Hi everyone! Again, thank you for all your reviews/follows/favourites! I'm glad people are enjoying this story.
I had only planned to do 5 chapters for this story, but I might make it a little longer... I'm not sure yet. At the very least, I might split the last chapter into two. Let me know what you think in the reviews, and I'll think about doing a second part to this story!
Anyway, enjoy this chapter with some extra flashbacks...
OCTOBER 1997
After their night spent in the thunderstorm, Caroline managed to get what she thought was the worst cold anyone had ever gotten. She was known to be a dramatic 10 year old, and the way she talked about being sick, was as if this was the end of her.
After much complaining, sneezing and stuffy night sleeps, Liz finally let Caroline take the day off school to sleep and recover. Bonnie and Elena had called round to make sure she was ok, but Liz had a strict no visitors policy.
When Klaus heard this, it made him even more determined to see her and make sure she was ok. After all, he was the one who dragged her out in the storm, and if his 10 year old self was going to make good on the promises he made that night, it was probably best he started winning her over now.
He walked up to Caroline's house and looked over to her bedroom window. He saw that her light was still on, then he spotted the tree beside it, so he decided to climb it. He picked up a few stones from the driveway and made his approach.
After a relatively easy climb, he took one of the stones and threw it at the window, then the next, and the next, until eventually, Caroline looked out of her window and spotted him. She furrowed her eyebrows before quickly opening the window.
"Klaus?!" she said in a whispered tone; "Are you crazy?!"
"Only about you" he said with his crooked smirk. "I had to make sure you were ok, I was the one who made you come out in that storm."
"I'm fine Klaus, it's just a cold." Caroline said with a small smile. "I'll get you back one day." she said with a little giggle, (and that she did, when they were 16 years old and the snowball fight led to Klaus being bedridden for a week with the flu.)
"I don't doubt you will..." Klaus said. He turned away from Caroline and looked around him; "There's a great view from up here" Klaus said as he looked over all the houses.
"Yeah I've climbed it a few times. You can see right over into Mrs River's house. I love that house" she said with a distant stare. "It's beautiful. It has a great garden and that porch..."
"You sound like a middle aged woman Caroline, dreaming about houses..." Klaus said, rolling his eyes.
"Whatever Klaus, you're the 10 year old who promised me the world the other night." Caroline said, with a raised eyebrow.
Klaus smirked; "You're right... I did... and you know what? One day, Mrs River's house will be yours."
"What?" Caroline said with a laugh.
"You say it's your dream house so you will have your dream house. We're going to have roots before we have wings Caroline. It's good to have both." Klaus assured her.
Caroline smiled, not quite believing that Klaus could give her everything she wanted.
"Caroline?" Liz shouted from downstairs; "Who are you talking to?"
"Uh... no one mom!" Caroline said quickly. "I gotta go..." she said to Klaus in a whisper. "Thanks for climbing a tree for me!" she said as she closed the window and then her curtains.
Caroline would be thanking Klaus for climbing that tree many years into the future, because as he was climbing down, he fell and broke his wrist.
SEPTEMBER 2017
After Caroline had managed to sober up, she made her way round to Klaus' house. She found him in the drive way packing boxes of what looked like painting equipment into his car. She folded her arms and walked cautiously towards him.
"I thought you would be gone by now" Klaus said as he continued to put things in the trunk of his car.
"I just thought I'd let you know that I put the money back in your account." Caroline explained.
"Thanks." he mumbled without looking at her.
"I uh... I noticed the for sale sign" she said pointing to the sign outside the house.
"Yeah, I uh... I've been spending a lot of time outside Hartford. Figured I may as well move up there. Change of scenery and all that." Klaus explained.
"Right..." Caroline said as she looked at the house. She loved this house and it made her sadder than she would care to admit that he was planning on selling it. She remembered a time when she and Klaus were planning their entire lives here.
