A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! Sorry about the long wait on this one. I knew what I wanted to write, it just had a hard time coming out.

Marcel just glared at Klaus stonily. "If you knew about the dagger, you would have stopped us already, Klaus. What were you waiting for, huh?" He looked around the room at all his vampires. "Don't let him scare you. We have the advantage here."

"Stop this foolishness now, Marcel," said Klaus. "I would hate to kill you. Rebekah is quite fond of you. I dislike upsetting my dear sister."

"Right," said Marcel in a sarcastic tone. "That's why you tried to dagger her just a few months ago."

Klaus narrowed his eyes. "Disloyalty must be punished."

Marcel growled. "You'd know all about disloyalty, wouldn't you? You planned to take away everything I've built in the past hundred years. You're going down for at least twice that. Starting tonight."

He nodded at Davina, who held up her arm. Klaus surged forward to attack Davina, but was forced back by the power of her magic.

Klaus groaned when he felt the blood vessels bursting in his brain, forcing him to his knees. Davina was approaching when she suddenly stopped.

Klaus smiled when her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed to the ground.

"What did you do?" shouted Marcel, his eyes burning with hatred at Klaus.

Marcel bent down and pulled a tiny dart out of Davina's neck.

"Just a light sedative," smirked Klaus. "I did promise the witches I wouldn't kill their Harvest girl." He glanced back at the roof of the compound. "Did you know one of my hybrids is ex-military? Greg is quite the sharp shooter."

Marcel sucked in a breath and stumbled back. "You weren't bluffing. You knew about the dagger. About tonight."

Klaus looked at his former protégé almost sadly. "I'm afraid I wasn't, Marcellus."

o – o – o

"Where is Bonnie?" asked Damon, frowning. "You called her over an hour ago."

"She'll get here when she gets here, Damon," said Elena, sighing.

Damon, Josie, Elena and Josette were at the Boarding House, waiting for Bonnie to arrive. They were hoping she could do something to locate Kai. He was out there and had obviously found Josette, or at least knew she was in the area.

"Calm down," said Josie, almost amused by how concerned Damon seemed about Josette. "If you're really worried, we can always take her to the Mikaelsons'."

Damon growled. "We don't need any Original help."

Josie rolled her eyes. "She'll be safer there than here, surrounded by Klaus' hybrids."

Josette walked into the room. "Do I get a vote?"

"No," said Damon, taking a large swig of whiskey.

Josette sighed and took a seat next to Damon. "Maybe I should just go home. The necklace isn't glowing anymore, so Kai isn't at Whitmore. Maybe he moved on when he found out I wasn't there."

"You're not going home until he's dead," said Damon.

Josette tilted her head and looked at Elena and Josie. "Is he always this much of a controlling ass?"

"Don't answer that," said Josie, looking warningly at Elena. "Feel flattered. Damon doesn't give a damn about anybody."

"It's true," said Damon, smirking slightly.

The doorbell rang then and Damon got up.

"Finally," he said, stomping off to answer the front door.

"It'll be okay," said Elena, putting a comforting hand on Josette's arm. "We'll figure this out."

Josette nodded, taking a small sip of Damon's whiskey. "I never thought he'd escape that place. The coven assured me no one had ever escaped from a prison world."

Josie rolled her eyes, remembering how much back-and-forth had happened with prison worlds in the original storyline.

"Elena's right," said Josie. "Kai is a psychopath, but he's just one person. We'll stop him."

o – o – o

Klaus tilted his head. "Now will you concede, Marcel?"

"I still have the advantage," said Marcel, looking around at the hundred-plus vampires that surrounded him and Klaus.

"Come!" commanded Klaus and in an instant the courtyard of the compound was filled with a dozen hybrids, two of whom had passengers.

"Jane-Anne and Sophie Deveraux," Marcel spat out. He narrowed his eyes at Sophie. "I should have known. You do like to share a bed with the enemy."

"Enough," growled Klaus. "I grow impatient. I alone could best your warriors, but I brought my pack and two servants of nature."

"I still have the dagger," growled Marcel.

"And by whose hand will I fall?" asked Klaus, looking down at Davina's unconscious body. "If you plunge that dagger into my chest, you'll die as well."

"Maybe it would be worth it to see you buried."

Klaus just smirked. "Come now, Marcel. You are many things, but not one to fall on his own sword. You're like me."

"I am nothing like you," snarled Marcel, but he didn't move any closer to Klaus.

"I'll do it. I'd like nothing better than to dagger that son of a bitch."

Everyone looked shocked to hear those words coming out of Sophie Deveraux's mouth.

