I:EVERYONE HAS A STORY:I
"Everyone has a story," was his response when she asked if he had one. She ignored the fact that he was deflecting and followed his gaze past the iron bars out to the sea. It was calm today; she couldn't help but notice that it seemed to match his eyes- calm and blue. She had known a man with similar blue eyes- though they were rarely ever calm. As she watched the steady waves of the water, she pondered on his statement. It was true, she realized- everyone has a story. When she was a child and she dreamed of the day she had children herself, she imagined that late at night when they could not sleep she would sit by their bed and tell her children all her tales of adventure. She imagined her life would be full of story-worthy experiences; and it was. Here at the end of her line, she had many stories to tell. Only, when she had imagined telling her children the story of her life, they were always good ones- stories of friendship and triumph and close-calls. Stories that always had a happy ending. But the universe had different plans. As it turned out, her big epic story would not have a fairy tale closing after all. Yes, there were moments of friendship and triumph and close-calls, but not a happy ending. "So how about you tell me yours?" He said, now turning to look at her. She glanced at him to judge the sincerity of his request and found his curious eyes genuine. Could she tell him her story? Yes, she decided. If this was her last chance to let it be known then she might as well. It would not change anything after all. She had only one day left, and this nameless man with blue eyes was her only company. She took a deep breath, "My name is Caroline Forbes... and this is not how my life was supposed to be." She began.
1715
somewhere at sea
Niklaus Mikaelson hated surprises. Call it survival instinct; he liked to be prepared. So he could not for the life of him understand why he ever agreed to let Kol navigate their ship to a destination unknown to Klaus. He had agreed to it in a moment of weakness; Klaus was tired and in need of sleep, crew members were getting sick all over the deck (something in the food, Klaus didn't eat for two days to make sure he wouldn't catch it), and all he wanted was some peace and quiet. Only Kol would not stop bugging him about some place special he wanted to go. When Klaus asked for the specifics, Kol only said it was a surprise. "No." That was Klaus' initial response, but after relentless nagging, he finally gave in, just to make Kol shut up. However, Klaus was not expecting Kol to be so thorough as to have Klaus sign a piece of paper that laid out the terms of the agreement, and have Elijah stand as witness.
"This all seems a but excessive, don't you think, Kol?" Klaus exasperatedly rubbed his hand over his face.
"I will take no chances with this, brother, and knowing that you are a man of your word, I intend to take every bit of it."
"Leaving me with no possible loophole," Klaus understood.
"Exactly," Kol grinned as he handed the quill to Elijah, so he could sign as witness.
"Well, there is always the one ultimate loophole." A smirk tugged at the corners of Klaus' lips.
"And what is that?" Kol took the paper and quill from Elijah and shoved them to Klaus eagerly.
"It's simple really," Klaus smiled, signing his name, "I would just need to kill you."
Kol's jovial expression faltered slightly, only to return again a second later. "You kid, brother, and very poorly, if I may add."
But now that Klaus was well-rested and back in his right mind, he was sorely regretting the agreement. As he watched Kol on the quarterdeck looking over a amp with Finn, Klaus festered in his frustration from not being in control.
"Relax, Niklaus." Came Elijah's ever-so-calm voice behind him. "Finn is an excellent sailing master, he will not allow Kol to lead us astray." Kol was the only one of the brothers who did not know how to sail; his immaturity and short-attention span never allowed him to be taught. Klaus was reminded momentarily of how he had once been in the process of teaching his youngest brother Henrik, but shook the memory from his mind before any lingering emotions could take hold. "Where are we going?" Klaus asked. He knew he was not likely to get an answer from Elijah, but still found himself unable to suppress the need to know. Elijah chucked lightly at Klaus' obvious discomfort with Kol being in command. "Well, first we need to stop in North Carolina. But after that, we plan to make way on to Kol's surprise."
Klaus nodded. Of course by now word of the Spanish trading ship that was recently robbed at sea would have gotten to the governor of North Carolina, Charles Eden. Governor Eden would likely suspect the Mikaelson clan to be the culprits and was no doubt expecting a visit from the band any day now. A year ago Klaus had formed a deal with the North Carolina governor that granted his acceptance into the colony's town without fear of persecution. In return, Klaus agreed that his crew would rob only the Spanish; English ships would be left untouched. The brothers also granted the governor and a handful of other gentry men a small percentage of their stolen treasures. This arrangement proved to work well for both parties, especially Klaus'. While there were other places they could dock without fear, North Carolina was different from the slime ridden islands that pirates so usually frequented. In the English colony, the crew could stock up on decent food and drink, indulge in women who actually had all their teeth, and walk through clean streets without being thrown into a street fight.
"And where would that be?" Klaus tried once more, but Elijah only chuckled again. Klaus sucked in a frustrated breath, but when he looked over to Elijah and saw the boyish grin he was sporting, Klaus was suddenly transported back to their days of childhood. It was a rare smile; Elijah did not often wear one of such size of genuineness. Klaus' anger dissipated at the sight and he then looked back to Kol with a resigning sigh. "Fine," he said, "I will allow Kol this one thing, this... surprise." He spat the word from his mouth as if it were cursed.