SEPTEMBER 2010
Two weeks after their wedding day, Klaus and Caroline returned from their honeymoon, ready to start their lives together. They were still living in a newly married bliss, and couldn't bare the thought of someone breaking them out of it. What they were anticipating the most was moving into their new home they had recently bought. It was the perfect home and more for the couple, and most importantly, it was a reasonable distance away from Esther and Mikael.
Caroline giggled as Klaus gave her a piggy back up the drive way. The playful side that they were able to bring out in each other was one of their favourites. It entirely baffled others though, because one minute they could be having a screaming match, then the next they could be playing around like 5 year olds.
However, it didn't matter that it didn't make sense to others, because it made complete sense to them.
Caroline stopped giggling when she looked up and saw their new house. Her face was one of awe as she jumped off Klaus' back.
"Wow" she said as she stood slighty infront of Klaus, admiring their home. "This is all ours..." she said in barely a whisper.
Klaus smiled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Well I did promise you Mrs River's house would be all yours one day..."
"Think of the memories we're going to have here Klaus" Caroline said as the sheer joy spread across her face. "All the failed cooking attempts that will turn into food fights, my terrible singing in the shower, being able to sit and watch you paint your heart on a canvas" Caroline said as Klaus smiled against her hair. Caroline let out a little laugh; "Our kids are going to grow up here."
"And then when we're old and grey we can sit on that porch... and I still won't be able to believe that you are mine." Klaus said as Caroline closed her eyes and let herself melt into his arms.
"Look, Caroline..." Klaus said; breaking her out of her trance from 7 years ago. "I signed your papers..." Klaus began.
"Klaus I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you or anyone else for that matter I was totally out of line."
Klaus smirked; "took a lot for you to say that huh? Glad to see you're as stubborn as ever."
"Yeah well I learnt from the best." she replied as he chuckled, knowing he was exactly the same. "And for what it's worth... I am really sorry about your dad and Henrik. I can't imagine how hard it's been for you and your family."
"Yeah well... it allowed me to reevaluate a lot of things. Made me realise what I truly wanted out of life... and it wasn't anything the Mikaelson name could give me." Klaus said.
"You mean you don't work for any of the family businesses anymore?" Caroline asked.
"Not quite... I have to go so uh... you want to come?" Klaus asked.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to show you something" he said simply.
"I-I can't" she replied taking a step back.
"Can't or won't?"
"Both"
"The girl I knew used to be fearless." He reminded her, knowing how free spirited she truly was.
"The girl you knew was wreckless." Caroline replied.
"Yeah... and the safe life she's living now is clearly one she wants. Maybe she should go and get on with it then." Klaus said as he opened the car door and climbed in. "Goodbye Caroline" he said before quickly driving away.
Caroline made her way round to the house that Rebekah and Kol Mikaelson shared together for her next stop on the Caroline Forbes apology tour. Just as she was about to knock the door, it swung open and there appeared Matt.
"Matt... hey..." she said cautiously.
"Hey Caroline" he replied.
"I was hoping to bump into you actually... I owe you a huge apology. I'm so sorry for what I said the other night, it was totally out of line, for all I know you could have managed to get Rebekah in the time that I've been away!" Caroline said as Matt raised his eyebrow. "Anyway... I am super sorry."
"It's ok Caroline. I already know how honest an intoxicated Caroline can be." Matt said with a snicker.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Caroline asked.
"I crashed on Kol and Rebekah's sofa. It's surprisingly comfier than my bed." Matt said. "Just... remember that Klaus isn't the only person you walked out on Caroline. There are quite a few people around her wondering what they could have done to make it right and two of them are in there." Matt said.
"Yeah... I have a lot of making up to do today." Caroline confessed.
"I'll see you Caroline" Matt said as he stepped aside to let Caroline in before leaving himself.
Caroline looked all around her at the house. All the Mikaelson houses were beautiful, but Kol and Rekebah's had to be her favourite. She ventured further into the house and found them sitting on the sofa, Kol playing video games and Rebekah reading a book.
"Hey..." Caroline said sheepishly as they both looked up at her.
