A Little Bit Broken…
Summary: AU, Caroline and Klaus loved one another, travelling the world for 6 months before Mikael came and ruined the happiness they were experiencing, Klaus fled compelling Caroline to forget him in the hopes of protecting her, not realising that not only was she hiding a secret that protected her from compulsion but also that he had given her something that she could never forget…
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the storyline…
Quick Authors Note: Once again I just wanted to clarify that any text in bold italics is a flashback… Now enjoy!
Chapter 4 Old Friends
Caroline awoke later than usual, checking the clock next to her bed she saw the time was nine o'clock, she grinned, it had been a long time since she had been able to stay in bed this late, climbing out of bed she walked into the living room where no one was up, she then went into her daughter's bedroom where she saw Becky still fast asleep, the late night before must have really tired her out and she probably wouldn't see Kat for a few hours considering the amount of alcohol she'd consumed after they had returned to their hotel suite the night before… Deciding that no one would be up for a couple of hours she decided to go into the town to a bakery she remembered doing amazing pastries and cakes to give the two sleeping girls something to get up to.
Caroline made her way to the small bakery, thankful that she remembered the way perfectly, she smiled at the memories of her daily visits to the same bakery she was now entering…
"Why do you make me walk here everyday..? My feet hurt and I'm tired! 7am is too early I don't care how good the pastries are!" Kol whined as they walked into Carolina's favourite bakery,
"Kol I love our walks every morning! I love the taste of fresh pastries and SO DO YOU!" Carolina sighed walking up to the counter, smiling at Bonnie, the owner of the baker who greeted the two of them every morning,
"Kol stop whining or tomorrow there might not be any Pain au Chocolat left when you arrive…" Bonnie threatened like she did every morning when Kol was extra irritating…
"You're cruel little witch," Kol sighed deeply. Carolina smirked, knowing that the two people in front of her both had feelings for one another but would never admit it,
"Okay, okay enough flirting can we please have our pastries Bonnie?" Carolina asked politely, her grin widening at the annoyed look on Kol's face,
"Yeah sure Care," Bonnie smiled handing Carolina a bag full of the various pastries the family ordered every morning to the point where she knew what they wanted and got them ready before the two arrived,
"Thanks Bonnie," Carolina smiled handing Bonnie the money, "See you tomorrow! Come on Kol," she smiled grabbing her friend by the cuff of his coat and dragging him out of the bakery,
Caroline smiled at the memory, walking into the bakery and seeing Bonnie who although a few years older than when they had last met looked the same. Bonnie looked up to see her customer and the smile that spread across her face was priceless,
"Carolina, after Katherine called me to ask if I'd heard from the family I was wondering how long it'd be before we saw you…" she smiled immediately leaning behind the counter to retrieve a cherry Danish, "When Katherine told me you were looking for them I started keeping one aside every day for the last few days in the hopes you'd come visit me and before you ask, no I didn't tell them, I didn't know if they knew you remembered, I kept my promise," Bonnie smiled, Carolina took a minute to remember exactly what promise Bonnie was referring to…
"Bonnie," Carolina gasped collapsing through the door of Bonnie's bakery,
"Carolina? Do you know who I am?" Bonnie asked, reaching out to Carolina who looked terribly panicked, Kol had told Bonnie that Klaus was going to have to erase Carolina's memories of all of them to ensure Mikael couldn't find her,
"Yes Bonnie, the compulsion didn't work but… I need your help… I… I'm pregnant, I never thought it'd be possible but I guess both Nik and I being hybrids there was some loop-hole but now I need to leave and Nik needs to think I forgot, I need your help, can you get me out of New Orleans with no one knowing and I need you to promise me something. Promise me you won't tell Nik any off this, not about the baby, not about me remembering and you can't tell any of the others either. No one can know. It's not just me I'm protecting now," Carolina sighed looking down at her stomach,
"I promise. Come Carolina. I'll get you somewhere safe." Bonnie smiled,
"Thank you Bonnie you saved my life… And my daughters… She's getting big, I told her stories of you,"
"Oh Carolina…" Bonnie smiled, tears filling her eyes,
"It's Caroline now. Caroline Forbes."
"I love it." Bonnie smiled again, before coming out from behind the counter and giving Caroline a massive hug along with her cherry Danish, "And what else do you need? You're not going back to your daughter without something for her are you? And from the… unpleasant… phone call I got from Katherine I assume you'll need something for her too,
"Definitely," Caroline smiled, wiping a tear from her eye and smiling. After paying Caroline turned to leave however she found herself walking into something or… someone.
