"I'm telling you, we need more coolers! Listen to me, so far I have planned everything there is to plan. School proms, pageants, mask balls, cheerleader sleep overs, birthday parties, Christmas parties, new eve parties, actually any kind of holiday party, you name it! And more or less any party that has taken place in Mystic Falls over the past, I don't know, five years maybe? So, trust me if I tell you, we need more coolers!" A very stressed Caroline ranted in front of the Mikealson mansion, while putting Matt's bag into her cars trunk.
"Okay, I got it, Care. Take a breath, I'll go get another cooler right now," Tyler said, trying to calm his girlfriend down.
"Make it two coolers!"
"I think we could borrow some from the Grill. They have a few in the back. I'll come with you," Matt offered. Caroline was in her element and he knew she would not let it go, until she got what she wanted. So he and Tyler got in his truck, leaving the rest of the group alone with their preparations.
"I still don't know why the bloody hell you need so many coolers," Rebekah commented as she stepped outside the front door, holding two bags and walking toward Klaus' SUV.
"Because we are seven vampires, two hybrids, one witch, and three humans, who need all kind of different things."
"For example?" Rebekah asked.
"Well, first of all, food. We need enough food for everyone for the next week. Especially for the humans among us. Then there is the issue with the blood supply. As we are in the middle of nowhere, without blood banks, without humans and only animals, we need to bring along enough blood bags. And those need to be cooled."
"And don't forget the booze," Alaric chimed in, who was walking to Damon's convertible, lifting a bottle of old scotch in the air to emphasize his point.
"You forget, we do have some tasty little humans with us, and a delicious looking witch for that matter," Kol said, giving Bonnie a cocky smile.
"Don't make me hurt you before we even start our trip."
"Kinky, I might take you up on that offer sometime." Kol winked suggestively at Bonnie before he went inside the mansion again to retrieve the rest of his belongings.
"About the food, Matt brought his fishing gears with him. We were planning on catching us some delicious fish for dinner," Jeremy said, as he stored his own fishing rod inside Damon's convertible.
"Hey, easy boy, who said you could put your junk into my baby?" Damon walked to his car in an attempt to get rid of the fishing rod immediately.
"If you want something to eat as well, then I suggest you let me put my fishing rod into your car."
"Can you even fish, Gilbert?" Damon asked mockingly.
"He can. He and uncle John often went fishing when he was younger. They always brought some good fish home," Elena said protectively.
"Whatever. If he doesn't get us some decent fish, Alaric and I will just go and hunt some dear in the woods, right?" He gave Alaric a pat on his shoulder and helped him put his bag inside his trunk.
"Why not? Sounds like fun."
"Or maybe, we could just drive the 20 miles into the next city to buy us some more food," Rebekah added.
"Boring," Damon stated matter-of-factly.
"Boring or not, as I said, we don't need all those coolers. Are you sure you know what you're doing, Caroline? You should have let me plan our trip, we might actually be on our way already." Rebekah gave her a taunting look, as she put on her sun glasses.
"Yeah, fat chance. As I'd let you anywhere near the planning. Let me remind you, that you were the one, who didn't want to leave earlier, because your new pair of shoes didn't arrive until yesterday."
"Well, one has to set priorities. And one day earlier or later is not a big of a deal, we're on holidays anyway. I vote for Caroline's immediate retirement as the head of plan committee and vote myself as her replacement," Rebekah said teasingly, looking around for anyone participating in her half joke. If the others were to actually play along with her, she would gladly take her place. But they didn't, they only ignored her and so she gave out an annoyed huff.
"Anyways, we have a five hour drive ahead of us and it's like a billion Fahrenheit today, so will you, please, shut up and trust my organizing skills. I might not be a 1000 years old, but I have more experience in that department than you."
"Easy girls, as much as I would love to see a good cat fight, I rather it be somewhere private with only the three of us, and maybe a video camera," Kol smirked his way to the SUV, clearly amused by his own comment.
"That's your sister you're talking about. You're disgusting," Bonnie stated half shocked, half annoyed.
Rebekah only scoffed at that and went back into the mansion to get the rest of her things.
"And about the blood issue, Blondie," Damon called out from over his car "I'm sure my baby brother would leave us his share and go look for some tasty little bunny somewhere in the forest."
