Title: christmas lights
Timeframe: One year after Chapter 18 of A Tree Called Life
Characters: Main ensemble of the story, Liz Forbes, and mentions of Lachlan Sinclair and Davina Claire
Caroline walked through the old manor, a clipboard in hand, monitoring the decorating team. It was Christmas Eve, everyone was flying in tonight on the fleet of Mikaelson private jets, and she was going to have her manor perfect, thank you very much. "That mistletoe needs to be centered!" She directed the workers in the foyer. "And you two, the fake snow needs to look like it fell delicately, not lie in clumps. Oh! And you three on the stairs, I want the bows to be every third step, parallel to the floor. Got it?"
"I'm still not sure what fake snow will do. It is New Orleans, after all, love." Klaus appeared at the top of the stairs, making his way down around the decorators who were attacking his manor. "It does not exactly snow this far south."
"It's the principle of the thing. Christmas and snow go hand-in-hand. It's like… Cookies and milk. Or Thanksgiving and the Macy's Parade. Or mistletoe and kissing. They go together." She punctuated her statement with awkward hand gestures as he came beside her.
He laughed as she swatted his paint-splattered hand away from the shoulder of her white blouse. "I get it. The snow stays."
"You think I'm ridiculous." Caroline accused, eyes narrowing semi-seriously.
"I think making my entire family watch that blasted Thanksgiving Day Parade of yours was ridiculous. Fake snow I can deal with." Klaus chuckled.
"Caroline, Mr. Mikaelson, I'm heading out now." Contessa's—Klaus's eleven month-old child's—nanny, interrupted. "Contessa is down for the night."
"See you after the New Year, Annalise!" Caroline smiled, waving off the woman who had literally been a godsend to her and Klaus, considering they were both basically useless with children. Normally Annalise lived with the family, but she had the next two weeks off to spend with her family, who lived a few states away or something. "Have a good flight!"
Klaus gave the woman a goodbye wave as she headed out. "When did my siblings say they would be in?"
"Rebekah is on her way over now from Lachlan's, so she could appear at any time." Caroline started, giving Klaus a look when he gave an ungainly huff. "Oh, don't start that. Your sister is happy, and I'm damn well happy for her."
"She's with my best councilmember. And he has young children." He retorted. "It complicates things."
"Not by much. And you approved of him long before they got together. Just be glad she's not dating some frat boy like Katherine suggested." She pointed out. "And he's spending Christmas morning with his very cute and polite children, so it's not like they'll be over super early. Besides, you need to get used to little ones running around. Malcolm and Eleanor would make good friends for Contessa." Caroline fixed one of the stairwell bows as they walked into the lounge, where the big tree was set up. "Katherine said she would text me when she and Elijah landed—"
"Are they bringing the dog again?"
"Most likely. They're both devoted to the thing. Oh, and Bonnie called about an hour ago. She and Kol had landed, but they needed to make a stop before they got here, so they are going to be a bit longer." Caroline checked off the last thing on her clipboard as she and Klaus observed the tree. "Finally, the house is done!" She grinned.
"You have managed to work magic once again." He agreed, in awe of her organizational and decorating skills. Honestly, she managed to pull things off that no one else could.
"Call me the Decorating Fairy." The lady giggled, pulling him in for a kiss. Everything was done, and now she could spend the rest of the holiday relaxing.
"I'm gone eight hours, and you get the house fully decorated? You're a miracle worker, Caroline!" An accented voice rang out from the front of the house.
"We're back here, Rebekah!" Caroline laughed.
"I can tell. And that is one effing huge tree." Rebekah said as she looked upon the ten-foot monstrosity, covered in lights and color-coordinated ornaments.
"Well, sister, how was your evening?" Klaus asked as they moved over to the seating area. "Did you and…Lachlan exchange presents already or is that for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow. I need to change though; I'm fairly sure I have frosting and sprinkles in places one should never have them." Rebekah laughed, her face lighting up. "We made cookies and Christmas cake and something called peppermint bark with the children. I have never particularly enjoyed baking, but it's apparently a Sinclair Christmas tradition, and I quite enjoyed it. And I made my first gingerbread house, which was the cause for the majority of the flying sprinkles."
"They made them for Santa, right?" Caroline asked, already knowing the answer. "I always made cookies for Santa with my dad—until he left when I was ten, that is. He was a great baker." She shrugged, smiling at the bittersweet memories. "I'm glad you had a good time." The three sat in silence for a bit, before the sound of cars pulling up the drive perked everyone up.
"And that would be the rest of our siblings, sister." Klaus stood, offering his hand to Caroline, who took it as Rebekah rose.
