I know this one has been on the back burner for a while, and I'm sorry!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

~Five Years Later~

The years passed by with hardly any conflict. The family moved from district to district, trying to stay one step ahead of Mikael, who it seemed had fallen behind in his hunt. Or so some hoped.

Klaus, on the other hand, didn't hold the hope.

Caroline sensed it, as she often did when something bothered him. She watched as he stared at the wall of their bedroom and slowly closed the door with a sigh. "Erik asked about you at dinner." She began, walking further into the room.

Klaus hummed but kept his head facing the wall.

She moved closer, stopping as she reached him, standing in front of him. "Nik…" She whispered, kneeling, taking his hands in hers.

Finally, after moments had passed, he shifted his gaze to her. She smiled, or tried to. Her eyes focused on his. "Talk to me," She encouraged, holding his eyes.

His jaw clenched as he looked into her eyes before he swallowed and licked his bottom lip. His head bowed and she waited. "Its been five years since we gave the choice for Erik to choose his destiny." He began, and she realized where it was going.

"He'll be eighteen in a few days." She observed, lowering her eyes.

Klaus hummed, standing up to move to the small window in the bedroom. "Yes, he will." He remarked, feeling her stand behind him. "I never wanted him to make that choice. I wanted him to live a full life." He continued, with pain radiating in his voice.

Caroline placed her hands on his back and sighed. "He may not choose to turn, Nik. He may choose to live a full life." She comforted, and he sighed, before turning to face her.

He touched her face, and searched her eyes. "I can't turn my own son, Caroline." He confessed, tears filling his eyes. "The day I turned you was one of the worst and best days of my life. I don't know how I could take it if it was Erik." He revealed, and she lifted her right hand to touch his face, tenderly.

"I understand, but if he asked you…what would you say?" She asked, holding his eyes.

He inhaled deeply. The words in his throat became stuck and he couldn't find the strength to say them out. Could he turn his own son? He didn't know. He wasn't sure if he could.

"He's my son." He choked out, trying to get the understanding through.

She nodded, placing her other hand on his face. "I know. He's mine too, Nik." She returned, holding his eyes.

"Could you?" He asked, wanting to know if she was stronger than him. An answer he already knew. He knew she was stronger that is what made him love her even more.

She bit her bottom lip, and hesitated. "I'm not sure. I've never… I don't…" She began, shaking her head.

Klaus sighed and caressed her face, tenderly. "If you wanted to…" He encouraged, forcing her eyes to hold his.

She saw his encouragement. His love. Something that made her special. That she could do anything, if he was by her side. "If he chooses, Nik, he will need to chose which one of us." She remarked, with strength in her words.

He nodded and pulled her into his lap to hold her in an embrace that made her feel loved and whole. "Whatever he decides, we do it as a family, love." He whispered, holding her closer.

She smiled and leaned back to gaze into his eyes. "Always," She agreed, with a soft smile.

He returned the smiled and leaned forward to brush his lips over hers, tenderly.

In the silence of their room, they knew they had each other, and whatever their son would chose in the next few days, they would support him and continue to love him.

They would always be a family. That much was certain. They knew this and accepted it.

No matter what, Klaus would always have Caroline and she would always have him and they both would have their son.

~XXX~

Erik stepped outside of the small cottage and stared up at the stars. Millions shown overhead and it made him smile at the thought of seeing them every night for eternity.

He knew his decision would have to be soon, and he wished it would be easy. Yet, somehow, it was.

He loved his family. He wanted to be with them.

"Care to share your thoughts…"

He smiled as the familiar voice of his grandmother came behind him. "I'll be eighteen in a few days." He remarked, looking up at the sky.

Ayanna nodded with a smile. "I know. Big decisions await you on that day." She observed, watching him.

He lowered his head and slowly turned to face her. "You know of my answer already, don't you?" He asked, his blue-green eyes sparkling in the light of the crescent moon.

She just smiled for his answer and slowly nodded. "I do and I believe it is a wise decision." She answered finally.

He smiled. "I hope my parents agree." He stated, turning his head.

She closed the distance between them and touched his arm. "They will because they hope…" She paused, letting her eyes falter slightly.

