Thank you everyone for your comments, and after several reviews telling me to have this in the crossover section, I finally did it. I didn't think of the publicity decreasing because of what was and wasn't advertised. But I'd just like to say, it took this long to put it in the crossover, is because this is mostly centered around the Originals, mainly Klaus's, rehabilitation into the real world, after their put-downs.
For the reviews telling me they don't like Klaroline: it is your opinion, and although I don't agree with it, I went from jumping on that opinion and trying to rip it apart, to getting tired of the KC and CK arguments, to just letting you guys be. I love Klaroline, and you could think they will not ever be on the screen again, we're a dead ship in the water etc; I could think of many many arguments I've gathered from other KC shippers that are really good arguments, but I'll just say this: if I came across your fanfic about CK or HK or what have you, would you want me to tell you your ship is deader than roadkill? No, because you want me to respect you. Not all KCers hate on other ships. So please do the same for me.
For Fleur Blue & Alina - Merci beaucomp, je l'espere mon francais est bien, il fallait passer par Google translate. Je serai bientot mise a jour
Hope sat across from her father, an open space between them. Freya was recovering a few rooms away from what everyone knew was a PTSD flashback, a cold washcloth laid on her forehead by her little sister, and Kol and Elijah were preparing to fight Marcel's men if Freya hadn't recovered enough to put up a protection spell. Hope was refusing to help, although Hayley had been thankful she chose to do it now instead of when she thought her father went back on his word so fast. Alaric and the twins, they were in another room, trying to forget the world and playing with what toys their father had brought with them. No one had decided if they were needed yet.
Caroline watched the father-daughter staring contest, ready to step in whenever. Hope staring at her father in frustration, mirroring Klaus's elbows resting on his knees, leaning toward her. Only, his face was serene, calm. He almost looked like he was okay with Marcel busting the door down and taking them all just when they had gotten back on their feet again. He only stared at his daughter in wonder and happiness.
"Why did you lie" Hope stated, leaning back. Klaus was taken by surprise at the words and looked at her in confusion. "You said you would never leave again. But you were going to go back to that wall, get boarded up all over again, to save your brothers and sisters."
"And to save you, little wolf." He replied. "Your life was at stake just as your aunts and uncles lives were when I first allowed Marcel to hurt me." Hope blinked in surprise. "I meant what I had said, Hope. And I shall not be taken from you again." Klaus promised.
Hope sat frozen, letting her father's words sink in. Her face a mixture of realization and continued frustration. Klaus stood up and laid a hand on the top of her head briefly, turning to Caroline who was sitting in the corner of the room where Hope could have seen her, but out of his eyesight yet again. He went to her and turned back to look at his daughter, the want to be with both of them was as strong as the bond of his family centuries before either of them had been born. He had grown to love that new development long ago. Hope watched her father and his love leave.
Caroline stepped around the corner in the next room to cut off Hope's line of sight and Klaus joined her, watching her face deep in thought.
"Is Freya gonna be alright?" Caroline asked worriedly. Klaus smiled
"I'm sure she will be, she is a Mikaelson after all." He replied in assurance. She turned to look at Hope, who had gotten up and was wandering around the room. "Don't worry love; Hope's refusal to help does not have impending doom written all over it. She knows we depend upon her as much as we do her aunt." Klaus added. Caroline sighed and looked away then he put his hand on her arm, rubbing it gently. She slowly turned her head back, and her eyes found his as she crossed her arms.
"I never got a chance to say…thank you." Klaus said. Caroline's eyebrows rose "You helped bring me back as you've done before. And there is no one I would count on more to do so again." Klaus said. Caroline's small smile faded and she searched his eyes.
"What do you mean again?" She asked, drawing closer to him.
"Never you mind." He scolded softly, and drew his arms around her, slow enough to allow time for her to drop her arms before they got pinned. Caroline put her arms around him as well and buried her face in his neck, gripping his back tightly.