Klaus pushed himself from the railing he had been leaning on and as he walked away, Elijah spoke again, "I'm curious Niklaus, do you know what day it is?" Klaus scrunched his face in confusion. Why would Elijah ask him that? Klaus stopped keeping track of time the day he left his old life behind. He was no longer in need of it. Now, Klaus did what he wanted when he wanted. "No," he said. Elijah nodded in understanding, "Of course not." The pair left it at that and Klaus retreated to his chambers wondering why the date would even matter at all.
Mystic Falls, Colonial Virginia
"Caroline!" Elena burst into the bedroom where Caroline was half dressed, her maid Bonnie Bennett pulling a dress over the petticoat and stay the blonde was wearing. Caroline gasped in shock, but Bonnie remained unsurprised. She had very good ears and was difficult to sneak up on. "I see we have decided to abandon mannerisms this morning," Bonnie said, referencing the fact that Elena came in without knocking "and a good thing, because I just have to say, Caroline, this dress is dreadful." Elena laughed at Bonnie's jab, and when Caroline only glowered at the maid's comment, Elena laughed harder, earning herself a similar scowl. Despite that Bonnie was in fact an employee in the Forbes' household, Caroline and Elena had known her their entire lives and thought of her more as a friend than anything else. Therefore her comments, which would be considered bold and out of place for anyone else, were perfectly acceptable in the eyes of Caroline and Elena.
"Oh come on!" Caroline exclaimed, "It cannot be that bad!" When Bonnie made no attempt to soothe Caroline's worries, she turned to her other friend for an opinion, "Elena?"
Elena merely examined the dress with crinkled eyebrows and a sympathetic expression. "Ugh!" Caroline groaned, throwing her hands up in her usual dramatic fashion before crossing them over her chest. "Just finish tying it up," she muttered. Bonnie snickered and got back to securing the back of the dress.
"Where did you get that anyway?" Elena questioned.
"It was a gift from the Lockwood's," Bonnie explained as Caroline continued to grimace at no one in particular. "They only recently came to Mystic Falls, and the Forbes are hosting them tonight." Bonnie finished with the dress and gave Caroline a smack on the rear when she was done. "Ow!" Caroline squeaked, rubbing the place where Bonnie hit her.
"Why are you having them over? Are they important people?" Elena asked.
"Who knows," Caroline sighed, not too excited about the sure to be boring evening. "I suppose it's possible, since my father is the governor, and it would be necessary for him to be acquainted will all people of importance. You will be there tonight, right Bon?" Caroline only met these Lockwood's once before, for a short period of time after they first arrived. The mother and father were very decent and made a good impression, but did not strike Caroline as particularly interesting. She remembered that her father mentioned they had a son- Tyler, was it?- but she never got the chance to meet him that day.
"No, Caroline. I am your friend and your handmaid. Not your sister."
Caroline groaned, when she was younger she had fantasies that her parents would see how close she and Bonnie were, and happily take her into their home as Caroline's new sister. (Even if back then Abbey Bennett had been her maid, she always brought her daughter with her; the two literally grew up together). She wanted to be seated next to Bonnie at the table, having conversation with her the way she and Elena did at dinners and other such gatherings. Suddenly reminded of Elena's earlier intrusion, she straightened up eagerly, "What was it that had you in such an anxious state?" A slow smile crept onto Elena's face, "Well, actually, I wanted to talk to you about something that happened last night."
"Mhm," Caroline encouraged, now seated at her vanity as Bonnie styled her hair and put on her lace cap and hat.
Elena sat down on the chaise at the end of Caroline's bed and took a deep breath, deciding to get straight to the point, "Matt proposed."
"Really?" Caroline responded nonchalantly, examining herself in the mirror, "To whom?"
Elena's face scrunched in confusion. "Caroline!" Bonnie scolded as she hit Caroline on the shoulder with a hairbrush. "What she means to say is, that's fantastic Elena!"
"Sure," Caroline said swiveling around to face Elena, "So, what did you say?"
Elena narrowed her eyes at the pair, "You two don't seem very surprised by this." It was more a question of 'why are so calm?' than a mere statement. Caroline rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror, "Oh, Elena, as if you did not see this coming?"
"No, actually I didn't," Elena scoffed, standing up. "But you two did? Well... why did you not warn me, or...or-
"Wait," Caroline turned her gaze back on Elena, ignoring Bonnie's protests, telling her to keep still. "You're not happy." Caroline pointed out. Elena faltered for a moment, unsure how to respond. "Oh my goodness!" Caroline's hand flew up to cover her mouth in disbelief. "You said 'No'!"
"I did not say 'no'! I just-"
"You just, what?"
"I just did not say yes either."
"Wait," this time Bonnie spoke, "so you did not say anything. What did you do, just stand there? Walk away?"
