ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Always and forever. They were binding words to the Mikaelsons. It was what tied Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah together after their mother's death. It was what Esther and Mikael vowed when they were married, and it was spoken at little Henrik's funeral. They held weight to Mikaelsons, such a heavy weight. They bore years of rivalry, hatred, love, and betrayal, and they dropped from lips like boulders. Even though they held pain and lies, even though it was always broken, always and forever was the most sacred promise one could make to the Mikalesons.
Always and forever. It meant the most to Klaus. It would always be a reminder of his betrayal to his siblings, and though he would never say it, they would always hurt him when they were released. Those words would dig at him, sting him, dredge up his worst memories. They pained Klaus in a way that no one could understand, not even him.
Always and forever. That sacred promise was said often, mentioned often. It was everywhere, in books and in movies. It was rephrased though, thrown carelessly from lips as 'forever and always'. It had so much more of a ring to it that no one ever said them in the reverse order. That made that phrase even more valuable. Forever and always was tacked on as a romantic sentence, but it would never hold the weight it did for the Mikaelsons.
Always and forever. When Caroline first said she loved Klaus, she added that phrase, and she meant it with her whole heart. Klause didn't believe her when she said she would love him always and forever. That was his problem, she decided, he was too jaded, too insecure. He only showed her glimpses of the sweet, gentle man he had once been.
Always and forever. Caroline knew that Klaus didn't believe her, and she couldn't blame him either for it. They held a weight that she couldn't fathom, and she knew she would never understand just how much it meant. That didn't mean she would give up on letting him know. So, she said it to him all the time. Whenever she said she loved him, she said she would always and forever. Klaus would never truly believe her. He showed her more and more of his human side as they were together for longer, but he never could believe that she would love him always and forever. He was utterly convinced that she'd leave.
Always and forever. Caroline spent years trying to get Klaus to believe her. She didn't toss the words out there quite as much, but she never gave up trying to convince him. Finally, though, he did. There was nothing particularly outstanding about the moment. Caroline had agreed to travel with Klaus, and he kept his promise to show her the world: Great cities and art and music, genuine beauty. They stood, though, not in Paris, not in Rome, or Greece, but in New Orleans. Klaus's city. They stood on the balcony at night, side by side, just watching the as it came alive with lights, scents and sounds flooding through their senses.
"I love you Klaus, always and forever," were the words she had said that night. They were soft, barely there, as though not to break the silence. Strong arms enveloped her, before a rough, accented voice replied, "I love you too, Caroline." A brief silence, then a soft, "Always and forever." Nothing else was said that night they had spent just standing there on the balcony, the cool wind not bothering them a bit.
Always and forever. That was Klaus and Caroline. They were heavy, sacred words. They stood for a promise, a vow, and a swear. They stood for pain, betrayal, sadness, and anger. That night though, they stood for love, pure and simple, and that was what they would stand for in the years to come. Always and forever.