"Don't go and do something stupid." She murmured as she pulled back to look at him. Klaus held onto her still and smiled.
"Like what?" He asked
"Like getting yourself killed." Caroline replied. Klaus blinked and waited for elaboration. "Your family obviously needs you, and you need your family. You guys just got eachother back… I just got you back. So don't go being a hero before we have spent lots more time together." She added with a hint of a laugh behind her words. Klaus smiled again. Caroline glanced at his mouth, before staring in his eyes a few moments longer. He raised his hand to the side of her face, before they both leaned in and shared one kiss. Yes it was just one kiss, but it felt like time had frozen just for them. She had thought about how this would happen since the day Hayley came to her and said Klaus needed help. Thinking it would be stolen; he'd pull her in and take it before going off and fighting the good fight. Or maybe the first time he laid his eyes on her he'd step in and kiss her, regardless of who was there to see it. Their kiss being hidden from everyone, including their children, it was normal but now…she wanted more.
When they pulled apart, Klaus looked at her with hooded eyes and she smirked, and then followed his eyes to where Hope was. She would be in the corner playing with the things on one of the vanities, or sitting and waiting for her and her father to return. But the room was empty, Hope was gone. Klaus immediately sidestepped and left Caroline with a brush of his hand on her arm, she followed after him and they marched through the room, double checking Hope hadn't hidden behind one of the open-flung doors. When neither found Hope, they looked back at eachother, silently deciding where to go next; Caroline went into one adjacent room while Klaus went into the other, and then met again in the hallways before entering. Hope leaned against the wall of the hallway, the other side looking over the balcony. They both shared a few moments of breathless relief. Because what if this was Marcel's new thing now, going under their noses invisibly and stealing the people they cared most about? Hurting them right when you least expect it and then had to deal with it right after? Caroline patted Klaus's shoulder and squeezed it, laying her head on him. Klaus put his hand over hers and pulled her along until he let go, seeing Hope's eyes lift to his. Klaus crouched slightly to meet her eye level and Hope looked away.
"Mom told me it was alright for me to be mad for what you did. Leaving us." Hope began. Klaus's whimsical expression faded slowly into distrust. "It was because of the threat to our safety that you left, Mom told me that every day for as long as I can remember. And when you came back I thought everything would go back to how it used to be. Mom always said that too."
"You wouldn't have remembered most of that time, little wolf. You were three." Klaus replied. Hope nodded.
"Mom said always and forever. That we'd always be reunited and we would always be happy again." Hope said. Klaus smiled and looked back at Caroline who stood before the hallway entrance still. His gaze upon her made her want to come and stand beside him.
"And so we shall be, Hope." Klaus promised, his arm around Caroline's waist. "This city is where you were born. Not far from here in fact. This city is the first place I could call home centuries after leaving my first one. And I shall have this city be yours as well." He vowed. Hope stared at him, not knowing how to take this information when Caroline looked over the balcony hallway.
"We should join the others." Caroline murmured to them both. Klaus took Caroline's hand and turned around, Caroline gestured for Hope and she came to Caroline's side, knocking into the woman's leg and hand with her shoulder, as they began to find their way back to everyone else.
Elijah had gotten everyone into one room, Hayley sitting by Kol nearest him. He had a plan.
"We should develop a truce, with Marcellus."
"He wishes to be called Marcel now, brother." Klaus muttered as he came to find a space to sit with his family.
"Very well. Marcel." Elijah corrected himself and continued. "Marcel wishes us to remain under his control, as to save face with the community he's built over the past five years."
"We don't know if that community he's built knows about us or not. Or if they even want us in this town any longer." Kol quipped.
"That is true, but the simple fact remains. This is our home. And we've fought centuries to gain one. We shall not lose it in a mere handful." Elijah replied.
"What if they decide to run us out of town instead of just putting us down again? Marcel can kill us. We won't have any choice in whether we can go or not." Hayley said.
