I'm still amazed at how many people are enjoying this fic! THANK YOU ALL! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!
Please remember to review at the end! :)
The trees moved by the window as the car traveled down the road with the sun fading in the distance. Caroline watched as yet another day faded into a memory.
"You know, the window isn't going to spout vervain if you keep staring at it." Rebekah stated, firmly, though a smile graced her face.
Caroline smiled, and shook her head. "I know." She responded, turning her head to the front.
Rebekah sighed, and glanced behind her to find Hope sleeping in the back seat. "We should stop." She replied, softly.
Caroline moved to look behind her, and smiled. "She looks like she can sleep through anything." She replied, lowly.
Rebekah chuckled, and nodded. "Yeah, her powers exhaust her every day." She answered, shaking her head.
Caroline nodded her head, and sighed. "You said she has vampire blood in her." She began, absently. "How can she have powers?" She asked, shaking her head.
Rebekah sighed, and glanced at the back seat with a sad expression. "I don't know all the details, but from what I understand, she is a hybrid, a pure one." She began, looking forward at the road. "The vampire blood doesn't affect her powers. The only thing it does is heal her when she needs it to." She added, in a slow explanation.
Caroline nodded, and thought about it, carefully. "So it's just like if a vampire gives their blood to heal." She replied, in a soft tone.
Rebekah nodded. "Yeah," She responded. She turned her head to look at Caroline. "You're not as dumb as the others thought you were." She stated, respectively.
Caroline laughed, lightly. "Gee, thanks." She stated, shaking her head.
Rebekah glanced at her. "I mean it." She replied, nodding her head. "All those years ago, everyone never took you seriously, did they?" She asked, seriously.
Caroline sighed, and shook her head. "No, they didn't, not really." She responded, softly.
"I'm sorry." Rebekah said after a moment. "I know what that's like." She added, focusing on the road.
Caroline turned her head to look at the woman, and saw someone she could relate to. She began to realize at that moment that no matter what she considered Rebekah Mikaelson to be a friend and she respected her.
"You care about her, don't you?" Rebekah asked, glancing at Caroline, as she turned off of an exit marked for Birmingham, Alabama.
Caroline furrowed her brow. "Who?"
Rebekah gave her a 'seriously' look, before driving down a street where a hotel could be seen. "Hope," She stated, firmly.
Caroline swallowed, and glanced over her shoulder at the sleeping girl, and sighed. "I didn't plan to." She answered, softly.
Rebekah smiled, and nodded. "Neither did Nik." She replied, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Now, he can't imagine his life without her in it." She added, shaking her head.
Caroline closed her eyes, and sighed. "I keep saying she's just like him, but I never knew how much she was." She replied, as she opened the door, followed by Rebekah.
She reached for the door handle as Rebekah went into the office to get a room. Minutes later, she had Hope in her arms, and carried her, gently into a room Rebekah had compelled out of the manager. Caroline shook her head, but didn't say a word as she entered the room, and gently laid the small girl on one of the beds, as Rebekah dropped the suitcases in the room.
"You said that you didn't realize how much she was like him until now, what did you mean by that?" Rebekah asked, after they had settled Hope in for the night, and they were sitting on the other bed.
Caroline sighed, and looked at Hope. "She got me to care." She answered, standing up to move to the window in their room.
Rebekah sighed, and stood up to follow her. "You thought you would hate her, didn't you? Because of Hayley." She replied, standing next to her.
Caroline clenched her jaw, and nodded. "I can't hate her because of Klaus, and because…." She trailed off, shaking her head. "I wish he would have told me." She added, softly.
"I love my brother, but sometimes he can be a complete idiot." Rebekah stated, frowning. "He has always put you first, even before family, and his own interests, but he never could tell you."
Caroline smiled, and wrapped the cardigan that once belonged to her mother, around her tighter. "He was the first one to do that." She replied, with a distant tone.
"Nobody ever put Nik first, except Elijah and me." Rebekah stated, absently.
Caroline swallowed, and bowed her head. "Is that why he is the way he is?" She asked, curiously.
Rebekah sighed, and shook her head. "I don't know. Nik is a complex man." She answered, after a moment.
"Don't I know it." Caroline said, shaking her head with a smile.
