I still had problems with Elena. In fact, we still haven't forgiven each other about our fight last time we saw each other. Since she was staying at the Salvatore Boarding House to stay away from Jeremy; who was trying to kill her because of the hunters curse, I've been staying with Klaus. I thought it was better.

So, here I was, on Klaus' bed alone. Klaus was downstairs finishing up his painting for the Winter Wonderland charity.

I let out a huge sigh, I had to go. Caroline would kill me if I missed it, plus Klaus' painting will be set there. I get off the bed and walk down the long stairs.

Klaus is in the parlor painting on his canvas. I slowly crept behind him and take a look at his painting. "Good morning," he smiles at me and turns back to the painting.

"Looks like a giant snowflake."

I turn around and Stefan stands there and admires Klaus' painting. "I prefer to think of it as an expression of postmodernism. It's my donation to the Winter Wonderland charity event."

Adrian; a hybrid, enters the room and looks around us. "You said it was urgent." he says to Klaus. "Yes, take this to the Mystic Grill immediately."

Adrian rolls his eyes, "You want me to be a delivery guy?" Klaus walks forward and closes the space between him and Adrian. "What I want is for you to do whatever I say. Without the attitude."

Adrian grimaces and walks over to the painting. He picks it up and starts to leave the room, but Klaus stops him with his voice. "And be careful with that. It's still wet."

"Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, you know." Stefan inquires. "What is the point of my hybrids being sired to me if I can't maximize on the benefits of free labour? What are you doing here?"

"Elena is sired to Damon." Stefan replies. "Oh, I know. Maya told me all about it." Klaus smirks and looks over to me.

"Which means I need to find the cure now more than ever and yet here you are making postmodern snowflakes and telling secrets with your girlfriend."

"I've delivered." Klaus walks away and grabs a cloth to wipe the paint off his hands. "I retrieved the Hunter's sword from Italy which we'll use to decipher the map hidden in the Hunter's mark. You're the one who is supposed to deliver the Hunter and his mark."

"Well, Jeremy is the hunter, and he has to keep killing vampires to complete his mark, but we can't quite figure out how to keep him from killing us." Stefan responds

"Sounds like quite the chore. Which is why I feel perfectly justified doing a little charity work." Klaus states. "Hmm, or maybe you're lying about having found the sword."

"Why would I lie to you, Stefan?" Klaus strides past Stefan and towards a vault in the other room. "We're in this together."

Stefan and I follow Klaus into the other room. Klaus turns the dial on the vault and opens it up. He takes the sword out, "The hilt acts as a cipher which we'll use to decode the marks on Jeremy's tattoo when he's killed enough vampires to complete it."

Klaus places the sword down on a table. He takes a seat on the sofa and props his feet up on the same table. Stefan picks the sword up and examines it.

"I heard you moved out of your house." Klaus starts and Stefan looks up. "Bit of a martyr move, hm?"

"I'm not here to bond, Klaus."

"Oh, on the contrary, I think right now I'm the best friend you've got." Klaus tells him before turning to me and stands up. "Love, why don't you get ready for the charity? I'll be up in a few." Right after he says that, he kisses me.

I widen my eyes as he melts into the kiss. I was only surprise because he kissed me right in front of Stefan, and he's the first to see this. He pulls away and gives me an amusing smirk, and I knew he kissed me on purpose.

I look at Stefan and he keeps his normal straight face on, as if he didn't care Klaus kissed me. I let out a sigh of relief and walk away from both men.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Was the last thing I heard from Klaus as I exit the parlor.

§

I stand inside the Grill, admiring the postmodern snowflake Klaus painted. It showed emotions throughout the canvas. I felt a presence behind me and turn around, Klaus was there.

"Here to steal Tiny Tim's crutches?" I ask, jokingly of course. "Dickens was a dark man. You would have liked him." he tells me.

"I like your snowflake. There's something...lonely about it." I respond, observing the painting. "Well, I think we can both conclude I'm not so lonely anymore." he says and I smile.