"Which is precisely why we need a truce. We can live freely here, without the authority we held before. We need not rule this city. We can merely live amongst its residents." Elijah replied. All eyes turned to Klaus, whose had been fixed upon his brother. Caroline kept ahold of his hand and watched him worriedly. Of all the times Klaus needed to prove he was the alpha male, this was not one of them.
"I'm all for it." Klaus decided. All he wanted was a new start. Ruling this city could be a prospect at a later date, when Hope was less traumatized by his departure, when he had mended all fences and reconstructed the bridges burned with Marcel. And when he and Caroline had spent a lot more time together, as she'd put it. Caroline and Hayley could hear the breath of relief coming from Rebekah. Elijah was stunned into silence, and Kol smiled. Freya stood up, a smile unable to stay beneath the surface, as she glowed, staring at her little brother.
"Look who's finally given up the ghost, brother." Kol commended. Klaus looked at him and smirked.
"Well then." Freya said with a grin. "Let's begin to map out what this truce will look like from our side."
The night passed as slow as if Diana had known her subjects had wanted this small bit of time to last, and so she had chosen an arrow for her bow that would go far slower than many she had in her quiver. The moonlight had made Caroline's hair turn silver, its beams coming into their room softly. It made him feel at peace.
There was no furniture in their room; the last time his family had used this place it had been looted by thieves and miscreants. It was no matter. He might've gotten used to sleeping on a softer mattress but lying on the cold floor was no stranger to him. And with Caroline lying beside him it didn't matter what the other variables were. She and Alaric had put the girls to bed, she'd read to them from a more advanced age book, and while she was doing so he watched his sister and his daughter prepare to cast the spell for the long night ahead. He and Caroline had come back together to be in their own little corner of the room with the rest of his family during the night. Rebekah had other plans.
Rebekah had brought them a few blankets from somewhere to use; at her insistence he and Caroline had been given the only other room that Hope and Freya both could keep hidden from any spell throughout the night. He would go and check on them shortly. But he wanted to hear the end of Caroline's tale. How she had found her way back to him even with Hayley's help.
"We found Enzo and Damon in Georgia finally. They'd killed a hundred people, if we didn't stop them they would've killed more. Used their compulsion to make it seem like no one was missing at all. When we found the bodies, everyone was hanging from the ceiling, their ankles were tied up in chains and they'd intentionally cut their throats to make the blood fall on the floor."
"Sounds like my technique back in the 1600s." Klaus said, resulting in receiving a snide look. "What was the purpose behind this complicated procedure?" He asked; smoothing out with the blanket's wrinkles on Caroline's hip.
"They were pooling…enough blood to bring the creature they were…possessed with into the world. Apparently it was from another…dimension." Caroline replied shakily, and stopped his hand, fiddling with it in both of hers. Klaus watched her do so as she turned onto her back and continued her story. "We managed to stop it from coming through its blood portal, as gross as that term is. Bonnie had befriended a witch from another powerful bloodline and cast a spell, locking the thing into the cave it had been in before. We found how it got out and plugged that up too, and then soundproofed it with another spell."
"Sounds like plugging the leaks of an already broken barrier."
"That's what I said. Minus the accent." Caroline replied, grinning at her small joke, getting a grin from Klaus. "But instead of listening to me, Stefan ignored the problem. I mean, the soundproof spell only worked for so long, the thing found a way around it; it was starting to call out to the witch that was helping us. Damon was back and he needed Stefan's help, I was more focused on the door. Bonnie helped Enzo recuperate and I worked with the witch to move the thing somewhere more secure."
"And where did that rift leave you and the ripper?" Klaus asked. Caroline stopped wedging her ring finger between his index and middle finger.
"We broke up." She replied. He could hear the heartbreak in her voice and moved his elbow to let his free hand cradle the side of her face. He leaned down slowly and kissed her forehead, closing his eyes. He heard her breath dissipate and his throat thickened.