"Let's just hope Kol doesn't wake Contessa this time." The latter commented. "I love the darling, but not as much when she's screaming because a loudmouth woke her."
The three moved into the foyer, waiting to greet those who were, or had become, their family. And they had become a family. The unlikeliest of groups—four siblings, their once mortal enemy, and two young women who used to attempt to kill said siblings—had become family. They enjoyed seeing each other, no matter how much they would get on each other's nerves, or how many knives would be thrown at each other. Family was family.
Kol and Bonnie were the first in. Kol had his duffle bag thrown over his shoulder, Bonnie's purple paisley suitcase trailing behind him. She was dressed in a shade of blue which complimented her very nicely, and Caroline made sure to tell her exactly that. Shortly afterwards, Katherine and Elijah made their way in, the latter using his vampire speed to get their immense amount of bags up in their room before greeting everyone. Behind Katherine came her dog, who appeared to have gotten a haircut at some point or another.
It was hugs all around for a few minutes, before everyone moved to the lounge—including the dog, who promptly laid right at Katherine's feet. "You know, when I got you that animal, it was a joke." Rebekah muttered, eyeing the dog. "I didn't intend for the walking mop to become your new best friend."
"Well, you must have good taste, Rebekah, because Duchess is much better company than you have ever been." Katherine smirked.
Caroline could sense a conflict coming up between those two, so she changed the subject. "How was France?"
"The same as it was three weeks ago when you last asked me that question." The brunette deadpanned. "We spend our days riding horses and playing around in the vineyard and all sorts of things like that. It's relaxing, really."
"Where are you living anyways? I must have missed something, but for some reason I thought you two had a place in London." Bonnie interjected, genuinely curious. She may not have been entirely close with anyone other than Caroline or Kol in the house, but she was at least casually friends with them, and could make conversation. Besides, Kol had talked about going to visit his brother again, so she wouldn't mind some idea of where that visit may be.
"We both have places in London, actually." Elijah replied. "Though the one you are likely referring to is mine; Katherine and I spent time there together while searching for the cure."
"Ridiculous piece of shit that turned out to be." Kol muttered.
Elijah rolled his eyes. "Regardless of how futile that particular quest may have been, during the same span of time, Katerina found a chateau in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, and it is currently where we reside."
"Though, I've been thinking, maybe we should open up the villa in Greece. I have not been back there in some time." Katherine noted, her partner giving her a nod of agreement.
"Or we could visit your old place in Russia." He gave her a look the others couldn't quite place… And they did not particularly want to.
"The last time I was in Russia, I was a ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet, and my apartment was nothing to note." She retorted. "Unless you've suddenly acquired a taste for cheap furniture and thin walls."
"My dear, I meant the time before that."
"You want to sneak into my old rooms in the Tsarskoye Selo?" Katherine asked. "Hmm. I may be up for that. We could even recreate that Christmas Eve." She flashed him a wink, and the others began to ignore the hungry looks and shifting hands which always seemed to accompany those two.
"So, Bonnie, you never told me about where you went this most recent time." Caroline interjected.
"That would be my fault, darling." Kol laughed. "I kept it a secret from her until we landed."
"And then he kept me exceedingly busy the rest of the time there." Bonnie laughed. "We were in Haiti. Kol introduced me to some of his old friends, and I learned a lot about the voodoo culture."
"And rum." Kol laughed. "I taught her a lot about rum, as well."
"That you did. I haven't touched the stuff since." She swatted his shoulder lightly. "I had a hangover for three days. Though, I did like the crémas."
"What have I told you, darling? The best way to avoid a hangover is to keep drinking!"
"Coming from the Original Vampire who can't get a hangover."
"Actually, it's possible." Rebekah jumped in. "Caroline managed to concoct something a while back that gave me one."
"Mmmm, yeah, that one was a bitch." Katherine agreed. "So, Caroline, what have you been up to in this lovely city?"
"Party-planning. Shopping. Kicking diplomatic ass. Helping Klaus restructure the entire supernatural political system. That type of stuff." Caroline shrugged. "We've managed to integrate the entire hybrid pack into the city, and we're working on the werewolves too. Also, I forged an agreement with a hospital so that any surplus blood bags they manage to get are donated to a "food pantry" of sorts that I set up, in case any vampire or hybrid doesn't want to feed fresh."
"The city loves their queen." Klaus gave a slight smile. "You have managed to do more good in this city in less than a year than I believe anyone else could have."
"Maybe I do a lot of good, but you keep the city in line. We put down that werewolf revolt two months ago, which was mainly your plan." Caroline tossed her hair as she turned to look at him. "We're both equally important in this operation, and half the time I don't even know what I'm doing. You're the one I know has my back when we're in front of all those people."
