I hope you like this final chapter.

Chapter 10: Restoration

******Where We Left Off*****

"So what did the Ancestors tell you?" Marcel asked Vincent.

"To stay out of it because this group is connected to a very powerful witch, who we do not want coming to town," Vincent explained.

"I'm just to step back and let them take Klaus?" Marcel asked incredulously. "I finally have him contained. No more slaughter or mayhem. I can't just let him go."

"How about you work a deal of some kind?" Josh suggested.

Marcel considered it. "Maybe I could talk to Xander—he seemed reasonable," he said. "He has access to people who are extremely powerful. It might be possible to leverage them against Klaus, so we can at least keep him out of New Orleans."

"That's a good idea," Josh said, happy at the thought.

"Of course, Klaus is a target now that the sire lines are broken from him," Marcel said. "His presence endangers Hope."

"Well, Hope can stay here. Hayley and she belong in New Orleans," Vincent said. "This is their home, and Hope is ours."

"I can't see Klaus leaving his daughter," Marcel said.

"It's not like he's abandoning her," Josh said. "He'd still see her—just not in this town. Hayley will have to take her out of town to see her."

"Why don't you try to track down Xander? See if he'll meet with me," Marcel said.

"Okay," Josh said.

After Josh left, Marcel looked at Vincent. "I hope this plan works," he said.

"So do I," Vincent said. He didn't want any all-powerful witches in town—they had enough problems.

*****Mikaelsons*****

Xander eyed the debonair vampire with interest. He was as different from Spike and Angel as anyone could possibly be. In fact, Xander didn't think he knew anyone remotely like the man.

"I do appreciate your willingness to help my family," Elijah Mikaelson said.

Kol was sitting up, his head in his hand. "I feel awful," he said. "I need a few people to drain," he mumbled.

"Maybe I should mention that I'm a teacher at a school for vampire slayers," Xander said with an easy smile. "Slaughter of humans is a real no-no."

"It was a figure of speech," Elijah said easily. He glanced at his youngest brother. "Kol knows that we do not tolerate slaughtering of humans."

"Yes, that's why dear Nik kept daggering him," Rebekah said with a bright smile.

"We didn't have blood bags in the 1800s," Kol said as he accepted the bag from Freya.

Faith was bouncing on her feet. "I could really use a good fight, so if you want to try and kill someone, I'd love to stop you," she said to Kol.

"Save the fighting for later, Faith," Xander said. "We need to do get Klaus released, so we can get the girls back to school."

Kol eyed the one-eyed guy with interest. "You really do have a gang of super-powered teenagers here? And you actually like my brother?" he asked.

"Yes to both," Faith said.

Kol looked at Freya. "Exactly how long where we gone?" he asked.

"Less than two months," she said.

Kol shook his head in disbelief. "Some blokes have all the luck," he muttered.

The doorbell rang, and Faith moved to open it. "Josh, I'm surprised to see you here," she said stepping back to let him in.

"Well, it wasn't easy, but I figured if no one was at their main estate, there had to be other properties around town," Josh said. "I have a friend at city hall." He saw that both Mikaelsons were cured.

"Yes, Marcel's blood did the trick," Rebekah said.

"What brings you here?" Xander asked.

"Marcel was hoping you and he could have a talk," Josh said to him.

"Is he willing to discuss releasing Klaus?" Xander inquired.

"He is," Josh said.

"That's good," Xander said. "I like your boss, and I don't really want to fight him."

Kol stood up. "Well, I don't like Marcel—he forgets his place and what my family has done for him," he said coldly. "Klaus saved his life and gave him everything. He picked him over his own flesh and blood, and how does he repay that? His disloyalty will not be forgotten." He sped to Josh, determined to kill him, but Faith stepped in front of Josh and swung her fist, hitting Kol hard in the jaw.

Elijah gave a small smile. "Kol, you can't kill Josh. Remember, he is Davina's best friend, and she would be very angry with you," he said.

"Josh doesn't kill humans, so he gets my protection," Faith said to Kol. "As you seem to have a blood lust problem, I suggest you step easy."

"Marcel hasn't forgotten what Klaus has done," Rebekah said. "Why do you think he's still alive? Marcel has also refused to give him over to the hordes of vampires who've came to town seeking his blood now that he's no longer attached to his line."

"You guys are just one big dysfunctional family," Faith announced. "And you're going to find a way to get along."

"Tell Marcel, I'll meet him in an hour at his bar," Xander said.

Josh nodded and left.

