"Your real father," Esther tells him. "Along with a man named Noah South... I'm sure you'll find them lurking around here somewhere,"

Esther's words cloud Klaus's mind. He wondered if his mother spoke the truth. A small part of him wanted her words to be true but he knew he shouldn't trust her. She could be sending him on a wild goose chase. 

"Niklaus, what are we doing?" Elijah questions, bringing his brother from his troublesome thoughts. The two had been wondering through New Orleans without a word spoken between them for nearly an hour. It didn't take a genius to sense Klaus's mind is elsewhere.

"Spending quality time together, thought you'd be pleased," Klaus jests, a sly smirk on his lips but Elijah sees through it. 

"You've been distant," Elijah notes. "Absent in your duties,"

"What? You can't handle our city on your own for a few days?" Klaus muses. "In case it's escaped your mind, there are three other kings and a queen," 

"And they've all been doing their part along with yours," Elijah says. "We can manage but we're stronger with you," Klaus spares him a glance. "We're stronger when we work together, not apart. I don't know what you've been doing but you're going to have to tell us eventually," Klaus breathes heavily through his nose.

"Esther's been... talking," Klaus tells him.

"Spewing lies, I assume," Elijah comments. Klaus doesn't answer. "What has she been telling you?" Klaus slowly comes to a stop forcing the humans on the street to walk around the brothers.

"She told me Aaron and Theodore are on the Other Side and there might be a way to bring them back," Klaus confesses. Elijah stares at him, his mouth slightly agape. "And that my father and Noah have escaped from the Other Side,"

"Mikael?" Elijah questions, frowning his eyebrows.

"My real father," Klaus tells him. Elijah runs a hand over his lips and across his jaw. "That's what we're doing, we're looking for them," Klaus explains, walking down the street once more. Elijah stands still for a moment before following after him. Neither brother noticing the shadow that had been following them up until this moment. Neither of them noticing the speeding figure heading straight for the Abattoir. 

"Why have you kept this to yourself?" Elijah wonders.

"Why should I force Claire and Kol to go through the heart break again if Esther speaks lies?" Klaus questions, him. "I've asked the coven to find a way to the truth before bringing it up,"

"And?"

"And they've brought in an old acquaintance," Klaus informs him, a small smirk on his lips. "Jeremy Gilbert," Elijah arches an eyebrow. "He has a way with the Other Side in case you forgot,"

"I haven't," Elijah tells him. "Has he found anything?"

"Not to my knowledge," Klaus grumbles. "I hope to have an answer when we return," Elijah hums, slipping deep into his mind. He follows Klaus through the city and towards the Bayou.

"And what of your father and Noah?" Elijah questions, the two of them leaving the city behind them.

"I'm not sure... Only that mother says they're around here... If she speaks the truth," Elijah glances at his brother. "So, as you can see, I've been fairly busy," He tells him. "And don't think I'm the only one that's been distant," Klaus says, glancing towards his brother. "Claire tells me you haven't exactly been present either and I know it's because of mother dearest," Elijah purses his lips. "What? You want me to be truthful but you're not so forthcoming when it comes to your secrets? What happened to being stronger working together?" Klaus pressures. Elijah glares at him.

"My secrets haven't affected my duties," Elijah counters.

"Maybe not your duties towards our city but you've been as distant as I have," Klaus tells him. "Maybe not physically," He adds when Elijah goes to argue. "But you haven't been there mentally and people are beginning to notice. You're always wanting everyone to be open and honest, to work together, why don't you demonstrate that same discipline? We've all suffered with the same mother, we're suffering our own horrors, why not share with the group?" Elijah sighs, deeply. "What does mother have against you?" 

"An old truth that has been locked from my mind," Elijah tells him. Klaus arches an eyebrow. "Tatia... I killed her," Klaus stops walking. "Mother didn't use her blood in the ritual, I killed her when we turned. I drained her of her blood, murdered her while she begged me to stop," Elijah turns his head. "Mother locked the memory away and fooled us into thinking she killed Tatia for the ritual,"

"Elijah," Klaus says moving in front of his brother. "We were uncontrollable creatures back then. Her death is not your fault," Elijah looks at him. "If your seeking for forgiveness, you have it. We both may have loved her then but that love does not compare to the one I feel for Claire. I know you would never harm her and that's all that matters to me," Elijah smiles just a bit, a weight lifting from his shoulders. "Come on, we have a lot of ground to cover," Elijah nods following his brother.

The quest to find Klaus's father and Noah seemed easier. Elijah no longer felt as if the weight of the world was crashing on his shoulders. Of course, a talk with Klaus didn't solve everything for him but it helped lessen the pressure in his chest.

Little did he realize that as the pressure left him, it went to his little brother. The little brother that had followed them through the city and over heard their conversation. The little brother that tries to fight the hope building in his chest in fear of it being misplaced.

It only took a moment for Esther to realize that she wasn't alone. She automatically assumed the presence she sensed was Klaus but as she turn towards it she realizes she was wrong. Her eyes widen just a fraction upon seeing her visitor.

"Kol," Esther whispers. Her shock, and slight fear, is evident, though she try to hide it. "What are you-"

"Is it true?" Kol asks. Esther presses her lips together. Kol steps to the edge of the barrier. "Is. It. True?"

"There are many versions of the truth," Esther tries to explain. Kol growls, losing his patience. Esther gasps backing against the wall when Kol appears in front of her.

"Tell me the truth or I'll rid you of your limbs," Kol growls. "Can I get my sons back?"

