Hi everyone! Here's the final chapter of Roots and Wings:( I've had so much fun writing this and I hope you've enjoyed reading it. If I have time over the next couple of weeks I will try and write an epilogue. And who knows, maybe this won't be the last we see of Klaus and Caroline in this world...
Anyway, Caroline has a big decision to make in this chapter. Hope you enjoy!
MARCH 2013
Caroline arrived home to a quiet house after having lunch with her mom. She checked downstairs for her husband but he was nowhere to be found, but it quickly occurred to her that he must be upstairs, cause there is no way he would go into the office on a Saturday.
She climbed the stairs to the top floor of their house and walked to the room that Klaus kept as an art studio. She stood in the doorway and watched as her husband painted, a look of concentration and relaxtion resting upon his face.
"Hey husband" she said quietly as he was broken out of his trance.
He turned to face her and the famous Klaus Mikaelson side grin appeared on his face.
"Hello wife" he replied.
Caroline smiled brightly as she walked towards him and sat on his lap; "I will never get tired of hearing that..." she said as she kissed him. She turned her head to look at his painting; "This looks like one of your angry paintings" Caroline commented.
"That's because it is..." Klaus said as Caroline saw a darkness glaze over his eyes. "I had to go into the office today"
"Oh... you hate going into the office on a Saturday"
"I hate going into the office any day... father just wants me to be more involved in the family business and as I keep telling him he has 6 other children, hound them instead." Klaus said angrily.
"He just wants to get the best out of the family business and he knows that you would be a huge asset..." Caroline insisted; "But Klaus... if it's not what you want, just walk away. Be your own person, don't let the Mikaelson name tie you down. You can conquer the world without it."
Klaus smiled softly up at Caroline; "Once a Mikaelson, always a Mikaelson... but at least I have you as my saving grace."
SEPTEMBER 2017
Over the next few weeks, Caroline had countless dress fittings and meetings to organise things and it was driving her crazy. The reason she wanted to have her wedding in Hartford was so she could organise it herself at her own pace, but Tyler had insisted that Carol was involved every step of the way and Caroline couldn't help but feel like this was foreshadowing her future.
She had also tried countless times to call Klaus, but her calls went to voicemail every time. She wanted to apologise for everything. From what she put him through the lies she had told, but it was clear he wanted nothing to do with her, and it was like she was being stabbed in the heart. She knew she shouldn't feel this way, but at the same time, why wouldn't she feel hurt when someone she'd known since she was 7 had slipped away from her?
A few days before the wedding, Katherine had arrived in Hartford and Caroline stood in the airport waiting for her to arrive. When she did walk through the doors Caroline smirked at her appearance. For being a small town girl, she was as stylish as ever. Her hair was immaculate and she walked with the confidence of a super model.
"Caroline" Katherine said as the pair hugged. "So... how does it feel being divorced at 30?"
"Honestly, I thought I would feel relieved but it feels... weird..." Caroline confessed as they hooked arms and walked towards the door.
"Probably because you realise you're divorcing one of the hottest men alive"
"Katherine!" Caroline scolded. "I didn't marry him because he's hot..."
"Right, all that money probably helped too and I do not doubt for one second that he is excellent in bed..."
"Katherine!" Caroline scolded again. "We are not going to talk about Klaus. That chapter of my life is over."
"Fine, fine, fine..." Katherine replied. "But just blink twice if I'm right" Caroline raised her eyebrows at Katherine; "Ok, ok, I'm just going to take that as a yes then."
"So, what's been going on with you?" Caroline asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Oh same old same old, Liam is still desperate for me, he even proposed and with all that cash in the bank I almost said yes." Katherine informed her. Liam was her on and off again boyfriend who was desperate the tie her down, but Katherine knew that wasn't her style.
"Surely his money was enough of a pull for you. Why didn't you say yes?" Caroline asked.
"Because I hesitated long enough to realise my head and my heart were saying two completely different things. It's supposed to be the easiest decision in the world, there should be no doubt in your mind about saying yes... right?" Katherine asked.
Caroline simply looked at her feet, not wanting to reply, because a part of her knew that she wouldn't be being honest with herself. She thought about the two proposals she had received in her life. She accepted Klaus' without hesitance, but Tyler? She had to ask him if he was sure. Surely that was a sign? Thankfully, a poster on the wall grabbed her attention.
