TIME JUMP
THREE YEARS LATER

    Caroline Forbes, who looked tired, had just led her toddler daughters, Josie and Lizzie, into St. James Infirmary, "All right, girls. You know what this is? It's a bar. And this is the last time you're gonna be in one of these until you are twenty-one." She told her twin daughters in a hushed tone.

Just then, a waitress entered, walking past the unknown person sitting at the bar who was getting day drunk, as if they were invisible, "Sorry, we're closed, and..." She trailed off, finally getting a good look at Caroline and her three-year-old twins and immediately scoffed in disgust, "I don't think so."

"We're not staying. We just got here, and..." She trailed off uneasily, "Then I realized, I didn't actually know where the person I'm looking for lived."

The waitress was only half listening as she set up candles on the tables, so Caroline was quick to get to the point, "Klaus Mikaelson?"

The unknown individual who sat at the bar, whose back faced Caroline immediately looked up from staring down at their glass of scotch, but didn't yet turn to the blonde.

The waitress looked at her, both exasperated and slightly sympathetic, "Honey, hate to say this, but you've wasted a trip."

"Or maybe Ophelia Rose," Caroline spoke up suddenly, causing the woman to stop where she was, "Do you know who that may be? I heard she's queen of the city. She'll be able to help me. Do you know where she is?"

"Sorry to say this, but Ophelia Rose and Klaus Mikaelson are gone." Slyvia, the waitress, snapped at Caroline, clearly growing annoyed with her presence.

"Gone? Gone where?" Caroline asked the female in concern.

"I mean, no one has seen or heard either of them in..." She trailed off, thinking for a moment, "Three years. No one knows where Klaus went, but there's a rumor that Ophelia's living with her daughter, Valerie Rose, in Southern California."

The waitress went back to work, and Caroline, clearly shocked, tried her best not to look concerned as she smiled down at the girls.

"So, you're looking for Klaus Mikaelson, huh?" A voice suddenly spoke up, causing Caroline to look up and finally notice the female sitting at the bar, looking down at her glass of scotch.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," Caroline smiled fakely, walking closer to the woman, who finally turned to face her, "Why? Do you know where he is?"

"He's in the city, but nobody can figure out exactly where, though. Not even me," The woman informed Caroline in a calm tone, standing up from her seat, "You're Caroline Forbes, aren't you? I've heard a lot about you."

Caroline's eyes widened in alarm, clearly not knowing who the woman was or how she knew her name. Caroline quickly turned around, about to walk away when the woman spoke up, "The name's Ophelia Rose. I have a feeling that name might ring a bell, does it not?"

Caroline, who seemed somewhat relieved turned to Ophelia, "I don't know you, but somehow, I feel like a weight has lifted now that I've finally found you." She told Ophelia, who smiled in response.

"I tend to have that effect on people," Ophelia commented and Caroline couldn't help but smile at the female tribrid, "Now, about Klaus, I have a feeling you're in for a rude awakening when you hear what I'm about to say."

Caroline's face fell, clearly concerned and fearful about what Ophelia was about to tell her.

PRESENT
NEW ORLEANS

Stefan Salvatore entered St. James' infirmary and headed straight for the bar, sighing as he sat down.

After a moment, a shot was suddenly slid down the table toward him, revealing Klaus and Ophelia to be sitting next to him, side by side at the bar. Both immortal beings looked both amused and slightly suspicious at the sight of the youngest Salvatore though the duo smirked devilishly at him, "Stefan Salvatore. What a sight," Ophelia greeted the male vampire, smiling at him, "Welcome back to New Orleans."

Stefan stared at both Ophelia and Klaus in shock, especially the fact that the duo seemed familiar with each other.

The whole Mystic Falls gang had heard stories from Rebekah and Elijah of Klaus' other half. The woman who had seemed to tame the original hybrid and keep him from going completely mad for so many centuries. The same woman who caused Klaus to change almost completely for the worse after her death. They had all known that woman as Ophelia. Stefan had known no clue that the woman had been Ophelia Rose, though.