"Sophie, what are you doing?" gasped Jane-Anne as Sophie walked over to Marcel.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Sophie with an evil grin on her face. "Sophie's not home right now."

Sophie reached out and flicked her wrist. Everyone could only watch in amazement as Jane-Anne's neck snapped and her lifeless body collapsed to the ground.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" shouted Klaus, looking down at Jane-Anne in shock.

Sophie spun and smirked at Klaus. "Hello, Klaus. My name is Celeste Dubois. Remember me?"

o – o – o

Bonnie sighed and leaned back against the couch. "Nothing."

Josie groaned and forced herself to sit up in the chair. "Are you sure?"

"Kai's still cloaked," said Bonnie. "Wherever he is."

"What do we do now?" asked Elena. She turned to Josette. "You can't go home. We don't know that it's safe."

Damon nodded. "You can stay here. We have plenty of spare bedrooms."

Josette frowned. "For how long? I have work tomorrow. My life is at Whitmore."

"Call in sick," shrugged Damon.

Josette narrowed her eyes. "I can't just put my life on hold."

"You can't go back," said Josie, frowning. "Kai will force you to merge. You can bet he found that knife you hid your magic in if he came looking for you. You'll die and then Kai will be leader of the Gemini coven and he'll finish the killing spree he started all those years ago."

Josette sighed. "I guess I can call the hospital and tell them I had a family emergency. I need to go back to my apartment though and get some stuff."

Damon nodded. "I'll come with you."

They got up from the couch, Josette with a nervous look on her face. Clearly the situation with Kai was draining her.

"It's going to be fine," said Josie, reassuringly. "Kai will come. He found you once, he'll do it again. And when he does, we'll be ready."

Bonnie nodded. "I can move the barrier so it's around Mystic Falls. That way we'll know when he comes."

Josette smiled. "Thank you." She looked around the room. "All of you. You don't know me, but you're willing to help me."

Damon smirked. "Hero hair looks good on me, doesn't it?"

Everyone groaned.

"It'll just take me a few minutes to move the boundary spell," said Bonnie.

Josie nodded. "I should get back to Klaus' soon, before Elijah sends the cavalry."

o – o – o

"Who?" asked Marcel.

Klaus growled. "Celeste Dubois. An old lover of Elijah's. A body-hopping meddlesome witch." He turned to look at Sophie. "I was wondering when you'd come to the party." He looked her up and down. "Interesting choice of wardrobe."

Sophie narrowed her eyes. "I preferred Sabine, but your bitchy baby momma ruined that, didn't she?"

Klaus snarled. "Mention Josie again and I'll rip out your tongue."

Sophie laughed. "You're not really in a position to make threats." She turned to Marcel. "Give me the dagger and I'll end him."

Marcel frowned. "How do I know this isn't some kind of trick?"

Sophie smirked. "I've been in a lot of witch bodies in my time. Remember Brynn Deveraux? The witch who cursed the Crescent Clan?"

Marcel raised an eyebrow. "You're Brynn Deveraux? Brynn's dead."

Sophie let out an annoyed sigh. "No, I wore her. Remember what she used to say to you? When you were in bed together? About the night sky and falling stars?"

Marcel gasped in shock. Clearly her words rang true to him. "What the fuck? Brynn?"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "No, Celeste." She sighed in annoyance. "We don't have time for this. Just give me the fucking dagger and I'll finish him."

Klaus growled and moved to attack her, but Sophie's hand shot up instantly and he growled in pain as he felt the blood vessels in his brain bursting. It wasn't nearly as painful as when Davina had done it as Sophie wasn't as powerful, but it was enough to stop him in his tracks.

Clearly, seeing their Alpha attacked by the witch was enough to spur the hybrids into action. In an instant, the entire compound was engaged in battle.

The hybrids were outnumbered eight to one, but they were stronger than most of Marcel's vampires and the vampires were especially wary of the hybrids' teeth, knowing one bite would be deadly.

Klaus was still struggling under Sophie's magic, until one hybrid managed to get past Marcel's vampires and barrel into Sophie.

"No!" shouted Marcel and immediately pounced on the hybrid.

Klaus was up immediately and sped over to the pair, ripping Marcel off the hybrid and throwing him against the wall.

"Where's the witch?" asked Klaus.

Klaus looked around, but didn't see Sophie anywhere. He was distracted by the sight of his hybrids fighting the losing battle.

He let out a mighty roar and flung himself into the fray. Marcel's vampires scattered as he proceeded to rip them apart.

o – o – o

"Shit," groaned Marcel, picking himself up off the ground.