"You know the last time he was in Mystic Falls, he changed." Rebekah replied, after a moment, watching Caroline swallow, hard. "He was happy for a while, and then he became solemn, distant." She continued, carefully. "I asked him, what changed, and he said he made a promise." She paused, watching Caroline close her eyes. "You made him promise something, didn't you?" She asked, carefully.
Caroline bowed her head. "I made him promise to never return to Mystic Falls in exchange for something." She answered, after a moment.
"What was the exchange?" Rebekah asked, curiously.
Caroline lifted her head, and sighed. "I told him how I really felt about him."
Rebekah smiled at the lines in between the words, and nodded. "You had sex with my brother." She stated, bluntly.
Caroline glanced at her with a quick turn of her head before looking out the window. "It was more than that." She whispered, wishing she could deny it.
Rebekah contained a smile, and nodded. "No wonder he was nearly on the moon on the way back to New Orleans." She stated, shaking her head. "He had sex with a woman he fancied." She paused, turning her head. "His dreams come true." She added with a scoff.
Caroline closed her eyes for a second, and rolled her eyes. "You make it sound ominous." She stated, turning away from the window.
Rebekah smirked, and shook her head. "On the contrary, I approve of anything if it makes my brother happy." She stated, following her to the bed.
Caroline sat on the bed, and turned her head to look at the young girl, still sleeping soundly. "She makes him happy, doesn't she?" She asked, absently.
Rebekah sat down, and nodded. "Hope does." She replied, softly. "She is his daughter, and despite everything he loves her."
"When you say despite everything, you mean Hayley." Caroline concluded, looking at Rebekah.
Rebekah nodded, and sighed. "She was alright at the beginning, but after she gave birth to Hope, she changed." She began, shaking her head. "She and Nik decided that Hope needed to be taken away from everything because it was dangerous for her in New Orleans, and after that…" She paused, sighing with a sad look towards the young girl. "She didn't want to have anything to do with Hope. She cut herself off, saying that she couldn't stand the thought of what her daughter was going to become." She added, with distain.
"She thinks Hope will turn into Klaus." Caroline replied, softly.
Rebekah nodded, and sighed. "It killed Hope when she asked about Hayley, and Nik told her that her mother didn't want to know her."
"How could he say that to her?" Caroline asked, horrifyingly.
Rebekah sighed. "Hope wanted the truth, and Nik tried not to hurt her." She answered, honestly. "The only reason Hayley is still alive is because of that little girl in the bed." She added, firmly. "She firmly believes that Hayley could be saved, and could love her, but Nik and I know the truth." She paused, shaking her head. "Hayley will never love her, not like a mother should."
Caroline nodded, slowly, and turned her head to gaze at the small girl. With quiet ease, she stood up from the bed, and gently sat down next to the little girl. In the stillness of the room, Caroline studied Hope, and realized how much she does look like Klaus, but the dark hair reminded her of Hayley, except for the curls. She reached forward, and brushed a stray curl from Hope's sleeping face.
Rebekah watched the action with a warm heart. Maybe she didn't like the baby blonde vampire years ago, but now, she found herself thinking that she could find a sister in her, and perhaps Hope could find the mother she always wanted.
Caroline leaned forward, and kissed Hope's forehead, gently, and sighed. "Why did you have to get me to care?" She asked, with a slow smile. "Why?"
~XXX~
The girls continued onward the next morning, all feeling refreshed, and Hope feeling particularly chatty.
Caroline shook her head at some of the things Hope said, and found herself laughing as she never did before.
"Don't believe that?" Hope asked, leaning over to look at Caroline.
Caroline nodded, and bit her bottom lip as she looked at Rebekah. "Well, I probably shouldn't say, I never met Kol." She stated, shaking her head.
Rebekah shook her head, and scoffed. "Be grateful." She stated, glancing towards Hope.
Hope narrowed her eyes, but smiled afterwards. "Grandma brought him back, and he hated it." She stated, after a moment.
Rebekah slammed on brakes, and whirled around to look at Hope. "How do you know?" She asked, as Hope's face became solemn.
"He told me." Hope stated, distantly. "He warned me Grandma would try to find me, if she found out." She added, her eyes becoming distant.
Rebekah leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes.
"Rebekah," Caroline whispered, softly.
"I need some air." Rebekah replied, pulling off at an exit, and pulled into the rest area, before getting out of the car.