"I'm sorry." He whispered against her skin, then pulled back to look at her. Caroline stared at him above her and pulled apart their fingers, laying his hand on her body. This wasn't the time. This wasn't the place. They were safe, but hanging by a thread. And against every logical part of her brain telling her to stop before she realizes how stupid this decision was, she pulled him closer. It wasn't rebound sex. She didn't even know if this was going to lead to sex. Things were so fragile right now they would probably just do everything but that. But when he'd kissed her skin, she was reminded once again of the afternoon they spent in the leaves of the forest she grew up wandering. And if anything good was going to come of reliving the memory of Stefan choosing Damon over her, this had better be one of them.
Klaus's mouth locked over hers and she moved her hand along his body to grasp at the hair on the back of his head, memorizing everything about him again. He didn't move to lie on top of her; that probably wasn't on the menu tonight. But the way his closeness felt it didn't matter if they didn't have sex. She just needed…him.
Klaus pulled her to lie on top of him, relishing in the warmth of her body in contrast to the cold of the concrete beneath them. This was much like one of his less dignified daydreams whilst he was in the garden. Although it had turned to a nightmare quickly after; as the bricks she had pulled loose to set him free sprung back to trap her with him. Snapping his mind out of those thoughts, he trailed his hand along her side and found the hem of her shirt, pulling it up slowly. He had to stop; he hadn't planned to stay here all night. Hope needed his assurance and support more than she ever had. And so when her kisses became heated, he pulled free of her mouth. But she moved her lips to the nape of his neck, resulting in needing to grip her shirt in one clenched fist in order to keep his mind straight.
Klaus's panting began to cease when Caroline realized he wasn't moving any farther. She pulled back and looked at him, smiling. Because this was a war zone, even if Klaus's family wasn't outwardly showing it before Hope and the girls, even if though the girls were asking what was going on she and Alaric weren't telling them anything about it. The children got to remain oblivious. And so when Klaus moved to stand up, letting the blanket fall from his body, she got up with him. His eyes met hers like a livewire.
"If you're going to check on Hope I'm going with you. And you're coming with me when I go to check on the girls." Caroline said. Klaus smiled and reached out toward her hair, starting to pat it down.
"In that case, best not to appear as if we'd just made out like a pair of teenagers." He replied. Caroline returned the favor, and though they didn't look exactly like they had before they'd entered the room, little to no one would be suspicious. They began to leave the room, and Klaus discreetly took her hand, hiding it behind his body along with his as they saw his family. Rebekah withdrew her hand from Kol's shoulder as he lay in his make-shift bed. Klaus met his sister's eyes with a smile, walking past them and taking Caroline with. Caroline found they were looking after her, all their eyes boring into both their backs.
"They're a bit different than the last Mikaelson family you met and negotiated with." Klaus noted, almost upon Freya and Hope.
"Rebekah was practically my friend when you guys left. Despite trying to kill you all. I think forgiveness runs in the family." She replied.
"It has to, otherwise we wouldn't be here right now." He teased. Caroline bumped his shoulder and they saw Freya and Hope, their backs to them and sitting on their legs, their arms raised up, joined, and chanting over another concoction of spells. As Klaus and Caroline started toward them Hayley appeared from around the corner, her eyes landing on him first, then looking to Caroline. Hayley came to stand beside Klaus, opposite him.
"How is she?" Klaus asked, murmuring in her ear.
"She's tired, but so is Freya. Me and Rebekah are going back and forth, bringing them food and things they need. They're going to have to wait to have them until they don't need the spell anymore." Hayley replied. She sucked in her breath and blinked repeatedly, Caroline could see how much Hayley wanted to avoid crying right now. Klaus turned fully to her and took her arms in his hands. Caroline moved closer to see Hayley's face.
"Hope and Freya are going to be fine." Klaus assured her. "As much as I dislike our daughter being subjected to this kind of fasting, she knows it is for our family. And if she wishes to stop, Freya can take over. I'll continue to come in and check on her throughout the night as well." Hayley nodded and sucked in another breath, moving away from him to go to Elijah. Hayley's eyes landed on Caroline's again.