"Well, what can I say to that?" Klaus sighed, brushing a kiss to her hair.
"That's one of the downfalls of being with strong women, brother." Kol smirked. "They often leave us speechless."
"I never said dating me would be easy, dumbass." Bonnie laughed, giving her…whatever he was, a kiss.
"I never expected it to be. The first I met you, you gave me an aneurysm than brought me to my knees." He laughed.
"Well, on that happy note, I believe we're going to bed for the night." Caroline and Klaus stood. "We'll see you all in the morning!" Caroline waved as they departed to a chorus of goodnights.
"I say we leave too. It's Christmas time and all." Katherine grabbed Elijah's hand and pulled him up. "Duchess, stay." She commanded the dog. She and Elijah barely made it to the bottom of the stairs before they disappeared up, Kol's warning to "Stay quiet because some of us around here like sleep!" falling into the empty air.
Bonnie and Kol spent some more time in front of the Christmas tree, before they too eventually headed to bed. Tomorrow was Christmas morning, after all, and it would do to have some sleep before they had an eventful day. If it was anything like last Christmas—and it was Contessa's first—there would be dancing, food, mistletoe, and presents. Last year's was fun enough, but Bonnie could not help but think that this year's would be even better. After all, she was much happier than she had ever been, and she felt like she had a place she belonged. Yeah, Bonnie was thinking that tomorrow may just be her best Christmas yet.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Christmas Morning found the Mikaelsons and Company asleep. Or, most of them were asleep. Caroline had brought Contessa into her and Klaus's bedroom shortly after dawn, and they spent a few lazy hours just talking with each other about their lives. Caroline had adjusted quite well to what she called "fun stepmother-hood", even if she knew that dynamic would obviously shift over the next few years. After all, she would be the mother Contessa knew, even with a full-time nanny present. Klaus, on the other hand, was as gentle with his daughter as Caroline knew he would be, and as he had never believed he possibly could be. Needless to say, his daughter had drawn them closer together as people—because they had been forced to communicate about things—rather than force them apart.
By the time everyone made it downstairs for Christmas…Brunch, Katherine was nearly glowing, Caroline was perky as ever, Kol was asleep at the table, and Rebekah found it quite fun to stick candy canes in her brother's hair. Bonnie had considered stopping her, but Kol's expression when he woke up would be priceless. Besides, she could consider it payback for his keeping her up all night by the light of his laptop screen.
"Since we didn't get started until late, I've pushed dinner back until five thirty instead of four thirty. Also, once we finish eating we have a couple of hours to do whatever until Rebekah's and Bonnie's guests arrive, as well as my mother, who will need to be picked up at the airport around three. Presents are for after Christmas Dinner, and then I figured we could take the children around town to see any Christmas lights." Caroline ran over the day's agenda.
"Actually," Rebekah looked up from decorating her brother. "Lachlan and I took the kids around town last night, so that's out. And it's not like Lou could actually recognize what they are."
"Hmmm…" Caroline sighed. "Alright then, I'm sure we can find something else to do."
"We'll figure something out." Bonnie smiled as she took a picture of Kol before poking him to wake him up. His subsequent facial expression upon seeing said photograph—and horror when his hand went to his hair and came away with a sticky piece of candy cane—sent laughter around the entire table, and Rebekah running for her life.
"Caroline, your mom's here!" Katherine called out from the foyer. She had only met the Sheriff of Mystic Falls once beforehand, but she had heard enough about the woman from Caroline. "Liz. I suppose it's nice to see you."
"Katherine. I suppose I can say the same, now that you aren't terrorizing my town." Liz followed the much-older young lady through the manor.
"Please." The brunette smirked. "That was everyone else in the house, not me. I just terrorized those who annoyed me, not the entire town." She led the way into the kitchen where Caroline was ordering Kol, Rebekah, and Bonnie around the kitchen as they attempted to make dinner. Contessa was playing in one of those portable crib thingies by the door, banging blocks together, and Katherine's dog was laying underneath the table. "Klaus and Elijah are out grabbing… Something. I don't particularly care, either. Caroline sent them off."
"Mom!" Caroline looked up from the dish she was attempting to make and rushed over, grabbing Liz in a hug. "How are you? How was your flight?"
"It was nice, Caroline. Everything went fine. Honestly, you didn't need to send a plane to get me. I could have flown normally." Liz hugged her daughter back before pulling away.
"Nonsense. It was easier this way, especially considering Klaus's plane was just sitting there." Caroline shrugged.
"Hi Liz." Bonnie smiled, coming over to hug her third mother-of-sorts. "It's great to see you again."