"I made her mad, didn't I?" Hope asked, softly.
Caroline shook her head. "No, I think she's just upset about your Grandma." She replied, wondering why she was toning it down for the little girl, and also how Hope knew of Kol being alive, even she didn't know that.
Hope sighed, and closed her eyes, her head began to pound like an explosion inside her head, and she moaned. "My head hurts." She replied, grunting.
Caroline unbuckled her seatbelt, and turned around to see the young girl in pain. "Do you want me to come back there?" She asked, watching Hope nod.
"It hurts bad." She whimpered, her face contorting in pain.
Caroline sighed, softly, and climbed out of the passenger seat, and quickly climbed into the back seat with Hope, only to have the little girl climb into her arms.
"Hold me." She whispered, burying her head in Caroline's chest as her head began to pound.
"What do you need?" Caroline asked, softly, holding Hope in her arms, securely.
"Sing to me." She whispered, before grunting in pain.
Caroline swallowed, and closed her eyes. At the moment, she remembered a song her mother used to sing to her when she was upset or sick. "When I find myself in times of trouble," She began, rocking the small girl in her arms. "Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be." She sang, feeling Hope relax in her arms.
Tears filled her eyes as she continued to sing the song her mother always sang to her. She ran her fingers through the girl's hair, and rocked back and forth as much as she could in the confines of the car.
"Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be." She hummed the rest as Hope tightened her hold on Caroline, and Caroline smiled as she kissed the top of Hope's head.
The door opened, and she lifted her gaze to Rebekah, who smiled in understanding. Hope turned her head, but didn't say a word as she clung to Caroline.
Rebekah nodded, and climbed in the car, and cranked up. As she drove back on the interstate, she listened as Caroline sang a soft melody, and glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw Hope smile in perfect contentment.
As she drove, she thought about what Hope said. She knew Kol had been brought back by her mother, but she hadn't told Hope, neither did Klaus. Kol had contacted her, and told her he had gotten his old body back, with the help of an old acquaintance, but he wouldn't say who.
She sighed as Caroline continued to sing, and closed her eyes for a brief moment, before driving down the road. How could Kol contact Hope? She sighed, and shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Bekah."
Rebekah smiled, and shook head. "It was not your fault, Hope." She replied, softly.
Hope smiled, and clung to Caroline once more. "Sometimes, I can't stop myself." She replied, lifting her gaze to Caroline.
Caroline nodded, and sighed. "Everyone gets like that." She reassured her.
Hope smiled, and nodded. "Your mom sang that song, didn't she?" She asked, softly.
Caroline smiled, faintly, and nodded. "Yeah, she did." She answered, lowly.
Hope laid her head back on Caroline's chest, and smiled. "I'm glad she loved you." She whispered, holding tightly to Caroline.
Caroline smiled, and kissed Hope's head. "So am I."
~XXX~
They had stopped at another rest stop, mainly to feed, for neither Caroline nor Rebekah had eaten anything in two days.
As Caroline sat underneath a tree with a cup of blood in her hands, she watched as Hope chased a small leaf that had fallen from the tree above them.
"She's so innocent." Caroline whispered, shaking her head.
Rebekah smiled, and nodded. "Yeah," She replied, sipping from her cup.
"Why is her middle name, Caroline?" Caroline asked, absently.
Rebekah coughed, and covered her mouth with her hand. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask that." She replied, rolling her eyes.
"Daddy named me." Hope replied, approaching them with a skip in her step. "He said that he wanted to name me after someone he loved and admired." She added, plopping down on the ground in front of them.
Caroline swallowed the sip of blood she had in her mouth, and lowered her eyes. "Excuse me." She replied, setting the cup down on the ground, and stood up.
Hope watched her walk away, and she looked at her Aunt. "Daddy's calling." She replied, motioning to the phone.
Rebekah rolled her eyes, as she answered. "Nik, you're breaking your rules by calling three times in one week." She replied, shaking her head.
"I want to talk to her." He stated, firmly.
Hope brightened, and reached for the phone. She smiled into the phone as she held it up to her ear. "Hey, daddy!" She stated, happily.
"Hey, little light," Klaus replied, happily with a sigh at the end.
"What's wrong?" She asked her brow furrowing.
