They escaped the confinements of the car and Elena aided Ariana to sit on the concrete with her back to the railing, her broken wrist pressed against the cold metal to sooth it slightly. Ariana still cried and Elena floundered in attempt to calm her whilst Stefan rambled behind them, upon receiving no reply, he drove away.

"Lena?"

"Yeah Ari?"

"Call Nik"

"Are you sure we can trust him?" The older girl asked nervously but Ariana was a good judge of character and Elena trusted her opinions.

"We can trust him El"

"Do you have his number?" The doppelganger had no reason to know his number but Ariana seemed to as she passed Elena her bulky phone.

"Okay"

--------

Elena held her sister at the side of the cold road as they waited, she desperately hoped Klaus would come for them but she wasn't sure he would and if he did, would it be better? Finally a car pulled onto the darkened bridge and the aforementioned hybrid leapt from his seat, the lights of the dashboard illuminating the expensive interior.

"Nik?" Ariana cried and stumbled to stand, Klaus caught her as she rushed to him and cradled her softly.

"I'm here" he promised and stroked her hair gently. "Are you okay Elena?" He asked as the doppelganger stumbled over, tears staining her cheeks, he instinctively wrapped his arm around her and she cried into his shoulder. He stood on wickery bridge in the dark holding both Gilbert twins as they sobbed.

"Let's get you somewhere warm" he stated and opened the back door, allowing Elena to climb in, she glared at him as usual and he was glad to see the doppelganger he knew was back. He directed Ari into her seat before reclaiming his own and driving away.

Ariana leant over and lay her head on his shoulder as tears slid down her porcelain cheeks, her arms wrapped around his shirt clad body and he smiled softly at her, glancing at her swollen wrist as he pulled to a stop outside his mansion.

"I think I'm going to just go" Elena mumbled as they entered the house , she'd already texted Damon and she knew Aria wouldn't go with her, no matter what she did to try and tempt her. Klaus nodded and Ari stayed silent as Elena waltzed away. Ariana held onto Klaus Still and he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist softly as they entered the house.

"Thank you for getting me. I didn't know who else to call" she mumbled and he unknown to her, smiled gently. Walking into the sitting room, the fire still roaring.

"Your wrist" he began and she cringed, finally noticing the pain once more. He shushed her as he caressed her exposed flesh gently, sitting on the leather couch. "Do you want blood?"

She thought about it momentarily before closing her eyes tightly and nodding. Klaus bit into his wrist and pressed her back to his front, holding his bloodied arm against her lips.

"Drink love" he whispered and caressed her hair softly as her teeth scrapped the skin, drinking the blood which she quickly began to love, the cherry taste splashing along her lips and satisfying a thirst she hadn't noticed.

Not only was she in heaven, Klaus had slammed his eyes closed as she drank, the peculiar sensation plus the feel of her lips against his flesh sending shivers along his spine.

"Done?" He asked as she regrettably pulled away, his eyes trailed to her now healed wrist as she turned back to him, blood dribbling down her chin.

The hybrid reached up and wiped the blood away, his hand remaining on her cheek, he had the sudden desire to kiss her though he knew he could not. She didn't move an inch as he leant forward and pressed his lips against her forehead. The second his lips touched her skin she melted into him.

"Tired?"

"Yes" she whispered with a yawn as she held him softly, he smiled and leant back so her head fell to lie on his lap. Klaus smiled softly and caressed her curls, the soft curls looping around his fingers as she relaxed with her head in his lap, though she couldn't see anyway.

"Do you want a shower love? You're all dirty" he informed, assessing the mud that covered her clothing. She nodded and stood, waiting for him to follow. When he finally did he effortlessly took her hand and guided her through the house.

As Klaus walked he watched the girl and contemplated, she had changed him greatly, he had never before cared so greatly for a female that wasn't his sister or Tatia. Now he had someone to defend and it felt amazing, he felt stronger and he couldn't help but feel guilty for he'd always told Rebekah that love was a vampires greatest weakness.

Niklaus almost stopped in shock at his own thoughts, was he in love with the adorably beautiful Gilbert girl? Surely not? The big bad hybrid in love.