"They hope that I will chose not to turn." He finished, knowingly

She nodded, and he sighed. "They do not wish their curse on you, Erik. They want to protect you." She concluded, firmly.

He sighed. "I know, grandmother, but they can't protect from everything." He began, turning to face the outside woods. "Every day is a struggle. A fight. A hope that we are not discovered by Mikael. A man who wants to kill father and me." He paused, not wanting to include Caroline.

Ayanna nodded and listened. She knew the struggle Erik went through day by day to be human in a family of Originals. "I received word from my daughter." She began, clasping her hands in front of her. "She will come by on your birthday. If you wish, and I'm sure your parents will agree, you may go with her."

Erik listened to the words and felt his heart drop. Leave his family? How could he?

"It will only be a short time, Erik. With her, you can learn to harness the magic within you." She remarked in a low tone.

He turned his head and smiled. It was hard keeping a secret from his grandmother. He never told his parents what he had long suspected. "How did you know?" He asked, and she smiled.

"Because you are your mother's son. I knew the moment you were conceived that you were going to be a powerful warlock." Ayanna explained, softly.

"But if I turn…" He began, watching her shake her head.

"If you turn, or when you turn," She began, knowing the outcome. "You will be like your mother, but there will only be one Guardian."

He inhaled and slowly turned to face her completely. "What will I be?" He asked, carefully.

"You will be you, Erik. You will have the power to protect her and your family if you choose. You will be invincible, like her." She explained in a steady voice.

"What about father?" Erik asked, concern leaking in his words. "He will still be vulnerable because of the dagger." He continued, knowing what would happen should Klaus be lost to both he and his mother.

Ayanna studied the young man in front of her and knew what the answer would be. "You will find a way." She answered with a heart in her words.

He smiled and bowed his head. "Three days…" He whispered, lifting his head back up to the sky.

She smiled and placed her hand on his back. "Three days,"

~XXX~

The day came. The day Klaus and Caroline tried so hard to become prepared for, and yet they couldn't. How could they take their own son's life?

Erik sensed their conflict and smiled as he glanced at Ayanna. A simple knock on the door revealed a middle-aged looking woman with a kind smile as she greeted her mother with open arms.

"Mother, it's so good to see you." She greeted, pulling back to take in the Original family. "This must be the family you have told me and Jakob about." She continued, stopping at Caroline, who was standing close to Klaus. She smiled, tenderly and approached her. "The Guardian, I presume." She acknowledged, with a kind tone.

Caroline bowed her head. "I am."

"I'm Annabelle." Ayanna's daughter introduced with a bow of her head. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you." She remarked, approaching Caroline with her arms open.

Caroline returned the embrace and smiled at Ayanna over her daughter's shoulder.

"Mother was right; you are powerful." Annabelle stated, pulling back.

Caroline tipped her head to the side and Ayanna smiled. "My daughter has the gift to see how strong others are." Ayanna explained with pride.

Caroline smiled and returned to Klaus' side. "We were just about to celebrate Erik's birthday; would you care to join us?" She asked, holding Klaus' hand in hers.

Annabelle smiled and shifted her gaze to Klaus. "I would be honored." She remarked, remembering her mother's words.

The dinner was filled with excitement, even with the new visitor at the table. Rebekah had made Erik a scarf for the winter days ahead. Kol had whittled Erik a small wolf for his heritage, which was given and received with a smile. Elijah had crafted a necklace for his nephew. One with a star and moon dangling carefully on the wire. The last gift came from his parents. Klaus had stood up and handed Erik a small box with a smile before returning to his wife.

Erik slowly opened the box and inhaled sharply at the contents. A simple charm rested on a pile of wood chips. A charm that he recognized as two hearts with a single heart shaped stone in the center. "Father…" He whispered, lifting his eyes to his parents.

Caroline smiled. "The stone is Lapis, like the ones we all wear. Ayanna helped with the spell. It's supposed to protect you." She explained with a tender note. "Whether you decide today or later, the stone will always protect you."

Erik felt tears fill his eyes as he stood and made his way to his parents, embracing them with all his strength. He knew the purpose of the two hearts. They symbolized his parents and the stone was him. It was more symbolic than anything as he knew he would end up being their protector.