"Hey... this painting..." she said walking towards it. "This is like the ones I saw in the Mikaelson's hotel... this must be the gallery and shop for them." Caroline said talking in the gallery's details. "We should go, I'd love to get some stuff for the house."
"Sure, let's go." Katherine said as they walked towards the door.
SEPTEMBER 2010
As Klaus lay sleeping one Sunday morning, he felt feather like kisses travelling up his arm, across his shoulder and up his jaw. Before the kisses could reach his mouth, he quickly flipped his unsuspected partner over so he was on top.
Caroline let out a squeal and a giggle; "Hey, that's no fair! You pretended to be asleep..."
"I prefer to see it as an advantage you failed to recognise." Klaus said with a smirk as he captured Caroline's lips with his. "Goodmorning wife" he greeted. The previous night was the first night that the couple had spent in their new house. They were only two weeks married and they were living in what they hoped would be a permanent bliss.
"Hmmm I will never get tired of hearing that..." Caroline said with a smile as Klaus began to plant kisses down her neck. "Klaus... this room is bare"
"What?" he said in a muffled tone, not really caring for what she was saying at that moment.
"This room it's so bare, it's needs something on the walls..." Caroline said, not liking that their bedroom lacked any sort of life to it.
Klaus' head shot up from her neck; "You're really thinking about what we could put on the walls when we are lying here half naked? My... it appears I have officially lost it."
Caroline laughed; "Trust me, you definitely have not lost it. Newlywed sex is even better than engaged sex, trust me..."
Klaus chuckled; "Right answer... and as for your little wall predicament..." he said as he climbed out of bed and left the room.
Caroline sat up on her elbows and frowned; "Are you seriously going to leave me half naked in bed?"
A few seconds later Klaus returned with his paint equipment and set it up at the foot of the bed.
"What are you doing..." Caroline asked.
"I'm painting you" Klaus said. "Take off your underwear, wrap the sheet around you" he told her.
"You're kidding right? Klaus, we cannot hang a naked picture of me up in our bedroom!"
"Why not? You're beautiful"
"It's a little narcassitic, don't you think?"
"Oh I live for the narcassim of it." Klaus said with a smirk. "Now lie still"
Caroline knew there was no arguing with Klaus, so she lay there, secretly excited for the prospect of a day spent in bed.
Later that evening, Caroline was ready to drift off to sleep when Klaus stood and announced that he was done. Caroline quickly jumped off the bed to look at the easel and her face softened at what she saw.
"This... is not me lying naked." Caroline said.
"No... it's not"
Caroline smiled as she took in what Klaus had drawn. He had painted a picture of the pair that sat on their bedside table. They were around 18 in the photo and they are wrapped up for winter and laughing, while Klaus stood behind Caroline with his arms wrapped around her.
"It's beautiful Klaus..."
"Slightly less narcissistic" he teased. "And... it's my favourite photograph of us."
"You should open up your own gallery" Klaus chuckled and Caroline furrowed her eyebrows; "I'm serious! We used to talk about it when we were kids, why not make that dream a reality?"
"I can't see my parents letting me slip away from being a Mikaelson that easily." Klaus told her.
"You can do whatever you want to do Klaus Mikaelson. Be whoever you want to be. And one day, you will have your own gallery" Caroline said. Before Klaus could reply, Caroline's thought were diverted back to what they had been doing for the past few hours. "Hold on... why did you make me lie there for hours when you didn't even paint me?!" she asked pushing him slightly.
Klaus moved closer behind her so that he was speaking softly in her ear; "I needed you for inspiration... trust me love, it took everything in me not to abandon my work and take you there and then." Klaus told her as she shuddered at his soft words.
"Well then..." she said with a gulp; "I guess I better reward you for all your hard work" she said as she turned around in a flash and kissed him, pulling him towards the bed.
SEPTEMBER 2017
A short while later, Katherine and Caroline pulled up outside the shop and saw that people were flocking in.
"Damn... it's popular." Katherine said as they got out of the car.
They quickly made their way inside and as soon as they walked in, Caroline was taken a back by the beauty of the paintings.
"Wow... some of these are a little dark... and twisty..." Katherine said.
"They're beautiful..." Caroline said as she admired them.
She looked to the end of the room, and her mouth feel open slightly at what she saw. Katherine noticed the shocked look on her face and furrowed her eyebrows.
"Caroline?" she said, but Caroline did not respond, instead, she was slowly making her way to the end of the room. She looked like she had seen a ghost.
