls dispersed over the table.

"Easy. I had a lot of practice. Watch." She gripped her stick and made three shots back to back. "My brother and I used to do this a lot. Privacy spells are easy to disrupt when the one who cast is distracted. I heard her talking to Elena last night." She whispered.

"You see if one goes..." She made another shot, "they all go." 

The waiter came with a bottle of bourbon. She happily muttered a quick thank you and took a long swing.

"So. You better be prepared. Cause I'm gonna beat you." Maeve smirked.

"You got a lot of nerve. Alright. Game on." Klaus challenged. 

"What's the strategy?" Kol asked. 

"Capture, manipulate and get what we want." Maeve smugly replied shooting the pool balls Klaus set on the table. She didn't mention the threat to her. She knew it well that Klaus and even Kol would force her to leave.

"You spent a lot of time with Nik, didn't you?" asked Kol with a snicker.

"A summer full of bickering, aneurysms. Wasn't it just painfully amazing?" Maeve said sarcastically with a tight smile.

"Cheers to never repeat that." He said raising his glass and chugging down his drink.

"Alright, who are you woman?" Kol blurted out dropping the stick on the table. He clearly wasn't used to seeing Klaus be lenient with anyone.

"You gave multiple aneurysms as you said, to my brother, call him names that your tone suggests are disrespectful and yet you live to tell the tale. What did you do?" 

Klaus walked to stand behind Maeve and looked at his younger brother, "She became my friend." He said in a slightly raised voice, enough for Alaric and the Doctor to hear. 

Maeve glanced at Alaric who snapped his head in their direction having heard his statement. Maeve stifled a laugh at their shocked expressions. 

"My turn." Kol said and started shooting.

The spent the majority of the day playing playing pool. They took a small break to drink some more. Maeve sat next to them drinking her fifth milkshake of the day. 

"Are you sure you don't want more bourbon?" Kol offered again. He knew she was going to say no but he asked anyway. 

"You know what my answer is Kolbear." Maeve replied and sat up immediately. Her eyes sparkling in delight.

Kol sighed hanging his head low, "that's here to stay, isn't it?"

"Why'd you think?" she asked amusingly.

"Now, excuse me." She excused herself to the bathroom. She walked out after a few minutes but suddenly her world went black. 

She groaned and opened her eyes to bright light on her. She blinked her eyes twice adjusting to it. She saw Alaric dragging Kol from where she was. She realised she was in someone's arms as well. She growled lowly as the man who held her stiffened. 

"Motus" she released herself from the grip instantly. She fell on her knees. Alaric still held Kol who was daggered. 

She somehow managed to get up on her feet but crumbled back down. She could feel the burn in her veins Wolfsbane caused. She saw Klaus appear suddenly and push Alaric away. He undaggered Kol and glared at Damon before pushing him against the wall.

"I should have killed you months ago."

"Do it. It wouldn't stop Esther from killing you." snapped Damon. 

Maeve managed to get up on her feet. "What did you say about my mother?" Klaus hissed.

"You didn't know we were friends with your mommy? Yeah, we both got a few things in common. She hates you just as much as I do." Damon clapped back. Maeve managed to gain some strength. Kol was awake by now. He was immediately by Maeve's side.

"You okay darling?" He inquired 

"Yeah. You?" Kol nodded.

"Leave them, Niklaus. We still need them." They heard Elijah speak from up the stairs.

"Where's our mother Elijah? What did she do?" Klaus asked.

Elijah walked down the stairs ignoring Klaus's question. "You tell me where the witches are or I'll have my sister kill Elena right now" He threatened.

"You told me we had until after nine." Damon said frustrated.

"I am sure Rebekah would be more than happy to start her work early." 

"Damon." They turned to face Maeve.

She wobbled a little when she released herself from Kol's hand. She rubbed her index finger and thumb together. Damon toppled over in pain dropping to his knees screaming out painfully. Stefan held his brother by his shoulder but even he felt a force weigh him on his chest making it difficult for him to breath.