He'd forgotten how much it hurt to be tossed around by someone so much stronger than himself.

"Where is the dagger?" hissed a voice next to him.

Marcel looked up to see Sophie standing there. "Give me the dagger, Marcel." She looked out at the compound where Klaus was ripping his guys to shreds. "It's your only chance."

Marcel nodded and handed her the dagger. "I'll distract him."

Sophie nodded and clutched the dagger to her chest before inching away.

o – o – o

Josette and Damon entered Josette's apartment in Whitmore.

"Just grab a few things and we'll be on our way," said Damon, looking around the kitchen.

Josette smiled. "Liquor cabinet is above the fridge. Glasses are to the right. Help yourself."

Damon smirked. "You know me too well."

Josette just shook her head and headed into the living room. She walked across it purposefully and opened the door to her bedroom, shutting it behind her.

She gasped in surprise when she realized she wasn't alone.

"Hello, Sissy," said Kai, smiling at Josette. "Long time no see."

"Kai," said Josette, nervously backing away from him.

"Why don't you look happy to see me?" frowned Kai in a mocking way.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Do you really want to play this game? You know why I'm here."

"It's not going to work, Kai," spat Josette. "I don't have my magic."

Kai nodded. "Yeah, I know. You know stored it in this."

Kai reached into his jacket and pulled out a nasty looking knife. Josette tried to run away, but Kai tackled her and stabbed her in the shoulder. She cried out in pain.

The door to the bedroom opened and Damon stormed in. Kai's arm shot up and Damon fell to his knees.

"You didn't think I'd come for my sister without getting juiced up first, did you?" mocked Kai.

Damon groaned and put his hands on his head.

Kai walked over to him and crouched down. "I remember you. You were in New Orleans. You're friends with that pregnant Oracle chick." He frowned. "Either it's a small world or she warned you about me."

Kai reached out and ripped the leg off a nearby chair.

"Sorry, but you've interfered once already," said Kai.

Then he plunged the stake into Damon's chest. Josette lifted her head and screamed when she saw Damon started to turn grey and veiny.

"No!" screamed Josie, panting hard. "No!"

"What the hell?" exclaimed Damon, frowning at Josie thrashing about on the couch.

"She's having a vision, Damon," frowned Elena. She held Josie's shoulders securely. "Jo, it's okay. You're fine. Everything's fine."

"Fuck," said Josie, trying to catch her breath.

She looked around the room and saw Damon, Elena, Bonnie and Josette staring at her with worried looks.

"What did you see?" asked Bonnie, frowning.

Josie looked at Josette. "You can't go back to Whitmore. Kai is there. He has the knife with your magic. He's going to stab you and kill Damon."

"But my stuff..."

"Isn't more important than your life," growled Damon. "We'll buy you more stuff."

Josette nodded. "You're right." She sighed. "I guess I'm stuck in Mystic Falls for now."

Damon grinned. "It's not so bad here." He handed her a glass of whiskey. "I'm the perfect host."

o – o – o

When Rebekah arrived at the compound, she wasn't sure what to think. Klaus was in the middle of the courtyard, looking angrier than she had ever seen him. He was killing Marcel's vampires at an alarming rate.

She was about to rush in when she saw Marcel tackle Klaus. The rest of the vampires backed up, including some of Klaus' hybrids and formed a circle around Klaus and Marcel.

"What is this?" snarled Klaus. "You know you cannot win."

"Full of yourself, as always," said Marcel, moving around Klaus.

Rebekah huffed at their testosterone-fueled grandstanding. Both Marcel and Klaus could be such drama queens. She started to push her way to the front of the crowd surrounding them.

"Stand down, Marcel," said Klaus, eyes locked on Marcel who was circling him. "Or would you risk the lives of all those that follow you in your quest to retain your crown?"

Rebekah frowned, knowing how much Marcel's men meant to him. Marcel had to know that Klaus wouldn't hesitate to slaughter them all. What was he playing at?

"My guys fight knowing they defend the rightful king of New Orleans," sneered Marcel. "They will never follow you."

Rebekah saw at once what Marcel was doing. Concealed quite cleverly from behind a cluster of Marcel's vampires was Sophie, clutching the gold dagger in her grasp.

Marcel's eyes never wavered from their glare at Klaus, but it was clear when Marcel stopped moving that his taunting words were merely a distraction.

Time seemed to stand still as she watched the witch sneak up on Klaus. All the times Klaus had daggered her, the years he'd stolen, the threats and harm he'd done to all the men who'd loved her came forward. The warning that welled up inside her died in her throat.