She stopped when she came to two paintings. The first one was of a blonde haired girl standing in the snow of what she knew was the park beside where she lived. The painter had only painted the back of the girl, but she knew from the details of the clothing... that girl was her. She remembered that day like it was yesterday. The day she had tackled him to the ground, the day they finally became something.
The second painting was a painting she had stared at for four years everyday when she arrived home. It was the painting that hung above their fireplace. The painting he had given her on their wedding day. It was the beach with the thunder and lightning ready to crash from above.
She heard Katherine's footsteps behind her, but she couldn't tear herself away from the paintings to say anything.
"I'm pretty sure you own that coat..." Katherine said, pointing to the painting.
"These are his paintings..." Caroline mumbled as she continued to stare in awe.
"Whose paintings?" Katherine asked.
Caroline was snapped from her trance when she saw someone come down the stairs to the side in her pheriperal vision. He soon spotted her and while he looked shocked to see her, his face had a softness about it, as if he was proud to finally show her what he had done.
"Oh... they're his paintings..." Katherine said as Klaus walked towards Caroline.
"Hey..." she greeted cautiously.
"Hello" he replied.
"I tried calling you a couple of times" Caroline said.
"I know..." he replied. "Since you're here there's a cafe out back. You and your friend should stay for lunch. On the house" Klaus offered.
"Uh yeah but wait, Klaus... you did all this?"
"Like I said, the family business wasn't for me." Klaus said with a shrug.
"You always talked about opening a gallery and... you finally did it. You got your dream." Caroline said, still in disbelief at how he had finally broken free from the Mikaelson name and made a life that he actually wanted for himself.
"Yeah. I did. Enjoy your lunch" Klaus said before walking away, leaving Caroline with an overwhelming sadness.
"Caroline" Katherine said as her friend turned to face her. "What are you doing?" she asked sincerely as Caroline sighed, honestly not knowing the answer to her question.
"I-I don't know."
"Why didn't recognise his work?"
"I knew there was something familiar about it I just... when I left Hartford I tried to block out all things Klaus... I guess his paintings were one of those things." Caroline confessed. "What am I going to do Katherine?"
"Only you can decided that Caroline, but... I think you already know."
The day of the wedding seemed to fly in and everyone was up early getting ready. Carol had insisted they have it in the local park underneath the gazebo that rested in the middle of it. This also meant that Caroline was able to get ready at her house and people also didn't have to travel far.
Klaus on the other hand was avoiding the area like the plague. He had plans to go down to the beach as there was a thunder storm coming. He saw it as his send off to their relationship. He was finally going to let go and make something of his life that had nothing to do with wanting her.
As he packed his things in the back of his truck, Rebekah walked up the drive, leaned against his car and folded her arms.
"So, there's a wedding in the park today" Rebekah said.
"Yeah... I think I heard a thing or two about that." he replied, not looking her in the eye. "I hope the weather cooperates for them. The storm's supposed to be a big one."
"You know Niklaus... I love you, very much, sometimes, I even consider you my favourite brother... but you are too damn stubborn for your own good." Rebekah said.
"Rebekah... she made her decision." Klaus reminded her.
"You've been holding onto her for 3 years. You've been trying to be the man she always knew you were... and now you're just letting her go without a word." Rebekah commented.
"I was her first love... but I'm clearly not meant to be her last." Klaus said. "It's time to let go Rebekah... no matter how painful it may be." Klaus said before walking inside.
She sighed and turned to leave when she saw a man dressed in a suit peer up the drive.
"Can I help you?" She asked the man.
"Yes I'm looking for Caroline Mikaelson? I believe this is her old address." the man said.
"She's not here at the minute, she's actually getting married today. Is there something I can help you with?" Rebekah asked.
"Married? Oh she can't! Not right now anyway. Can you take me to her? It is of the utmost importance." the man insisted.
"Uh, yes of course. She's just in the park a few blocks from here." Rebekah said as she motioned for the man to follow her. She was curious as to man meant when he said Caroline couldn't get married yet. Could this be her brother's saving grace?
AUGUST 2010
Caroline looked in the mirror of her childhood bedroom as Liz fixed the back of her dress. The smile that graced her face was undeniable and she was convinced it would be a permanent fixture once she married the love of her life.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" Liz asked as she looked at Caroline's reflection in the mirror.
"I'm... so good mom. I just feel so good." Caroline said with a soft smile.