It was then his decision was made.

~XXX~

He fiddled with the necklace, combined with what Elijah had crafted and the charm from his parents in the center. Darkness had fallen and he was outside studying the stars. He felt someone approach and smiled as Klaus stood beside him.

"Mother…" Erik began, turning his eyes back to the sky.

Klaus smiled. "She's helping Rebekah clean up." He answered, lifting his eyes to the sky. "Ayanna told us that Annabelle has offered to take you with her when she leaves." He began, conversationally.

Erik nodded. "I was going to tell you and mother when we settled down."

"So, you've made your decision, then?" Klaus asked, absently.

"I have." Erik responded, turning to face his father. "I would like to go with Annabelle. I don't wish to turn, yet, but I do want to spend eternity you and mother." He explained, hoping his father understood.

Klaus felt relief fill him as he knew this was a decision that signified a man, not a boy. "You will go to train with her, I take it." He remarked, smiling at his son's shocked face. "I've known for a long time that you possessed your mother's gifts, but you hid it from us."

"I didn't want to worry you, both." Erik explained, gently.

"You wouldn't have worried us, Erik."

Klaus smiled as he felt Caroline stand beside him.

Caroline glanced at her husband before looking at her son. "We just want you to be happy and safe. Annabelle has already guaranteed your safety and has promised that you will learn how to control the gifts which was passed on to you." She remarked, lifting her hand to touch her son's face.

"You are not angry, then?" Erik asked, grasping his mother's hand in his.

Caroline and Klaus glanced at each other with smiles. "We are not angry." Klaus remarked, carefully.

"If anything, we are relieved." Caroline added, bowing her head. "I don't think I would have had the courage to turn you, Erik. Not yet, anyway." She confessed, sadly.

Erik smiled and stepped closer to his parents. "You would have, because I trust you both. No matter what happens. You never would hurt me." He revealed, embracing his parents in the light of the half moon.

Trust, Erik thought, trust is what makes a family.

~XXX~

The next morning Erik packed up his bag and sighed as he left his small room. He hugged each of his Uncles and his Aunt, telling them all that he would see them again. He stopped at Ayanna with a smile and embraced her with all the strength he could give.

"Thank you." He whispered in her ear.

She knew without asking what he meant. He meant a thank you for guiding him to his decision. "Be safe, Erik."

He pulled back and nodded with a smile before he turned to his parents. He inhaled deeply at the emotion on their faces, and with a cry from his mother's lips, he fell into their arms. "The years will pass by quickly. I'll return to you both soon. I promise." He whispered in their ears.

Caroline nodded and touched her son's face with a soft whimper. "You listen to Annabelle in her teachings, and don't overexert yourself." She ordered, firmly.

He smiled. "Yes, mother." He agreed, gently.

She nodded, and couldn't say much of anything, leaning into her husband's side.

Klaus smiled as best as he could and hugged his son. "You'll come back to us." He stated, knowing that he would.

Erik smiled. "I'll always find you both. Always." He stated, knowing the family motto.

Ayanna held her daughter and smiled. "You know what you have to do." She whispered, carefully.

Annabelle nodded with a smile. "He will be safe and his decision will be granted at the right time. Everything will be well, mother. I promise." She vowed, hugging her mother once more before her and Erik backed away from the family.

Erik smiled at his parents once more. "I love you both, and I'll find you again. I promise." He vowed, turning to leave.

Klaus held his wife in his arms as their son disappeared through the woods. "He'll come back to us, love. I know he will." He promised his wife.

Caroline nodded. "I know, Nik. I know."

Please be kind!

I've been on a roll for the past two days, trying to get a lot of my stories caught up and finished. I have a goal to get a lot finished by March, but I'm not sure how it will work, so I've been writing non-stop for the past few days.

Again, I'm sorry that I've been neglecting this story. For those who have been reading my other stories you know, and for those who don't well, my Graduate courses have been taking up alot of my time, and I've barely had time to write as I would like. I hope you guys understand and continue to be patient with me. THANK YOU!

Next Chapter: Adjustment

Until Next Time...