"Ophelia Rose, as I live and breathe," Stefan greeted Ophelia, turning in his seat to fully face her and Klaus.

"And how do you know Stefan?" Klaus suddenly questioned Ophelia before even turning to greet Stefan.

"He was here with his brother in the 40's," Ophelia informed Klaus with a smile, "Didn't like him much. He tried to flirt with me."

Stefan couldn't help but quietly laugh, "My brother for you," He muttered under his breath before Klaus finally decided to greet his old "Friend".

"Stefan Salvatore in the Crescent City," Klaus spoke up, "This ought to be very good, or entertainingly bad."

"I dare say the latter," Ophelia muttered under her breath, downing her sixth shot since arriving at the bar with Klaus ten minutes before.

Klaus had decided to take Ophelia to the bar to drink a bit and get her mind off the revenge fantasy he knew for a fact she was thinking about.

"I'm just in town for a little R & R. Hate to disappoint," Stefan told the duo, downing his shot of bourbon, "So, how are Elijah, and, uh, whoever else you've brought back from the dead?"

"Oh, you know the Mikaelsons. Never a dull moment," Klaus responded, smiling slightly.

"Understatement of the year," Ophelia remarked, downing Klaus' shot, which caused the male hybrid to roll his eyes at her.

"And how do you know each other?" Stefan questioned the duo, gesturing to how civilized they were being. He knew the answer already, but he couldn't help but wonder what they would say exactly.

"We were former loves," Klaus informed Stefan in a calm tone, "Now...We're just complicated."

Stefan's phone suddenly buzzed, but he was quick to turn it off, "So, Stefan," Ophelia spoke up, giving the Salvatore vampire a skeptical look, "Out of all the bars in New Orleans, you pick the one I happened to own..." She trailed off, "The one whose our walls are invulnerable to the magic of those pesky locator spells. Bit of a coincidence, is it not?"

"Damon's looking for me, and I don't want to be found. I figured Klaus, of all people, could relate to family drama," He paused, gesturing to Ophelia, "And luckily for me, you're here, too, Ophelia, which makes the trip even better."

Ophelia rolled her eyes, clearly not falling for his lying like Klaus seemed to be, "Sylvia, this is an old friend. Please keep his cup brimming." Klaus spoke up as one of the bartenders walked by.

The woman stopped walking, turning to face Stefan with a smile on her face, "Mmm. Cute old friend," She remarked, "Where have you been hiding him?"

"Quaint little place called Mystic Falls. Home of the mining fires that prompted a town-wide evacuation," He paused, turning to Stefan, "It was very noble of you to stand up for the human faction as you did, in such uncharacteristically sweeping, dramatic fashion."

"I did have some help." Stefan pointed out to Klaus.

"How is Caroline?" Klaus suddenly asked, causing Ophelia to choke on the shot she was just downing.

Seeing her reaction, Klaus smirked in satisfaction, clearly mentioning the woman on purpose. Ophelia always claimed to not be the jealous type as Klaus happened to be, but it was always obvious she was.

Noticing the way Klaus smirked at Ophelia while the latter glared at the immortal hybrid, Stefan turned away, calling out for the bartender. "Sylvia, I think we're gonna need another round."

_____

After talking with Stefan a bit about Caroline and all of what was going on in Mystic Falls, Klaus and Ophelia sat together at a table while Stefan had gone outside to make a call.

"It seems you're jealous, love," Klaus spoke up, breaking the silence between him and Ophelia in Stefan's absence.

Ophelia scoffed, turning to finally look Klaus in the eye, "I am not jealous," She argued with an attitude, "Unlike you, I'm not the jealous type."

"So, you're saying that if I made a trip to see Caroline tonight, you wouldn't be jealous?" Klaus questioned and Ophelia tried to keep her straight face while he continued to grin at her.

"Fine," Ophelia blurted out, a frustrated look on her face, "Okay, I do get jealous. Is that what you want to hear?"