"I wish to speak with Marcellus," Elijah said. "I will go with you."

Xander considered it. "How about you give me five minutes with him alone and then join us?" he asked.

Elijah agreed, but Faith insisted on going.

When Marcel saw Xander enter with Faith, he sighed. He was hoping to get to talk to Xander alone as the slayer was a loose cannon.

"Hello," Marcel said. "I was hoping you would come alone."

"Well, you know how it is," Xander said easily. "Elijah will probably be along soon."

"And I'm here to remind you of the ass whoopin' I'm going to unleash if you don't give me Klaus," Faith said.

Xander could sense that Faith wasn't the right move, and he pulled her aside. "Faith, how about you go outside and give me a few minutes with Marcel?" he suggested.

"Seriously?" she asked, annoyed.

"Let me work my magic," Xander said.

"Fine, but if it doesn't work, things will get ugly," she said. Then she went out the door.

"Thanks. I love strong women, but your slayer seems to be too much like Rebekah with the hair trigger," Marcel said as Xander sat next to him at the bar.

"You're not wrong," Xander said with a grin.

"Do you want a drink?" Marcel asked.

"I'm good," Xander said. "So what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I don't want a fight with you or your superpowered teenagers," Marcel said.

"That's good. We don't want that either," Xander said. "You and the Mikaelsons are family. Klaus is like the only father you've ever known, right?"

"Well, I was born a slave, so that's not saying much," Marcel said sourly. "But here's the thing. The Mikaelsons fled this city and left me behind. I built it up, and things were good. Since they've been here, there's been nothing but slaughter."

"Didn't you basically forbid the witches from practicing magic, killing a few, and slaughtering the wolves? Forcing them to live in the swamp?" Xander countered. "You're no saint."

Marcel gritted his teeth, annoyed the human knew so much. "Regardless, I cannot co-exist with them. Too much has happened. I'm finally stronger than all of them, and Klaus will hate that. He will war with me whether I want him to or not," Marcel said. "His enemies will surround this city to get to him as he's no longer tied to his line. Hope will always be in danger."

"You want him and his siblings to leave," Xander said.

Marcel nodded. "Yes. Kol in particular will never rest until he kills all my guys," Marcel said. "I lived with this family for nearly two hundred years—I know them better than anyone else alive."

"And yet you think still you can take our home from us," Elijah said as he made his presence known. "Your betrayal knowns no bounds."

"It's funny that you would speak to me about betrayal, Elijah, as you are the one who tried to kill me and started this," Marcel said coldly. "You didn't trust me, and it was you that betrayed me!"

"Always and forever was not a vow you ever swore, Marcellus," Elijah said. "I am sorry if I judged you wrongly, but I could not risk my family's life."

"Your family used to be mine, remember?" Marcel said pointedly. "I was never given a chance to give you my vow. You never asked me to either. Instead, I was left for dead while you and your siblings fled this city, running from your dad. Then you and Klaus came back and tried to take what I built."

"Okay, so it's clear that both sides have wronged and been wrong," Xander said easily. "Why don't we agree to move on? You release Klaus, and his siblings will vow not to retaliate. Since it's clear they can honor a vow, you can trust theirs, right?"

"They cannot speak for Klaus," Marcel said. "He rarely listens to anyone."

"He'll listen to me," Faith said. "I will get him to leave town for a while anyway."

"Get him to agree to five years," Marcel said. "That's no time at all for a vampire."

Faith glanced at Elijah. "You think he'll be okay with that?" she asked.

"Probably not, but we can convince him," Xander said.

"Well, then, you guys can follow me, and we'll talk to the man himself," Marcel said.

They followed him to his home, and Faith was beyond pissed when Marcel pulled a brick from a wall and showed where he was keeping Klaus.

"You bricked the only father you've ever known?" Faith said, her fist clenched. "And you call him a monster?"

"Klaus, wake up," Marcel said.

Klaus opened his eyes and saw his brother. "Elijah? You are well?" he asked, looking at his brother carefully. Then he saw two people he didn't expect.

"I am fine, brother," Elijah said. "Your two friends here saved me and Kol."

Klaus gave Faith a warm smile. "Hello, love. Sorry that you have to see me looking so pathetic."

"You could never be pathetic," Faith said with a wink. "You're a hot mess, though."

"That I am," he acknowledged.

"Niklaus, Marcellus has agreed to release you if you will vow to leave New Orleans for at least five years," Elijah said.

"I was hoping you'd come play with me on our hellmouth in Ohio," Faith said with a wink.

