A/N: Well, here is the next installment of this one. :) Enjoy.
I've Loved You For A Thousand Years
Caroline was sort of pleased to find out that Klaus managed to get his coffins back, well, most of them. But now she had other concerns.
Like, how people were getting killed right under her nose. Tyler was gone god knows where. It had been revealed that Elena had kissed Damon, which made her cringe by the way. She liked Damon and everything, they were friends or at least were, but Stefan was definitely the better choice. Well, when he wasn't being a dick. He was on full revenge mode at the moment and it meant that he was unpredictable; dangerous. Even Damon recognised that.
And then there was Dr Meredith Fell whom was using Vampire blood to heal people which was disconcerting and it seemed she was romantically interested in Alaric Saltzman, the hunter, best friend to Damon and history teacher. The man whom Elena saw as a sort of father figure now. Oh and Abbey was back in Bonnie's life. She was a good girl, that Abbey, since she had been the witch to incarcerate Michael around twenty or so years prior so she had respect for her.
However, if she caused a problem, Caroline would have to take her out.
She didn't know where to begin to start fixing things and finding out what was going on.
"A meeting with Klaus?" asked Caroline with a frown on her face.
Elena nodded as she closed the door behind Caroline. "This...this isn't good-"
"Why? They're negotiating...the four of them," said Elena quickly at the end, hoping that Caroline would remain calm.
The blonde snapped her gaze at Elena with her eyes widened. "Okay. I'm going to close my eyes and when I wake up, everything is going to be not happening," said Caroline as she moaned, placing her palms to her face.
They both made their way to Elena's kitchen and then she began to make some tea but her eyes were still on Caroline's, her lips pursed as if she were holding something back.
Caroline glared at her. "What is it?" Caroline groaned.
"The reason I called you here...the person that killed the medical examiner has framed me," said Elena as she put the kettle on, turning back to her friend.
The look in her eyes, Caroline could clearly see, was stress. She was pleading for Caroline to help her fix this.
"It was Dr Fell's ex. I think it was Meredith, Alaric thinks so too," said Elena as she leaned her back against her fridge with her arms wrapped around her stomach tightly.
There was only so much of this she could take and all these bad things that were happening to her were taking its toll. Caroline could see that. So she would have to start here and worry about Niklaus later, it would seem.
Though she couldn't help but feel like she should fix the Elijah problem first.
Caroline sat on a barstool behind the kitchen counter, assessing both situations. She had to help Elena. But she also had to help Klaus too. However, if there was a meeting being held with Elijah, Klaus, Damon and Stefan she would imagine it would be mostly civil. She couldn't help but think that there was something Elena was holding back from her though.
"Alright, I'll help you. So the murder weapon, it had your prints on it?" asked Caroline as she placed an index finger and thumb to her chin, deep in thought.
Why would Meredith frame Elena? She could understand the medical examiner, since it was Dr Fell's ex, despite the fact that she would have to be some sociopath to do that. But nonetheless that would be the only logical clue that it was Meredith. However, the rest didn't fit.
Elena was about to answer when she heard a ding sound come from her mobile phone. The brunette reached into her pocket as the kettle began to steam and whistle, alerting them both that it was now boiled.
"Oh my god, someone else has been attacked at the hospital. William Forbes," said Elena as her eyes scanned the text in front of her from Alaric.
Caroline frowned. William Forbes she recognised since she knew that he worked with the Council to erradicate vampires and in fact, she had taken their last name a while ago after compelling one of their family members back in the 1500's but why would he be attacked?
"Leave the tea, Elena, we have to go see what his story is," said Caroline with concern etched across her face.
OOO-OOO
They had discovered he couldn't be compelled. It was annoying. They did, however, manage to convince him that they were really trying to stop the person who was randomly killing people. When she told him her name, he seemed to be intrigued and suspicious since her last name was Forbes. He also divulged that he had tried to help break Tyler's sire bond, since Tyler had mentioned that he'd hurt her. It was the reason he was in the hospital as Tyler had attacked him and ran off. She had asked him where he went but Bill had no clue. Caroline could clearly see however that he was in the middle of transition. And then it clicked, Meredith was his doctor and had given him vampire blood so he would survive, much to his chagrin.
He didn't complete the transition.
Caroline had dropped Elena back to her house so she could chat with Alaric and it seemed they were going to visit the Gilbert Lakehouse as the weapon used to kill the medical examiner came from there.
She wasn't going to get in the middle of 'familiy time'.
OOO-OOO
Caroline knew better than to intrude on the manly dinner going on at the Mikaelson's but that didn't mean she couldn't eavesdrop. Plus she wanted to see the coffins. It was high time she got to see Kol and Finn again and lets not forget Rebekah.
She came around the back of the house, finding a glass door leading into one of the back rooms of the mansion. It was unlocked, in a cliche way, but she supposed Klaus had no need to lock a door when he was pretty much invincible.
Caroline searched for what seemed like hours but was in actual fact merely ten minutes. Finally she came to a parlour with the coffins lined in the middle of the room. She stared at them for a few seconds, just taking in their beauty. Klaus had truly spared no expense for they were to house his family; his most sacred of possessions.
She walked over and opened Kol's coffin. She lifted up the head lid to see Kol's peaceful face. He looked so serene, unlike the playful, menacing vampire he'd become after turning.
Caroline turned, unable to look upon his face any longer and came across Finn's coffin. She opened the lid and saw his peaceful face which was blue and lined with ugly veins but he looked so at peace, unlike his former vampire self. He had never been at peace with himself or what he was. She had come across him once or twice over the years and each time he would be self-destructive, loathesome and desperate to find a way to free himself of the evil he'd become. It was so different to how he had been in the village a thousand years ago. He had been so thankful for his life.
And now he was reduced to live in a coffin, unseeing, peaceful and quite dead.
Finally she looked away from him and opened another coffin which housed Rebekah. She opened the head lid and looked upon her friend with sadness, stroking Rebekah's cheek with the back of her hand, noticing that she was as cold as ice.
She had left Rebekah for last because she knew that she looked the worst. Rebekah was always so full of fire, was defiant to the core but also loving, even after being turned into a vampire. She was undeserving of this fate.
Caroline weighed the pro's and con's of pulling the dagger out but thought better of it. No use upsetting Klaus for no reason, plus, I'm sure she would be in a rage when she came to and would ruin the subtle meeting going on in the dining room.
That was when she decided it was time to go and listen to what they were discussing.
"...it would be best to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile," she heard Damon say. She still wasn't quite in the foyer yet but wanted to hear as much as possible so zoned in with her enhanced vampire hearing.
She almost didn't realise someone had spotted her. It was a beautiful blonde girl wearing a skimpy gold coloured top and black mini skirt. She cringed at Klaus' choice in 'meals'. Just as the girl's eyes widened at her presence, she used her vampire speed to intersect her jolt to the dining room door to alert the others of her presence and grabbed her wrist.
Caroline could see that she was about to scream but she held a hand to her mouth. She began to thrash around and it was becoming almost impossible to stand. She could not be compelled since Klaus had obviously already compelled her and her compulsion was nothing against an Original's.
