Previously, in "Out of the Darkness", Finn reunites with his eldest daughter, Ruby, and a ball is planned for the Original family.
Chapter Four: The Belles of the Ball
Caroline heard the door bell ring and went to the door, opening it and sticking her head out. "Hello? Who's there?"
No answer. That's weird, who would ring the bell and then suddenly not be there? Seriously, Doorbell Ditch was so middle school. Caroline was about to head in when she noticed something on the porch. Kneeling down, she saw that it was a big box. Picking it up, she brought it into the house and placed it on her bed. Curious about the contents of the box, she opened it and revealed a blue ball gown. In addition to the dress, she found an envelope with her name on it. Opening it, Caroline saw an invitation to a ball in honor of the Mikaelson family. Looking on the back, she saw a message in the same handwriting that was on the card accompanying the bracelet she got the night she was cured of the werewolf bite: "Save me a dance…Fondly, Klaus."
Of course, who else would it be? But the real question to ask was…what was he up to? And why was he inviting her to a ball?
She shrugged it off then went to see what she could find to wear with the beautiful gown.
After looking around for a while, Caroline found the box containing the bracelet that Klaus had given her on her birthday. As she looked at it, she remembered what Klaus told her that night: "There's a whole world out there waiting for you; great cities and art and music, even genuine beauty. And you can have all of it. You can have a thousand more birthdays. All you need to do is ask."
Caroline sighed as she thought back to that night. She hadn't been able to shake it. She especially couldn't shake the sound of his accent. It was so sweet, even for someone who had a history of violence trailing after him for centuries.
Later…
Sage arrived with her two daughters at the massive Mikaelson mansion, marveling at the beauty of the home in front of her. "Now, remember, girls, you're only here to meet the rest of your family, so don't try and encourage me to have a rendezvous with your father," she told them both.
Ruby and Bridget smiled at each other and then looked at their mother, saying in unison, "Yes, Mum."
"I mean it," their mother replied. "Focus on meeting the family. If there is to be a rendezvous with your father, I'll be the one who decides when that will happen."
Meanwhile, Finn came into the study, finding his mother there. "Mother, there is something I need to talk to you about," he started out by saying.
Esther nodded. "Yes, Finn, I know. Elijah already told me."
"No, Mother. That is a completely different subject. I cannot go through with this…plan. I have a family now, and the woman I love is back. So, you can forget about going through with your plan," Finn said then turned and walked out of the study.
He stopped in the doorway when he came face to face with a blast from the past, the latter of which stopped as well upon seeing him. "Finnegan, how wonderful to see you again," she spoke in a soft whisper.
Finn couldn't breathe at the sight of Sage. She was a vision in that dress. "Sage, is it really you?"
Her dark lashes lowered until they hovered just a bit over her green eyes before she sent a glance to her eldest daughter. "I cannot do this right now. I will be in the garden," she said before picking up the ends of her dress and floating past her longtime lover, heading toward the back entrance.
Immediately, Finn followed after her, using an almost jog to catch up with her. "Sage, please…you have to know," he started to say before stepping close, tilting his head and crashing his mouth to hers. There were no words he could say how good it felt to have her back in Mystic Falls.
Sage returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingers through his hair. Tears stung her eyes as the kiss deepened and she stepped back, looking into his eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. "Finn, you have no idea how long I've dreamed of seeing you again."
Using one hand, Finn stroked the back of his hand over her tear-streaked, fair-skinned cheeks. "I've dreamed of it too, love, trust me," he whispered before embracing her gently, cradling her against his chest.
Sage smiled as Finn held her against him. After nine hundred years of waiting, she was finally with the man she loved and it was the happiest moment she ever had.
From the doorway, they heard Elijah's voice speaking to them. Sage turned but didn't leave the arms of the man she loved. "Mother needs us inside, Finnegan," Elijah told his older brother.
The elder vampire nodded and stepped free from holding onto Sage, but kept his hand in hers as she followed behind him. The three vampires rejoined their loved ones, Kol included, as they all glanced up to Esther at the top of the landing.
From his place on the stairs, Klaus wasn't really paying that much attention to anything in particular, except for Caroline, who had walked in earlier, dressed in the gown he had sent her. She looked absolutely beautiful, like an angel sent from the heavens, and it was taking every ounce of strength he had not to run to her and kiss her senseless. He did greet her when she came in, but she immediately went toward the refreshment table, saying that she needed a drink. "Just be patient, Niklaus," he said to himself. "She'll come to you, just give her time."
At the top of the landing, Esther spoke with clarity as she said to the people gathered around to hear her speech, "Thank you all for joining us in celebrating my family, my children. Here is a toast to all of you!"
Klaus smiled at Caroline as he raised his glass and drank the champagne in his glass. His mother's speech was trivial compared to the blonde beauty he had invited here tonight. Kol grinned at his brother after taking a swig of the champagne in his glass, now knowing the reason he was acting so differently lately.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Bridget both watched as Finn tugged Sage away from everyone at the ball, smiling at each other and clasping hands tightly. The elder vampire guided the woman he loved into a room just off to the back before the entrance to the garden. There, he closed and locked the door.