"Thank you for helping us get this far." Hayley told her. Caroline was taken in surprise, speechless. A dozen other things running through her mind stopped short. "This situation might suck right now, but at least we're all together again." Hayley looked through the open doorway to Rebekah and Elijah. "I have Elijah back." She added, turning back. "It's been five years since I've seen him. I have you to thank for reuniting all of us and I know if you wanna stay with us, Hope will love you being part of her family." Caroline smiled at her, flustered, and looked towards Hope. Klaus leaned in and kissed Caroline's cheek gently before walking to Hope and facing her.
Hope looked up to her father, being chastised by Freya for breaking the concentration. Klaus gave his sister a stern look, receiving one in return.
"She shall continue in a moment sister, please." Klaus told her. Freya took on the full power of the spell herself as Klaus turned back to his daughter.
"Do you need anything, little wolf?" He asked. Hope stared at him and glanced down in thought. She brought her eyes back to his and shook her head. "Very well. Your mother and I are both at your disposal." Klaus added. "If for some reason we're not here, Caroline will be." He turned to Caroline, who had come with him without his seeing. Caroline's surprised look caught his and he smirked at the reason. "I know she'll do whatever it is is your wish." He turned back to Hope who was looking at Caroline.
"Alright." She murmured to Caroline. Caroline smiled at her and turned back to Klaus. He stood up and kept Hope's eyes for longer than intended. She looked at her aunt and integrated into the spell again. Caroline led him to the other side of the room and looked around. Klaus stopped at the doorway of the room while Caroline reached Rebekah.
"Where did Rick and the girls go?" She asked.
"We found another room and Alaric thought it was suitable for them to rest in." Rebekah replied. Caroline turned to look at Klaus with her eyebrows furrowed. She walked briskly past them, and found Alaric's figure passing back and forth in a doorway. She turned back to Klaus who stood behind her and charged forward.
Alaric turned to her as she entered the room, seeing the girls just tucked into their sleeping bags. Josie was falling asleep and hardly noticed her mother appeared. Liz turned and grinned at her. Caroline smiled back at her and quietly came closer.
"How're you doing?" She asked in a whisper to the both of them. Josie's eyes were completely closed and didn't reply. Liz sit up and Alaric looked at his daughter in defeat.
"Daddy just read us another story." Liz whispered back excitedly.
"He did? What was it?" Caroline replied. She glanced at Alaric and Liz's reply was lost to her. "Do you mind stepping out here with me to talk for a moment?" She asked him. Alaric's steady gaze broke, and he nodded. Liz watched them leave, and Alaric looked back at her. Caroline stepped out of Liz's line of sight and Alaric joined her, looking back to see where Klaus was. He was standing at the beginning of the hall.
"Hope and Freya are just barely able to cover the two rooms we're already taking up, and you even wanted them to have a safety net in case they screwed up, why are you making their job harder to do?" Caroline demanded in a hushed tone.
"I'm sorry, I'm not really comfortable sleeping in the same room with a psychopathic killer and his family of people we tried to kill. I can't look any of them in the eye because of that. Josie and Liz are safe with me."
"No, they're not." Caroline quipped. She glanced at Klaus, who'd taken a step toward them. "You are human, Alaric. You might have a steady arsenal of vampire weapons hidden god knows where, but Marcel's bite is worse than Klaus's. Look at what happened to the oldest, most powerful vampires five years ago? We stand a better chance with their protection than refusing it." She said. Alaric considered her for a moment. Then switched his eyes to Klaus.
"You guys better have a good plan for getting us to safety, Klaus." Alaric said. Klaus gave him a hesitant smile.
"All in good time, mate. Your children are safe with us for the time being. Hope and Freya's protection spell will cover us all. But it would be best to bring everyone closer as to not strain them anymore than they've been already." He replied. Alaric stared at him.