'I'm sorry' Caroline mouthed to the girl, whom widened her eyes in fear of what she would do and elbowed her in the temple, knocking her out. Caroline lowered her to the ground silently.
Caroline moved to the dining room door quickly as she used her enhanced hearing to eavesdrop.
"...what do you say brother, shall we tell them about Tatia?" she heard Klaus' voice ring throughout the room.
She ignored the feeling of jealousy that came back to the surface. Even after a thousand years, she surmised it still bothered her.
"...now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"
"Well given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line," she heard Klaus say.
She zoned out for a moment. Her betraying mind began to remember back to the time when Elijah and Niklaus were fighting over Tatia.
She watched Tatia dance around the fire with Elijah, laughing merrily as they touched each other intimately throughout the dance.
"How can he do this to me?!" exclaimed Niklaus, his eyes full of rage and jealousy. He had raised his voice but it couldn't be heard clearly through all the noise of the celebration that was going on in the village.
Suddenly his eyes turned to Carolena and she sighed in frustration. "Why must you let Tatia come between you? You are family, remember?" said Carolena in annoyance.
It was the same everytime. Niklaus would constantly complain to her about how Elijah was a horrible brother for not keeping his hands off 'his' Tatia and swearing that he would kill him if he dared touch her again and everytime he would do nothing of the sort. He would always go to her to vent and it was wearing thin, very quickly.
Carolena looked back at the two of them in the distance. She sat on a nearby rock, drinking her ale and trying to have a good time, but Niklaus could clearly not care less about that. She toyed with the thought of going over to see Weyland whom she had interest in at the moment in an attempt to ignore her feelings for her best friend. But then she feared that Niklaus would march over to the happy couple, being Tatia and Elijah, and challenge his brother to a duel or something similar.
And she promised to be there for him, always, so she was.
"Family? Would family do this to me, Carolena?" he spat angrily. "He is no family to me! I'm going over there right now!"
OOO-OOO
They stared at each other with fire in their eyes.
"Enough!" yelled Carolena.
"Stay out of this Carolena," warned Elijah but his eyes remained glaring at his brother whom was a mere metre away with sword pointed at him. Elijah mirrored his brother's stance.
Carolena feared anything would set off this fight, so she obeyed him for now.
"You've gone too far, brother," snarled Klaus sarcastically uttering 'brother' as if it were an offensive word.
"Am I to blame if Tatia sees me in a way she could never see in you?" asked Elijah, without a care to the consequences of his words.
Klaus looked at Elijah with hatred burning in his icy blue orbs as he inched closer. Suddenly they began to duel and only the sounds of metal against metal could be heard.
Carolena stared on in horror and then spotted the girl whom they were fighting over in the corner of her eye. She ran over to her, but Tatia's eyes widened at the scene, bringing a hand to her mouth in horror.
"You've done this, Tatia. Do you see what your playing has done?" exclaimed Carolena as she pointed at the men fighting in the middle of the forest. Her eyes burned with fury and it was all aimed at her friend.
The brothers were not play fighting, no. It was real. It was violent. And it was unrelenting.
"I-I don't-"
"I wish not to hear your excuses, Tatia! Are you going to stop them?!" exclaimed Carolena incredulously, not able to understand her friend's hesitation. Her emerald orbs flashed with desperation as she snapped her gaze back at the fight, her blonde curls flowing around her as she did so. And then she snapped her gaze back at Tatia.
Tatia pulled her hand from her mouth and finally focused her brown orbs on Carolena. She could see Tatia was unsure and was obviously mulling over a course of action. Finally she shook her head slowly.
"I-I can't," she stuttered. She hated to see the two men she loved the most fight, but it was something that was inevitable. She knew that Carolena spoke the truth but she couldn't break them up, it would only cause more fighting and they would most likely demand that she choose.
When Tatia looked at Carolena, her heart almost broke. The blonde stared at her angrily as she shook her head in disappointment.
"One of them could die if this continues!" exclaimed Carolena before shaking her head in disappointment. "Forget it Tatia." Carolena ran off toward the fighting, noticing their swords had been ripped away from them both and they had now resorted to hand to hand combat.
Tatia watched Carolena's retreating form as it ran toward the fight. "Carolena..." she began fearfully.
Carolena ran toward the men as they punched at each other, kicked, elbowed...everything they could possibly do to the other. Finally Niklaus held Elijah in a choke hold and it seemed he was winning.
"Stop this!" screamed Carolena, but they didn't even notice her.
She decided she would have to physically pull them apart. Carolena ran at Klaus and pulled on the arm that was holding Elijah in a headlock, squeezing the life out of his brother.
But he would have nothing of it, he elbowed her in the side of the head not noticing it was her, causing her to fall metres away against a tree trunk.
She yelped in pain and slowly slid to the ground to her bottom as blood ran down the back of her head. She had hit her head, hard on the rough surface of the tree trunk behind her.
As soon as he heard his friend's distress he had turned to see Carolena and what he had done. He immediately let go of Elijah and ran to Carolena's side, his icy blue orbs full of horror.
"Carolena!" he yelled as he fell to his knees quickly, placing a palm to her cheek and other to the back of her head to feel the blood that streamed down her back. He pulled his hand away to see it covered in the red substance and that was when true fear gripped his heart. What had he done?
Elijah had gasped for air, but when he saw Carolena injured and Niklaus picking her up as he ran her back to the village, he knew the fight was over.
How could they have been so foolish? How could Niklaus hurt Carolena like that?
He looked over to see Tatia a few metres away with tears in her eyes. She ran over to him, embracing him, telling him how sorry she was for causing such a rift between them both and that Carolena had gotten hurt because of it.
He had told her it was okay, but it really wasn't.
OOO-OOO
Niklaus had brought her straight to his mother. Carolena was unconscious now and he could feel the guilt cover his entire being. How could he have hurt her like that?
He had been in such a rage with Elijah that he had mistakingly lashed out at her when she was only trying to stop their duel. To be honest, he didn't even know it was her. It could have been Tatia too if not Carolena and he probably would have done the same. The fight had gotten out of control, regretting their actions almost immediately after it had stopped.
Niklaus looked down at Carolena, noticing her smooth, flawless skin being covered with sweat and was pale as the moon. The blood had stopped and the wound was now stitched. His mother had walked over to a table to wash her hands in a bucket filled with water, however, his eyes remained on Carolena.
The candles lit up his eyes as it danced around his face.
He hoped she would survive and of course she would, she was Carolena. The world would always have her in it, it had to. Because he couldn't imagine it without her.
Her smiling face, her light, her awful jokes, her beauty. He frowned for a moment at that odd thought that popped into his mind suddenly and looked away awkwardly.
What an odd thought to have about his best friend.
Niklaus looked over to his mother. "Tatia did this to her," said Esther's cutting words as she glared at her son in outrage.
Niklaus shook his head furiously. "No! It was me, I was a fool-" he began as he walked forward putting a palm to his chest, his expression full of guilt and regret.