Sage smiled at Finn as he closed the door. As he approached her, said smile faded, which Finn noticed right away. "What's wrong, Sage?"
"It's been so long," she replied. "What if I don't remember how to make love to you? What if I disappoint you?"
Finn pulled her into his arms and ran his fingers through her hair. "Sweetheart, you can never disappoint me. You know that I would never force you to do anything." He kissed her forehead and then stepped back. "If you want, we can take this slow, so that we can get used to each other again."
"Slow is good. But, as you know, I've never been used to slow," the redhead said as she moved her hands to the broad shoulders hiding beneath the tuxedo jacket, pushing it off of him and onto the floor on which they stood.
Finn barely noticed that his jacket was being pushed off his shoulders until it fell to the floor. He reached behind her and began to unzip the back of her dress, pushing the sleeves down until the dress fell into a pool on the floor. Desperate for her but not wanting to rush, he kissed her and brought his one hand up to massage her cheek.
Sage felt his hand on her cheek then placed her own over it.
The instant he felt Sage's hand on his, Finn automatically felt himself getting hard, letting out a muffled groan against her lips. To hell with slow, he wanted her and he wanted her now. Vamp speeding them over to the bed, Finn ripped off his shirt and removed Sage's bra with his mouth, leaving the clasps miraculously intact. Sage licked her lips as she then helped him off with his pants and boxers, after which Finn removed her panties and, grabbing her hips, drove his throbbing member into her hot, wet, tight core, leaning down to kiss her neck as he thrust hard and fast into her. Sage moaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and gyrated in time with his thrusts.
Somewhere in the middle of the wild passion between them, Finn felt his fangs pop out and, kissing her neck one more time to raise the vein, he bit into her neck, growling as her sweet blood entered his mouth. Sage let out a scream of pleasure, her fangs popping out as well, and bit into his shoulder, making their bond as strong as it was before their separation, or even stronger.
That Same Moment…
Klaus led Caroline into the small studio he kept his art in, having told her that he wanted to show her something. Once they got there, Caroline looked at him curiously. "Okay, you got me here. What is it you wanted to show me?"
Klaus smiled at her. He was tempted to say, "I want to show just how much I want you right now," but opted not to, thinking that it would sound desperate. So, instead, he said, "One of my passions." He then directed her attention to a framed painting on the wall, as well as some sketches he had made.
"Wait, hold on," Caroline said. "You did all these?"
Klaus nodded, his face growing serious. "Yes, I did." He cleared his throat. "One of my landscapes is hanging in the Hermitage, not that anyone ever noticed." He smiled at her again. "Have you ever been?"
Caroline shook her head, somewhat ashamed that he was so worldly, while she was stuck in the same small town hell all her life, both human and vampire. "No. I have never really been anywhere. I'm stuck here, it seems."
"You don't have to be," Klaus said. "I can take you wherever you want. Just name it and we'll go. Rome. Paris. Tokyo. I told you that there was a whole world waiting for you, and I wasn't lying." He took her hand. "In fact, we can leave tonight. Say the word, Caroline and the world is yours for the taking. I'm yours for the taking."
Without replying verbally, Caroline leaned toward Klaus, who met her halfway.
Klaus smiled against her lips as they continued to kiss, placing his hand on her cheek, massaging it with his thumb.
Eventually, Caroline stepped back. "I think Tyler is cheating on me, but I don't know who the person is. Whenever I call him, he is always cut off before we can talk, and I think the person, whoever it is, always does that," she whispered.
Klaus nodded. "I think I know who the mystery woman is, love. Bekah mentioned her to me earlier."
"She did?" Caroline said. "Well, who is it?"
"It's Meghan Fell, the identical twin sister of the lovely Dr. Meredith Fell. Apparently, Tyler has fallen head over heels in love with her and doesn't want you to know about. Though, frankly, I don't think he knows what love is if he's treating you like this."
"Isn't Meghan a witch? I mean…aren't werewolves and witches on opposite sides?" Caroline asked Klaus.
Klaus nodded again. "Usually they are, yes. But, in Tyler's case, it doesn't matter. He's attracted to her like a bee is to a flower."
Caroline frowned and turned away but Klaus wouldn't allow her to escape that quickly. "Klaus please don't do that," she whispered when he sped to the door to keep her from leaving.
"Caroline, you deserve so much better than Tyler Lockwood. Let me be that person for you," Klaus said as he cupped her chin in his hand.
Caroline tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to come out. "But, why would you want me? I'm nobody to you, Klaus."
"That is not true," he replied. "You are not in any way a nobody, Caroline, not as far as I'm concerned. You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light and you deserve someone who will worship the ground you walk on."
"Do you really think that someone like that is out there for me?" Caroline asked as her hand came up to squeeze his gently on her chin.
Klaus smiled. "Yes. In fact, you're looking at him right now. Caroline, I promise you, I will devote myself to you and you alone." He gently brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. "Open your heart to me, Caroline, let me in." He then pulled her close to him and kissed her, hearing her moan against his lips as she returned the kiss.
Author's Note: I couldn't resist giving y'all an update! The next chapter will begin right after the Sage & Finn in this update then goes to during 3x16, and there WON'T be a betrayal like they did on the show so don't expect to see one!