"She's holding it together but she's pretty upset." Henrik muttered through the phone. He stood in the threshold of the kitchen watching Claire, Caroline, Bill and Madelyn.

"And he's not going to complete the transition?" Klaus mutters already knowing the answer.

"He's pretty dead set on not completing it. He's like every other adult in this damn town, they all hate vampires. He'd rather die than become one which is what's going to happen in a few hours." Henrik explained.

"And despite Claire hating him for what he did to Caroline, she's still going to be devastated." Klaus says. Henrik nods. "And Elijah and I are stuck doing this damn dinner." He grumbles.

"Get through the dinner and get your ass over here." Henrik told him.

"Keep me updated" Klaus tells him.

"You do the same." Henrik said before hanging up and reentering the living room.

Klaus puts the phone in his pocket and sighs with frustration. He could feel Claire's pain. It fluctuated but it was always there.

"Niklaus, our guests have arrived." Elijah says entering with Damon and Stefan. He turns towards them. Elijah and Klaus share a look. Both of them wanting to be with Claire than here but this is what she wanted.

"Where's Claire?" Damon asked knowing that both Elijah and Klaus would be easier to deal with with her here.

"She's dealing with a family matter. It's just us tonight" Klaus smirks. Damon rolls his eyes but forces a smile. "My darling tells me you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?" He suggests.

"It's better to indulge him." Elijah says wanting to move this along. The sooner the dinner is over, the sooner they can all leave.

"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. 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 smiling tightly.

"Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours." Klaus smirks giving them a hard look. He usually has a short temper but with what's going on with Claire, it's shorter than ever. He didn't want to be here, he wants to be with her. Damon and Stefan share a look before they all take a seat.

"Thank you, love" Damon smirks at one of the female servants.

"You lost your appetite" Klaus notes staring at Stefan.

"Eat. I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home." Damon tells Stefan.

"That's the spirit" Klaus smirks as Stefan begins to eat. "Isn't it nice? Four of us dining together? Such a treat." He snarks amusingly.

"Did you hear back from Tyler yet?" Claire asks Caroline softly as the two of them sat on the porch. Caroline shakes her head.

"No and I've left messages for him everywhere." Caroline mutters. She sighs and looks over at Claire. "Do you hate me?"

"Hate you? Why would I hate you?" Claire asks shifting closer to her sister.

"For being with Tyler" Caroline mumbled. Claire sighs and doesn't respond right away. "I didn't mean for it to happen.. I was just trying to be a good friend at first and then it just... happened."

"No, Care... I don't hate you.. I could never hate my sister." Caroline smiles and rests her head on Claire's shoulder. "Now, Tyler, him I hate." She said. Caroline smiles. "And if he ever hurts you, I'll make sure it's the last thing he does."

"I bet you're looking forward to it" Caroline whispers.

"What? Killing Tyler? Of course" Claire smirks. "But him hurting you? No, I'm not looking forward to that."

"You sound so sure that he's going to hurt me" Caroline said lifting her head.

"I don't trust Tyler, that's old news." Claire tells her. Caroline nods looking away from her. "Can you remember the last time Mom's sat in the same room as him for this long? Without throwing something?" Caroline smiles and shakes her head.

"I can't just let him die" Caroline whispers. "I'm... I'm gonna force him to feed" Caroline decides and goes to stand but Claire grabs her.

"Care, you can't do that to him." Claire whispers. "This life, it isn't for everyone. Do you really think he could live with himself as a vampire?"

"No" Caroline pouts. Claire hugs her tightly, Caroline wraps her arms around her little sister. She sniffles as tears began to fall down her face. Claire holds onto her tighter. "I hated him so much for what he did to me.. So much... Now all I want to do is save his life."

"I know, Care-bear" Claire whispers. "I'm in the same boat but there's nothing we can do." She whispers. Caroline sobs and Claire kisses her head. She closes her eyes and tries to be strong for her sister. "It's going to be ok, Caroline" She whispers. "We'll still have each other."

"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah suggests as both he and Klaus can feel Claire's emotions plummet.

"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges." Damon says.

Klaus and Elijah both look at each other. They both knew they couldn't leave Mystic Falls. Claire doesn't want too. She wants to finish high school and stay with her sister and mother. This is her home, Madelyn's home.

"I don't think you understand." Klaus says slowly. "Elena's doppelganger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me and help protect my lovely mate... I will never leave her behind." Klaus stares at the Salvatore brothers before standing up. "Let's 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 caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is... the two of you." Klaus tells them.

