This chapter was one of my favorites to write. I guess my inspiration is back! I love writing about multiple characters and in this chapter I had the opportunity to do so. I hope you will like it… Enjoy!
"What have I done to deserve that kiss?", asked Klaus playfully.
"Oh, so you're stuck at the kiss, huh? You have some serious explaining to do!", responded Caroline.
"About what, sweetheart? What have changed since this morning?"
"I know what you did. I know everything!"
"What do you mean you know everything? You didn't figure it out on your own! I told you so. And I am going to say it again; I love you!"
"I am so not talking about that! Do not change the subject!", she yelled, but she couldn't feel… not flattered, either.
"Which is the subject, love?", he asked, a little more serious.
"I know about my father!", she finally said.
"Wait, I can explain."
"No, you can't! How could you take that choice away from him? It was his choice, and he had decided not to feed! But you don't let people decide on their own, do you? You didn't care! You only care about yourself!"
"…and you.", he added, "And because I care about you, I forced him to feed. I did it for you. I had seen how sad and depressed you were. You were going to lose him. I couldn't stand the sight of you that hurt.", he said.
"Exactly! YOU couldn't stand it. What about me? Did you ask me?"
"Would you let me do it?"
"NO! Of course not!"
"Exactly!"
"So… If you did that for me, which was the most wrong thing you've ever done in your life…"
"Don't be so sure! Hayley was the most wrong thing."
"Do not interrupt me! Anyway, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because he asked me not to."
"You don't care what he wants as you have already proven to me. So what changed your mind, huh?", she asked.
"I realized that my decision was wrong. I shouldn't have forced him to feed. I could easily kill him but I would feel guilty afterwards. So, I decided for once in my life to do something right."
"But it wasn't right! I spent years grieving for him! You could have told me!"
"Do you remember how we were back then? You didn't trust me. If I had told you, you would have hated me."
"It doesn't matter. You told me now. Oh, wait, you didn't. I found out. You were not going to tell me, were you?", she asked, even more angry than before.
"I was. Believe me."
"I don't. I can't trust you anymore. You know that."
"I did it for you. I love you, Caroline, and you know that. Give me a chance to fix this."
"No. Not right now at least. All I want from you is to call my father and tell him that I want to talk to him.", she said.
"What if he doesn't want to talk to you?", he asked.
"I don't care. I spent two years believing that he was dead. I think I deserve a meeting."
"Ok. I'll call him and tell him that you want to meet him. But it's up to him. If he doesn't want to, you'll respect him. Is that ok with you?", he responded.
"No, it's not. I am gonna meet him. And you don't get to make decisions for me. Now get out of here! I don't wanna look at you ever again! Leave!", she yelled and pushed him, trying to get him out of the room.
"You'll regret that afterwards and you know it, Caroline!", he said and grabbed her tightly. He kissed her tenderly but gently, trying to give her all the love that was inside him.
"Go away!", she yelled and started crying angrily.
"As you wish.", he said and disappeared after two seconds.
Caroline couldn't realize what had just happened. She was feeling betrayed and hurt and anxious and disappointed and confused at the same time. She spent hours thinking about him. She knew she shouldn't have, not after what he had done. But she couldn't help it. What if he really loved her? What if she shouldn't be that harsh? What if he was worth of her forgiveness? She couldn't decide, because she couldn't think clearly. All she could decide was that it was time to take a nap.
###
"Do you think that Caroline is okay?", asked Elena, truly worried about her best friend.
"I don't know, Elena. I think that she can take care of herself. She's strong. But don't tell her I said that!", Damon warned her and kissed her in the cheek.
"I won't. Your secret's safe with me. So… what do you wanna do?"
Instead of an answer, his lips found hers and he tasted her. He kissed her gently and, slowly, his kiss became harder. She was enjoying it and he knew that. He always knew what she was thinking and how to make her happy. That was another +1 to their relationship. However, he didn't think that there were any -1s. They were perfect for each other.
"Elena?", Jeremy's voice sounded surprised and a little… amazed.
"You should really stop doing that, man!", said Damon. Obviously, he had a de ja vu from the motel in Denver. He was trying to deal with Jeremy, because he was Elena's brother. And that was the only reason.
"I agree!", said Elena and got up to hug him. He was away for at least half a year and she had missed him. Not only him, but his… partner, too.
"Hello, Elena!", said Bonnie, who got into the room and hugged her tightly, too.
"I guess we'll continue another time.", said Damon, a little annoyed that they interrupted them.
"Don't be mean!", Elena said and kissed him, to make it up to him. "Of course we will.", she whispered in his ear so they wouldn't hear her.
"Hey, what about me? You're gonna leave me out here? Can't I come in?", said someone from outside.
Damon couldn't believe it. The voice was coming from someone he thought he would never see or hear again. It was Alaric's voice. He was standing in front of the door.
"You have to invite me in now.", he said with a wide smile on his face.
"Esther, who died and had made Alaric the "Big Bad Vampire-Vampire Hunter" changed her mind. She allowed me to bring him back to life as a normal vampire. So, here he is.", Bonnie explained.
"You may come in.", said Damon, trying not to cry from happiness. At least not at that time. He could cry later, when they would be alone. Alaric came in and hugged him.
"You didn't screw it up, did you?", he asked.
"I guess I didn't!", Damon said and a grin appeared on his face.
