Once again I really want to thanks IWirteFanficForFun for her courageous work to beta this work.

Bonne lecture!

When Klaus was able to distinguish what's happening around him, again, years have apparently passed. A look at the sun and it's apparently the middle of the afternoon. He found Elijah with his father. Apparently, they are training.

- Stand up, boy… You'll never be able to protect those yourself by standing on the floor.

- Yes, Father.

- You'll never be strong enough if you can even resist a little pain.

- I'll protect them, I'll do it… I will stand for them until they'll be able to do it alone.

- Not that weak, you won't, replied his father throwing him once again to the floor.

They kept training for a few minutes. Then Klaus saw his father indicate to his son to go and do his daily chores. Throwing a last glare to that man who destroyed his childhood, the hybrid followed his brother. He now looked at least twelve, maybe slightly older. He trailed the brunet in the barn where the boy took care of the livestock. Then to the house where there was already mini-Klaus and Rebekah.

- Have you done your work, Klaus?

- I still have to bring back some herbs for tonight's dinner.

- Rebekah?

- Our room is all clean, big brother.

- Alright. Who wants to help me prepare our meal?

- Nah… I have these boys I promised I would play with was Klaus answer.

- Can you do it alone? Mary said we were going to do something for my hair? Said Rebekah with pleading eyes.

- No problem. Just one last thing. Where is Henrik?

- Sleeping in our parent's room.

Answered Kol, surging from the said room.

- Alright, go away you little monsters! Dinner will be ready when you'll come back. Klaus, don't forget those herbs, I really need them.

- Thank you, Elijah! Had answered the three of them.

Once his little brother had brought him back the things he needed to prepare their meal, Elijah started cooking. Minutes later, he and adult-Klaus who had stayed with him heard shouting from the barn. The hybrid shuddered recognizing his father's ire, it was usually directed at him. He was surprised when Elijah suddenly disappeared, the open door suggested he had gone to see what was making their father so angry. Klaus followed him reluctantly, not really enthusiastic to see once more his father's anger, only to freeze when he gets outside. He remembered that day, like it happened yesterday. He will probably still remember it in a thousand years. That was the first time he had hated himself for something he did, to his brother. Actually, he has always kept this moment in his mind. Maybe he had it buried under a pile of crap. Maybe sometimes he had conveniently tried to erase it. But it always came back to him. Every once or awhile when he felt guilty about his actions toward his brother.

In front of the barn, Michael was standing, threatening and his face blank.

- Elijah… which one of the stupid creature that serves you and his brothers was supposed to close the barn…

- I…

- Which one Elijah…

- Father… I… that was me… I'm sorry, I was going to do it but then I had to take care of Henrik…

- Do you realize what you have done? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? We're missing a horse boy… Maybe I should make you do his work? MAYBE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THEN!

- I'm sorry… I'll accept any punishment you'll give me… And then I'll go searching for our horse. I promise. But please let me finished our dinner and make our family eat. Once they'll be in their bed I'll do anything you want.

- You better, boy, or I will make sure you'll be unable to walk for at least a month.

Klaus was shaking from anger. His own cruel childhood had sometimes made him forget that he wasn't the only one who suffered from Michael's deranged anger. And that more often than once, Elijah had protected him. Because that door, it wasn't Elijah who was supposed to close it, it was Klaus. From the other side, Elijah was also shaking most likely from terror. Klaus had been the witness of something he had seen again and again in his long life. He had seen Elijah take a deep breath and then concentrate and hide his feelings behind a blank face. He came back in their home and made dinner. Then once they had all eaten, in an almost religious silence. All of them had felt their father's ire, and Elijah had made sure they knew, to shut up in this kind of situation. Without a word, Kol helped Rebekah clear the table while Klaus and his big brother were cleaning the kitchen. A few moments later, Elijah had them all on their mattresses, their little sister already sleeping and Kol seemed ready to follow her, to Morpheus country. The children were all under their cover when the older boy had left them to join his father who was waiting when Klaus threw away his cover and the mantle, his brother had added afraid he could be cold during the night. In three jump he was hugging Elijah from behind and he breathed in a small trembling voice:

- Don't go… Elijah please, don't go.