"Caroline! Come to say sorry for all your transgressions?" Kol said with a smirk.
"Something like that... I'm sorry for the way I acted last night and the way I spoke about your dad... it was totally out of line and I really hope you can forgive me." Caroline said.
"You didn't know Caroline, it's fine" Rebekah replied.
"No, it's not fine, this whole thing isn't fine" Caroline said as Rebekah but down her book and Kol put down his remote. "You guys were my family too and I walked out on you just as much as I walked out on Klaus. Truth is, I couldn't handle being a Mikaelson. I wanted Klaus so show me what the world had to offer but not will all the strings that your mother had attatched to it. I wanted a smaller life, a smaller existence so I bolted... and I didn't really think through what I was leaving behind."
"The past is the past Caroline" Kol says. "You're making things as right as they can be now."
"Yeah... listen I gotta go, there's some stuff I have to do before I go back to Mystic Falls, but I'll come see you before I go." Caroline said as she walked towards the door.
"Bye Caroline" they both responded.
Caroline opened the front door and was met by a face she recognised, but couldn't quite place where.
"Hi..." she greeted cautiously; "Can I help you?"
"Hi! I'm Arthur Rubenstein, Mystic Falls Gazette" Aaron lied through his teeth, not wanting to raise awareness that he was sent here by Carol.
Caroline nodded, realising that must be where she recognised him, work, though the name was unfamiliar.
"I was hoping to get an interview with you and your family?" Aaron said trying to peak inside the house.
"Uh..." Caroline said unsure what to do in that moment. She couldn't take him to her actual house because it wouldn't be good enough if Carol Lockwood found out, but this house was so grand that she might not be small town enough for Carol Lockwood. It seemed in this situation she couldn't win. No matter where she went there was always someone's approval she had to gain.
"I'm afraid that's not going to be possible, they're not here right now" Caroline said, trying to cover her tracks.
"This house is beautiful" Aaron said as he continued to look inside. "Mind if I look around?"
"I'm actually heading out" Caroline said.
"Oh I'll come back later then..."
"Ok just a peak!" she said opening the door wider, but Aaron pushed his way in and was soon standing in the hallway.
"Wow... this is incredible. It looks like quite a new build."
"Yes I believe it is... anything else?" Caroline asked, trying to usher him to the door.
"Caroline?" she heard Rebekah say as she walked into the hallway and saw Caroline and Aaron standing there. "What's going on?"
"Oh uh this is... Arthur, he works for the Mystic Falls Gazette and he wanted a tour of my house!" Caroline said, her eyes pleading for Rebekah to play along. "He wants to write a piece on the Forbes family since I'm marrying the mayor's son and all."
"Right..." Rebekah said.
"Wait, aren't you Rebekah Mikaelson?" Aaron asked.
"Uh... yes, I am... Caroline and I are dear friends, I'm always over here, making myself at home in her lovely home." Rebekah said happily as Caroline let out a breath.
"You know it's really not very exciting, there's just the usual kitchen, living room, a couple of bedrooms, same old same old, but thanks for stopping by, I'll probably see you back in Mystic Falls!" Caroline said as she and Rebekah pushed Aaron out the door, and before he could protest, they had closed the door in his face.
"You fat liar" Rebekah teased.
"I know, I know, I am so so sorry, I panicked!" Caroline said as she ran her hands over her face and through her hair. "The mayor would totally not approve of my house and what not, so it would be nice to have the approval of one mother in law in my lifetime." Caroline said.
"Approval? Of mother in laws? I thought my mother's disapproval was why you ran from Hartford?" Rebekah asked.
"It was part of it yeah..." Caroline said quietly.
"Well... then I think you have a lot of revaluating to do." Rebekah said. "There's a ball tonight at our family's hotel on main street. You should come." Rebekah said.
"I don't really think I would be all that welcome to a Mikaelson family ball..." Caroline said.
"Nonsense. You're still a Mikaelson till those papers or files, so technically you're a join host. You'll be there and I'll make sure you're on the guest list." Rebekah said with certainty as she walked back into the living room.