"I'm gonna get some air" Damon said standing up. Klaus gives Elijah a look.

"Let me deal with this" Elijah tells him before following the older Salvatore.

"All this talk has made me thirsty." Klaus smirks at Stefan before glancing at one of the servants. She walks over and he stands up. "What do you say, Stefan? Can I interest you in a little after-dinner drink?" Klaus wonders before drinking her blood.

While the woman's blood is very delicious, he still craved Claire's. To him, nobody's blood would ever compare to Claire's. Her blood satisfied him more than any other he's ever tasted.

"Delicious... Aged to perfection." Klaus smirks dropping the girl to the ground.

"Well, I guess that only reason you agreed to this evening, Klaus, is to drive a wedge between me and my brother." Stefan notes.

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

"What do you say, Klaus?" Damon asks reentering the room with Elijah. "It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon said. Klaus glances at Elijah before sitting at the table.

"Ok" He mutters. "I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot. And to fall in love with a human, maybe that nice football player, you know, the blond one" He says.

"Matt Donovan? Really?" Damon asks.

"Yeah, why not?" Klaus asks smirking. "They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Klaus tells him.

"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelganger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan grins.

"Consider it a small return n my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know it's what's best for her." Klaus stands and walks towards Stefan. "So, what do you say Stefan?" He hums. "Do we have a deal?"

"What are you doing?" Damon snipped as Stefan walks towards him.

"Nice try, Klaus" Stefan smirks as they shake hands. "But no deal" Anger flares through Klaus. He lashes out and breaks Stefan's arm. He then breaks his leg and drags him to the fireplace. Stefan screams as Klaus shoves his hand into the fire. Damon goes to stop them but Elijah slams him against the wall.

"Stop!" Damon snapped.

"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." Klaus growls keeping a firm grip on him.

"I'll get it." Damon snapped.

"Go with him, brother. You keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will undagger our family." Klaus says. Elijah slowly nods before leaving with Damon.

"You're good with her" Claire whispers as Bill puts Madelyn to bed.

"Thank you.. for letting me be with her today." Bill says turning to her.

"It's the least I can do.. since you're not going to be around anymore." Claire snipped. Bill smiles at her knowing that her anger was a cover up. He pulls her into a tight hug.

"You know I can't complete the transition." Claire clenches her eyes shut desperately trying to keep it together. "You're so strong, Claire. So strong." He whispers. "And I may not be your biological father but I love you, Claire. You are my daughter." Claire sobs and hugs him tightly.

"I don't want to lose you" She whimpers.

"I'll always be with you" He whispers rubbing her back gently. "I'll always watch after you, Madelyn and your sister. I love you so much, Baby" He whispers.

"I love you too, daddy" Claire whispers hugging him even tighter.

"You're going to be just fine." Bill says pulling away so he can see her face. "You are the strongest woman I've ever met. You're a wonderful mother. You're a great sister. And a perfect daughter. You're going to do so well in life. I wish I can be right next to you the entire time and I will... you just won't see me."

"I won't let you down." Claire whispers.

"You could never let me down." He kisses her forehead. He wipes her tears away before going into Caroline's room. Claire follows. "Hey" He says to Caroline.

"Hey" She said softly. She glance at her sister instantly noticing the tear stained face. They both smile at each other.

"Your first day at regionals" Bill said pointing to one of Caroline's trophies.

"Yep" Caroline nods. "I was afraid to join the squad but you talked me into it."

"You had nothing to be afraid of. You were so much better than all those other girls." Bill smiles at her proudly.

"How are you feeling?" Caroline asks as he sits on her bed.

"I'm tired" He mutters.

"Can I get you anything?" Caroline asks.

"Do you want me to call Steven?" Claire suggests.

"No, no, we haven't spoken in a while... Just call him when it's over and the dust is settled would you?" Bill asks. His daughters both nod.

"Listen, listen to me... I know you think you made your choice, but you can change your mind. You know, you are strong enough to handle being a vampire. I mean, you're the strongest person I know." Caroline says.

"Oh, Caroline, my strength is all in my beliefs. Becoming a vampire is wrong, people aren't supposed to cheat death. It's just what I believe. Please respect that." Bill whispers.

"God! How can you hate who I am so much?!" Caroline snapped.

"Oh, no, no, no, sweetheart, I don't hate you, I love you." Bill stands up and grabs her gently. "You're strong, you're beautiful, you're good. And even after everything that has happened to you, you are exactly who your mother and I hoped you'd grow up to be." Bill says.

