I stood in the feminine hygiene isle of the local grocery store. It was actually kind of adorable. "I have to use the restroom."

Klaus' brow rose.

"I'm not going run, you can literally stand outside the door if you're really that suspicious."

"If you try to escape-"

"You'll shove me in the white room, I know." I swallowed. "Just give me a minute and I'll come back."

Don't look at Elena. Whatever you do, don't look at Elena.

"Fine."

As soon as I was in the bathroom, I began pulling apart the stolen pregnancy test, which had been difficult enough to do without Klaus' notice. This was it. The answer to my dream last night.

Mom always said there was meaning behind dreams, and I wasn't going to put a little baby in danger.

Elena opened and then quickly shut the door and I immediately put a finger to my lips before nodding outside and tapping my ear. Her eyes widened when she saw what was in my hand and I shrugged helplessly.

It was now or never.

I just needed to know, and there was something in my gut that told me I needed to trust this.

By the time I finished with the test, Elena was typing furiously on her phone. What if she told her entire group? I certainly needed the help but was I ready for that?

She glanced up when I moved toward the sinks and set the test on the counter.

It felt like I was standing on an edge, either way was going to tip me.

Elena showed me her screen.

'What are you going to do?'

I shrugged again, trying to silently express my panic.

She took it back and was typing again. 'Does Klaus know?' A head shake. 'Do you want my help?' A nod.

The little test beeped, and I jumped. Why did it seem so goddamn loud?!

Positive.

Fuck me.

Elena looked at me with a determination that I'd only ever seen on Jeremy's face. She motioned for me to wait a second and pulled up her contacts.

I glanced nervously at the door.

Would Klaus come storming in if he thought I was taking too long?

Fear crawled under my skin, twisting its way through me until I was fidgeting.

"Yoo-hoo big scary hybrid." Damon taunted from outside. "Tyler Lockwood wants to meet. Said he's got your other brother. What was his name, Kaz? Kolt? Kevin?" He snapped his fingers. "Oh it's Kol! Yeah that's it. Apparently some witches wanted their revenge on the Original so he lured him away from your little abode while you were fucking Maverick."

I'd been wondering where he went.

Wasn't worth the risk. I grabbed the test, practically ripping the paper towels as I tried to wrap it with shaking hands. I put it in the trash can just as Klaus shoved the door open, eyes blazing, the door smashed against the tile, shattering it. Once he saw Elena, his angry gaze slid to me and he immediately began advancing. "You knew."

"No! I swear!"

Damon showed up behind him, and for one, glorious moment I thought this was my ticket to freedom, but Klaus caught the stake before it could hit, swiftly and brutally snapping Damon's neck.

I was shoved against the wall, pressed bodily to it so hard, the back of my head bounced off it. "Do you really believe I wouldn't remember that you were apart of that little revolution?" He whispered in my ear. I was frozen.

The phrase, scared shitless, never made so much sense to me as it did right now. I don't think I've ever seen him so angry.

Klaus would take me back to his house. He would shove me into the white room, and find out about the baby, and my nightmare would come true. I just had to resign myself to it.

Give up.

There was no happy ending, not for me.

"If you ever want to see your brother again, you'll let her go!" From what little I could see of Elena over Klaus' shoulder, she looked ready to bolt.

"I'm not worried about Kol. He can handle a few vengeful witches." His grip loosened ever so slightly as he looked at her.

"I'm not talking about Kol." She held her chin high and Klaus tensed. "Elijah. I know where he is. He's daggered and defenseless. We have a white oak stake. I'm sure you can put two and two together."

"What would the famous Elena Gilbert trade such valuable information for?" Klaus spoke carefully, almost deceptively calm.

"Maverick."

His eyes slid over to mine, narrowing. "Why are you interested in my hybrid?"

"She saved my brother."

"It would only be a matter of time until I caught her again, putting off the inevitable punishment she's brewing for herself." I wanted nothing more than to push him away.

"The way I see it, if I save her now, it's on her if you catch up, but at least it's a chance." She shifted on her feet.

Please, please, please.

"It's her or Elijah. Your choice."

Klaus kissed me then, hard and bruising, never soft. "I'll find you little tempest." He promised, a dark glint in his eye. "And I will make you suffer for every second you were gone."

He stepped away.

It was as if I could finally breathe again.

But when I moved from the wall, Klaus' foot kicked out, forcing my knee to bend at a wrong angle. I screamed, dropping to the floor. "Fucking hell! You bastard."

He crouched down beside me. "I'll even give you a five minute head start."