"I'm so happy that you've found someone who loves you more than anything and who makes you so happy... I know I was hesitant first but... he is a good man who I am proud to call my son in law." Liz assured her.
"Thank you mom... nothing in my life has ever felt so right." Caroline said as she smoothed her dress at the front.
"I'm glad sweetie. Now turn around, let me see you." Liz said as Caroline turned on the spot and Liz took in her daughter's beauty. "Caroline Forbes... you are the most beautiful bride."
"Don't start crying because then I'll start crying and it will just ruin my make up!" Caroline exclaimed as Liz quickly handed her a tissue.
"What's this I hear about beautiful brides?" Caroline's grandpa said as he walked into the room. "Well... say no more." he said as he took in his granddaughter. "My god, you are just stunning"
"Grandpa..." Caroline said as she tried to stop herself from crying further.
"It's strange... it's always been us three against the world since your father died, and now you're getting married." Robert said as he held his granddaughter's hands. "Your daddy would be so proud of you and I know he would love Klaus. He is a lucky man."
"I love you both, so much" Caroline said as she held their hands. "Now... let's go get me married."
SEPTEMBER 2017
Caroline looked in the mirror in her childhood bedroom as Liz fixed the back of her dress. She couldn't shake this feeling she had in the pit of her stomach about today. It's like she knew something was going to go wrong. Like this wasn't the right thing to be doing.
"Mom... am I doing the right thing?" Caroline asked as Liz looked at her through the reflection.
"He adores you. He can give you a wonderful... normal... life. Isn't that what you always wanted?" Liz asked.
Caroline didn't reply and Liz knew not to press the matter. This was something only Caroline could make a choice on. She just hoped she would make the right one.
"Mom I'm sorry..." Caroline said in barely a whisper.
Liz furrowed her eyebrows; "For what?"
"For disappointing you. I brought Klaus into our lives and Iknow you were cautious about him at first... but you grew to love him like a son and then I just... destroyed it. I left him, I left you and I just... I'm sorry."
Liz sighed as she looked at Caroline through her reflection in the mirror; "Oh honey... you could never disappoint me. You're my daughter... you're my daughter and I love you."
A short while later, Caroline was standing at the edge of the park with her mom, grandpa and Katherine serving as her bridesmaid.
"Are you ready honey?" her grandpa asked.
"Yeah... I'm ready" Caroline said in a cracked voice.
Just as Katherine and Liz were about to make their journeys down the aisle, Rebekah shouted after them from outside the gates.
"Wait!" she called as she hurried along with the man.
"Ms Mikaelson!" the man called.
"Mr Telford? What are you doing here?" Caroline said, not having a clue why her lawyer would turn up now.
"What's all the commotion about?" Tyler said as he ran down the aisle. "I heard someone shouting I thought something was wrong" he said as they all eyed him.
"I'm not really sure what's going on. Mr Telford?" Caroline said turning to her lawyer. "Klaus signed the papers, what are you doing here?" she asked.
Mr Telford looked as the people closest to Caroline stood around them. He moved closer to Caroline as to not make such a scene about it all.
"He did... you didn't." he said as everyone's faces fell at Caroline's blunder.
"What? You mean I'm still married?" Caroline asked.
"Not unless you want to be" He said, holding up the papers.
"For God's sake Caroline, I thought you took care of this?" Tyler said angrily.
Caroline glared at Tyler; "It was an honest mistake Tyler."
"Well if we're going to fix it can we fix it now before we call get soaked?" Katherine piped in as they all looked up at the rain clouds forming in the sky.
"Uh does anyone have a pen?" she asked the small group of people around her as they all began searching their pockets.
Eventually, Rebekah held up a pen and gave Caroline a knowing look. "These things don't just happen, you know."
Caroline slowly took the pen from her and held it in position on the page. In that moment, a rush of emotions came over her. All of her memories of Klaus filled her head and she could not escape them.
From his first promise when they were 10 years old, nights spent running from thunder storms, broken arms from climbing trees, snow ball fights when they were 16, busted moments when they were 17, engagements when they were 22, marriage when they were 23, the perfect house, the most beautiful paintings in the four years they were married... and a life time of endless possibilites. Genuine beauty. Genuine love.
"Tyler..." Caroline mumbled. "You don't want to marry me."
"I don't?" Tyler asked in disbelief.