"How dare you!" she was enraged. Maeve took threateningly slow steps moving away from the Mikaelson siblings and closer to the Salvatores. "How dare you think, pathetic low lives like yourselves are any match to me or them. How condescending can you be to think you can stand a chance."

The spell grew stronger, forcing more pain and weight on top of them. "Where can I find Esther?" she asked. Both brothers were in far too much pain to muster up syllables let alone proper words. Maeve crouched down at an eye level with the two,

"Do I need to repeat myself?" her condescending and venomous tone startled the Mikaelson siblings who exchanged looks. Elijah had only seen this side of hers once. It was a moment where Maeve would become a completely different person.

Maeve lifted up the spell giving a moment for the brothers to breathe again. "The witches house. That's where they are." bleated Stefan clutching his stomach.

Maeve smiled arrogantly holding eye contact with Damon who was glaring back at her. "Was that difficult? Well, have fun healing gentlemen!" she waved a salute and stood back up.

"Let's go."

"She's going after you too." Damon announced loudly. "Esther plans on killing you too."

Maeve turned around to face her making her hair toss over her shoulder dramatically. "I guessed as much. She's helping you. What else have you ever wished for me than death."

Maeve looked back at the Mikaelson brothers who were staring back at her. "Don't tell me to leave. I have to face that bitch."

"Maeve...she's──" with a wave of her hand, Maeve dismissed Klaus's words.

"I'm coming." Elijah looked away trying not to get angry at Maeve's stubborn behaviour.

"Never leave our side." He said firmly. Maeve nodded her head. Elijah took her hand and the four sped away to the destination.

In the middle of the forest, the torches highlighted the area where Esther had prepared to sacrifice her own blood. Maeve couldn't wrap her head around the fact that a mother would go to such an extent.

"They're coming mother." She heard Finn's voice. 

"No. It's too early." Esther's worried voice made her smile, "the moon is not high enough. Go quickly." 

The four approached the pentagram with torches at five ends. Salt was used as a barrier to connect to the earth. "My sons. Come forward." Esther said walking inside the pentagram. Maeve stood at the back with Elijah by her side. Klaus and Kol walked further ahead.

"Stay beside me." Finn told his mother.

"It's okay. They can't enter." Esther stated. Kol walked ahead but the torches blared up making them step away immediately.

"That's lovely. We're stuck out here while the favourite son plays Sacrificial lamb. How pathetic are you Finn?" Kol scoffed angrily.

"Be quiet, Kol. Your brother knows virtue you cannot even imagine." Esther replied curtly.

"Really? This is virtue?" spat Maeve stomping on the forest floor as she made her way to the front. "Virtue is of killing your own blood? It is an atrocity, Esther."

"My only regret is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago." Maeve couldn't believe her ears when she heard Esther say those words. 

"Protects activas tueri corporis viribus nectunt" Maeve muttered under her breath.

Klaus walked around and stood beside Maeve, "Enough. All this talk is boring me. End this now mother, or I'll send you back to hell." 

"For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim, suffered while you shed blood. Even you, Elijah. With your claim to nobility, you're no better. All of you, you're a curse on this Earth stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life. I'm sorry, you have wasted your time." Esther spoke her piece. She turned to look at Maeve.

"You. You're no better. You are a Serene witch and a Lycan. Nature never lets an atrocity like you live. You have survived long enough. As a servant of nature, it is my duty to set things straight." Esther conveyed to her as if hoping the girl would realise her mistake.

Whispers echoed into the silent night. Maeve looked around frantically trying to see the source but all she saw was the dark and silhouettes of trees in the forest. Esther raised her arms in the air, closing her eyes as the whispers became louder. Maeve coughed a bit before she let out a piercing shrill scream cradling her head in her hands. She dropped down to her knees continuing to cry out in pain.

Elijah was immediately by her side holding her close to him. She reached out a hand to grab his. She held it as tightly as she could. Maeve gritted her teeth angrily but it didn't hide the wails of pain from anyone. Kol knelt next to Maeve holding her arm watching helplessly as did his brothers as Maeve was facing pain unimaginable.