"Fine. We'll wait until they're asleep, at least." He said. "But if we're not safe at sunup I'm getting them out of here." Alaric said. Caroline stared at him sadly.
"As much as I'd agree with you, Marcel might have found us by then. Running away from the Mikaelsons, especially after the threats he gave...I don't think that'll give them anymore of a chance. They're stuck here." She replied. Alaric froze and looked back in the room quickly. Klaus stepped up to face Caroline, gently moving her head when she avoided his gaze with troubled eyes.
"When we can leave, my family will make sure your daughters will be safe."
"They need to get as far away from here as humanly possible." Caroline said. Klaus searched her eyes.
"There's something else, though." He noted.
"Your family is the only defense against Marcel. What if he finds out the girls escaped, would he go after them?" She asked.
"Freya and Hope will keep them cloaked, and we may be able to ask for the help of a witch who is brave enough to travel with them." Klaus replied in a calm voice, Caroline's eyes steady on him. "And you may change your mind about where your girls should be later on. Whatever you decide, I will do everything I can to help you."
"Alaric will definitely want them to get out of here, no matter if my mind changes." She said.
"He is the children's father, do you believe he would be right in his decisions regarding them?"
"He gets scared for them. But I don't blame him, you know, he's lost everyone he's ever loved to the supernatural world and neither of us want to have that happen to the girls." Caroline said. She huffed and breathed in, Klaus's hands coming up to take her shoulders. "Okay. We'll see if there's a witch that can travel with them until we can give an all-clear. If not, then they're going to stay with us." She decided. Klaus nodded.
"Very well."
They looked into the room and Alaric walked to them.
"I can still hear you." He said irritably, then leaned against the doorway. "I'll follow your lead." Caroline smiled. "You are supernaturally blessed, so is your boyfriend and so is your boyfriend's family. They're an asset to us." Caroline nodded and patted Alaric's shoulder. She turned and went to her and Klaus's room, looking back at Klaus as he smiled at Alaric and shook his hand. When he turned to follow her, Caroline saw he was nervous. They walked back to their room together.
"Am I hallucinating or was the great and mighty Klaus Mikaelson nervous?" She teased, and then closed the door behind them, Klaus ducking his head.
"I felt I needed the approval of the girls' father. Alaric's graciousness was surprising to say the least." He said. Caroline looked at him in surprise. When he didn't go on, she realized he felt that approval was another step to keeping her by his side. Every time, her friends had gone before her feelings for him. Every time it was because they wouldn't have approved. But now, years later, things have changed. And she's changed. And so has he. Now was the time to be together. But he wasn't expecting it. He was still working towards it every minute that he was with her, like she did in all of her relationships. She smiled at him.
"Thank you." Caroline replied and he smiled in return, eyes shining, then ducked his head. "Are you going back to check on Hope?" Caroline asked
"Yeah, I was hoping she and Freya would be able to take a break, then they'd have time to eat and possibly sleep for a bit." He studied her. "If you're tired you should rest, love. I'll go see to my daughter." Caroline smiled again in appreciation and Klaus kissed her forehead before turning to go to Hope. Caroline clung to the door, suddenly aware of how tired she was, and watched through half-shutting eyes as Klaus retreated.
This time she hadn't chained him to a promise never to come back.
She stumbled toward her bed, her mind whirling from all the events of the day, and let the feeling of their makeshift bed guide her under the sheets and onto the pillow. She rolled onto her back, her hair flying to splay across her pillow and Klaus's. The idea of him having a spot next to her was both baffling and felt right. Her eyes stayed open stubbornly despite her mind yelling uncle now. She huffed and sat up, taking off her jacket, then fell back down on the hard ground.
Okay this chapter is done now, I promise, sorry this has taken me so long. I mean this chapter is a full 2,000 more words than the other ones if you can believe it. I love this story and I love that everyone wants to read it so much. I would also love it if you could comment what you love most about this story, maybe just this chapter or just a different chapter in the story. I'd really like to know what you think. Thanks!