"Sorry," came a voice she knew far too well, a voice that combined with Bonnie's and the smell of fresh pastries took he back and brought tears to her eyes, until the voice spoke again… "Carolina?!" Kol exclaimed, his voice so full of shock she could have laughed under different circumstances,
"Hey Kol," Caroline smiled awkwardly, "How's life?" she looked up into Kol's eyes and the confusion and hurt she saw broke her heart…
"You… You remember me..?" He whispered, his voice so full of emotion,
"Yeah… I remember, I always have…" Caroline sighed putting her head down like a young child, getting ready to be yelled at,
"So you just let us believe you forgot? You left? And when we tried to find you you're telling me you didn't hear about it?! I don't believe it! We put the word out to nearly everyone we knew from the old days! If you've always remembered then I don't believe for a second that you're not in contact with anyone from back then! You always put friends before your own well-being!" Kol yelled, clearly angry with her, "And Bonnie! Why didn't you let me know she was here?! From the look of the pastries she's holding she's been here a while! How could you not call me?!" Kol yelled even louder
"Kol calm down," Bonnie said softly but firmly
"No Bonnie she lied to us! How can YOU be so calm about this?" Kol exclaimed,
"Kol look at her!" Kol looked down properly at Caroline for the first time, he saw how tired she was, tear marks on her face and some faint frown lines he swore hadn't been there a few years ago,
"Carolina…" Kol sighed, slightly softer,
"Kol do you think I like this situation? That I liked Nik "compelling" me, that I liked leaving my family? And yes I did cut everyone off, I haven't been in contact with anyone because Carolina is dead and everyone who ever knew her believes that. My name is Caroline. If I'd known you were looking I'd have come in a heartbeat but I looked for signs from you guys and nothing…"
"Caroline? That's the name you're going by?"
"Yes." Caroline sniffled, trying to get rid of unwanted tears, she'd cried way too much this week and was getting very sick of it…
"Caroline, I missed you… I was worried, I thought you might have died…"
"I'm too smart for that!" Caroline countered, causing Kol to smile At least she's hasn't changed that much, Kol thought smiling,
"Definitely. So does Klaus know you're here? I'm guessing not?" Kol asked with a raised eyebrow
"You guessed right. I will tell him but I'm just not ready yet. And I have a surprise for him and I don't think I'm ready for that either…"
"Okay Care, but please tell him soon, he's been painting a lot lately and I'm getting worried…
"Is he okay?!" Caroline asked, suddenly concerned, Klaus only painted when something was weighing heavily on his mind,
"He misses you. We see him painting pictures of you over and over and it's killing him, just please, come home." Kol sighed, giving Caroline a large hug "You'd better get home, those pastries won't eat themselves," he smiled waving her out the door…
Caroline thought a lot on her way back to the hotel, if he was painting a lot he must be really worried about something, the last time he went through a phase of painting her over and over ended badly for everyone. The last night she saw him.
Carolina looked around the small, romantic restaurant Klaus had brought her to, it was their favourite but tonight felt special, Klaus had bought special Champagne, the rest of the restaurant was empty except for staff, they were at their favourite table and he staring at her constantly with such love in his eyes…
"Okay, what's up? You're being really weird lately, what with all the painting and the Champagne and the secret family meetings, what's going on?" Carolina asked, looking over at Klaus who looked terribly nervous, she found herself wondering if he was going to propose except they both agreed marriage was something human and their bond was much stronger than a ceremony and a piece of paper… Before opening his mouth Klaus looked over at the staff and nodded causing them all to leave the room until the two of them were alone,
"I love you Carolina, more than anything. You are my one weakness. The only person I have found who makes me feel I deserve to be loved. You are my everything. Which is why…" Klaus stopped, shutting his eyes as if holding back tears, his breathing deepened and when he once again opened his eyes they were filled with tears, "I have to do this…" He leant over the table and took her head in both his hands, he leant forwards and a tear fell down his cheek before he started the compulsion, "You will forget me, forget all the times you spent with me and my family. You will remember nothing of the Mikaelson's or your time here in New Orleans. You will change your name and leave this town, disappear and become someone else until I come for you…" Klaus whispered, once he finished he disappeared, flashed out of the restaurant to where Rebekah was waiting on the opposite side of the street watching everything that had happened,
"Rebekah…" he whispered, his voice breaking as tears threatened to fall…
"Come on Nik, it's what's best and safest for her… We need to get out of here before he arrives..." and with that the two Originals fled into the night, not knowing that a certain blonde was now sat very confused in the restaurant across the street listening to their conversation through an open window…
Caroline sighed sadly, that was the worst night of her life, she replayed it over and over in her mind but the worst part was still the look of heartbreak on his face when he was finished with the "compulsion", making herself a promise she smiled as she walked into the hotel. By the end of the week she'd go and see him. She just hoped he wouldn't be mad at her like Kol was. As she made her way into their suite she saw both Becky and Katherine sat on the sofa watching Totally Spies on the TV,
"Hey guys! I'm back!" she smiled walking into the living area where the two girls ignored her and continued watching the screen, "And I have pastries!" She announced, finally getting a reaction off of the two girls…
"Momma you're the best!" Becky cried running over to retrieve a small iced cake from Caroline,
"And what'd you get me?" Katherine asked just as eagerly,
"One of Bonnie's Bakery's famous… Choux Horns!" Caroline announced handing Katherine the pastry. The look on Katherine's face made both the other girls laugh, she looked like she had won the lottery…
"Caroline, I fucking love you!" Katherine exclaimed like a child before running over to the sofa to eat her pastry…
Caroline smiled, looking between her best friend and daughter and sighing, only one thing could make this morning better and hopefully by the end of the week she would see him again…
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Authors Note:
I know right! Two updates in one day! I'm unstoppable! Anyways my lovelies please review! They make my day and encourage more writing *wink wink* don't forget I always love feedback and love to hear your opinions! So yeah have a great day guys, you're all amazing!
Lucie