"Please don't leave me, Daddy. Please.. Please don't leave me." Caroline begs crying.

"Shh" Bill whispers hugging her tightly. He looks at Claire and motions for her to come. She does so without hesitation. He hugs them both tightly. "Parents aren't supposed to outlive their children.. It's ok." He whispers. He looks over to the door seeing Liz standing there with tears in her eyes. "This is life... This is what it means to be human." He whispers to them.

Claire feels herself complete break down. 'Parents aren't supposed to outlive their children'. She lost Aaron not even a year ago. She's lost all of her friends. Now she's losing her father and it hurts... so much.

"Go ahead and kill me. I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin." Stefan growls. Klaus growls back angrily. Only his anger isn't from Stefan. He can feel Claire and knew he needed to end this negotiation right now so he can be with her. The pain he's feeling from her is... unbearable.

"You really have given up, haven't you? Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?" Klaus snapped shoving Stefan away from him. They go to fight each other but Klaus stops seeing Elijah returning. "Elijah, why haven't you left?" Klaus wonders.

"Where are your manners, brother? We forgot dessert." Elijah takes the cloth off the trey one of the servants is holding. Klaus's eyes widen as two silver daggers lie on there.

"What have you done?" Klaus whispers.

"What have you done? You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. You've had our siblings for hours and the first thing you should have done was undagger them but you didn't. You're allowing Claire to feel the emptiness of not having all of her mates with her and you're allowing Asher to break without Rebekah. We're doing this on my terms now" He snapped.

"Kol" Klaus whispers backing away from his youngest brother as he entered the room.

"Long time, brother." Kol snips smirking at him. Klaus goes to race away but is stopped by Finn.

"Finn, don't!" Finn stabs Klaus in the hand. Klaus cries out and races away. Elijah winces and looks at his hand feeling what Klaus was feeling but it wasn't his connection with his brother, it was his connection through Claire. His eyes widened as he remembered Claire could feel everything that's happening to Klaus.

"This is for our mother" Rebekah snapped stabbing him in the stomach. He cries out.

"Enough" Elijah snapped racing to Klaus. He rips the daggers out.

"Thank you" Klaus whispers.

"I didn't do it for you." Elijah snapped. Klaus then realizes what Elijah realized.

"Claire" He whispers. Elijah turns to Damon and Stefan.

"You're free to go. This is family business." Elijah tells them. The Salvatore's leave.

"I like what you've done with the new place, Nik." Rebekah smirks before throwing a vase. Klaus winces slightly.

"I wanted it to be for all of us. A place we could all call home. A place we could all be a family. None of us would ever have to be alone again." Klaus tells him.

"As much as I'd love to stay here and smash everything, I have a mate to get too." Rebekah smiles as she thinks about Asher. His deep blue eyes and his perfect skin. She misses him. She'd rather be with him than tormenting her brother, which is a first.

"Speaking of mates, where's ours?" Kol asked tilting his head. "The one you've been hogging" He snapped.

"She's at her mothers at the moment." Elijah said pulling his phone out as Henrik texts him. He sighs heavily as he reads it.

"What?" Klaus questions. Elijah looks at him.

"He's passed." Klaus rubs his face.

"Who?" Kol frowns his eyebrows.

"Claire's father died. He was in transition and refused to complete it" Elijah explained.

"So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go. We should have never done this dinner, Elijah." Klaus snapped.

"She wanted this" Elijah reminds him.

"But what she needs is us with her." Klaus snapped back.

"So, what are we still doing here?" Kol asked anxiously.

"Mother?" Rebekah whispers. The brothers all look at her before looking to the door. Klaus's eyes widened and his face pales. Esther walks into the room and stops in front of Klaus.

"Look at me" She said sternly. He does with hesitance. "Do you know why I'm here?" She asks.

"You're here to kill me" Klaus whispers barely able to keep eye contact.

"Niklaus, you are my son and I am here to forgive you.. I want us to be a family again." Esther said looking at him. She then looked around the room. "But our family is not complete."

"Mother?" Rebekah whispers.

"We're missing four." Esther mutters. "Asher, Claire, Madelyn.... And Henrik" She whispers.

"Henrik?" Finn questions.

"Reunions will have to wait... Excuse me mother but we'll talk tomorrow" Klaus said walking around her and disappearing. Kol disappears a second later.

"Go" Esther whispers to them. "Be with your mates" She says kindly. Without a seconds hesitation the rest of her children disappear. "While you still have the chance" She whispers sorrowfully.