"Yes, Niklaus, you are a fool. But it was not entirely your fault. Physically, yes, but not entirely. Tatia has created a rift between yourself and Elijah and I will not have it," said exclaimed with authority as she turned, bending down next to Carolena to check her pulse.
It was a steady pulse. "She will live. Had you not raced here, however, she may be dead by now. It appears her head wound was quite severe," explained Esther as she cupped one of Carolena's soft cheeks and then with the back of her hand, moved it delicately down her cheek affectionately. "She is a beautiful girl. Such a treasure to this village, and you choose a scrumpet like Tatia and almost kill Carolena because of her?!"
Esther left Carolena's side and stormed over to Niklaus. Her palm connected with his cheek, causing his body to move to the side from the force of it. He glared at his mother but when he turned around there were tears in his eyes. And not from the pain of the slap.
"You do not deserve a friend like her, Niklaus, nor Elijah. You will be lucky if you are ever allowed to see her again for her father will be furious! I hope you've learned your lesson, Niklaus. This feud ends today!" said Esther commandingly. "Now get out of my sight."
Niklaus took one more look at Carolena's unconscious form with sorrow and guilt written all over his face. He lifted up the straw entrance door and walked out.
His mother was right. He did not deserve her. She deserved the world, she deserved to be happy. She didn't deserve to be burdened with his problems and he promised himself he wouldn't be selfish with her anymore.
OOO-OOO
Niklaus had been distant ever since he had accidentally attacked her. She kept telling him it was okay, that she had forgiven him, but he wouldn't accept it.
It appeared the incident caused him to drift away from her but go closer to Tatia. She had caught them sharing a passionate kiss yesterday to which she walked away angrily.
And so she decided if he was going to be distant with her, she would do the same. She would no longer seek him out to try and get him to talk to her. She would no longer give him advice when he needed to vent about Elijah. She would no longer be that person that watched the person you love, love someone else. He had chosen Tatia and that was fine. It was obvious. He had barely had one conversation with her since the incident and obviously felt that Tatia was the only person he needed in his personal life.
Carolena was done with that now. And that was when Tatia seeked her out that afternoon.
Caroline came out of her reverie just in time to realise Damon was coming her way and Elijah was following. Her eyes widened and she looked behind her. She really should have moved that girl before.
Mentally kicking herself, she used her vampire speed to grab the girl and run back into the coffin room. She lowered the girl to the ground gently and closed the coffin lids, just in case.
She heard footsteps, realising they were coming toward this room. Noticing Elijah's empty coffin in the room, she quickly ran and jumped inside with the unconscious girl, closing the lid on top of them.
OOO-OOO
Those cunning, double-crossing low lives. Elijah and Damon took out the daggers, effectively releasing the Originals. Caroline quickly got out of Elijah's coffin once they had left the room to see Finn gasp for air, then Rebekah and then Kol.
She stood idly at the back of the room, wondering if they noticed her.
Suddenly they looked at each other.
"Finn!" exclaimed Rebekah.
"Kol," said Finn boredly.
"Bekah," smirked Kol, jumping out of his coffin, before all eyes turned to Caroline.
"Carolena," they all said at once as they stared at her in confusion.
"Hi?" she said awkwardly.
"Carolena," smirked Kol but then noticed the smell of blood, his eyes suddenly glued to Elijah's coffin.
Kol immediately disappeared and reappeared in front of it. He smiled wickedly before lifting the girl up and draining her remorselessly.
Rebekah grimaced, Finn looked away in shame and Caroline rolled her eyes. "I just saved that girl! If I wanted her dead, I would have snapped her neck," hissed Caroline as she crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance.
Kol dropped the girl to the ground and turned to look at her with blood dripping down his chin. He began to take in Caroline's form appreciatively. Today she wore tight black skinny jeans, a tight light orange tank top with frills at the low cut 'u' neck and black stiletto's. Her long blonde hair was straightened and her make up was darker than usual.
She crossed her arms over her chest in clear displeasure.
"Carolena, you look absolutely stunning," he smirked as he walked over to embrace her. "And you smell good too."
Caroline sighed, hugging him slightly before pushing him away to look at Rebekah and Finn.
"Look, here's the deal. Don't kill him," she said with concern.
Rebekah opened her mouth to say something but Finn beat her to the punch.
"Carolena. It is lovely to see you, however, I cannot oblige. He has kept me in this prison because he feared I would leave him and I was! So no, he will not be free of my wrath," said Finn darkly as he began for the door.
Caroline could help but notice the state of clothing Finn was in. It appeared he'd been daggered the longest, she guessed not long after they had first been turned. Maybe a few hundred years after, give or take.
"I agree, Carolena. It is not something we can forgive, after all, I know that he killed our mother," snarled Rebekah, clearly hurt as the memories came flooding back to her.
Caroline's eyes widened. "That's why he kept you daggered..."
Kol seemed a bit upset too, which was so unlike him. He was always the laid back, smiling murderer and party goer, not really the vengeful, grudge remembering type but it was a family betrayal. And she knew from experience that family was everything to all of them. Even Kol.
"If you'll excuse us, Lena. We'll catch up soon," smiled Kol as he walked past her, giving her a back wave as the siblings disappeared.
She knew what they were going to do. But luckily for Niklaus, she was always there to help him.
OOO-OOO
Caroline walked at normal speed for a moment, trying to come up with a plan, but nothing came to her.
"...you're free to go," she heard Elijah say and heard footsteps.
Suddenly the two Salvator's came out of the dining room when their eyes widened at her presence.
"What the hell are you doing here?" snarled Damon angrily but Stefan held a hand to his brother's chest as Damon began to advance on her.
The look in her eyes was enough to know that she was not in the mood for witty banter or empty threats and would not see his older brother dead because of it. Stefan knew she wouldn't kill him, but he wasn't one to take chances, especially when it came to a thousand year old vampires; even if it was Caroline.
"What have you done?" she snarled angrily; her emerald orbs filled with fury.
She was shaking now, feeling betrayed because she had gone to help Elena this morning thinking that was more important but unbeknownst to her, they were all plotting behind her back; behind Klaus' back.
Why couldn't they have let things be? Why couldn't they trust her?
Damon smirked at her as he walked past to the front door, before turning around to say one last thing. "A family reunion, Caroline. You can't stop the inevitable, right Blondie?"
Caroline's eyes widened. She ignored them for now, remembering her goal. Because for the enth time, she had to help Niklaus.
She rushed into the room at vampire speed, deflecting Finn's blade before it punctured Klaus' hand and threw Kol to the ground.
"Stop this!" exclaimed Caroline, her eyes narrowing as she looked at each of the Mikaelson's, except for Klaus.
Rebekah huffed and walked forward in her lovely red dress which now had a puncture whole at the front. "Carolena," warned Rebekah, her blue orbs narrowed. "You cannot stop this, he deserves everything he gets!"