Klaus deserved this. Rebekah would ensure Marcel didn't toss his body in the ocean. What was a hundred years in a box, compared to all she'd suffered?

"It is not their loyalty that I once sought," said Klaus.

He looked at Marcel with regretful eyes.

Sophie made her move then, when Klaus' eyes were fixed on Marcel. Rebekah saw it and hesitated. It was barely half a second, but too late to stop the witch even if she'd wanted to.

But then those eyes. The ones that told her how full of regret her big brother was. How he'd always desired love and loyalty, even if he'd spent a millennium going about it the wrong way. And now that he had what he'd always wanted- a loyal pack, a devoted partner, pregnant with his offspring, he could see all the mistakes he'd made so clearly.

Rebekah wasn't sure what made her move. She only knew she'd never moved so fast in her life, even if it seemed an eternity.

Klaus turned at the sudden movement. She reconized surprise in his eyes when he saw her face, looking up at him in pain. And his eyes turned furious when he saw the gold dagger sticking out of her back.

She knew only darkness after that. But she knew she'd made the right decision when Klaus caught her gently in his arms, desiccated by the dagger that was meant for him.

o – o – o

Klaus fought to control his anger as he quickly, but softly placed Rebekah's body on the ground. He grabbed the hilt of the dagger and pulled it out, before turning his face to Sophie.

Sophie paled as his face turned feral, hybrid features on display as he let loose the full might of his anger.

Klaus flashed forward and grabbed Sophie's neck. To his surprise, no one stopped him.

"If you kill me..." she began, but Klaus growled and flicked his wrist, snapping her neck before she could say anything else.

Sophie's body crumpled to the ground and Klaus spun around, eyes fixed on Marcel. To his surprise, Marcel's back was to Klaus and he was crouched on the ground, next to Rebekah.

Klaus growled and moved forward, intent on killing Marcel once and for all, but when Marcel tore his face away from Rebekah to glance up, Klaus stopped his stride. The anguish and regret on Marcel's face was apparent and Klaus sighed, all fight leaving him.

Rebekah would recover, he had the dagger, and glancing around the crowd of vampires with his hybrids sprinkled amongst them, he thought perhaps, this could be finished without further bloodshed.

"You win," whispered Marcel, now looking down at Rebekah again. "New Orleans is yours."

o – o – o

Josie flopped down on the bed, looking around the bedroom she hadn't seen in two months. The bedroom Klaus had fashioned for himself in his house in Mystic Falls was more like a studio apartment, rather than a bedroom.

She had just finished eating dinner with Elijah in the dining room. His meeting with Carol Lockwood had been successful- they agreed the hybrid's bar could stay open, but would submit to regular police checks to ensure it was truly only 18 and over.

Josie knew Klaus would not be happy about the oversight, but was secretly glad Elijah was in town rather than Klaus.

Still, she missed Klaus and was worried about him. She hadn't wanted to leave New Orleans after having the vision of Marcel trapping Klaus in the compound and trying to dagger him, but she knew Klaus was more than capable of handling himself. He had insisted on using the opportunity to his advantage.

Josie sat up and grabbed her bag, pulling out the velvet ring case. She bit her lip as she opened it, still dazzled by how beautiful it was. Trying it out couldn't hurt, right?

She carefully pulled the ring from the case and slipped it over her ring finger. She smiled at how it sparkled. Klaus had even managed to find out her ring size. It fit perfectly.

Her phone rang and she tore her eyes away from her finger to look at it. She smiled and answered immediately.

"Hey."

"Hello, love. How is Mystic Falls?" asked Klaus.

"Good," she said, not wanting to talk about the whole Kai situation until she heard what had happened in New Orleans. "How did it go?"

He growled. "There was an unexpected turn of events, but in the end, I was victorious."

"Were there any... casualties?"

They had talked about whether or not Klaus was going to kill Marcel for his plotting. As well as daggering Kol and/or Rebekah. Klaus hadn't decided when last they'd spoke.

Klaus snarled and told her everything that had happened- from Sophie's unexpected betrayal, the two hybrids that had been killed and Rebekah's daggering.

"But you took the dagger out, right?" asked Josie, anxiously. "Rebekah and Kol weren't the ones plotting to dagger you."

"Kol did nothing to prevent it either," he responded angrily. "The dagger has already been removed from my dear sister. She still sleeps but will awaken soon."

"Please just think before you stick a dagger in him," said Josie, sighing. "He protected me all that time when I was clueless about who I was."

"He kept you away from me!" growled Klaus.