Klaus looked up at Elijah. "What does Hayley think about this move?" he asked.

"I have not spoken to her yet," Elijah admitted. "But if you are willing to relocate, Kol and I will go with you."

"If you can drag him from the witch," Klaus said pointedly.

"We can always use a witch on the hellmouth," Xander said. "Willow doesn't stay in Ohio much, and she's our big gun."

"Where's our sisters?" Klaus said. "What do they want to do?"

"You know they will go wherever we go," Elijah said confidently.

Klaus didn't want to leave his home, but things had become unbearable for him and his family. Bitterness was a hard thing to bear, and he glared at Marcel. "So you cured my brothers in order to bribe me to leave?" he asked.

"Actually, we took his blood by force," Faith said.

"We brought a bunch of our girls with us," Xander said, knowing Klaus would know what that meant.

Klaus grinned. "You brought slayers to town?" he asked.

"Only the ones who wanted to come and where at least sixteen," Xander said.

"Look, I don't want any girls hurt, Klaus, and I'm done having you try to hurt me and destroy my friends," Marcel said. "I want peace, and you want to continuously war against someone."

A lack of blood—it'd been weeks since he'd fed—had drained the normal fight out of Klaus.

"Is this what you want?" he asked Elijah.

"I think it is best," Elijah said. He looked at Xander. "This man has a school for special girls—girls who are gifted like Hope."

"She is still a baby," Klaus said. However, he considered what Elijah was saying. The school he was referring to Klaus had seen firsthand, so he knew how special the place was. Having allies like them would be an incredible boon.

"She won't always be," Elijah said. "Hayley may not be ready to leave New Orleans right now, but she will when Hope becomes a bit older."

Klaus liked the idea of his baby girl growing up surrounded by witches like Xander's best friend and all those extraordinary young women.

"Even if she doesn't," Xander said, "you can have Hope visit. There's always something to fight living on a hellmouth."

"You could have a life of real purpose," Faith said. "And me."

Klaus smiled. Having Cami return a vampire had pushed the memory of Faith from the forefront of his mind, but he hadn't forgotten their fleeting time together. She had been a time of sweet succor when he needed it. Most importantly, she had managed to get the cure for Rebekah from her witch friend.

"That is a very tempting offer," he said to her. Then he looked at Marcel. "Release me, and I will leave within twenty-four hours. I'd like to spend some time with Hope before I go."

"You do realize that your enemies will be gunning for you," Marcel informed him. "They've been beating down my door wanting a piece of you now that you're no longer tied to your line."

"I think we can see if Willow can tie you back to your line," Faith said with a smirk.

"Of course, if you're at a school of vampire slayers, I think you'll be in good company," Xander pointed. "A vampire would have to be a fool to challenge us."

Marcel moved and ripped out the bricks holding Klaus. Elijah stepped forward to catch his brother as he fell, and then he pushed his hand into Klaus' chest.

"What the hell are you doing?" Faith asked, alarmed at the gruesome sight.

When Elijah pulled his hand out, he was holding a slightly curved knife made out a bone of some kind. "Ending his suffering," he said simply. "This is how Marcel was able to contain him. It causes an incredible amount of pain—immobilizing even someone of his great strength."

Faith stared at it a moment and then back at Klaus. Immediately, she could see more color and vitality on his face. Anger filled her, and she gave no warning as she turned to knock Marcel hard in the face. As she didn't hold back, it caused him to fall back a few feet.

"You're one sick bastard!" she said angrily. Then she turned and quit the room, her desire to rip the guy's head off incredibly strong.

Klaus fought back a grin, pleased at her response.

"Can you walk?" Elijah asked.

Klaus struggled to his feet. "I think so," he said. Then he straightened and looked at his adopted son with regret mixed with anger. "Well, Marcel. I wish things had been different, but I will leave you and yours be."

"You vow it?" Marcel wondered.

"I do," Klaus said.

Marcel nodded. "Then I wish you and your family well," he said. He held out his hand to Klaus.

Klaus considered it a moment and then sighed. "Thanks," he said, shaking his hand. He held his eyes a moment, not sure what he wanted to say. He moved a step closer and put his other hand on Marcel's shoulder. "No father could be prouder of the man you have become. You are stronger than I and more controlled—you're a better leader."

Marcel hated to admit how much Klaus' words meant to him, but Xander wasn't wrong. Klaus was the only father he knew—the man he measured himself against in every way. "Well, you might've taught me a thing or two," he admitted, giving him a slow smile.