Caroline was standing in the middle of the room, arguing and pleading with Klaus' siblings with Klaus beside her, unable to say anything since he was fearful of what his siblings may do. Kol was advancing toward Caroline with the intent to cause the blonde harm, Rebekah was getting ready to stab Klaus in the gut with the dagger which had pierced her heart, Finn was standing idly by waiting for Rebekah to make her move, so he could do the same and Elijah was smiling at the back of the room waiting for Klaus to get his come uppance.
They could see they were getting nowhere with Caroline protecting him so they walked toward the exit.
"I wanted it to be for all of us, a place we could call home...a place we could all be a family," said Klaus in a defeated sort of way as he looked up at Elijah. "None of us would ever have to be alone again."
Elijah looked at Klaus with a sad look upon his face. Deep down, he truly wished it didn't have to be this way but it was Niklaus that had caused this. It was his own doing.
Elijah's eyes met with Rebekah's and then Finn and Kol.
"Well you're right. None of us will be," said Elijah as he walked past Klaus whom was now sitting on the arm of the couch in the sitting room and the rest of his siblings followed.
"You're staying behind," said Finn, not really showing any regret whatsoever at Klaus' fate.
"We're leaving you Nik..." began Rebekah, looking upon him sadly. She had been the only one whom had stuck by him through thick and thin over the centuries and she truly regretted the way things had turned out.
If only Niklaus could have been more selfless. But he was never made that way. He had always been selfish, with Tatia, with his family...with Carolena. And at that thought, Rebekah turned to look at Caroline with regret before turning back to Klaus.
"...right after I kill that doppleganger wench and you will be alone," continued Rebekah scornfully, her eyes full of resentment. "Always and forever." A smile graced Rebekah's lips but it was not of humour. It was a pitiful, poetic smile and it made Caroline feel cold inside, not only for Niklaus but for a family who could have been so much more.
This caused Caroline's eyes to widen in fear as she looked at Klaus. He hadn't even acknowledged her yet and she could see why. His thoughts were on his family and Elena because they were all going to be taken away.
"Y-you can't Rebekah!" exclaimed Caroline, attempting to walk forward but Klaus' hand flicked out in front of her, causing her to stop.
He got up as betrayal and hurt flowed through him like a knife. And that meant that his cold, humanless side was coming out to play. He looked upon his siblings with anger.
"If you run, I will hunt all of you down!" said Klaus menacingly.
Caroline watched him as all her hard work crumbled into nothing. Not that she had really helped him in any way so far, it appeared.
"And then you'll become everything that you hate," said Elijah, his eyes piercing into Klaus' knowingly as a smile formed upon his lips. "Our father."
And Caroline watched as Klaus was starting to lose it. He began to yell and scream about how he was unstoppable; invincible. It was hard to watch.
Tears began to form in her eyes and she turned away for a moment until Elijah mentioned about the other coffin. The one that Klaus didn't have.
"You can't, Elijah. Do you really think that will solve anything?" piped up Caroline finally, walking forward trying to reason with him.
Elijah's brown orbs focused on her before frowning in slight confusion. "Why do you care Carolena? Niklaus was lost to us the moment he was turned into a vampire."
And Caroline knew it to be true, but she was trying to change that, wasn't she? She looked over at Klaus to see some stray tears which had fallen down his cheeks. He was glaring at Elijah but there was a sadness in them that she hated seeing on his face.
Caroline looked away after realising there was nothing she could really say to that. Not yet.
And that was how she found them. The majority of her children standing with their backs turned toward her and Niklaus and Carolena standing in front of them.
That is how it had always been.
They all turned toward her and gasped in surprise at her presence. It was only Caroline and Klaus whom held fear in her eyes.
"Mother," Rebekah managed to utter, still not believing her to truly be there.
Esther walked into the room, moving toward Klaus. Caroline had never really seen this much fear in his eyes before, not even a thousand years ago when he was human.
After she had forgiven Klaus, Esther's eyes fell on her with curiosity.
"Always trying to fix his messes, aren't you Carolena?" she asked softly with a small smile.
Caroline didn't say anything because what was there to say? Esther was right in some ways, however, it had only been recently that she had actively been helping Niklaus and that was because she had decided that this would be her last attempt.
As Caroline walked down the steps of the Mikaelson's, she couldn't help but feel like something bad was going to happen. Esther couldn't have just forgiven Niklaus like that.
She felt weird about the whole situation, not to mention she felt like she was intruding in their whole 'family dispute', but it had always been this way.
When they were in back in their village long ago, it had always been her there defending Niklaus. Whether it be defending him against a trick he had pulled, for causing an uproar at one of the holy man's speeches or simply for skipping his chores, she had always been there defending him against his siblings or parents. Even when he had been caught with Tatia, she had always made an excuse for him.
It seemed old habits died hard, and his family had never questioned her about it. But back then, she had been almost like a part of the family with how much time they spent together. Plus, their family and her own were pretty tightly knit since her parents had been very good friend's of Michael and Esther.
But now? Now she was just a girl they used to know...a meddling one. But she had to. She had promised herself she would see this through.
OOO-OOO
"Why do you keep helping me?" asked Klaus angrily as he pushed his way past her through her doorway.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "No worries, just come on through Niklaus," she said sarcastically, closing the door and turning around to face him with her hands on her hips expectantly.
"I'm sick of these games, Carolena. You tell me right now why you're here and if I don't like the answer-" he spat menacingly, advancing toward her.
"You'll what?!" she exclaimed, her emerald orbs blazing with fury, noticing how close he had stopped in front of her.
His jaw tightened in annoyance. Just what was he going to do?
"I don't need to tell you my plans until you have the courtesy to do the same," she said, raising her chin slightly to show she wasn't scared of him because she wasn't.
"I tried to kill you," he said quietly, his eyes softening. The guilt was etched across his face, she could see that clearly.
"To be honest, I was there to eavesdrop on what was going on with the Salvator's and I wanted to see Rebekah, Kol and Finn once more before you locked them away somewhere. I didn't expect them all to be awoken from their dead prisons," snapped Caroline as she looked up at Klaus.
"Oh? And you think I did?" he snapped back in anger.
Why must she always try to fight with him? She was so infuriating and meddling and why couldn't she just leave town? Everything had been so simple before realising she had been in Mystic Falls. And then to add to his surprise, she had been on the enemy's side.
Their relationship was so complicated, but she was the one making it this way! Why couldn't she just be on one side? One minute she would do what was best for Elena and the Salvator's or she would thwart his plans and then next she would save his life. He couldn't keep up with the annoying woman.
She had never been like this before. Carolena had always been on his side no matter what, but he supposed that's what he got for pushing her away, long ago.
"You did this to yourself, Niklaus. You can't blame anyone but yourself. They could have killed you, had Esther not saved you and forgave you," said Caroline with a sigh.
"I know that! Why can't you just stay out of my business! You're not wanted here! And you wonder why I tried to kill you," snarled Klaus as he grabbed her shoulders roughly, the tips of his fingers digging into his shoulders.
Caroline gasped in pain but held his gaze. She knew he was just lashing out because she always told him her truthful opinion. But he had spoken those hurtful words and she felt every word of it right now, like daggers in her heart.