December 2014
It was New Years Eve and the Mikaelsons were hosting a grand party, ball gowns and all in the centre of Hartford. All the biggest names were there and Caroline was exhausted. She had her ear talked off by some of the most boring business associates she had ever met and she was ready to go home and climb into bed. She twirled her wedding rings in her hands and thought about her husband. He had given her everything she wanted. He had made good of the constant promises he had made to her over the years to show her the world, yet there was still so much to be seen.
It was as if Klaus knew she was thinking of him, as he walked towards her, also twisting his wedding band with his fingers. He held out his hand infront of her.
"Dance with me" he said quietly as she took his hand with a small smile.
He led her to the other dancing couples and held her close as they swayed to the music.
"I know I go on about the genuine beauty of the world Caroline... but I think I neglect to tell you that you are the most genuine beauty of them all." Klaus told her. She looked simply stunning in her black ball gown and her hair pinned neatly.
Neglect. No one would ever suspect Klaus of neglecting Caroline. But sometimes, he seemed so focused on showing her the world, that he never really showed her him. Maybe that was something he was afraid of, but despite knowing him or so long, Caroline couldn't help but feel like there was a wall between them.
"I'm tired Klaus" Caroline said, not sure if she meant in that moment or just tired of it all.
Klaus chuckled; "Does that mean there's no hope of me seducing you tonight?"
"I'm too smart to be seduced by you Mr Mikaelson" Caroline replied.
"We'll see about that one." Klaus said as he spun her before pulling her back in.
"Niklaus!" They heard Esther say as she walked over to them quickly. "Niklaus, enough of this dancing, it's almost midnight, the associates want to toast in the new year with you."
"I will be toasting in the new year with my wife mother, they can toast with your 6 other children, I'm sure they would all be happy to oblige." Klaus told her as he wrapped his arm around Caroline's waist.
"Niklaus do not be proposturous."
"There is nothing proposturous about it. You should welcome the new year with the people you love the most, in this case that is my wife." Klaus said firmly.
"You have a duty to this family."
"One drink with some clients isn't going to make that duty anymore prominent mother" Klaus continued to fight, but Caroline knew he was fighting a losing battle.
"It's ok Klaus, I'll just see you after" Caroline said quietly.
"Yes Caroline that is quite correct." Esther confirmed. "And while I have you here, we're going to need to meet tomorrow to discuss some upcoming events. You must be a part of them as the wife of a Mikaelson."
Esther had never been a huge fan of Caroline. She didn't come from a well off family and she didn't appear to want to be a part of the Mikaelson brand.
"Ok" Caroline said meekly as she felt Klaus' grip around her tighten.
"Now, Niklaus, let's go" Esther said.
"Mother-" Klaus began, but before he could protest any further, Elijah and Finn came up behind him and dragged him away from Caroline, who was left standing completely on her own.
"10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1... Happy New Year!" everyone around her shouted as she just stood there, alone.
In that moment, she felt the life she had with Klaus slipping away from her.
SEPTEMBER 2017
That night, Caroline decided she would put on a brave face and go to this ball. She knew if she stuck by Rebekah or Kol all night, no one would give her crap, and she was never really one to turn down an opportunity to dress up anyway.
She slipped on her favourite midnight blue dress, pinned her hair back and allowed a few strands to fall round her face.
She walked into the Mikaelson's hotel with a fake air of confidence, but immediately felt it stripped away as eyes all around pierced into her. She wanted to run in that moment, but Elijah Mikaelson approached her before she could.
"Caroline. Rebekah told us you would be joining us tonight." Elijah said.
"Elijah... yes, I hope that's ok." Caroline said.
"Of course it's alright. You are a Mikaelson after all... for now anyway. It is good to see you Caroline." Elijah said sincerely as he placed a kiss on her cheek and walked on.
Caroline spied Elena and Bonnie at the bar and approached them, ready to apologise and get a stern talking to.