Before their conversation could continue, Stefan returned to the bar to continue his talk with Klaus and Ophelia, "So, where were we? Siphon babies, vampire-witch Heretics?" Klaus questioned Stefan curiously, holding out a full glass of alcohol for Stefan, "Hmm, sounds like you've been having quite a lot of fun since the last time our paths crossed."

"Well, to be clear, Caroline practically died in childbirth. And she's not actually their mother. It just sort of..." He trailed off awkwardly, "happened."

"So, she carried two lives in her womb, she gave birth to them, and now she plans to hand those cooing little faces over to Alaric without so much as a hiccup of hesitation?" Klaus questioned, his voice becoming sarcastic, "Yeah, you're probably right, that does sound like the Caroline I remember."

While Klaus continued to mock and tease Stefan, Ophelia seemed to be the only piecing everything that Stefan was saying together, finally coming to the conclusion that it didn't add up.

Ophelia leaned forward, giving Stefan a suspicious look, clearly knowing that Stefan was hiding something from her and Klaus, "If you care about this Caroline girl as much as you say you do, why aren't you with her right now?"

"Like I said, family drama," Stefan nervously responded, which gave it all away for both Klaus and Ophelia, "Speaking of, umm..." He trailed off, turning to Klaus, "Damon's found himself in a bit of a werewolf predicament. I know I said he was a pain in the ass, but is there any chance you'd be willing to spare some blood? Just in case things go south?"

"I can convince Klaus to give you his blood," Ophelia suddenly spoke up, causing Klaus to raise a brow at her, "But first you gotta tell us what the hell you're actually doing here because I know you're lying."

Before Stefan could even respond to Ophelia, his wound started to bleed through his shirt. Seeing the X-shaped blood stain on Stefan's shirt, Ophelia's eyes widened in alarm.

Enraged, Ophelia leaned forward and ripped open the first few buttons of Stefan's shirt to reveal the all-too-familiar mark that came from the sword wielded by Rayna Cruz.

Ophelia shared a look with Klaus, who looked to have the same reaction as her, causing them both to abruptly stand up from their seats.

"That is the mark of the Phoenix Sword!" Ophelia raised her voice, pointing at the X-shaped wound on Stefan's chest with a fearful look on her face.

Stefan looked shocked that Ophelia knew about the mark and Klaus seemed to as well, which worried him most of all. "You've seen this before?" He asked the duo, his eyes wide as he cautiously stood up.

"Tell me you have not been careless enough to make an enemy of Rayna Cruz," Klaus insisted, sounding almost pleading.

"Why do you think I'm here, Klaus?" Stefan told Klaus in pleading tone, hoping that he and Ophelia wouldn't kick him out.

Ophelia, who was ten times as angry than Klaus was at the moment, practically lunged for Stefan before Klaus grabbed her by the arm and held her by the arm, "So, you really thought you could come and hide in my bar, to seek refuge in my town, to enjoy the perks of my hospitality in the city where my family sleeps, and all the while, you lure in a vicious hound with your scent?" She asked him furiously, her hybrid eyes glowing since she was so enraged and unable to control it.

"She can't find me in this bar--" Stefan began to say, but ended up being cut off by Ophelia once more while Klaus stood there, knowing that she was right and even if she wasn't, he knew never to try and talk her down when she was that enraged.

"Well, maybe not under this roof, Stefan, but are you aware that she was born in New Orleans?" She asked, stepping forward and roughly pushing Stefan back, "She terrorized the Quarter for decades, thrust her blade through the heart of some of our best men on the steps of St. Anne's Church as I was force to witness it all, unable to stop her," She referred to herself and Klaus for the first time since referring to it as her city, "She will hunt your sorry ass until your paranoia and despair far outweigh your desire to live. Here, elsewhere, or even in hell, Rayna Cruz will find you. I promise you that."

"If you know how to outrun her, tell me what to do, Ophelia!" Stefan pleaded with Ophelia before turning to Klaus, who stood there, not saying a single word.