"Champagne?" he offers and gestures to the glass filled champagne. "Can't. Too many adult prying eyes." I inform, "Don't want to be a high school cautionary tale at the next town meeting."

"Well, then it's a good thing the high school part is nearly over." I stare at him for a brief moment before responding, "Where are we going to go after we graduate?"

"I think I have a place in mind." he replies with smirk. "Really? Where?"

He was about to answer when Caroline jumps in with a smile. "How are my favorite couple?"

Klaus looks at me with an amused look plastered on his face. He smiles, "I guess you could say we're doing well, love."

§

Klaus and I went our separate and I spot Stefan outside the grill. "Stefan!" He looks up at me with a smile and puts his phone behind his pocket. "Hey, Maya."

I stand next to him. "How are you?" I haven't had the chance to ask him this ever since Elena broke his heart to sleep with his brother.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he responds with a small smile and I frown. "Stefan, you and I both know I won't stop worrying about you."

He nods and chuckles. "How are you? I've noticed you are staying at Klaus' house." he says. "I don't know...I feel happy, I guess."

I turn to face him fully. "I noticed you didn't care when Klaus kissed me. Elena or Damon would scold me." I tell him.

"Maya," he starts and puts his hands on my shoulders. "I don't want to be the one who interferes with your happiness. I don't care if you're with Klaus. As long as you're happy, I'm happy. And I can see that you're happy with him." Stefan states.

I give him a smile and pull him into a hug. "Thank you, Stefan."

§

I watch as Caroline walks towards Stefan and I. Stefan is leaning against the wall in the alleyway outside the Grill.

"Hey." Caroline steps forward and we greet her. "Did you find the sword?" she asks Stefan. "Sword, as in Klaus' sword?" I question, but they ignore my question. I huff in annoyance and listened to them.

"Nope." he answers her. "What are we gonna do now?" Caroline sighs and puts her hands across her face. "Klaus is the only shot we have at finding the cure. We need him. Tyler has to call it off."

We need him?

"Well, that's not gonna happen."

I turn my head around and face Tyler. Tyler and I are still not in good terms after what he witness and after he told on me like a child.

"You told him? And especially her?" Tyler scowls as he looks at me. He walks towards us and I walk backwards. "I've had twelve hybrids sworn to secrecy for a month. I have Hayley and a witch risking their lives and you're blabbing my plan to them?"

Stefan steps forward, closing the gap between him and Tyler. "Look, all I'm asking you for is a little bit of time, okay?"

"How long? An hour? A day? Because every minute that goes by that we don't do this, they're at risk. You and Klaus already served one of them up for Jeremy to kill." Tyler responds and looks at Caroline. "I don't owe you anything."

"I'm taking him out." Tyler says and stars to walk away. Stefan inhuman speeds in front of him and startled him. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that."

"You aren't going to touch him," I step up, growing more frustrated by the minute. "Talk again and I'll snap your neck and maybe you'll see Klaus in hell after I kill him."

I light gasp at Tyler's words. I know that we aren't in a good spot but I never thought he'd want to kill me. I know how much he hates Klaus and that shouldn't mean he should hate me just as much.

"Tyler!" Caroline yells at him, but Tyler chose to ignore. His eyes burning into my soul, anger flashing through his eyes. Stefan's hand went across his jaw and Tyler held his face at the sudden punch.

"Don't you ever talk to her like that, understand me?" Stefan spats, his hands forming into a fist. "Take them," Tyler orders the hybrids.

§

"Let go of me," I grunt and yank one of the hybrid's grip off of my arm. Tyler brought us all down to the Old Lockwood Cellar. I was more than furious at the moment.

Tyler takes a chain from on top of a box and shows it to his hybrids. Caroline calls out to him but he ignores her. "Keep them down here until we're ready to bring Klaus in." He drops the chains in front of Kim; one of the hybrids. "Use these if you have to."