Stefan just glared at his brother as he put two sets of bedclothes on top of his and Elena's bags. Elena, however, felt the need to reply to Damon's tease.
"Damon, we aren't even on our way yet and you already start with your snarky comments. Leave Stefan alone."
"It's okay, Elena. I heard worse and besides he's only pouting over the fact that he has to drive and Alaric can already start drinking. And that right next to him." He gave his brother a satisfied smug smile and continued stuffing his trunk.
"Please, brother. If I want to drink, I will," and with that he grabbed the bottle of scotch from Alaric and took one long sip, his eyes never leaving Stefan.
"Stop it, Damon. I want to arrive there in one piece. You might be immortal, but I'm not. And if I'm gone, who will keep you company at the Grill?"
Damon considered this for a moment and nodded reluctantly, giving the scotch back. "Fair enough."
"So, now that we have that cleared out, let me repeat the car arrangements once again. Tyler and Matt will sit in my car. Stefan, you will take Elena, Bonnie and Jeremy. Alaric will drive with Damon and Rebekah will share a car with the rest of her annoying family," Caroline read out from her chart. She looked to the SUV, noticing that two of the Mikealsons were actually missing.
"Where are Klaus and Elijah?"
"Klaus is still upstairs packing his stuff and Elijah went out this morning, saying he had business to take care of before we leave," Rebakah answered.
"Why hasn't Klaus finished packing yet? He knows we want to leave at ten. And it's," she looked at her watch, "9:55 already!"
"Then I have another five minutes."
Klaus came out of the front door, a huge grin plastered on his face. He walked toward Caroline and stopped three feet in front of her. In his right hand he held one black bag with his belongings and in the other he held out a cooler.
"I heard you were in need of coolers, love? I took the liberty to bring along one of ours with a couple of blood bags. B+ was it? Your favorite that is."
Caroline was taken aback. Not only was he on time, he even was considerate enough to bring along some extra blood bags. And even her favorite blood type. She couldn't remember ever sharing that with him, so she wondered how he came to know of her preferences. Caroline nodded only in response and Klaus' grin just grew wider, revealing dimples on either side of his face. He gave her the box so that she could add the rest of the blood bags she had brought along, amongst some other things, that needed cooling. After she was finished, she returned the box and Klaus made his way to his car, trying to store his things somewhere between his sister and brother's bags. His car was big, but nothing seemed to provide enough space for his sister's luggage.
"Do you really need three fricking backs, Bekah?"
"Well, we are gone for a couple of days, so of course I need to be prepared for any eventualities."
"We are going on a trip, not to war."
"Same principles, I say." Rebekah shrugged and Klaus rolled his eyes in annoyance. He tried to make some space for his bag. The box was a hopeless case, he recognized after he barely managed to fit his bag inside the car. Stefan offered to take the box inside his trunk. Bonnie and Jeremey could take one of their bags with them to the backseat, he thought.
After Stefan finished storing the cooler, he went inside the mansion and returned with two crates of beer.
"Where do we store these?"
"They go in my car. On the backseat," Caroline replied.
"I doubt this will be enough for all of us, that's about the share Damon and I drink," Alaric stated skeptically.
"Yeah, what are we gonna drink tomorrow?" A typical Damon smirk formed on his face and Alaric chuckled in return.
"I brought another six-pack along," Jeremy offered.
"Kid, you're still underage, as if your sister would allow you to drink anyway. We take it, hand it over."
Jeremy rolled his eyes, but ignored Damon apart from that.
"Rebekah already reminded us that we can drive to the next city. Our supply will be sufficient until then," Stefan tried to mediate.
"We do have a fine collection of liquor at our lake house, rest assured," Klaus said and put a final hold to the topic.
"Speaking of which, are you sure it can provide enough room for each and everyone of us?" Bonnie asked.
"Do not worry, witch. It might not be as grand as this," he said and pointed at his mansion. "But it offers eight sleeping quarters, three bathrooms, and a porch big enough for all of us."
"It's that big?" Caroline asked in disbelief.
"That's not all, I have properties all over the world. One more beautiful than the other," he said and leaned into Caroline so that only she could hear him even if the others used their vampire hearing. "I could show them all to you, Caroline."
