Bella stumbled away from the door and slumped down a nearby wall, desperately trying to control her breathing. She was freaking out but she didn't want any of them to know how panicked she was feeling… though considering the fact that they could hear her hyperventilating and Jasper would be able to sense how she was feeling, it was surely a lost cause.

"Bella," Alice called through the door, "Bella, open the door. We need to talk."

"Please, love," Edward joined in and she flinched. It was wrong to hear Edward call her that- that was Klaus' nickname for her.

Pulling out her phone, Bella located Rebekah's number with shaky fingers and called her. "Please pick up," she breathed. The phone rang a few times before going to voicemail and Bella began shaking so badly she almost dropped the phone. "Damn it," she swore.

Alice continued knocking on the door, several voices overlapping as all the Cullen's tried to get her attention at once. Bella started to call Kol, figuring that taking on a coven of Cold One's was right up his alley, when she heard Edward call, "You don't have to worry, Bella. The Mikaelson's are all still in town and won't be back for a while."

"Well, that's horrifying," Bella almost whimpered. Her hands were shaking so hard that the phone fell out of them. What was she supposed to do now?

Klaus appeared in front of her then, kneeling down so they were eye level.

Choking back a sob, Bella stared at him with large eyes. Not saying a word, Klaus reached out and carefully helped her to her feet. "I thought you all had left me here alone," she whispered.

"Never, love," he murmured back. Keeping an arm wrapped around her waist, he led her back over to the door. When he gave her a light squeeze, Bella felt a bit of her bravery return. Klaus raised an eyebrow at her in a silent question and Bella took a deep breath before nodding.

Throwing the door open with the hand not resting on Bella's hip, Klaus smirked at the startled Cullen's. "Seems your inner eye was mistaken, since one Mikaelson still remains. Too bad for you."

Carlisle and Jasper both had the good sense to tell that the vampire standing before them was a threat, but the others just seemed surprised and perturbed to see that there was someone else home. Edward in particular was glaring at the sight of Klaus' arm around the petite brunette. "Get-"

"Hello," Carlisle hastily interrupted. "My apologies, I hope we didn't disturb you."

"You show up at my home and start harassing someone under my protection, but you didn't mean to disturb?" Klaus sneered, brows raised. "Clearly what you meant is, 'We didn't think you would be home to disturb'."

The Cullen patriarch's lips pursed slightly and he moved to stand slightly in front of his mate as Alice and Edward scowled while Jasper shifted minutely. Bella's eyes flitted back and forth between each Cold One, face unnaturally pale but expression otherwise unreadable.

"We came to speak with Bella," Edward almost growled.

Klaus laughed at his pathetic attempt at aggression. "Well, I don't want you to speak with her and more importantly, neither does she."

"Of course she wants to talk with us!" Alice protested. "She loves us!"

"No I do not," Bella instantly spoke up. "Firm no on both counts." She leaned further into Klaus' side, horridly uncomfortable at the feeling of multiple gold eyes scanning over her.

"Bella," Edward breathed, starting to reach a hand out. "Please, let me explain-" he stopped speaking as his hand abruptly bounced away when it reached the doorway. Brows furrowed in confusion, Edward again tried to reach out to Bella but found his hand was unable to go further than the right past the start of the door frame.

"I suppose one of the few benefits to being a failed attempt at a true vampire is not having to abide by that pesky 'permission to enter' clause," Klaus smirked, though his eyes were still ice. "Too bad that's an easy enough advantage to negate. If you want to enter my home, Cullen, you're going to need an invitation."

Blinking rapidly as she tried to process everything that was going on, Bella couldn't help letting out a small laugh. Turning to hide her face fully in Klaus' shoulder, she continued to shake with laughter.

"Bella!" Alice snapped. "This isn't funny! We can't protect you from out here." Her words only made Bella laugh harder.

"Bella," Esme started cautiously, eyes flicking rapidly between the hybrid and the young human girl. "You're not safe."

Klaus wrapped his arm more securely around Bella, supporting most of her weight and she wrapped her arms around him in return, hugging him tightly. "It's funny, you make it sound as though her time with you was a walk in the park."