"In a way-" Esther whispers, her word cutting off as Kol restricts her breath with his hand.

"Choose your words wisely," Kol tightens his grip. "Klaus will always be hesitant with you but I will not show that restraint," Esther claws at his wrist. "You've taken so much from me, from my family. I will not let you continue,"

"Kol," Esther chokes.

"You will die. It will not be pleasant. It will not be short. I hold no love for you but if you have ever loved your children then you will tell me the truth," Kol says, holding his grip around her for a moment longer before releasing her to fall to the ground on her knees. Kol watches as she gasps for air, her hand caressing her neck. Slowly, he crouches before her. "Tell me what I want to know,"

"Where's Klaus?" Esther whimpers. Kol sighs shaking his head.

"Wrong answer," Esther's breath hitches in her throat as Kol lashes out. Her screams echo within the walls of the basement but go no further.

As Kol becomes desperate for the truth, Elijah and Klaus track down the men they set out for. The brothers have been quite for a long time. Both mulling over the new information the other told them.

"What is it?" Elijah breaks the silence when Klaus comes to a stop. He doesn't answer, merely looks around. A heartbeat gains Elijah's attention. "We're not alone," Klaus continues through the forest.

"Niklaus?" The two brothers come to a stop. Elijah is the first to turn and look. A man stands not far from them in old, warn clothes. Elijah glances toward his brother. "Look at me, Niklaus," Klaus's fists clench. 

"Brother," Elijah says under his breath. Breathing slowly, Klaus turns. For the first time, Klaus gazes upon his father. Doubts fill his mind.

"I am flesh and blood," Ansel says, inching towards his son as if sensing the doubt within him. "Your flesh and blood,"

"How do I know this isn't some trick?" Klaus questions. "How do I know you're not under mothers influence?"

"I do not speak for Esther. I know nothing of her bargains," Ansel tells him.

"He speaks the truth," Both Elijah and Klaus turn to a man they've only seen in pictures. "We came through the rift, not through Esther. We've been able to avoid the old hag, same with your annoyance of a father,"

"His father," Klaus nods to Elijah. Elijah sends him a look causing Klaus to simply shrug. 

"We haven't had the pleasure to meet yet, Noah" He introduces himself. "I've been bunking it with your old man for a couple of months," He nods to Klaus. "Seeking information, gaining strength, relearning about the world,"

"We knew you'd come. Sooner or later," Ansel says.

"Why didn't you come to us?" Elijah asks.

"We weren't strong enough, we didn't know who to trust, and you wouldn't have trusted us," Noah tells him. "Had we sought you out first, you would have destroyed us. We had to wait for you to be ready to accept us, we had to wait for you to be willing to trust us,"

"And I guess today is that day," Ansel comments.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Klaus tells him.

"You may not consider us family yet," Noah says, taking a couple steps towards them. "But you are willing to hear us out, to listen,"

"Listening hasn't always been my strong suit, I'd make it quick," Klaus tells them.

"Esther has no way to bring them back," Noah tells him, somberly. Klaus's heart drops to his stomach, Elijah hangs his head. "She never intended to bring them back but she wants to send Claire to them,"

"Send Claire..." Elijah whispers. Noah slowly nods.

"Esther fears Claire, she has a lot of strength. A lot of unleashed strength. If she can get rid of her, she hopes to regain control over the family. With Claire in the picture, she knows she won't be able to achieve that," Klaus growls clenching his jaw. "Get rid of Claire, break you all down, build you back up, be the hero,"

"We should have never imprisoned her," Elijah growls. "We should have just killed her,"

"And we will," Klaus growls. "Before she spreads more false hope," With a blink of an eye, Klaus is gone. 

"I'm sure you know where our home is, you're welcome there," Elijah invites before following after his brother. 

"Guess we're walking," Noah comments.

"Really?" Ansel snarks, rolling his eyes. Noah smirks taking the lead. "This way, pretty boy," Ansel says going the opposite direction.

"Ah, right," Noah turns and quickly follows after him.

When the two brothers returned home, they found the basement painted with blood. Their younger brother kneeling in the middle of it with a body laying in front of him.

Kol senses his brothers behind him but makes no more to acknowledge their presence. Esther lays in front of him, struggling to breathe as she clings to the last bit of life she has. 

"You knew..." Kol spoke.

"Whatever she's told you, it's a lie," Elijah tells him. Klaus and Elijah glance at each other in trepidation. "Aaron, Theodore, they're not-"

"Don't speak their names!" Kol shouts, jumping to his feet. Elijah falls silent as Kol glares at him. "You should not have kept this from me," He growls, glaring at Klaus. "This is my son! My sons we're talking about!" Kol bellows. "You should not have confided in Elijah, you should have confided in me! From the beginning!"

"You are not the only one that lays claim to Aaron," Elijah tells him. "We love him as you do,"

"We wanted to know if it was true," Klaus tells him. "We didn't want to spread false hope," Kol scoffs, his jaw ticking.

"That wasn't your decision to make," Kol growls, glaring at him.

"I still made it," Klaus tells him, not backing down. "Whatever she told you, it's not true," Klaus says stepping closer to him. "They're not on the Other Side, they're at peace," Kol's jaw clenches even more. "They're not coming back," Klaus whispers to him. Kol's eyes water but he refuses to let them fall. "I'm sorry but they're not coming back," Klaus says, pulling him into a tight hug Kol stands there for a moment before clinging to his brother, the tears slipping down his face. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry...."