"No... cause it's not fair. The truth is... I gave my heart away a long time ago and I never got it back." Caroline said as her eyes glistened with tears. "He's my first love... and I know in my heart he is my last. I'm so sorry Tyler... I can't marry you... and you shouldn't want to marry me."
"I- I understand... I hope he's worth it Caroline. I really do. I'll go tell everyone... there's no wedding." Tyler said as he fixed his cuffs and turned to walk back down the aisle. Before he could get very far, Carol came storming up the aisle.
"What is going on? Why are you all standing around here, it is about to pour!" Carol said looking up to the sky.
"There's going to be no wedding, mom." Tyler said simply.
"What?" Carol spat as she glared at Caroline. "This better have nothing to do with that Mikaelson boy. My son does not deserved to be linked to any scandal concerning that family!"
"Carol, all you need to know is that we don't want to get married, so we're not going to be getting married." Caroline responded.
"Tyler. Are you seriously going to let her humiliate you like this? With all your guests sitting waiting, expecting a wedding?"
"Yeah mom. I think I am." Tyler said as he left the park.
Carol glared fiercely at Caroline; "I knew you were never good enough for my son. You weren't good enough to be a Mikaelson and you aren't good enough to be a Lockwood."
"You say that like your name actually means something" Rebekah muttered gaining the deepest glare of all from Carol.
"You are going to be ruined when I am through with you!" Carol exclaimed.
Caroline chuckled; "Good luck with that Carol."
Carol stomped her foot and stormed out of the park while the other smiled lightly at Caroline's boldness.
"Oh my god... I actually just did that..." Caroline said in disbelief.
"We're going to tell our people to head to the bar... why don't you go find yourself a groom?" Rebekah said with a wink as Caroline smiled as she rushed home to get her car.
Klaus sat on the sand, watching as the rain clouds rolled in. He was ready to make his peace with everything. He was ready to let her go, even if he couldn't shake that it was entirely the wrong thing to do.
He closed his eyes as the rain started to pour. He waited for the first clap of thunder, but a different kind of thunder in his life spoke up instead.
"Hey Mikaelson!" she shouted over the rain as he turned around to see Caroline in a rain soaked dress. "You owe me a dance."
Klaus stood up and faced her; "Where's your husband?" he asked.
"I'm looking at him. Apparently we're still married... I kinda forgot to sign the papers." She confessed.
Klaus chuckled; "You didn't sign them? Or you couldn't sign them?"
"I'm guessing a little bit of both. Why didn't you tell me you came to Mystic Falls 2 years ago?" she asked.
"Because I knew I was nowhere near the man you knew I could be... that you wanted me to be. I hadn't broken free of the burdens of the Mikaelson name, I wasn't the husband you deserved."
"Is that why you grew out your hair? In protest?" Caroline said with a chuckle, remembering how she begged him to grow out his curls a little.
"At first yeah... but I grew to like it."
"I was never the wife you deserved in the first place." Caroline said, shaking her head, thinking back to his comment about being the husband she deserved.
"What are you doing here Caroline?"
"I'm fighting for what I want"
"What do you want Caroline? Cause I'm not convinced that you know." Klaus informed her.
Caroline walked closer towards him with a small smile on her face.
"You're my first love Klaus, and I want you to be my last." Caroline said.
"... Maybe we had out chance."
Caroline groaned; "God, Klaus, you are so damn stubborn! I am standing here giving you everything that is in me and you can't put your damn pride aside and just tell me that you love me!"
"Why would you want to be married to me anyway?" he said throwing his hands up from his side.
Caroline laughed; "So I can look at you everyday, and see the genuine beauty that the world has given me."
Caroline stared at the man in front of her as the rain rolled down his perfectly chiselled face. He was what the world was offering her and it was all she ever wanted and needed.
Klaus stared at the woman in front of him as her hair fell across her face and her wedding dress became covered in sand and he knew that that was the most beautiful he had ever seen her. He laughed and shook his head as he strided towards her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her with everything that was in him.
They finally came up for air, resting their foreheads against each others and smiling against each other's lips.
"I love you Mrs Mikaelson"
"I love you two Mr Mikaelson... always and forever."
"Now I believe I owe you that dance..." he said as she smiled brighter than she ever had.
The spent the rest of the storm dancing together and knowing that as long as they were in each other's arms, they would be safe, the would have roots, and the opportunities to spread their wings, together.
Don't forget to leave your final thoughts:)