The Birthday Party
Summary: At Klaus' joint birthday celebration, Caroline's unexpected guest becomes a source of irritation for Rebekah.
Caroline stood in the kitchen, preparing appetisers for the guests outside in the garden. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was decorated with streamers and balloons and big Happy Birthday banners strewn across the wall.
This was mostly for the benefit of her and Klaus' son Christopher who
had just turned six the previous Tuesday. Since Klaus' Birthday fell a couple of days after, Caroline thought it best to have one big joint celebration and invite the entire Mikaelson clan, plus all their friends - who we mostly her friends - and make a day of it.
She was in the middle of some meticulous napkin folding when she felt a large warm pair of hands squeezing at her hips.
Klaus lowered his head and nuzzled his face into Caroline's neck, slowly inhaling her scent.
"Klaus I'm busy," she chided as he circled his arms around her waist and pulled her against his front.
"Take a break," he murmured, gently brushing his lips against her neck and placing feather like kisses on the sensitive patch of skin.
"Klaus," she half whined silently cursing as her body betrayed her. Involuntarily, she leant into his touch giving him better access to her neck.
"I need to get these snacks finished. People have to eat something until we get the barbeque fired up," she implored him. He ignored her completely and began to nip at her earlobe.
"Seriously!" she laughed, still only making a half-hearted attempt to wriggle out of his grip.
"You've barely stopped since yesterday sweetheart," he said dropping kisses on her bare shoulders.
Caroline's eyebrows shot up and she spun around to face him.
"Uh yeah, making preparations to make sure your birthday party is perfect," she pointed out folding her arms over her chest.
"Caroline-"
"-And, I could've been done a lot faster had someone not kidnapped me last night and dragged me upstairs before I had a chance to finish," Caroline said stabbing her finger into his chest irritably.
Klaus gave her a wry smile.
"Kidnap is hardly the word I'd use love," he said taking her hand and pressing a kiss into her palm "Not when the other party was such a willing participant," he raised his eyebrows suggestively letting his tongue dart out to wet his full lips, in a deliberate motion.
Caroline scoffed and turned away from him rolling her eyes.
"Oh come now sweetheart," he pouted " It's my birthday, you really ought to be nicer to me,"
He flashed her his best puppy dog eyes which earned him another eye roll. However as he persisted, Caroline was unable to fight down a smile and Klaus seized the opportunity to lean in and kiss her brushing his tongue against her lips in order to gain entrance.
As she reciprocated his lips trailed down from her jaw, back down to her neck where he resumed his ministrations.
Caroline sighed letting her eyes flutter shut.
"I don't see why I should be nice to you. It's not as if you deserve it," she complained.
Klaus smirked mischievously against her neck and let his hands slip under the hem of her sundress to stroke the smooth creamy flesh of her thighs.
"You're being very bad," she pointed out.
"I know," he replied moving down to suck at her pulse point.
"I'm not sure you deserve any presents today," she hummed
He paused and brushed the hair away from her ear.
"I only want the one," he husked bringing his hands around to grip her firm ass squeezing it causing her to shriek.
"Klaus! she giggled as he let out a growl from the back of his throat and continued his assault on her neck.
"You are terrible," she hissed. He only grinned and lifted his head back up to kiss her, this time, more slowly and sensually. She moaned into the kiss, letting all thoughts of napkins and finger food drift out of her head.
"Er, excuse me!?" came a loud British voice, abruptly interrupting the couple "But I do believe that there are children present,"
"Enzo!" Caroline cried breaking apart from Klaus and rushing over to pull her estranged friend into giant a hug.
Klaus let out a frustrated huff and glared reproachfully as they embraced. He'd been married to Caroline nearly eight years now, and though she'd made it perfectly clear, time and time again, that her relationship with Enzo was strictly platonic; he had never been able to get used to the far too intimate relationship - in his opinion - that Caroline shared with him.
But over time he'd come to reluctantly accept that Enzo came as part of a package deal with Caroline. He could learn to put up with him every now and again; it was a small price to pay for his soul mate after all.
"What are you doing here!? You didn't tell me you were coming!" Caroline exclaimed still squeezing the life out of Enzo.
"Caroline, you're choking me,"
"I don't care! I haven't seen you in months you ass," she retorted.
"Easy, Gorgeous," he said finally managing to prise her off of him "I imagine I'm already skating on thin ice with grumpy over there," he said nodding in Klaus direction.
Klaus plastered on a faux smile which looked a lot more like him barring his teeth.
"Lorenzo," he drawled "What a... unexpected surprise,".