She knew she wasn't wanted, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try and make him see that this was only bringing about his inevitable demise.
"I know," she said softly. "You could have killed me, allowed me to die, but you saved me. You always try to hurt me because you're afraid of being close to people. But I forgive you."
Klaus let go of her as if he had been burned. He looked at her in disbelief. He hated her. He hated the fact she forgave him so easily, just like his mother had. He hated that she looked so sad and lonely, just like he was all the time.
"Just because you helped tonight doesn't mean I won't end you if you get in my way, Carolena. You mean nothing to me," he said quietly as if he were trying to convince himself.
Caroline knew his words were empty but still, they hurt her deeply. He forgot to mention all the times she defended him or when she let him know that his father had been revived.
He walked toward the door and opened it. He looked back at her, immediately regretting his words but he wouldn't say so. He had realised after saving Caroline that it had been a mistake, not because of her, but because she was digging herself back into his heart and he knew it.
And so he didn't take back his words.
OOO-OOO
The ball was amazing. The Mikaelson's really knew how to throw a shindig. And finally she spotted her date, whom was grinning like a school girl. She had always fantasized now and then that she would be Niklaus' date to a beautiful party, but it seemed he was trying to avoid her.
So, Caroline decided to do the same since Kol had invited her as his date. So she would rock up to the Mikaelson ball looking beautiful and proud and would try to forget about him. And so she was back to her original plan, to try and forget her feelings for the man whom will never love her back. She was only here for one purpose anyway and she would carry this through till the end, no matter what it cost.
"Carolena, you look beautiful, love," said Kol as he picked up one of her gloved hands to place a small kiss upon the top of it.
She smiled. "You look nice too, Kol," she said with a smile. "I need a drink, I'll be back."
Caroline looked over to see Elena was already here and with both Salvator's. Her serene expression turned sour, realising that history was indeed repeating itself for the third time.
She walked through the crowd, not really looking at anyone in particular and grabbed a flute of champagne which was being carried around by various waiters.
Caroline took a large mouthful and swallowed it in one go. It was going to be a long night.
She found her way back to Kol. He was as charming as he'd always been toward her, but he was no Niklaus. But she could be satisfied with him, just for tonight.
Caroline had been enjoying catching up with Kol and then Rebekah and Finn over the last hour, that she hadn't noticed icy blue orbs watching her every move. Of course she had noticed Niklaus' presence, but she was sticking to her plan this time. She refused to speak to him, after his speech of how little he cared for her.
Caroline was over a thousand years old, but she was still a woman. And despite what people thought, she wasn't as tough as everyone thought she was.
He had watched her from afar, stopping himself from talking to her; from watching her appreciatively. But it was no use, his eyes, no matter what conversation he would be in at the time, would always wander over to her. She was laughing with Kol as he told her stories of what he had done before he had been daggered. He was always the joker and it seemed Caroline was falling for his facade hook, line and sinker.
When he heard that Kol was bringing Caroline as his date, he'd been furious. He told Kol he disapproved and wouldn't allow it, however, his mother had cut in and scolded him for being so controlling and that things were going to change. So of course, Niklaus had to let it go.
He'd always been protective of Caroline and the men she chose to 'associate' herself with. It seemed it hadn't really changed. He still felt something within him when he saw her touch another man or when she would smile at them. Or even if they simply spoke to her, he would get wary and his mood would darken. It had been that way ever since he was very young.
But he couldn't be like that anymore, could he? He had already pushed her away again, so he couldn't very well go over there and forbid Kol to touch her like he used to long ago. He could imagine her flushed face if he did though and it brought a smile to his lips.
Caroline always looked so cute when she was angry. She was a fiery one. Opinionated, nosey and honest. And that was when he realised what was going through his mind.
"Excuse me," he said politely to the woman in front of him. It was a council member or something and she held little interest to him.
OOO-OOO
Caroline spotted Elena finally and she made a bee-line to her friend to go over what was happening tonight. She vaguely heard Stefan and Damon arguing with her about it.
Elena had told her previously what had been written on the back of her invitation, much to Damon's annoyance and warning about her involvement.
"Caroline," smiled Elena, bringing Caroline in for a quick hug.
Stefan and Damon stood either side of Elena, glaring at Caroline.
"Please convince Damon that I need to see Esther alone," whispered Elena as she narrowed her eyes up at Damon.
"We don't need her opinion, Elena," he said in an annoyed tone.
Caroline frowned, thinking it over. "I don't think she will hurt her, Damon," said Caroline with a shrug. "And we need to know what her plans are, I don't trust her right now."
Damon snapped his gaze back at Caroline, about to tell her where to stick it, when his brother chimed in.
"I agree," he said, looking at his brother.
"I know the protective Stefan is out right now but since I'm still here, I'll have to be the only one protecting her and I'm not going to let her go into the lion's den, Stefan," snapped Damon and then his eyes fell on Caroline. "I thought your 'sole purpose' was to protect Elena, Caroline."
Caroline realised they were getting attention from a few people nearby and ushered them into a space underneath the staircase so they could speak a bit more privately. As soon as they were all there, she advanced on Damon angrily.
"I don't know how else to make myself clear to you about my intentions. Just because I'm older than you, doesn't mean I have ulterior motives against Elena. She's my friend, Damon. But I don't see a problem with this plan. Why would she kill her? She'll most likely need Elena alive if she is to try anything to kill Niklaus. The doppleganger blood was used to make them vampires, so it would be needed to eradicate it too. But then again, maybe there is some kind of weapon she has to kill Klaus, I don't know," explained as thoughts began to spin through her mind.
Elena nodded in agreement and Stefan merely looked on in curiosity. "Tatia," said Stefan in realisation.
Caroline looked at Stefan before her expression saddened slightly and she nodded.
She looked back to Damon whom still didn't trust Caroline, clearly. "Maybe so, but the answer is still no."
Caroline was about to grab Damon by the neck but Elena suddenly place a hand on Caroline's forearm with a small smile upon her lips. "Its okay, we'll find another way."
Caroline obliged with a nod. Suddenly a dinging noise was heard from the main foyer, it seemed the Mikaelson's were making a speech.
OOO-OOO
The dancing began and she opted to stand out on the balcony with a flute of champagne in her hand. She looked up at the stars absently, wondering what it would be like to to be so free like them. Always shining, never worrying and just...existing and then once in a while, they'd explode and disappear.
She would love to go out with a bang, when the time arose and that brought a smile to her lips. And then her thoughts went to Klaus and her smile faded.
Caroline always thought of him and it hurt. But this is the path she chose so she had to live with it. Over the years, she had thought that time would afford her the courage to tell her what she felt about him but so far, even after a thousand years, she knew she didn't have the amount of courage needed to tell him.
It brought tears to her eyes just thinking about it. The moonlight lit up her eyes brightly, her tear filled emerald orbs still looking up at the beautiful sky.