"What's going on here? What are you two talking about?", Elena asked.
"Guy stuff. You're not interested.", Alaric answered, still looking at his best friend.
"I think you two have a lot to talk about!", said Bonnie.
"Yes, we do.", responded Damon and added; "And that's why we're gonna take a walk."
And just like that, Alaric and Damon left Damon's bedroom and went out of the house in sync.
"Elena, we have to tell you something.", Jeremy started.
"You have to tell me a lot of somethings! You've been away for more than six months. I wanna know everything. How was your expanded trip? And that something you wanna tell me; do tell!", Elena finished.
"We can't tell you right now. Can you please gather everyone tonight? We have an announcement to make.", Said Bonnie.
"Ok.", said Elena confused, "Tonight, at 9 pm, at our place; here. And you can announce whatever you want to announce. I guess you'll both stay at our old house, Jeremy?"
"Yeah, we will. Thank you. I'll see you tonight. And be careful; you should finish whatever you were doing with Damon before then.", said Jeremy.
"Shut up!", shouted Elena.
"No way!", he responded and left the room and the house with Bonnie.
###
Caroline's nap was interrupted by her cell phone's ringing. It was him. Klaus. She didn't want to answer, but she did because he could have arranged the meeting she was so eager about.
"Hello, Caroline. Do you feel bad about our fight already?", he asked. The truth is that she was feeling bad but she wasn't gonna talk about it. Especially not with him. He was enough sure of himself already.
"Tell me if you arranged the meeting."
"I did. You can meet your father in half an hour at the café. I guess you know which one. But I will warn you; he's different."
"You didn't know him before. You can't talk about him before. End of story.", she said and hung up.
She dressed up and looked at herself in the mirror. She hated that but he was right. Her father would be different. He would be stronger. He would be a vampire. A creature that he hated for his entire life. She wished that he would be ok. She left and walked slowly. She didn't know if she really wanted that meeting. But it was too late. She arrived at the café. She saw him, sitting on the same table he was sitting with Klaus the first time she had learnt that he was alive. Sort of.
"Hello, daddy."
She didn't get an answer.
"How are you?"
"I am a vampire.", Bill finally said, "and it's his fault."
"I know. What he did was wrong. He did it for me."
What was she doing? She was justifying him? Where the hell did that come from?
"I don't care.", he said, "I mean… I care about you. But it wasn't his choice to make."
Caroline was relieved. Her father wanted to care about her. He wanted her in his life. She couldn't stop herself. She leaned and hugged him tightly.
"I'm glad you're ok.", she said.
"Me too."
"Why didn't you want me to know that you're alive?"
"I don't know. It was a mistake. I'll fix this. I promise you."
"Maybe he can fix his mistake, too.", Caroline whispered more to herself.
"What did you just say?", her father asked.
"Nothing."
"It wasn't nothing, Caroline. So it's true? You really love him?"
"I don't know, dad."
"What happened to Tyler?", he asked.
"We broke up."
"Well… you were nice together. Why?"
"I don't want my life to be normal. I want… magic. I want love. I want someone who understands me. And he does. He really does, daddy."
She made her decision. She wanted to be with him. I'm sure this time, she thought.
"You know I will never approve him being with you. But if that makes you happy… I'll back off."
"Thanks, daddy. I appreciate it.", she said.
"I bet he appreciates it more.", he said.
"Don't be so sure.", said Klaus, who suddenly appeared behind her.
"I'll leave you two so you can talk.", said Bill.
"Oh, don't. We will go home. Won't we?", asked Klaus.
"You will regret that. I will make you regret that.", Caroline hissed but smiled. Then they got out of the café and ran in vamp speed. They decided to relive their first moment in New Orleans.
###
It was almost 8.30 but everyone was already at the Salvatore house. They didn't want to miss the welcome party. Stefan, Rebekah, Damon, Elena, Jeremy, Alaric and Bonnie were sitting around the big table. Everybody was happy, talking to each other and laughing.
"How much time do you think this will last?", asked Rebekah.
"I don't know. Be patient, please. For me.", answered Stefan.
"I see you're above happy now!", said Alaric to Damon.
"Yes, I am. But I won't take all the credit. You helped, too. In your own way.", responded Damon.
"Of course I did!"
"How do you think they'll take it?", asked Bonnie.
"I honestly don't know. Does it matter?", said Jeremy.
"I guess it doesn't. It will be the two of us against the world.", joked Bonnie.
"Alaric will be with us. He already knows, remember? He has no problem.", Jeremy said.
"I was just trying to be romantic.", Bonnie said.
"Welcome home!", said Elena, who had decided to make a speech. Everyone stopped talking. "We are all happy that we have you back Jeremy, Bonnie and Alaric, of course! Welcome back from the dead!"
"Thank you, Elena.", said Alaric.
"I shall continue. Jeremy and Bonnie want to make an announcement. I will give the word to them."
"So… We are happy to be back. I know that Alaric was the biggest surprise and I don't doubt that. But we have another one. One we did not expect. Bonnie?", said Jeremy.
"I know that most of you will not believe me.", she started.
"Tell us already!", said Rebekah, who was really impatient.
"Yeah, tell us!", shouted Elena.
"Let her finish!", yelled Jeremy.
And she did.
"I'm pregnant.", she finished.
Hope you liked it… See you soon!