"Hey..." she said as they both turned to face her. First off, you guys look amazing, second off... I'm really sorry about what I said the other night... really, really sorry." Caroline apologised.
"It's ok Care. A drunk Caroline is an honest one... let's just forget it." Bonnie replied.
Caroline nodded before Elena spoke up; "You know he went to Mystic Falls." she said.
"Who? Klaus? When?" Caroline asked, surprised that he would go to see her after everything.
"About two years ago. It was right after Mikael and Henrik died. He doesn't know I know but Stefan let it slip..."
"Klaus was in Mystic Falls?" Caroline questioned again in disbelief.
"When he got there... he realised that he wanted to give you the world and was trying so hard to conquer it, but you just wanted to be loved by him. You just wanted to live a normal life with him. He knew that he was going to have to really reevaluate his priorities and loyalties in life if he was going to win you back." Elena told him. "He's been trying really hard ever since."
"That's why he kept sending the papers back..." Caroline said quietly.
At that moment, Klaus walked into the ballroom, fixing the sleeves of his of his black tux, his newly unruly hair slightly more under control this evening. Caroline caught herself staring at him for a moment too long, and when he caught her eye, he found himself staring right back.
"It's funny how things don't work out" Bonnie said as she looked between the two.
"It's funny how they do..." Caroline mumbled as she walked to the bar to get a drink.
A short while later, the evening was in full swing. People were drinking and mingling and a few people were dancing to the smooth jazz band they had hired for the evening. Caroline was slowly walking round the room, admiring the paintings that adorned the walls. They were so beautiful and there was something so familiar with the style of them.
She finally made her way back round to Elena, Stefan, Bonnie, Matt, Rebekah and Kol and decided to ask about them.
"Hey, do you know who did these paintings? They're beautiful..." Caroline said, not taking her eyes off them.
"Hey Nik!" Kol called as Klaus walked over to the group; "Caroline wants to know who did all these paintings"
"Why are you asking me?" Klaus said in a warning tone as he put a hand on Kol's shoulder.
"Oh I don't know, maybe because you're-" Kol began, but Klaus sent him a warning glare and he cleared his throat before saying something entirely different. "... so intelligent. You usually know about this kind of stuff..." he rambled as Caroline eyed him curiously.
"Am I missing something?" she asked.
Before anyone could reply, the band started a new song and Elena walked over to Klaus.
"Mr Mikaelson, I may be very pregnant but that will not stop be from leading you around that dance floor." Elena said holding out her hand.
"It's true, she never lets me lead" Stefan confirmed.
"It's not my fault you have two left feet honey" Elena replied.
"Well Mrs Salvatore, I would be honoured." Klaus said as he took her hand and led her to the floor.
Bonnie and Matt and Rebekah and Kol soon followed, leaving Caroline and Stefan standing there.
"Come on Care!" Bonnie called as Matt spun her around the floor.
"I promise I don't have two left feet" Stefan said as he held out his hand. Caroline accepted with a smile as they joined the other dancing partners.
They were all giggling and smiling as their respective partners twirled them around the dance floor, dramatically dipping them every now and again.
"You know Elena, Stefan's actually not that bad, maybe you should let him lead every once in a while" Caroline said as they passed Klaus and Elena.
"Fine..." Elena said as she cut inbetween Stefan and Caroline and wisked Stefan away.
Klaus and Caroline were left awkwardly standing there, unsure what to do. They could feel eyes all around them piercing into them, so Klaus did what he thought the most sensible thing to do would be, he held out his hand for her to take, and smiled.
Caroline loved dancing with Klaus. She loved the way it felt to be in his arms, and the way he made her feel was a scary prospect to her in that moment.
"Uh... maybe we could just talk?" she suggested as Klaus lowered his hand. He didn't say anything, instead, he just turned and walked away.
Caroline lowered her head, knowing that he had no reason to talk to her. Not after everything she did.
She made her way over to the bar to get another drink. She heard some cool steps coming behind her that sent a shiver down her spine, meaning that it could be one person and one person only. Esther.