He observed her and realised that she was a real vision tonight. Her blonde curly locks were pulled up beautifully with a few stray curls hanging either side her face, her wore a elegant blue dress with bits of gold spread throughout the threads and long white gloves which reached to the middle of her upper arms.
He had watched her smile and laugh and converse with other people throughout the evening. He was trying to work something out, but not really know what exactly. He had seen his brother fawn over her and that in itself made him inwardly cringe and then after the speech she was nowhere to be seen.
He had always been drawn to Caroline. When they were younger, they had automatically become friends. He had been introduced to her at a very young age because his parents were close to hers. And after that, they were inseparable.
And now he was drawn to her by her beauty, her light that he had always known was there and her 'sometimes' loyalty. But what was she to him now? He wasn't sure if he could really call her his friend anymore, more an ally - when it suited her, that is.
But now here she was, standing alone, staring up at the sky with tears falling down her cheeks. And that confused him. She had always been the strong one but lately all she ever seemed to be doing was shedding tears.
"Kol, I'm sorry but the answer is no...still," she snapped, not bothering to turn around.
She grabbed a hankerchief from her clutch and patted her cheeks so that her makeup wouldn't be too soiled.
"No to what?" asked Klaus as he walked slowly toward her, stopping by her side.
Caroline looked up at him and bristled. She didn't even bother to acknowledge his question, opting to simply walk off. However, he grabbed her arm quickly which caused her to turn to look at him. She stared into his blue orbs before yanking her arm out of his grasp.
"What is your deal?!" she exclaimed angrily.
Klaus frowned. "My deal?"
"Yeah, your deal, Niklaus. Your problem," said Caroline, rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest in an unladylike manner, the total opposite of how she had been carrying herself the whole night.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, love," he said with a smile but knew she was referring to his outburst last night.
He had planned to ignore her tonight but that plan went out the window the moment he saw her enter the room.
Caroline scoffed. "Well, I'm doing you a favour by walking away. After all, I mean nothing to you, right?" she said with resentment as she turned on her heel.
Suddenly Klaus appeared in front of her in the doorway, causing her to run into his chest. "It was a little argument, Carolena, we've had worse-"
"Excuse me?!" she said incredulously, her cheeks flushed slightly from the close contact. She backed away slightly as she tried to gain some distance. "You can't just say what ever you like to me and expect to be forgiven. That's what friends do and we are nothing of the sort."
Klaus' plalyful smirk turned to a dark thin line. His jaw clenched in annoyance, taking offense to her comment.
"If we aren't friends, then why do you keep helping me?" he asked as he began to lean against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.
Caroline glared at him, noticing how good he looked in the Armani suit he was wearing with a white bowtie and black jacket. He really did look quite the charmer but then again, he always had been. Its too bad he had never noticed just how much she cared for him, nor would he ever.
Klaus noticed the forlorn expression she held again.
"Why were you upset?" he asked quietly, his gaze softened somewhat out of slight worry. He supposed he would never stop caring about his friend, the only best friend aside from Stefan, he'd ever had. But Stefan could never compare to her, not ever.
Caroline looked away from him, refusing to answer.
"Just don't, seriously don't," she said with a clipping tone but then looked up into his eyes again.
"Very well, onto more mannered subjects then. Join me for a dance?" he asked with hope etched across his face.
She contemplated for a moment.
"Come on Caroline-"
"You can't do this, Niklaus. One minute want to kill me and hate me and then the next want to talk to me and act as though we are best friends again! It doesn't work that way!" she exclaimed, thankful that the music and chatter inside was far greater than her voice.
Klaus narrowed his eyes down at her as he pushed off from his position on the doorframe and advanced toward her.
"Why the bloody hell not, Carolena?" he exclaimed just as angrily. "You do it! You betray me and then help me. You act as though our friendship meant nothing and then you say things that tell me otherwise."
Caroline backed away until her back rested against the stone balcony, but Klaus kept coming. At this point, she was so angry and hurt she didn't care.
"You wouldn't understand-"
"Wouldn't I? Why don't you explain it to me then," he exclaimed as he grabbed her shoulders forcefully.
Caroline could feel his grip tighten before it loosened suddenly. She looked up at him and it almost brought back memories of how he would plead with her to help him with something. That was the same look he gave her now.
"Right after you have one dance with me," he said softly, his eyes begging her not to deny him.
And so she gave in.
OOO-OOO
Throughout the whole dance, she had looked over at Rebekah, noticing how truly beautiful she looked. Why couldn't she be like her or the Petrova's? But that thought soon left her after she realised what a child she was being.
"You dance beautifully. I feel I should have sought you out when this type of dancing was thriving," commented Klaus, his breath close to her ear.
She was becoming uncomfortable now. Being at this close proximity with a man whom you have loved for a very long time was not a good idea.
"Perhaps, but then again, I believe you would have been too busy murdering and sucking the blood of every pretty woman you could find," she spat, but still holding her head high in an elegant way.
Klaus noticed Kol looking over at them with a glare and he simply nodded at his younger brother. Kol was dancing with some random woman in which he held no interest, intead opting to stare at Caroline constantly.
"He does know he doesn't have a chance with you, doesn't he?" said Klaus arrogantly, ignoring her last comment.
"Who? Kol? Oh, I wouldn't say that," smiled Caroline brightly but frowned when she felt his grip on her hand tighten.
"Really?" he said, clearly annoyed by her response.
"Relax, I've no intention of going out with your brother. Not that its any of your business, mind you," she said with a small smile.
Caroline couldn't help herself, she really liked to rile Klaus up. She couldn't be sure whether it was just him being protective of her like he used to be when she was interested in someone or whether it was out of jealousy. But it couldn't be the latter, it was impossible. She had been invisible to him in that respect for a thousand years, she doubted he would harbour any such feelings now.
"It is my business, if I say it is. And I forbid it. There is too much going on and I don't want to have to deal with his petty lovesick antics on top of it," snapped Klaus, clearly offended that her life was no longer his business.
Caroline bristled. "You were much more nicer a thousand years ago," she huffed, choosing not to into what she thought in detail. How dare he 'forbid' her to do something? "And you can't just forbid me to do something because I'll do it anyway and you can't stop me."
It was childish, but he got the point. She looked into his eyes and saw his anger clearly and it made her happy inside knowing that he knew she was right.
"Fine. Get your heart broken, see if I care," he said in annoyance, obviously not yelling what he thought like he really wanted to since they were in company.
"Fine! I will," she said as she broke away to dance with the next partner as the dance allowed.
'Fine' he mouthed, their eyes still set on each other defiantly as they turned around with other partners.
OOO-OOO
The night had been a disaster. Caroline kicked herself mentally for being such a lovesick fool. This whole time proverbial shit was going down and she hadn't noticed because she had been caught up in her feelings and anger with Klaus to notice.
Elena had idiotically given her blood to Esther's cause to bring down her children and all the Mikaelson's had sipped wine unknowingly with her blood in it, thus linking their lives together. So if one dies, so did they all.