"It was not a walk in the park," came Bella's muffled interjection. "Was absolutely not a walk in the park."

"That's enough," Edward almost snarled and Bella was sure that if she looked at him, his eyes would be completely black. "Bella, come out here right now. That man is dangerous- he's a hybrid! Part werewolf!"

Tipping her head back so she could meet Klaus' now-golden eyes, Bella dropped her jaw dramatically. "No! Really? A werewolf! I had no idea! It does explain so much though," she turned to look wide-eyed at the Cullen's. "He prefers his steaks super rare," she whispered confidingly.

Jasper's lips twitched and Klaus pressed his lips against the side of Bella's head, hiding his grin in her hair.

"Bella," Alice's bell-like voice rang out again, condescension dripping. "Now is not the time to be rebellious. You're in real danger- both from the Mikaelson's and from Victoria."

Bella stiffened. "Why am in danger from Victoria?"

"Victoria may not be the most pressing concern right now, darling," Jasper murmured, still studying Klaus closely.

"You're absolutely right," Klaus agreed. "I do believe the most pressing concern I have right now is why you all are still standing at my door. One would have assumed that at least one of you would be smart enough to have realized that running was your best chance at survival once you caught sight of me."

"If you were really dangerous, you would have done something the moment you saw us," Alice sniffed.

Frowning, Bella's mind raced as she considered the implications of what Alice had just said. "If?" she muttered before things finally clicked together and she laughed. "Oh, that's beautiful. You can't see him, can you? You have no idea what Klaus might do next. The seer is finally blind. This must be driving you as insane as Edward was once he realized he couldn't read my mind."

"I was not 'insane'," Edward protested.

"Dude, I gotta tell you, claiming crazy is your best option right now. You watched me as I slept, Edward! You broke into my home and watched me while I was sleeping! So, either you're crazy or a creeper. Make a choice."

"Bella," Carlisle attempted to step in. "You're Edward's mate and I know-"

Klaus interrupted with a snarl. "She is not his mate! There are no such things as mates! That's just something vampires made up for fun."

Jasper looked over at Bella then, as if expecting her to feel hurt and betrayed by Klaus' words but instead, she stared up at the hybrid with a tired expression. "We have very different ideas of fun," she told him.

"Don't worry, love," Klaus reassured with a wink. "We'll get you on our level soon enough."

"Don't call her that!" Edward spat, trying ineffectually to step forward again. "She is not your love!"

"More my love than yours," the hybrid couldn't resist taunting.

"Someone who really loved me would allow me to nap," Bella muttered, nuzzling her head into Klaus' shoulder.

The arms around her waist tightened slightly before relaxing. "Well, you heard the lady. Leave."

"Not without Bella," Alice foolishly continued to argue.

"Oh, absolutely without Bella," the girl in question shot back. "There's not a chance in Hell I am going anywhere with you people. Been there, done that, no desire for an encore performance in that house of horrors."

"Bella," Edward started to reprimand, and Klaus snapped.

It had been fun to harass them for a bit, but now he was over it. Scooping Bella up, he zipped into his study and deposited her on the couch before reappearing in front of the Cullen's. Reaching out, he grabbed the nearest Cullen, Alice, by the throat and pulled her towards him. Her body caught on the barrier preventing them from entering the house but Klaus just squeezed his hand tighter and kept on pulling. The pixie screeched in pain and the others jumped forward to try to help her, which is exactly what Klaus had been waiting for.

Pulling a vial out that he had slipped into his pocket right before coming down the stairs to confront their unwanted guests, Klaus released Alice without warning and thrust his hand towards Edward, cracking the Cold One's chest open right as the copper-head went to grab his wrist. Twisting, the hand with the vial flashed forward and he pushed the entire container into the hole he had created, shattering it along the way. Edward screamed as the vervain entered his system and collapsed. Klaus quickly wiped the venom and vervain onto his pants.

"What did you do to him?" Alice croaked from the safety of Jasper's arms as Carlisle and Esme knelt down beside their 'son'.