"Caroline Mikaelson... or have you gone back to Forbes now? It's hard to keep track." Esther said in a scathing tone.
Caroline turned slowly on her heel, not prepared to deal with Esther right now. "It's Forbes." she responded simply.
"Hm... you never could live with the magnitude of the name Mikaelson. You were never good enough to be one of us."
"Is there something I can help you with Esther?" Caroline asked as she lifted her drink from the bar.
"Oh I think you've done more than enough to this family. Very bold of you to show up here." Esther said, unimpressed at Caroline's appearance.
"Rebekah invited me, so I would maybe show a little more curtosy to your guests." Caroline replied.
"Not only was is bold of you to show up to my ball but it was bold of you to show up in this town at all. After everything you did to Niklaus. You have no right." Esther said through her teeth.
"My relationship with Klaus is none of your business and I think you will do well to remember that Esther." Caroline said, wondering where her new found confidence had come from. She was reaching for the inner Caroline that had been buried deep within ever since Esther got her claws into her.
"Your boldness is dumbfounded Caroline, if you are looking to have an argument with me I can guarantee that it is an argument you will not win." Esther warned.
"Look, Esther, I have been out of your and Klaus' life for 3 years now. This is totally unnecessary. You got rid of the daughter in law that you never approved of and I started to make something of my life away from your scrutiny. So please, just let me be. Let me enjoy the short time I have left here with my friends. Please just walk away." Caroline practically begged as she could feel the tears forming in her eyes.
"You heard her mother" Klaus said from behind them. "That's enough, walk away."
Esther turned her nose up at Caroline and quickly walked away, leaving Klaus and Caroline standing there in yet another uncomfortable silence.
"How about that talk now?" Klaus asked quietly as Caroline nodded her head and allowed him to lead them out of the room. He took them into an empty room on the other side of the hallway.
Caroline walked to the other end, admiring more of the paintings that adorned the walls.
"You looked like you were having fun tonight" he commented.
"Yeah I was... but when did it all get so complicated Klaus?" Caroline said in an almost whisper.
"Probably from the moment I made some pretty big promises." Klaus said
"We were 10 years old."
"It's never too early to start thinking about forever." Klaus replied as he walked closer towards her.
"I'm happy in Mystic Falls, Klaus... but then I came back here and I find myself easily falling into my old life. It fits, it works... for a second I forgot about the robot that I became when I was here. The Mikaelson robot you allowed me to become." Caroline confessed.
"Caroline, you have it in your head that I wanted you to become this Mikaelson robot but that's not true. You know as well as anyone that I hated what the Mikaelson name meant to my family. My mother was the one who pulled you into the spotlight as a way for you to prove yourself... but your defiance made me love you even more. All I wanted was to show you what the world had to offer. To show you genuine beauty. I wanted to give you the life that you deserved." Klaus said.
"I know that Klaus. You gave me so much but somewhere along the way, you forgot to give me the most important thing... you." Caroline said as the tears glistened in her eyes. "I know you fought your mother, I know you tried but back then you didn't know what you wanted and you didn't want to disappoint her. You didn't know how to handle the Mikaelson name and be a husband to me and we completely lost our way."
"I am sorry Caroline"
"I know... so am I."
"I am happy for you Caroline... I know I said that it would be enough for you but if you say that it is then I believe you. I'm glad you've found your roots... just please don't forget that you can have wings too." Klaus said sincerely as Caroline nodded, knowing that he only ever wanted her to reach for her dreams. "and... I'm sorry that I never danced with you at our wedding. I'm sure this one will go better for you"
Caroline nodded again, unsure what to say. She lent her head forward and Klaus' met hers in the middle, resting his forehead against his. They lent up a little bit and were a breath apart, before Caroline pulled back slightly.
"I-I should go... goodbye Klaus" she said as she rushed out of the room.
Klaus kept his eyes closed, knowing that he couldn't bare to watch her leave once more.
Don't forget to review and let me know what you think about more than 5 or 6 chapters...