It was a complete and utter disaster. Not only because of what had happened to the Mikaelson siblings but because she discovered where Elena's true allegiance is and it wasn't to her or the Mikaelson's, naturally. It was Damon and Stefan. She had sort of known but when she had overheard her conversation as she followed Stefan and Elena home.
Another thing she had to fix, amongst other things. Kol had blatantly attacked Matt Donovan and Damon had gone off his nut and attacked Kol in front of everyone.
OOO-OOO
Caroline found herself at Elena's with Bonnie. They were discussing the burning sage and she was relieved to find that Elena was now confiding in her about the events of the previous night.
Elena also told her that Finn was going to be the one to sacrifice himself and that didn't really shock Caroline.
That fool, she thought sadly.
Bonnie was trying to get the sage to work as Esther did. Finally Caroline was outside the door listening and could still hear everything Bonnie and Elena was saying. Also about how Rebekah had stayed the night with Damon like a scrumpet. That part of the conversation made Caroline almost dry reach.
"...is it working?" she heard Elena ask her before bursting through the door with an unimpressed look upon her face.
"Its not working," she said with a sigh. "I can hear everything you're saying about Damon the vampire gigalo."
"I donno, its a tricky spell," said Bonnie in a disappointed tone. But she figured she may not be able to do it since Esther was the Original Witch, so therefore she was no such slouch.
"When Esther did it, she kept the sage burning," said Elena, trying to give Bonnie some suggestions. "There was a lot more smoke."
"Alright," said Bonnie reluctantly, not really believing it would work. "I'll try it again."
Bonnie held the sage over the flames and their expecting eyes both moved toward Caroline, whom rolled her eyes and went out the door again to see if it had worked.
"...speaking of Esther, you should know she came to see me and Abbey this morning," she heard Bonnie say, causing Caroline to sort of hope that the sage wouldn't work so she could keep listening.
It was becoming troublesome but it was logical that Esther would seek out the Bennett's for help with witchcraft. After all, Esther may have been a powerful witch before but after becoming an immortal vampire, her powers would have diminished somewhat.
"...and all this time you've let me vent about Damon?" she heard Elena say after a short pause.
"...I don't want you to worry," she heard Bonnie respond.
"...okay, what did she want?" Elena had asked worriedly.
"...she wanted to introduce herself. Abbey and I helped bring her back. She's channelling her entire ancestry bloodline for power," she heard Bonnie explain. "...and she thought she was being polite."
"...okay well is there a way to stop her from channelling you?" asked Elena.
"...even if there was, why would I want that?" asked Bonnie, clearly not liking the line of questioning.
Because obviously everyone wanted Niklaus dead but her, which was really depressing. That meant that Caroline would have to work doubly hard to keep him alive.
"...I just keep thinking. Before the sun and the moon ritual, Elijah found a way to keep me alive. And now I'm in the exact same position and I'm just going to let him die?" she heard Elena say, but the last part was clearly a rhetorical question.
Caroline frowned at this. Perhaps she could rely on Elena now. She didn't want all of them to die and that was a start.
"...just doesn't feel right," said Elena.
Suddenly Caroline had heard enough from outside the door and decided to burst in now. Clearly the spell wasn't working.
"Firstly, the privacy spell is totally not working," said Caroline. "Secondly, you're not doing this, Esther is doing this."
"There's no time to change your mind," said Bonnie evenly, showing to Caroline that she wasn't going to really listen to Elena, after all she of all people wanted Klaus to die. "He'll be dead by the end of the night."
Caroline kept a neutral face but this irked her. She couldn't let Klaus die, even if it went against all of them.
"What?!" asked Elena in confusion.
"Its a full moon," explained Bonnie. "Esther needs to harness the energy if a celestial event. She asked me and Abbey to join her."
Caroline began to inwardly panic at this. She couldn't do this, she had to go and warn Niklaus.
Soon after Bonnie left and she texted Elijah to let him know what was going on. He said he was on his way to speak with Elena, since he now knew that she had blatantly lied to his face the previous night. Caroline had specified that he not hurt her, he promised he wouldn't. She trusted Elijah, he wouldn't betray her, that much she knew.
Caroline made herself scarce because she had to do something.
OOO-OOO
The more she thought about it, the more she realised it would be a mistake to tell Niklaus now. He would be reckless and do what he always did and kill one of the Bennett witches and she couldn't have that either.
It was unfortunate that she had arrived as Kol and Klaus were just leaving and her thoughts had only just come to the conclusion that she wouldn't tell them yet.
"Lena!" exclaimed Kol rushing forward once he reached the bottom of the stairs, to lift Caroline into the air, spinning her around.
She laughed and patted his upper arms, begging him to put her down. Klaus watched them as he walked down the stairs slowly, clenching his fists quietly.
"Kol, please," she said as she was lowered to the ground, however, his arms still held her firmly around the waist.
"Lena we are going out to have fun, you must come," he said, looking down at her with a smile.
Caroline pushed on his arms causing Kol to pull away from her. She looked up at him and shook her head with a smile. "Sorry Kol, I can't," she said, looking over at Klaus whom was glaring in their direction.
"I can't get over how beautiful you are, Carolena. You must come with us so I can know everything about you. After all, it has been centuries since I last saw you," he smiled.
Caroline looked over at Klaus to find him very unimpressed by their whole display. It wasn't her fault Kol was especially nice to her, after all, long ago he had a crush on her in which she had to turn down because of Niklaus.
"I know. And we will, just not now. I have...things I need to attend to," said Caroline, trying not to reveal anything.
Unluckily for her, however, Klaus was suspicious of everything.
"Is that so sweetheart?" he said as he marched over to them with clear suspicion.
"Yes. And no, I won't be telling you since its none of your business, Niklaus," she said haughtily as she walked past them to the steps. "I wish to speak with Rebekah."
"I beg to differ," he said with a dangerous smile. "I think you should come with us, after all."
Suddenly he strode forward, grabbing her arm violently. "Its not a request," he snarled with narrowed eyes.
His anger however was not because he thought she may be plotting against him, but more because he was annoyed at the fact that she allowed Kol to touch her like that, but she couldn't even suffer through one dance with him and even then they fought pretty much the whole time.
This was not the Carolena he had known back a thousand years ago. They had always agreed with each other, had the same views and she was just...more amicable. But this Caroline had fire, she fought him at every turn, was infuriating, beautiful and did what he least expected. Had she changed that much over ten centuries? Or had he been blind to it this whole time? Perhaps that was why he thought differently of her lately in a way a friend should not be thinking of another friend. Not that they were friends.
She obviously didn't listen to his 'advice' since Kol seemed to still be on the 'cards' with her.
Caroline yanked her arm from her grasp and rubbed it painfully. She glared up at him almost with tears in her eyes from the pain. He realised what he'd done and went to apologise, his mouth open and his hand out to check her arm, but she pulled away before he could.
"Save it Niklaus. If you must know, I am here to speak with Rebekah. But of course you think the worst of me, every time so why do I even bother?" she asked before turning and running up the stairs with vampire speed.
Klaus looked at the stairs where she had been standing and sighed.