"Come on, Tyler, this is bigger than you. It's about more than revenge for us." Stefan tells him and Tyler steps forwards to close the gap between them. "I know what it's about for you, Stefan. It's about the cure. You know what happens to a hybrid when he's cured of being a vampire? We go back to being werewolves; turning on every full moon. We could give a rat's ass about the cure."

I cross my arms as Tyler and Caroline stare at each other before Tyler leaves us with the hybrids. I grew more anxious as the minutes go by. I really hope Klaus is okay, or at least protecting himself.

I slide down against the wall and sit down on the dirty ground. I didn't even care if my dress was ruined, my mood was down already.

I've been sitting here for hours, and we haven't heard any news from Tyler or anyone. It could turn out to be good; nothing happened, or bad; something did happen. I was rooting for the first one.

"Ugh, this is ridiculous. We are not hostages!" Caroline yells, frightening me because it's been silent for hours. "Sure you are, sweetie." Kim smirks.

Caroline glares at her and super speeds to stand right in front of her. Caroline and Kim stare each other down with pure hatred.

"We'll get out of here soon." I state and stand up from my spot. Kim steps forwards and tilts her head to the side. "You really believe Klaus will come and save you? Because here's what I think, Klaus doesn't care about you. Why would he care for a perky little human being? He doesn't and wouldn't."

"Maybe he'll come, maybe he won't. But, he knows I can protect myself and I sure as hell don't mind staking your heart."

Kim slightly widens her eyes and blinks. I raise my eyebrows and walk away from her. She was scared, good. That's all I wanted from her.

Stefan's phone starts to ring. The other hybrids start to advance on him, stepping forward. "Relax." Stefan says and they all stop walking. "It's my brother." he answers the phone, "What's up?"

Stefan hangs up with a sigh. "We don't need the sword."

§

I walk over to Klaus, my arms folded against my chest. Stefan or Caroline zoomed me back here, I wasn't paying attention to whoever brought me back here.

I stand in front of Klaus and watch Hayley walk away from him. There was something about her that I didn't like. I probably shouldn't judge right away since I don't completely know her yet, but I still had an odd feeling.

"Maya, where were you? I was beginning to worry." Klaus spots me with a concern look plastered on his face. "Your psycho hybrids, including Tyler, kept Caroline, Stefan, and I captive for hours. So, you should probably do something with them."

He chuckles and his fingers grab onto my chin, lightly, and make me face him. "I got it all under control, love." he responds and starts to move my face to the side. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

I shake my head and he continues to look for injuries. I put my hand on his and smile. "I swear, they didn't hurt me."

He puts his hands on my shoulders. "Why don't you go home. It's too dangerous to be out here right now."

I went to say no, but I knew he would eventually convince me somehow. I nod and he gives me a small smile. "I will be there soon."

§

I've been scrolling around this house for a couple hours. Klaus still hasn't gotten back and I stayed here, making myself comfortable. I practically live here, ever since I was becoming distance from Elena and Jeremy. I know I can't ignore them forever and I was planning on talking to them soon.

I let out a sigh and wander to Klaus' studio. Paintings and drawings were scattered everywhere. Most drawings that occupied the room were of me.

I hear the door open and shut loudly. I let out a light gasp at the sudden noise. I walk out of the studio and spot Klaus covered in blood and his facial expression was full of disappointment, anger, and sadness.

"Klaus, what ha–"

"I killed them. All of them." he responds bluntly and looks at the wall. "Killed who?" My voice was soft, I didn't want to trigger his emotions even more.

"My hybrids and Carol Lockwood." he says and I widen my eyes at the news. He looks up at me and steps towards me, but I step backwards. "Don't be frightened of me. You know I'd never hurt."

I didn't say anything and stared blankly at him. He frowns and breaks the silence. "Please don't leave me."

This is who he is. Klaus Mikaelson; a supernatural murderer and he'll forever be a supernatural murderer. And here I am, willing to forgive him because I can't help myself. He'll never change and I have to accept that. Klaus is so afraid of being alone, and I've picked that up the times I've been with him. I can't leave him, and I would never.

"Klaus, I won't leave you." I tell him after a long pause. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."