"See, I knew we could all get along," Xander said, slapping his hands together. "How about we end the night celebrating? Then we'll all head out tomorrow."

"Lead the way," Klaus said as turned from Marcel. When he stumbled from weakness, Elijah moved to steady him. Klaus kept his arm around his brother, who led him out of Marcel's place.

This chapter of the Mikaelsons was finally over.

*****Epilogue*****

Faith kissed Klaus. "Well, lover, are you ready for some fun?" she asked.

Klaus grinned at her in amusement. For Faith, fun could mean one of two things—a marathon of sex or a gruesome battle. She loved both equally. Since he and his family had moved to Ohio's hellmouth, their lives were radically different. Six months ago, they'd had their last party in their old home. He'd kissed his daughter and spoken to Hayley, who agreed to relocate by the time Hope reached school age. Her summers would be spent with him and his family until then.

When Kol had bitten into the first demon he'd encountered a few weeks after their arrival, he'd discovered that demon blood gave him a high human blood didn't. Then he'd become very active in helping the slayers fight. Currently, Buffy Summers, their leader had moved Kol and Davina to India with a group of slayers. The demon population there was getting out of hand, and Kol was relishing keeping it in hand.

Freya had stuck around Ohio for a few months, learning how the slayers worked and what magic could do to aid them. Then she'd met Willow, and the two had bonded. Willow had succeeded in recruiting her to join their main headquarters in England. She, too, was loving having a purpose outside of her family.

Elijah spent his time working with the watchers, sharing his incredible knowledge of history and languages whenever they'd needed help researching. Klaus could tell that his big brother relished in shaping young minds. He'd once started the Strix with noble ambition to impact the future for the better. When it had all fell to ash, it had been a bitter blow. Now, though, he had so many young minds that were empowered with a sacred duty. Elijah was happier than Klaus had seen him in a long time. He divided his time either in Ohio with Klaus or in England with Freya.

Klaus and Faith had been getting along famously—he'd not grown bored with her at all. "I'm coming," he said to her. He reached for his sword. He loved the archaic weaponry the slayers used as it reminded him strongly of his youth. His sword now was rarely far from his reach, and he loved the feel of a blade in his hand. A love of fine blades was something he and Faith shared. The young girls were repulsed at the ripping out of hearts—his initial method of ending a demon life, so Xander had forbid the practice.

Not that he let Xander tell him what to do, but the man was so easy to like. Klaus found it nearly impossible to not agree when he asked him to stop doing the practice. It had been a very long time since Klaus had made a real human friend. One that he need not fear would die for their friendship. Camille had been the last human he'd befriended, but Klaus didn't have to worry about Xander as he was probably the most protected human on the planet. The slayers loved him fiercely and weren't afraid to show it.

When Rebekah and Xander became involved a few months earlier, Klaus had to break up many a fight as the girl's were constantly baiting Rebekah and causing her to lose her cool. A few just flat out hit first—violence was a slayer's first go-to Klaus had quickly discovered.

Soon, however, it became clear that Xander had no reason to worry about Rebekah harming him or breaking his heart. She was completely besotted with the man.

Klaus, of course, approved finally of her choice. The fact that Xander was human and would eventually die was not a topic they discussed. Klaus, though, would force him to become a vampire before he'd allow the man to leave his sister from old age.

He was too smart, though, to voice that particular plan of his.

"Are you ready?" Xander asked as he joined him, Faith, and Rebekah. "These demons are nasty."

"I still cannot believe opening a hellmouth is something these idiots try to do annually," Rebekah muttered. She detested hunting demons, finding them disgusting. However, she joined them mainly to watch Xander's back. When she first saw Kol feed on one, she'd thrown up in disgust.

"Well, what can I say? Some just can't embrace our gaming culture as a favorite pastime," Xander said with a grin. "Opening hellmouths is how they get their jollies." He leaned over to kiss her. "Come be my shield, my blonde goddess."

Rebekah gave him a soft smile. "Only for you," she said.

Faith rolled her eyes, impatient as always. "Let's get this show on the road," she ordered, leading the girls who were going with them.

Klaus moved next to his dark slayer, content for once to let others lead.

However, he would kill any who dared harm his Faith.

After all, he was still a sucker for a pretty face.

*****The End*****

I know some of you would've loved more, but I wanted to end it wrapped up. I enjoyed writing a glimpse of what they're all doing in the future. Yes, that means this is the true end. I hope you're not disappointed. Here's a final chance to review. Take a minute and let me know. Thanks so much to all of you've read, followed, and favorited it.