"That? That was nothing," Klaus laughed. "Something I came up with at a moment's notice when I heard you knocking at my door. Imagine just what I could accomplish if I really put my mind to it."

Edward was still writhing on the ground as Carlisle looked up and opened his mouth to say something before Alice jerked slightly and then she and Jasper abruptly disappeared. Carlisle and Esme silently grabbed Edward and followed after her without question.

Klaus frowned, torn. Part of him wanted to chase after the Cullen's and destroy them. The rest of him knew that he couldn't leave Bella alone, especially since he didn't know what it was that made the Cullen's flee. He would have heard if another vampire was approaching from close-by so it must have been something else. Had Alice seen something to do with his siblings? Perhaps they had found the two Cullen's who were missing from the group?

A thump from upstairs pulled his attention away from the Cullen's and he went back upstairs to check on Bella, worried that the Cullen's had already come up with another plan to get to Bella if their first one failed. When he entered his study, he found Bella lying face down on the floor, muttering to herself. "What happened?" he asked, torn between concern and amusement.

Bella's voice was muffled by the carpet. "I stood up from the couch. I fell down on the floor. I have now chosen to remain on the floor."

"Because you enjoy an up-close view of the carpet or because you can't muster up the energy to stand?"

"Correct."

Chuckling, Klaus lifted her up again. "Why were you standing up in the first place?"

"Because I want juice, okay? I have low-key goals here. God, your memory is short. Aren't you supposed to be the dude who never forgets and can hold a grudge forever? Or, are you just one of those people that resents someone without actually remembering why you dislike them?" Bella rested her head on his shoulder again as he carried her to the kitchen.

"My sincerest apologies- it's just that I've never met someone over the age eight who enjoys drinking juice so much."

"You hang around with eight-year old's often, Klaus?"

Setting her down on a counter, Klaus checked to make sure she wasn't about to fall over again before moving to retrieve her precious drink. "Oh, absolutely. I lead my own troop of Boy Scouts."

Bella raised an eyebrow and playfully asked, "Is that so? Tell me then, what is your official title as their leader?"

"You know, with your attitude, I'm just not sure you deserve this." Klaus held up a glass of peach juice just out of reach. "Why is there even peach juice in my fridge to begin with?"

Shrugging, Bella answered, "Because it's delicious and sounds more sophisticated than apple juice."

Klaus finally handed her the glass with a short bark of laughter. "And that matters why?"

"No idea, but Bekah seemed really concerned about it." Bella took a small, cautious sip of the juice before sighing in relief. "Thank you."

"No thanks needed, love," Klaus told her, waving away her gratitude.

"Yes, there is." Bella caught his gaze and made sure that their eyes stayed locked as she spoke so he knew that she was serious. "Not just for the juice but for everything. For allowing me to stay here, for protecting me from the Cullen's, for everything really. I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for your family."

He shifted slightly, looking away from her. "Considering everything that's happened in just the last few days, I imagine you'd probably be dead by now."

Snorting, Bella said, "Thanks. Appreciate the honesty." Taking another drink and steeling her nerves, she asked, "So, Victoria?"

"Ah yes, Victoria. It seems that she's been looking for you."

"Why?" Bella was honestly confused, unsure of what the red-haired Cold One could want with her.

"According to Elijah, she wants revenge for what happened in Phoenix. My brother wasn't able to find out what exactly occurred back in May, but he was able to learn that Victoria's partner, James, was murdered by the Cullen's there and you had quite the accident. I assume the two incidents were related?"

Bella's face had gone pale. "Yes," she whispered. "James found out I was being protected by the Cullen's and started hunting me. He lured me out of hiding in Phoenix by making it look like he had my mom and tortured me. The Cullen's found me before he could kill me and they destroyed him."

"That's what we thought might have occurred, but we couldn't be sure." Klaus made sure to keep his tone light and expression, not wanting to worry Bella any further. "There's no need for you to be concerned about her; as of right now, she has no idea where you are. We have people currently searching for her and, as soon as she is located, we will have her taken care of."