"And you too, Bonnie! You seem to be getting happier and happier every time I see you!" Liz smiled, before nodding to the other members of the room. "Kol, Rebekah. Good to see you."
Before either of the siblings could make a sassy retort, Caroline scooped up Contessa, who was dressed in a charming red and green dress with a matching bow stuck in what little hair she had. "Mom, meet Contessa Mikaelson, though most of us around here call her Lou, after one of her middle names."
"She's very cute." Liz nodded, touching the hand of the chubby-cheeked, blue-eyed toddler. "And much sweeter than I believed she would be."
"Please, we were all darling children." Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Maybe it was a thousand years ago, but it happened once."
"Except you, Bekah." Kol laughed, his hair blessedly candy-free. "You were a holy terror as a baby. You screamed constantly."
"How would you know? You were all of Lou's age when I was born." Rebekah crossed her arms, throwing flour into a bowl with more force than necessary.
"He's quite right, sister. You were a disaster of a child." Klaus interjected from the doorway, where he and Elijah were laden with bags, a certain witch named Davina behind them. Said witch moved to hug Bonnie and Kol, who had become her family over the past year. "Kol, you were worse though. You made things burst into flame whenever you were hungry."
"Well, if I remember correctly," Elijah said. "The only decent child of the entire lot of us was Henrik, considering you rivaled Rebekah with your screaming, Niklaus."
"Seems like not much has changed since then." Caroline smirked as she kissed Klaus on the cheek, swapping him the baby for the bags as he went to greet her mother. "And Bekah, I would get that flour out of your hair. If I can still hear correctly, the Sinclair's just pulled into the driveway." She turned to her mother as Rebekah left the room and Bonnie caught up with her friend. "The girl with Bonnie is Davina—I think I've told you about her before. And Rebekah's greeting Lachlan Sinclair and his two children. Lachlan's a representative on Klaus and I's main council, and he and Rebekah are a thing."
"Sounds like you stay busy around here." Liz commented, taking in her daughter's strangely adult life.
"Caroline's talents are put to good use, here." Klaus said. "She's a very important person, both within this household and the city."
The rest of the evening moved fairly swiftly. Dinner went off perfectly, as Caroline's affairs often did, and no one was stabbed, which was a miracle with the four Mikaelsons at one table. When it came time for presents, no one died, though Kol came close when Bonnie unwrapped her gift of lingerie in front of everyone. However, she was mollified when he presented her with her actual gift of theater tickets and a new/old grimoire. Caroline quite liked the painting Klaus gave her, though she kept some of the sketches he included in the gift from her mother's view, as they were…somewhat provocative. He, on the other hand, was intrigued when Caroline gave him his gift of a trip to Belize, the agenda of which mostly consisted of the items 'Try local cuisine' and 'Sex'. Katherine and Elijah both seemed happy, even if neither of them particularly celebrated the holiday, Rebekah was practically glowing in her happy bubble with Lachlan, and Davina nearly cried when she found out her gift from Kol and Bonnie: a spot in any college she wished to attend, anywhere in the world. It was perfect for someone who was just looking to get out of New Orleans and the terror it reminded her of.
Overall, Caroline found this to be the perfect Christmas. She was happy, and her life was lovely. She and Klaus were better than they were last Christmas, which, to be honest, did not take all that much. Her mom had come to visit, even if she was clearly a bit uncomfortable around everyone; which, alright, was understandable. She had friends—Katherine and Rebekah—that she had never expected to have, and she was even on good terms with Elijah and Kol, which she never would have expected. Caroline was also delighted to see Bonnie happy, which to be frank, was not happening in Mystic Falls. Her best friend had grown in ways she never would have expected, and it really was perfect.
Thinking back to last Christmas, where the highlight was when she pecked Klaus's cheek under the mistletoe before dragging him out to dance, Caroline laid her head on her partner's shoulder and sighed happily. Two years ago, she would have laughed if someone had told her this would be her life. Last year, she would have smiled at the thought of it, and hoped it would be possible. Now, she only looked forward to what the future would bring.
AN: So, this is technically up on the 26th where I am, but Merry Belated Christmas, everyone! I tried to finish this up to get it posted on time, but well, I was busy too, haha. Anyways, I know I disappeared for forever and a day, but school wore me into the ground this past semester, and I've been working on both a Kalijah prequel to ATCL (which is nearly done), as well as an original novel, so I haven't finished any of the three oneshots that I have partially done for this story... Whoops.
Anyways, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Hanukkah or a even just a great week, if you don't celebrate anything! And to those of you who celebrate Kwanzaa, I wish you a happy one!
-Abi