"Nice tact, brother," said Kol and usually he would think he was jesting but when he looked at his brother he wasn't smiling.
"What do you care?" snarled Klaus, walking past him toward the car. Kol trailed behind with anger upon his face.
"Why do you think? You hurt Carolena-"
"She isn't Carolena anymore, Kol!" yelled Klaus, spinning to face his little brother with rage. His icy blue orbs were fixed upon him when suddenly he sighed. He had forgotten that his mother had told him that she wanted their family to be whole again and here he was fighting with his brother, over Carolena no less. "She's Caroline."
Kol shook his head and laughed, however, there was nothing funny about what he said.
"You're a fool, brother. Perhaps she changed her name, perhaps she's changed a bit over the years but she is still Carolena. I really liked her for a long time until I realised she had love for someone else," said Kol as he got into the car.
Klaus followed suit at the driver's seat but turned to his brother with a raised eyebrow, anticipating Kol to finish what he was saying.
"Yes, Elijah," said Klaus darkly as he started the engine, presuming to finish Kol's sentence.
Kol laughed again. "No, idiot brother. Not Elijah. However, despite knowing that, I still tried. And I still will," said Kol with a smirk. "But in the mean time, there's no reason why I can't try out the rest of the female population until she comes to her senses."
Klaus snorted. This was exactly why he didn't want Carolena associating herself with a womaniser like his little brother. He loved his brother, truly he did. But he would not see his Carolena hurt.
Caroline had gone to see Rebekah to get the update on her one night stand with the eldest Salvator. She had gone there to also let her know of the information she had come to know about the ritual which was going to take place tonight.
Together they worked out a plan to ensure all of their survival as well as allowing her friends to also survive. Including the Bennett witches. Rebekah had promised she would keep this between herself, Elijah and Rebekah. However, there was a small amount of uncertainty with Rebekah as she often let her emotions take over her actions.
OOO-OOO
The day was going too quickly with too much to sort out. It seemed Rebekah did as she expected and told Klaus about it. She had been on her way to the Grill as she feared for Klaus and Kol. When she entered the grill she had immediately used her enhanced hearing and recognised Rebekah's voice on the other end of a phone call. She looked around to see Alaric and Meredith in the corner playing pool and that was an indication that the Salvator's were planning something. And she had to stop it now.
Her eyes then widened as she spotted Klaus and Kol at the bar and Klaus' eyes found hers immediately; he was not pleased. In fact, angry would be a nice way of putting it.
But she didn't have time to get into an arguement with him about it, so she immediately headed back to her car, picking up her phone to dial Elena.
"Care?"
"Elena, what did you do?" she exclaimed angrily.
"I...nothing! It was Elijah. Caroline, he's captured me. He put me in the caves. I've been here for ages! And Rebekah...she's going to kill me," stuttered Elena, the fear clearly in her voice so Caroline knew she wasn't lying.
Caroline put her hand on the door handle of her car when suddenly another hand was holding it closed. Her eyes went to the person barring her entrance to the car to see Klaus' piercing eyes glaring at her.
"Why?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Niklaus'
"Because I lied to him. Because he's using me to get Stefan and Damon to help him kill his mother," exclaimed Elena when suddenly she heard yelling on the other end as someone fumbled around with the phone.
"Carolena," said the brittish voice of Rebekah and Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Don't hurt her please," groaned Caroline, getting really tired of Elena always being hurt and threatened all the time.
"I wouldn't but you know, Elijah gave me permission to kill her if she runs-"
"Bekah," warned Caroline angrily.
"Relax! But if they don't do this, we'll be dead Carolena. I had to tell Nik," sighed Rebekah. "I'm sorry."
Caroline closed her eyes for a moment as she leaned her back against the car door with a sigh. "Its okay, just...please don't hurt her."
Finally she pressed the end button on her phone and snapped her gaze at Klaus.
"I should kill you for your deception today," snarled Klaus as he walked toward her, but she stood her ground.
She had nothing to be sorry for, she was trying to help him for christ sake, why couldn't he see that?
"I told Elijah...and Rebekah-"
"But obviously I'm not good enough to be in the loop? But that's how its always been, hasn't it?! You Bekah and Elijah in this tight knit group where I am the last to know!" snarled Klaus angrily.
"We don't have time for this Niklaus!" she exclaimed, leaning back a bit as Klaus leaned toward her face.
"That's where you're wrong. It only takes me a few seconds for me to put my hand through your chest, Carolena," he said with a dangerous smirk graced upon his lips as he held two fingers to her upper chest. Caroline shivered from his touch.
Caroline looked at his fingers at her chest and then back up at his eyes. "Do it then!" she exclaimed, pushing him away from her. "Go on! You seem to know exactly what I'm thinking and what my intentions are, so go on do it you coward!" she screamed hysterically as tears came to her eyes.
Her voice began to break and it echoed throughout the empty parking lot.
Klaus looked at her as if she'd gone mad, but really, he just couldn't believe she would let him do that to her. He had been bluffing of course, just trying to get her to fear him, but of course he knew it wouldn't work. Why would it? That would just be expected, wouldn't it? And if there's one thing about Caroline that he now knew and that was that she always did the opposite of what he expected.
"I did it to protect you but I didn't want you going around killing people out of anger like you always do, so yes. I confided in Elijah and Rebekah because I thought they would see that my way would be better, but I was wrong," explained Caroline sadly. She pulled a stray piece of golden hair behind her ear, now feeling vulnerable after her outburst.
"I keep helping everyone, you, the Salvator's, Elena...and what do I get in return? I get betrayed! Accused of being the bad person, kicked out! They say I'm on your side and I'm not to be trusted and then you say I'm on their side and I'm not to be trusted, so really, I'm just the big bad, except worse, right? Because no one trusts me!" exclaimed Caroline before taking a deep breath before she said something she regretted.
It was just taking its toll on her. When she'd come to Mystic Falls, she thought it would be easy. Just protect the doppleganger and keep her away from Niklaus. But it seemed even one task she had assigned herself was becoming more troublesome as time went on. She should have known she couldn't do one simple thing. And now no one really trusted her.
Klaus stared at her in disbelief. Betrayal is something he was so used to but he'd never imagined that Caroline would feel the same thing.
"Caroline," reasoned Klaus with a sigh. "If you'd told me earlier..."
"Oh please, you and I both know it wouldn't end well-" she started when a thought came to her. Didn't Niklaus come to the Grill with Kol? "Where is Kol?"
Klaus frowned.
"Go. I'll go help Stefan and Damon," she said. Klaus nodded once at her but she could tell from the look in his eyes that their conversation wasn't over.
A/N: OMG! So sorry everyone, but I have to cut this in half. But really, these parts of season 3 are the most important. I know this fic isn't popular, but I don't mind because I really want to finish it and it seems this is turning out to be longer than expected. Can't wait till I get to Seaso 4 :) I'm just trying to show how much she really loves Klaus and that its hard for him to trust her, because it is. But also that she's finding it hard to keep going with her task but she does it because she wants to really save him. Anyway, thanks for reading, those who are :) Thanks and please review!
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