"Nothing, Hope." He answered, though Hope knew better.
"Daddy, something is wrong." She replied, softly.
Klaus groaned, causing Rebekah cover her mouth with a small laugh. "I just miss you." He replied, softly.
Hope sighed, and closed her eyes. "I miss you too, Daddy." She replied, lifting her eyes to see Caroline approaching them. "Daddy, I want to see you." She added, bowing her head.
"I want to see you too, little light." He whispered with a sigh.
"I love you, daddy." She declared, sadly.
Klaus sighed, and Caroline bit her bottom lip. "I love you too, Hope."
Caroline covered her mouth, and let out a small cry, though she had tried to contain it, she just couldn't.
"Hope, who was that?" He asked, as he heard Caroline's cry.
Rebekah closed her eyes, and watched as Caroline stood up, and shook her head.
Hope lifted her eyes, and smiled. "A friend." She replied, firmly.
"That sounded like…" He began, and Caroline covered her mouth.
Hope smiled, and nodded. "Daddy, I got to go." She replied, hurriedly.
"Hope…" He began, but Hope shook her head.
"Love you, daddy." She stated, ending the call.
"Hope Caroline!" Rebekah stated, as Hope handed her the phone. "You just hung up on your father." She added, glancing at the phone.
Hope shrugged her shoulders, and shook her head. "He didn't need to know." She replied, glancing up at Caroline, who was covering her mouth with a laugh. "He can't yet." She added, with a smile.
Caroline shook her head, and smiled. "I thought I was the only one who did that." She replied, shaking her head with a laugh.
Hope smiled, and let out a light laugh. Rebekah shook her head, and laughed. "God, if only to see his face." She replied, laughing.
Caroline shook her head up and down as she laughed. "I imagine he's staring at the phone right now, wondering what the hell happened." She stated, laughing with the other two.
Rebekah nodded, and laughed. "That would be just like Nik." She stated, laughing.
Hope smiled, and nodded her head. She bowed her head, and smiled inwardly. Everything was going just as it needed to.
~XXX~
Klaus stared at his phone with confusion lining his face. His daughter just hung up on him. He shook his head, and lowered his phone.
The cry on the other end of the phone sounded so familiar. He shook his head. Hope had said it was a friend, but something nagged at him.
It sounded like… No, it couldn't be.
He closed his eyes. It couldn't be her.
Could it?
~XXX~
Hope froze as she reached the car, and her eyes widened. No, not now.
Caroline glanced at Rebekah, who rushed towards her niece, and quickly helped her into the car as Hope began to shake.
"Get in." Rebekah replied, quickly.
Hope moaned, and closed her eyes.
"Daddy, let me in!" She cried out, rushing towards the door in front of her.
"It won't budge!"
She cried, as she pounded on the door, trying to get in. "Daddy, please! It's coming closer!" She cried, turning to see the darkness creeping closer.
"HOPE!" She heard her dad cry. She felt the tears fall down her face. She can't reach her dad. She can't reach him.
"Hope,"
She turned her head, and saw the angel she had seen before. "Caroline," She whispered, reaching towards the angel.
The angel smiled, and wrapped around her as she opened the door with a touch of her hand. "Everything is going to be fine." She heard before the darkness died out, and was replaced with light.
Hope shook her head, and blinked a few times. She lifted her head, and found herself in Caroline's arms. "Caroline," She whispered, holding onto the woman.
Caroline sighed, and lifted her concern gaze to Rebekah, who sighed in relief. She shook her head, and held the little girl tighter. In the period of two weeks, Hope had wormed her way into Caroline's heart, and she wasn't sure if she liked that, but she did know one thing. She wanted to protect her.
"We're here." Rebekah called after a moment.
Caroline lifted her eyes, and sighed. "New Orleans."
Hope lifted her head, and smiled, faintly. "Daddy."
Please be kind!
I know a lot of you are waiting for a reunion, but I will say this, it will be at least a chapter or two before a reunion will happen. Mainly because Caroline is still healing in a way, and it will take a few chapters before they will reunite, but I will say this... It will be worth it!
Next Chapter: Rebekah meets with Elijah. Caroline and Hope have a bonding time, and see someone Caroline is not ready to see. Klaus thinks he sees someone he knows. Hope explains her visions to Caroline.
Until Next Time...