The fact that Klaus wasn't thrilled to see him was evident in his tone and Caroline shot him a warning look as she strode over to the refrigerator.
"Well you know how it is, I couldn't leave all of you missing me for too long," he said, an amused smile playing on his lips.
This time, it was Klaus' turn to roll his eyes.
"The last time we talked you said you were in the middle of Australia," Caroline said pulling the cake out of the fridge. As she did Klaus stepped forward to take it from her and placed it on the surface.
"You didn't think I would miss my Godson's birthday party did you?" he said holding up the blue gift bag in his hands.
"Still, that's a long way to travel-"
"-It was completely worth the 14 hours on the plane I assure you," he beamed handing Caroline the gift.
"Well we're glad you're here, aren't we?" she shot over her shoulder at Klaus who made a grunting noise and gave Enzo a half-hearted smile, knowing better than to open his mouth and say anything else.
"Now that you're here," Caroline continued choosing to ignore Klaus' pouting "You can help me with the snacks,"
Enzo's face fell and he quickly made a big show of checking his watch.
"You know I'd love to gorgeous, but I've just realised I have another engagement to run off to, terribly sorry," he explained, not looking the least bit apologetic.
"Oh come on mate, you've only just got here," Klaus said, looking pleased with himself as Enzo shot him a look in return.
"Nice try," Caroline said dryly "Grab a knife,"
Enzo looked as if he were about to protest, but he didn't get the chance as a shrill voice interrupted him.
"Any chance of some bloody food?" Rebekah demanded her 7-inch heels clicking sharply against the floor and she barged into the kitchen "We're all starving out here," she said giving Caroline a pointed look.
"I'm sorry, Rebekah. But I don't know who decided to elect you as spokesperson for the party guests, but you're going to have to go back and tell the rest of your union, that the food will be brought out when it's ready," Caroline replied firmly, flashing her sister in law a saccharine smile.
"Well excuse me, but I'm starving, I haven't eaten since-" Rebekah paused, her mouth falling open. Momentarily, she appeared to be rooted on the spot.
Neither Klaus or Caroline to noticed Rebekah's change in behavior. Caroline had turned her back on her and gone back to preparing the food and Klaus were currently rooting around in the drawer for some candles.
"Hello Rebekah," Enzo said grinning in the stunned woman's direction "It's good to see you again,"
There was a slight hint of suggestion in his voice that you wouldn't have picked up unless you were being very observant.
But Rebekah seemed to catch on to what he was saying perfectly well and her face turned the shade of a beetroot.
Enzo looked as if her were enjoying her reaction immensely and shamelessly took the opportunity to let his eyes rake down her frame. From her golden blonde locks, perfectly braided into a fish plait to her tanned shapely legs sticking out from under her skirt.
"Rebekah do you think you could be useful and take these glasses outside please?" Caroline asked gesturing to the tray of glasses on the counter without looking up from what she was doing.
"What are you doing here?" Rebekah demanded in a low voice trying desperately to keep her voice even so as not to betray her exasperation.
"I just thought I'd stop by and see everyone," Enzo shrugged "And maybe uh… catch up on old times," he smirked making Rebekah's face turn even redder. He stepped toward her slightly and she in turn took a large step back, glaring at him as if she was frightened of proximity between them
"Rebekah!? Uh hello, the glasses?" Caroline said whipping around looking expectantly at her.
Rebekah seemed to snap out of whatever trance and answered her back.
"Do I look like the maid to you!?" she bit out before storming out of the kitchen in the same way she had entered.
Caroline turned to share a confused expression with Klaus.
"What's the matter with her?" she asked.
Klaus shrugged.
"Far be it from me to attempt at understanding my sister's various mood swings," he said uninterestedly.
Caroline turned and shot Enzo a suspicious look, who in turn just offered her a similar shrug.
"I must have a particular effect on Mikaelson's," he quipped.
"Enzo you handsome bastard," came yet another British accent drifting toward the kitchen.
Caroline turned to see Kol standing in the doorway smiling broadly in Enzo's direction.
"Well except one Mikaelson that is," he said returning Kol's smile.
They moved forward to embrace each other then Kol eventually pulled them apart to give Enzo an incredulous stare.
"When the hell did you get here?" he asked grabbing Enzo by the shoulder.
"Tell you what mate, let's sit down and I'll tell you all about it. I'm jet-lagged," he suggested throwing his own arm over Kol's shoulder.
"Got any booze around here?" Enzo asked as they strolled out of the kitchen.
"It's a children's party Enzo," he paused and smirked "Of course there's alcohol.