"Stop the spell, mother!" yelled out Elijah. He couldn't bear another second of Maeve's pain. Suddenly the cries stopped changing into a surprised sound of laughter. Maeve sat up letting go of her grip on Elijah's hand and stood up.

Esther stared at the young girl gawking in shock as did Finn. "Did you really think you or your petty little witches have any effect on me? Could actually kill me?"

"How is this possible? I did everything right." she trembled staring at Maeve who had now a grin plastered across her face. Esther closed her eyes again chanting another spell.

Maeve grunted in pain, feeling her knees wobble. "Really?" she breathily said. Maeve raised her hands as well, starting a counter spell.

The torches blared up higher as the winds blew strongly. The brothers watched in shock, uncertainty and worry as Maeve stood her ground firmly facing their mother; the original witch.

The torches blared up angrily again but this time they died down as Maeve had triumphantly stopped the spell Esther was trying to cast.

"No sister's. Do not abandon me." Esther pleaded. The torches blared high again. Elijah pulled Maeve back and used his body as a sheild to protect her. Everyone turned back to the pentagram only to see the mother-son duo were gone.

Maeve let out a harsh breath staring at the pentagram. Her vision blurred first before black spots started appearing suddenly. "Maeve?" she heard a deep voice ask but it seemed far too distant.

Maeve blinked her eyes a few times trying to keep herself from falling unconscious but failed. Her eyes rolled back as she fell down losing her consciousness.

"Maeve!" All three yelled out her name anxiously kneeling next to her to help.

"What's going on?" said Kol rhetorically.

"Whatever they injected her with and the spell must have exhausted her." said Elijah frantically. "We need to take her back to the mansion." Elijah lifted up Maeve into his arms.

"Let's go to her apartment. She said she's got herbs and some other things. It can heal her." suggested Kol. The other two brothers nodded.

Klaus twisted open the door as Elijah walked ahead of him inside the apartment.

"SURPRISE!" all of them snapped their heads up jolting in surprise at the loud voice. Caroline Forbes stood in the apartment holding a bottle of champagne. Her eyes fell on Maeve being carried by Elijah "What the hell?"

Elijah ignored and gently placed Maeve on the couch. "What's going on? What happened to her?" Caroline knelt on the carpet by Maeve's head.

"Esther tried to kill her."

Caroline looked at Elijah, "we knew that. Let me guess...she stubbornly followed through to the possible place of her death."

"Well summarised, Caroline." said Klaus condescendingly. "Now if you'll excuse us, we are trying to help her. Kol?" He hollered at his brother who stood in the doorway.

"Yeah...uh, try some rosemary and thyme. She's a Serene witch. It is the go-to cure of them." He told them. "Delphine told me."

Klaus nodded and moved over to the boxes in search of the herbs. "I think she moved a few jars from the boxes. Hold on..." Caroline jumped to her feet immediately and went in to Maeve's bedroom. A few minutes later she walked out holding two jars.

"Rosemary and thyme. How do we do it?"

"Put that in her mouth of course. How else?" Kol said as a matter of factly. Caroline followed after Kol's instructions and powered the two herbs and forced them into Maeve's mouth.

"And now we wait." said Kol. His eyes roved around the mildly decorated room making him draw a confused look. "What's with the decorations?" he asked her.

"It's Maeve's birthday." said Caroline, her eyes set straight on Maeve, waiting for her to wake up. All three of them whipped their head at Caroline shocked to hear it was Maeve's birthday.

Maeve stirred a little slowly coming to her consciousness. She opened her eyes with a groan and sat up. Maeve looked around the room. "Hello everybody! Wh──how did we get here?" she asked seeing it was her apartment where they currently were.

"You fell unconscious, Maeve." revealed Klaus. Maeve blinked her eyes as slowly it all came back to her.

"Oh yeah...Killing and spells. Yeah yeah...uh, Kol you can come in." Maeve said seeing Kol still on the other side of the door.