Looking away from him, Bella closed her eyes and slowly exhaled. She was too tired to properly deal with this information. She still wasn't recovered mentally from her battle of wills with Esther and the return of the Cullen's only made her feel more tired.

"Can you walk by yourself?" Klaus asked abruptly.

She stared at him for a moment. "I would love to tell you yes."

Rolling his eyes, Klaus carefully picked Bella up again, her glass of juice still clutched firmly in her hand, and brought her into the theater room. "Don't get used to this," he warned her as they settled down on a couch with Bella pressed against his side. "I refuse to carry you around forever."

"Tragic," Bella commented dryly. "You do a great impression of a pack horse. And it'd be a shame to let all that supernatural strength go to waste."

Klaus just rolled his eyes. "Any requests on what we should watch?"

Bella shrugged, sipping more of her juice. "You're the one in charge here. I'm probably going to fall asleep here pretty quick anyway- just to warn you."

Less than ten minutes later, Bella was sound asleep. Klaus carefully pulled the empty glass from her hand and set it aside before settling into the couch and putting a movie on he had been meaning to watch.

Rebekah came racing into the room. "Where is she?!"

"Quiet," Klaus hissed at her, pointedly looking at the slumbering brunette next to him. "She only fell asleep a bit ago."

"Is she alright?" Rebekah asked, lowering her voice to a whisper as she moved over towards them.

"Still exhausted from Esther," he murmured back. "The Cullen's showing up also didn't help."

Sitting down on the floor, Rebekah sighed in frustration. "Yes, we caught their stench when we arrived back at the house." She locked eyes with her brother. "There were at least six or so others in and around the town though- with there being only seven members in the Cullen's coven, five of which were here at the house, that means that there were at least four unknown Cold One's scouting the area."

Klaus' eyes flashed. "Did you manage to find any of them?"

She shook her head. "Kol, Finn, and Sage are still out searching. Once we realized that the Cullen's had split up, Elijah and I returned to the house."

"I think I will join them," Klaus said, carefully shifting Bella away from him so that she was curled up on the couch and stood. "You should know that I have had a spell placed on the mansion that keeps all Cold Ones from entering. Should any come here, do not let them draw either of you or Bella out."

"Clever," Rebekah praised, moving to take his place on the couch beside Bella. "Good luck."

Once Klaus disappeared, Rebekah stared blankly ahead at the movie playing without taking a single thing in. Her thoughts were racing, trying to connect facts and ideas together but unable to make anything fit properly.

Over an hour later, though it felt like only minutes to Rebekah, Bella began to stir. Sitting up slowly, the brunette glanced around the room with hazy eyes until her gaze landed on Rebekah. "Bekah," she sighed. "You're back."

"I'm back," Rebekah said, coming back to herself. "How are you feeling?"

Shrugging listlessly, Bella answered, "Not great. I think it'll take a few days for me to really get back to feeling like myself though."

Rebekah shifted closer to the other girl. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"With the Cullen's, or with Esther?"

"Whatever you're comfortable with."

Bella hesitated before recounting only the Cullen's visit. Once she was done, the two girls sat quietly together for a moment.

"Can I tell you something, even though I know how weak and pathetic it's going to sound?" Bella eventually whispered, staring down at their joined hands.

Rebekah squeezed her fingers, fighting back tears at how broken the brunette sounded right then.

Bella forced herself to look up, to meet the other girls gaze. "I don't want to fight the Cullen's. I don't, I really don't. I just want this to be over, but I don't want to be the one who actually has to end it. And I know how that sounds. I know how it makes me look. But I don't want to. I am perfectly content to let you fight this battle for me."

They sat in silence for a moment before Rebekah asked, "Why?"

"I feel like… if I make this fight my own, then I'm letting them have control over my life again. Like I'm… like I'm giving them more of me to break. And I can't do it again, Rebekah. I can't let them have that hold on me. If I made this fight personal, then I'd have to dedicate myself and everything I do to the goal of ending their lives with my own hands. My world would revolve around the Cullen's again, in a very different form, but it'd still be about them all the same. And I don't want to do that anymore, I don't want to be that person again. I've never really been a vengeful person and I don't want to become one because of a stupid reason like the Cullen's."