Her breath hitched at that and she felt slightly flustered by the close proximity. Before Caroline could reply, Matt and Tyler returned. Klaus left for his car, but not before he gave her one last seductive smile. He got under her skin and a part of her was wondering, if it really was such a good idea to go on a trip together with the Originals. Not wanting to brood over the thought she turned her attention to the two who just returned from their errand. They brought another two boxes of a smaller size and some more liquor.
"Sneaking out some bourbon while you're there? Like it," Damon smirked in approval.
"They only had these small boxes left, Care, hope that's okay," Matt said carefully, not sure how she would react to this.
"It's fine. Klaus brought one himself, so we're good." Caroline looked to Klaus only briefly, but noticed that he was grinning nonetheless. Tyler watched Klaus and was clearly displeased he was coming along, but did not say anything. He tried to distract himself by helping Caroline stuff the boxes with several kinds of food. After they were finished, he placed them in Caroline's car and closed the trunk lid.
"That's it. Everything is packed and stored. We're ready to go," Jeremy concluded.
"Almost. Now, where might our dear brother be?" Klaus asked no one in particular.
"I hear a car coming," Stefan said. "Could be Elijah."
"I don't hear anything," Bonny replied, turning to Jeremy. He only shrugged, letting her know that it must be a vampire thing.
After a minute everyone could finally see Elijah's car coming up into the drive way. By now six cars were parking in front of the Mikealson mansion. They all watched Elijah step out of his car and to every one's surprise a certain doppelgänger followed him.
"What is this, brother? Why is Katarina here?"
"Don't tell me you intend to bring her along?" Rebekah asked appalled.
"Everyone, please listen to me. Katarina is here, because I wish for her to join us."
"You must be out of your mind, Elijah."
"Please, relax Niklaus. I am aware that you are not very pleased to see her-" Elijah started.
"With that, he's not the only one," Caroline interjected with a scoff.
Elijah's stern expression faltered a little after hearing Caroline's comment. He had carefully selected his words beforehand, fully expecting displeasure from Klaus at Katherine's arrival, but not from Caroline. He quickly regained his composure though and ordered his thoughts anew.
"Niklaus, Katherine is here, because I want her to come along our trip. I fully know that she is not your favorite person-" This time it was Klaus' turn to scoff at his words, but Elijah continued. "Nonetheless, I would like you to bear with her for the next week, as I intend to bring her with us."
"And why do you think, I would concede your bidding?"
"Because I am your brother and I ask this of you."
"Wait a minute, care to ask us as well, if we want her around?" Damon stepped forward.
"Since when did you not like my company?" Katherine smirked arrogantly from behind Elijah. She felt safe with Elijah around, but she was still aware of Klaus and made sure there was enough space between them.
Elijah ignored Damon and kept looking at Klaus. Both of them stared at each other in silence for one very long minute. The tension was palpable and no one dared to interrupt the two Originals in their staring contest.
"Fine. She may come with us, but mark my words, should she so much as say a wrong word I will rip her heart out without a second thought and not even you will be able to stop me." Klaus put as much menace in his word as he could. With a final glance toward Katherine he turned around and got into his car.
Some of the group let out their breath they had been holding unconsciously and also Elijah relaxed his muscles. He turned around and went to the backseat of his car to get Kathrine's bag.
"Great, another bitch on board. I will not sit next to her." Rebekah looked at her remaining brothers and walked off to get on the passenger seat of the SUV.
"Good luck with that," Kol smirked knowingly, following his sister. "Rebekah used up all the space inside the trunk."
"Unfortunately for you, there is also no space left in our car," Caroline said dryly, looking at Katherine and went off to her car. Matt and Tyler followed her.
"Well, you've seen my car beforehand already. Need I say another word?" Damon turned around and he and Alaric made their way to his convertible.
Stefan looked apologetic at Katherine.
"You, of all people, too?" Katherine huffed in annoyance.
"The car is full to the brim, I'm sorry," Stefan said and turned to Elijah, giving him an apologetic look. Elijah just nodded and Stefan and the rest left for his car, leaving the two of them alone.
"Well, that went well," Katherine said sarcastically.
He put her bag back into his car and held the front door open for her to take a seat. "I have to agree with you. You are still alive, aren't you?"
AN: Revised version.