"Thank you. How are you feeling?"

"Tired but better."

"Why didn't you say it was your birthday?"

"Seemed out of syllabus with your mother trying to kill us all." she attempted to humor but nobody even smiled let alone laughed. "Too soon?"

Before conversation could resumed further, Rebekah stormed through the front door looking around at her siblings first and then at a tired Maeve sitting next to Caroline. "What the bloody hell happened?" she asked.

"Mother attacked Maeve. She wanted to kill her and us as you know. But failed miserably and fled with her favourite son. Maeve is healing from a wolfsbane attack."

"All that is to know is that it's over Rebekah." Elijah said turning to face her.

"Where's Mother?"

"We have no mother, only Esther. And Esther was right." Maeve perked up her ears at his statement.

"What do you mean?"

"All my talk of virtue, when it suits my needs, I kill, I maim and torment. Even today I terrorized an innocent."

"Elena is hardly innocent." Rebekah argued looking at Maeve hoping she'd back her up.

"Agreed. She was the one who helped Esther to link all of you." Maeve added before discreetly looking at Caroline who only slouched trying to be invisible in the room.

"And kill you." added Kol spitefully.

"Are we?" Elijah said ignoring Maeve, "mother made us Vampires. She didn't make us monsters. We did that to ourselves." 

"You really think you're a Monster?" Maeve questioned again.

"What I did today. What we have for centuries proves that we are an abomination on Earth. Monsters."

"If that is the case, then what am I? Who am I, Elijah? You saw what I did...you know what I've done. Do you think I am a monster too?"

"No. That's not what I meant."

"Then why did you say it? Huh?" interrogated Maeve. She clenched a jaw before she continued angrily,  "You are not. None of us are. Nature is rather strict and retaliates against anyone who goes against it. Don't you think you would have died despite all the loopholes you found if nature truly never intended to let you live?" Maeve said as a matter of fact.

"Now, define a Monster." She demanded an answer from Elijah. He stared at her confused because why would Maeve ask him such a question.

"I'll tell you, don't worry. Not one to miss an opportunity to lecture." said Maeve before she moved to face him directly. "A monster is a creepy creature driven with hunger, anger and more importantly narcissist greed. You or for that matter every single person present in this very room is not one. Want to know why? Because you care. You cared when you first saw me. You cared and helped me with my powers. You cared and warned me about Damon...however badly that went but it still happened."

Maeve turned her head to Klaus and pointed at the original hybrid. "Klaus──the big bad original Hybrid with no heart treated me like a human despite knowing who I am. He is as much of a reason for me feeling good in my skin as you are. He defended me in Chicago when another witch called me an Abomination. Klaus is the man I owe my life to because he saved me, helped me recover from Silver: twice. Rebekah's been a total sweetheart to me since the start. Kol checked up on me today, even though we met just forty eight hours ago. Why?" She turned her body completely to face everyone. Maeve wanted to look at everyone as she asked,

"Why did you do all of this for me? Care about me? Help me? Get angry because of what those bastards did to me. Why care when you could have lived on with your lives? Huh? Because you are not monsters. None of us are. Esther can say whatever she wants but it doesn't change the fact that, you. are. not. monsters."

Silence rang like a tinnitus ringing in everyone's ears after Maeve's words. Everyone soaked in what she had said. Caroline let Maeve's words sink in. She knew the originals were good friends to Maeve but she had not been aware of the entire truth until now. The originals meant a lot to Maeve and it felt nice for her to know there were people who were ready to do anything for Maeve. Something the blonde wanted for the hybrid for a while.

"If you all are done? The champagne is getting warm and food is getting cold. Can we get on it?" asked Caroline.

"Let's not keep it waiting then." said Klaus making his way into the kitchen to help himself with some champagne.

"Flute glasses in the back in the third cabinet ladies." said Maeve.

"What's going on?" asked Rebekah.

"It's Maeve's birthday." said Kol picking up a slice of pizza for himself.

"Are you kidding me?" yelled Rebekah making Maeve smile sheepishly.