Tears starting to stream down Rebekah's face as Bella confessed her thoughts to her. Ducking her head down, Rebekah admitted, "I'm so relieved that you don't want to fight."

Staring with wide eyes, Bella asked, "You are?"

Rebekah squeezed Bella's hand again. "Yes, I am. Because I'm afraid. I'm afraid that, if you suddenly get the stupid idea to go off and try and deal with Cullen's on your own, then that'll be it- I'll never see you again. I'm scared every time I walk out that door without you that I'm going to come back and find you gone. I'm scared that you'll be out in the world alone and something will happen and I won't be able to save you in time. I'm scared that one day-" Rebekah took a deep, shuddering breath, "one day, I'll be forced to stand over your grave and know that the reason you're gone is because I wasn't good enough."

Pulling her human sister into a hug, Rebekah stated, "It's not weak to not want to fight to them, Bella. That is a strength- it's a strength to know yourself well enough to be able to tell when it's time to fight and when it's time to stand down. I couldn't do that if I were in your shoes, I haven't before, and I would waste years of my life insisting on getting revenge on my own because I'd feel like it didn't count if I wasn't the one to do it. But you? You're strong enough to realize that it doesn't matter who casts the final blow, what matters is that it happens. And I am so proud of you for that."

"There is a strength," came Elijah's voice from the doorway and the girls turned to look at him, "in knowing when to stand aside. This situation, while more violent, is much like getting out of an unhealthy relationship; once you leave, you have to make sure that any and all contact is severed and cut the other person out of your life completely. Fighting the Cullen's would mean continuing to allow them to be a part of your life."

Elijah's face became slightly amused then. "And, if that is not enough, then just remember that what they really want now is your attention. By refusing to engage with them in any manner, you are not giving them what they want and telling them that they are not worth your time."

"They're not worth my time," Bella stated, voice strong. "They're not worth it."

"No," Elijah told her, smiling gently at her. "They are not."

Bella hesitated a moment before saying, "Klaus told me about Victoria."

"I see." Walking over to the girls, Elijah sat down on the low table in front of them. "You have questions?"

"Just… how worried should I be?"

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Rebekah immediately responded, wanting to reassure her.

Keeping her eyes on the man in front of her, Bella prompted, "Elijah?"

While he had no compunction lying when the situation called for it, Elijah preferred to be honest as much as possible in most of his dealings. "At the moment, we have no idea what she is planning or even where she is. There were several Cold One's in the area earlier that we could not identify and there is a strong possibility that she was one of them."

Rebekah glared at her brother, but Bella simply nodded. "Do you guys have a plan?"

"The others are out trying to track down the unknown Cold Ones. Until we know more though, I believe it would be wise for you to avoid going out on your own. I know that you may be uncomfortable with such restrictions but-"

"Actually," Bella interrupted him, "I'm okay with it. If someone does try to attack or kidnap me, I won't be able to really fight back. I know you- I trust you all- and I know that you're not trying to control me or anything. You're just trying to keep me safe. Plus, this is a super-convenient excuse to hang out here instead of going out all the time, which I am all for."

Rebekah sighed. "Really Bella, doing all of this just to avoid going to a school dance? You should be ashamed of yourself."

Bella leaned back into the couch. "I told you I wasn't going to that dance, Rebekah, and what can I say, I'm a woman of my word."

(A/N): What's this? An update? Can it be?

It is! I finally finished this chapter and am proudly uploading it for all you lovely people to enjoy. I've even figured out some things for the next chapter so I'm working on that currently. Can't guarantee when the next update will be but rest assured, this story is still on my mind and I am continuing to work on it. I am starting a new full-time job this week so that may kill my creativity for a bit. I hope not, but we'll see. I hope the confrontation with the Cullen's met your all expectations!

This chapter was betaed by Hannbells, who was waiting and wanting this chapter just as badly as the rest of you.

Until next time darlings! Please leave a review on your way out!