- What are you talking about Nicklaus?

- I beg you, please, don't go. I know you told father you were the one who left the doors of the barn open. We both knew it was me. He's going to hurt you! Please, Elijah.

- Even if I could stay here, I wouldn't. I don't want him to hurt you ever again. Last time he almost killed you. And it won't be so bad, I just have to take back the horse who escaped.

- But Elijah…

- No Klaus. Now go to sleep, tomorrow will be a better day. Love you, little brother.

- Love you too 'Lijah.

Slightly taken aback by the repeat of what happened that night, Adult-Klaus was torn between shouting and crying. Why hadn't he been able to stop him? Elijah still had the scars of that night. He couldn't go through it again. But he knew he had to, because even with all his cruelty, in one thousand years he never stopped loving and respecting his brother. That's why when mini-Klaus had let go of Elijah, he followed his older brother outside. Even if he couldn't interact with this universe, maybe he'll be able to let his brother feel his presence, his support. Maybe that will comfort him.

That's why using his vampire speed he followed Elijah in the woods. His brother was walking, his only companion was a small torch. He watched him fall and freeze, jump when a strange sound could be heard, shake in the cold, and finally, finally he watched him find the horse. The animal was peacefully eating below, in a small ravine.

A sudden howl behind Elijah made the young boy jolt. An inconsiderate move and he was suddenly falling at the bottom, joining the horse who jumped, afraid of the sudden interruption of his meal.

Luckily, it didn't run away. The young boy struggled to get up. Once he was standing again, he seemed slightly disoriented by the loss of his light. That and he just had a nasty fall. Limping a little, he approached the horse slowly, with the same patience he used with his little brothers and sister. It was a beautiful beast. It had a somber fur, and his mane had been carefully braided by Rebekah, two days ago, to the great displeasure of their father. It was also a strong creature, a challenge even for a teenager. He made a first attempt and tried to mount the horse, only to be thrown away. A second try was once again unsuccessful, then on the third try, he had been able to jump on the animal's back. And after some balking, they started their way back home.

Then there was a second howl and another, and soon both Elijah and Klaus realized wolves were coming. Truth was, Elijah had never really told his little brother what happened that night, he just knew that when he came back, he was in bad shape, as well as their horse. And it had made their father so angry he didn't even wait for Elijah to feel better. He just had taken the boy with him, thrown him into the barn and closed the door behind him.

Through the beating, his older brother hadn't made a sound, but later, once he had thought everyone was asleep he had cried silently. He remembered s that his younger self was awake and had clenched his fists, with a strange mix of anger, sadness, and worry.

Now he could only witness while his brother had to cling on the horse's mane, his body whipped by tree branches. When the first wolf approached the animal and his rider, the only thing Klaus had been able to do was groan.

Raced by the pack, Elijah seemed to be intensely reflecting. If the situation hadn't been that dangerous, Klaus would have snorted. Only his big brother could be making plans while being thrown up and down on a horseback and pursued by angry and hungry wolves.

The teenager seemed to have made his decision, he made the horse take a new direction, galloping to reach his goal.

A few minutes later, Klaus understood his brother idea. Ahead there was a ravine not too large for a horse, but definitely too large for wolves. They were almost there when Elijah had stabbed in his leg. But then they were on the other side, safe and sound. The teenager was panting, throwing at the wolves a feverous glare he slowly backed in the forest before taking, once again, the way back home.

As they were not running anymore, Klaus was able to take a closer look at his brother. He was already a strong guy, maybe slightly malnourished but definitely too pale, and the moonlight wasn't helping. His leg was bleeding, as well as his head, and blue marks and bruises were slowly appearing everywhere on his body.

A few moments later, the house could be seen between two trees. Elijah was now tenser than ever. He slowly dismounted and brought the horse with him to his father.

TBC

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