"No!" Elena exclaimed, "How rude do you think I am? He did not ask for an immediate response. He chose to give me time to think it over."
"I don't understand," Caroline's voice was softer now, "You would still be happy though, if you planned on saying yes. So why do you look so sad?" Elena dropped her gaze, she always underestimated how perceptive Caroline could be.
"I like Matt, I do. He is sweet, and a hard worker-"
"And beautiful," Caroline interrupted.
Elena chuckled, "And beautiful," she agreed. "I just fear that if I marry now, what will the rest of my life be?"
"I know what it will be- it will be you sitting at home, probably pregnant, reading books, waiting on your husband, sewing little baby blankets and hosting dreadful, adult events."
"Caroline!" Bonnie scolded again.
"Is that meant to encourage me to say yes?" Elena questioned sarcastically at Caroline's blunt description of her future. "Because if so, you have made a very poor case for your beautiful Matt."
Caroline sighed, she forgot how sensitive Elena could be- and perhaps her statement was a bit harsh. "All I am trying to say is that that will be your life, and from what I see on your face it does not look like you want it."
"But I do want it, just- not today. I do want to have a family, children, all of it. I only imagined a bit more of youthful fun before that happened."
"Are you calling us bad friends?" Caroline stood.
"Excuse me?" Elena was confused as to how Caroline could have interpreted her words as an insult.
"We have given you plenty of youthful fun!" Caroline exclaimed, "Have you forgotten the time we found those underground tunnels in the woods and played hide and seek in them all day? Or the night of my eighteenth birthday when you stole your father's liquor and we danced in the cemetery?"
Elena smiled fondly at the memories, "Of course I remember, those are marked as some of my favorite entries in my journal."
"You should not forget when Caroline fell out of the carriage and ripped her dress." Bonnie added and Elena immediately burst into laughter.
"No!" Caroline stomped her foot, "That is not to be remembered, and it is not funny! Stop laughing!" But Elena and Bonnie failed to cease their hysterics and only laughed harder, causing Elena to double over, "Ugh! You two are horrible friends!"
"Alright Caroline," Bonnie calmed down, "You have been up here long enough, your father wanted to see you about something this morning and it's now nearly midday. And I need to clean this mess you call a bedroom."
"Fine, I'm off to see my father then. Bonnie. Elena," Caroline nodded goodbye to the two and made her way to leave the room.
"We can still talk about Matt later though, yes?" Elena asked, not ready to make a decision and still needed to hear her friends' opinions on the matter.
An idea occurred to Caroline, "Actually, no," she said turning, "No, we are done talking. I plan instead on taking you for fun."
"Pardon?"
"Yes!" Caroline was excited now, "The three of us are going to have one last exciting, youthful, adventure!
"But-"
"No buts! The three of us will meet tonight, after dark, at the edge of the woods behind this house. Do you understand? Yes? Fantastic." Caroline smiled and walked away, mind reeling with the possibilities of the night. Tonight she, Elena, and Bonnie would enjoy themselves. It had been too long since they last sneaked away to have a secret adventure. A few months ago, on the night of Caroline's birthday, was their most recent secret rendezvous, and while it may not have actually been that long ago, the prospect of Elena getting married made their future time together seem fleeting. Caroline felt it was already obvious that Elena would say yes, so she did not want a moment of the little time they had left together to go to waste. Once Caroline was gone, Bonnie and Elena shared a look, and Bonnie spoke first, "Do you want to do this?"
Elena let out a short laugh, "Do I have a choice? When Caroline decides to do something, what can stop her? I suppose I will be seeing you again tonight." Elena smiled on her way out of the room.
"I suppose so," Bonnie smiled back, busying herself tidying the clothing strewn across the floor, both girls wondering what Caroline could possibly have in mind.
Next: Before their dinner with the Lockwood's, Caroline's father presents to her a rare gift, accompanied by a bit of news that she finds slightly unsettling. Kol reveals to Klaus his big surprise, which ends in a night of enjoyment for him and his crew. Caroline, Bonnie, and Elena embark out into the night in search of fun, only to be faced with a disaster as Mystic Falls falls into chaos, resulting in the disappearance of Caroline, who wakes up the next morning in an unfamiliar place. Just as she wakes she is able to make out the voice of English man, "Elijah, brother, let Klaus know I have one more present for him, will you? This one looks like a tasty treat."
A/N: Firstly, thanks for reading! I'd love to hear what you think (praise, complaints, I take it all) so feel free to shoot me a review. They fuel my fire! If you like, you can catch me on tumblr (my URL is curtlemons). Thanks, and have a good one!
EDIT: I'm coming back to add this note in light of some comments I've gotten on my more recent chapters. If you are looking for a docile, sweet Klaus who will fall in love with Caroline the first time he sees her, I don't recommend this fic for you. The more I write them the more I realize just how complicated and long winded Klaus and Caroline's story is. They are not Stefan and Elena, they will not fall in love in a matter of two days. They will in fact actually hate each other. I feel that the best Klaroline stories are slow burns, that explore every side of their dynamic/relationship.