"I'm the one who ran away!" exclaimed Josie. "Kol and Rebekah had nothing to do with it. I was angry at you for keeping the truth from me. It was my decision and they kept me safe. If they hadn't brought me with them, I would have gone off on my own. Stupid, but I didn't know any better. They saved me from being taken by the Strix."

Klaus was silent, clearly not happy.

"Anyway," continued Josie. "I'm glad you're okay. What about Marcel?"

"He lives," said Klaus. "For now. But I've already spoken with him and he is vacating his rooms as we speak."

"So we're moving to the quarter then?" asked Josie.

"The wolves will also be returning," said Klaus. "And any of the pack that wishes to move from Mystic Falls. The one remaining elder of the witch coven has already collected Davina and I'm sure she'll be performing the Harvest ritual soon."

"But what about Celeste? You don't think she's truly dead, do you?"

Klaus sighed. "Her death was necessary. No doubt it will take her some time to regroup."

Josie wasn't sure she agreed, but didn't want to argue. The problem with Celeste was that Josie couldn't reveal the witch's ultimate goal without revealing Rebekah and Marcel's long-held secret- that they had called Mikael to New Orleans in 1919.

"I hope so," said Josie.

"Have you thought anymore about our discussion?"

"A little," Josie admitted. "The ring is beautiful. I might have tried it on."

"Are you wearing it now?" When she didn't answer, Klaus chuckled. "I suppose it's a start."

Josie smiled. "I do love you. You know my... hesitation has nothing to do with how I feel about you."

Someone said something on his end of the line.

"I've got to run," he said, sounding tired. "I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

Then he hung up.

o – o – o

Rebekah sat up with a start. She frowned, looking around the room.

"Recognize it?" asked Klaus.

"My old room," said Rebekah.

"Why did you do it?" asked Klaus in a whisper. "You obviously wanted me daggered. You helped Kol create this."

He held up the gold dagger.

"I never wanted to dagger you, Nik," said Rebekah.

"That's a lie," he growled.

"Alright, maybe I did," said Rebekah, shaking her head. "But it's no more than what you've done to me countless times! To Kol!"

"Then why stop them?"

Rebekah blinked. "I don't know. I was standing there, watching Sophie about to dagger you. And then... I was behind you."

"Why?"

"Is it so hard to believe that I love you, Nik?" asked Rebekah. "That I wish for nothing more than for us to be a family? As we once were?"

Klaus paused before speaking. "And what of the cure? I killed Finn and your only chance of becoming human."

Rebekah sighed. "I'm not happy about it, but I understand. I spent six weeks with Josie. Those children need all of us to protect them. They need our strength."

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you intend to remain in New Orleans?"

"Maybe... If I'm welcome."

Klaus smiled. "You'll have to ask the new leader of New Orleans."

Rebekah sucked in a gasp. "Where is Marcel?"

"Packing his bags," said Klaus. "Is there a problem?"

She let out a sigh of relief. "I'm surprised you let him live."

Klaus sighed. "Perhaps I am not the monster you think me to be."

"Kicking him out of his house isn't exactly benevolent."

"It's more than he deserves," said Klaus in an angry tone. "More consideration than he intended to give me... However, with my newly enlarged pack behind me, I'm confident everyone will recognize that now is the time of the wolves. With a few, select vampires allowed of course."

Rebekah's jaw dropped. "You're kicking vampires out of the quarter?"

Klaus chuckled. "That's an idea. I hadn't intended anything quite so dramatic. Marcel and his former lackeys have accepted my new position. If they cause trouble, I'll kill every last one of them."

"And what of Kol?"

Klaus' face darkened.

"Don't dagger him, Nik. Please."

"I cannot allow his insolence to go unpunished," growled Klaus, looking at the gold dagger in his hand.

"His insolence?" Rebekah repeated angrily. "He only created the dagger so you'd hand over yours in exchange. It's not wrong to want freedom from your punishments, Nik. Mikael is dead. There's no reason to dagger him to keep the secret of our location any longer." Rebekah crossed her arms. "What does Josie think?"

Klaus growled. "Leave her out of this."

Rebekah sighed. "We're family, Nik. You have the gold dagger. Kol cares for those children too."

She got up and walked over to the door, clearly disappointed by his attitude towards Kol.

Klaus sighed heavily. "Tell Kol he has nothing to fear from me," he said in a harsh tone. "Elijah wouldn't be pleased when he returned and I'd like his support with the other factions."

Rebekah grinned widely. "And you shall have it. Mine as well." She turned to look at Klaus. "Always and forever."

A/N: Let me know what you thought! Next chapter will focus mostly on Mystic Falls as we have the wedding and its accompanying activities.