Noticing the way Stefan looked at Klaus pleadingly, Ophelia only became more furious, "I'll tell you what you don't do, Stefan!" She practically screamed at him in rage, "You do not draw a huntress to a town filled with dozens of vampires residing there. Especially when those vampires are my family. What you also don't do is drink my bourbon while you lie straight to my face. And don't you dare come in here, asking for favors again. Do you understand me?"

Stefan looked both horrified and terrified at how angered Ophelia was, clearly always seeing her as peaceful and happy woman. But that was the thing, he had never threatened to put the lives of everyone Ophelia cared about on the line before.

"Get out," Ophelia demanded and Stefan turned, his eyes widening when he saw the bottles behind the bar all begin to rattle from Ophelia's magic.

"If I leave, she'll kill me." Stefan reminded her, but Ophelia seemed unbothered by Stefan's pleas.

"And if you stay, I will," Ophelia threatened Stefan, gritting her teeth in anger, "Now. Get. Out."

Ophelia turned away to leave and when she realized Stefan hadn't left, Ophelia spun around to face him, looking angrier than Stefan or even Klaus had ever seen her before, "I said get out!" She roared at the top of her lungs, the bulbs to the lights in the bar exploding as well as numerous bottles and glasses of alcohol around them.

With that, Stefan reluctantly did as he was told without another word, and Ophelia paced through the bar, anxiously rubbing her face with her hand, "Ophelia," Klaus spoke up in warning, noticing how the bottles of alcohol that hadn't been broken yet were now rattling once more.

"Just stop," Ophelia cut him off, finally looking up at Klaus, "We need to go after him."

Klaus frowned at Ophelia, raising a brow at her, "What?" He asked her in confusion.

"We need to go after him," Ophelia insisted, "I made a mistake. My anger got the best of me. We can't just let Stefan be killed from Rayna. If we save him from Rayna before it's too late, we could bring him to Freya. Freya may have a solution."

Klaus was a bit taken aback by Ophelia's sudden mood change but noticed the pleading look on her face, "Fine," He hesitantly decided, "Let's go."

____

After his car was suddenly driven off the road, one of them found that Rayna's wooden arrows impaled his left front tire, Stefan immediately looked around to see where she was, an uneasy look on his face.

Just then, she appeared in front of him, shooting him in the leg with another bolt from her crossbow before reloading it and shooting another one into his right shoulder.

He fell back against his Jeep, and Rayna tossed aside her crossbow in favor of pulling her Phoenix Sword out of the scabbard strapped to her back as she walked toward him.

The male vampire fell to one knee, allowing Rayna to kick him flat on his back on the ground as she pinned him down with her leg and drove the blade of her sword toward his heart. Stefan took the blade in his hands and used all of his strength to keep her from plunging it into his chest. His hands started to gush blood from the effort, and Rayna used all the strength she had to fight against him.

Suddenly, a growl was heard and before either of them react, a wolf lunged at Rayna, tackling her to the ground, away from Stefan.

The wolf bit into Rayna's neck, tearing her throat out while her sword flew far away from her.

Suddenly, Klaus sped over and reached down with his hand, which Stefan took so he could pull him to his feet. As the werewolf approached, Stefan became worried that it was going to attack them, only to watch as it turned back to a human to reveal it to be Ophelia.

Glancing between the duo, Stefan gave Ophelia and Klaus a shocked look, "What are you doing here?"

"The right thing. I hope," Klaus responded, referring to Ophelia being one to convince him to help her save Stefan, "She's dead for now. We have to go."

"We need to grab her before she comes back to life." Stefan argued, causing Ophelia to sigh as she walked closer to him.

"Stefan, you are trespassing on dangerous ground. Trust me," Ophelia reminded him in a low tone.

Klaus gestured toward the woods behind them, where the eyes of a dozen growling werewolves were staring back at them near where Ophelia had left Rayna's torn up body, "Even if their queen is here, this is werewolf territory and she won't be able to stop them. Let's go." He explained as he and Ophelia vamp-sped away, Stefan following soon after.