A/N: A) Don't bite me, my dear Readers, for there's still a few chapters left. Yep. I have it all planned since ch 5 (I have made 'the decision'). :) I wish I could make it as long as Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, because I grow so attached to my stories that it's hard for me to let them go, but well... I don't want to overdo it.

B) It's a super-fast update because your reviews make me soooo happy *dreamy stare* like chocolate or cranberry beer. Or both.


Chapter 7

No place for us


The weather today is partly angry, leading to resignation and ultimatums.

Chuck Palahniuk


He's gone for what to Caroline seems like eternity. She spends it lying on the floor, pouring her heart out.

How could she be so naive to think that she could keep Ben safe around Klaus? How could she be so selfish to stay with him, thinking that he's harmless now? She hoped —so foolishly!— that now without his power trip Klaus would be a better man. Ben likes him so much. Ben admires him. With one immature decision she ruined ten years of struggle to keep the boy safe. What would Stefan say? She can just imagine that disappointment in his eyes as well as that rage in Damon's.

"I'm so sorry, Elena." She whispers.

This waiting is killing her in the worst way possible.

Finally the door opens with a creak and Klaus comes in, with his clothes ripped and torn, holding unconscious Ben in his arms. There's a bruise under hybrid's left eye, but apart from that he seems fine. (Physically, of course. The bruises on his mind and heart are much worse.)

"Ben! Oh my God!" She rushes to them, hoping the boy is left unharmed. He is. Klaus takes Ben to his bedroom and puts him gently on the bed. Then he returns to the living room where Caroline's waiting for him, trembling.

"Thank you." She utters, distressed and afraid of Klaus, but relieved to see that Ben is safe and sound.

"I wouldn't be so eager to thank me if I were you." He warns her in a cold tone.

"What do you mean?" Caroline's heart skips a beat.

"I'm taking the boy away." He states, not looking at her. Caroline launches at him, grabs him by his shirt and begs him, "What? You can't! Klaus, you can't do this!" She's frantically pulling at his already torn shirt. He roughly pushes her away.

"You're not in a position to tell me what to do." He mutters.

"Please." Her voice cracks. The girl totally breaks down. "I beg you, don't take him away from me. I'll do anything you want, just— "

"Why should I listen to you at all? Why should I believe you now when you promise me to behave?" He's seething. "You lied to me, Caroline Forbes. You betrayed me!"

"What do you think was I supposed to do?" She lashes out at him. "Tell you right away that he carries the doppelganger gene? Do you think I'm suicidal? !"

That keeps him thinking for a moment. He never wanted Caroline to pledge her loyalty to him. She was the only one whose loyalty he wanted to earn. Well, it turns out he's been doing a crap of a job so far. She is still afraid of him. She may be sleeping with him, but she still doesn't open up her heart—

Screw that, she's been lying to him!

But how is he going to raise the boy on your own? He needs to have full control over young Donovan but he can't stay with him 24/7.

"You have two options — if you want to stay alive, of course." Klaus says eventually, waking Caroline's almost dead heart.

"One: I can let you go, you'll run away and never come back." Her eyes start to water again. "Or, you can stay with me and the boy. You'll raise him with me, you'll continue with being a perfect mother, but you will not make any decisions without consulting them with me first. You will not disobey me, you will not try to steal him from me. And if you do, I'll kill you, Caroline, I'll kill you with my bare hands." His threatening stare is telling her that he's dead serious.

"What are you going to do with him?" She shudders swallowing hard.

"He'll get everything he wants. I'll give him the best schools, he'll study at whatever college or university he'll want. I'll show him the whole world. He'll come to no harm, I will always protect him. He'll have a father he wants and a perfect family he dreams of. He'll grow up, settle down, start a family on his own, he'll have a little doppelganger daughter, and he'll lead a long, healthy human life." Klaus says it with such a determination that Caroline makes her choice on the spot. She'll give up everything to keep Ben safe and happy. She needs to be there for him. Even if it means spending so many years with Klaus.

"I'll stay." Her eyes are fixed firmly on his own. Klaus looks now like the Klaus he used to be — a dangerous, hurt predator that lost his humanity centuries ago. The last trace of humanity he was showing when he was with her is now gone. His eyes are empty again. And it stings Caroline's heart like salt rubbed into a wound.

"Pack your things, then. We're moving out in three days." Klaus says flatly and turns to leave the apartment when a hand grabs his arm.

"Thank you." Her pale lips whisper almost inaudibly. He doesn't even look at her as his jaw clenches in anger.

"If you betray me again, Caroline, you'll end up dead."

Klaus has to leave her condo right now because if he doesn't, he'll lose it completely and just break her neck with one agile twist. He thought he didn't have a heart but there's an aching point in his chest that makes it impossible for him to breathe normally. He's been hoping for the last two months that at least Caroline would stay true to him. But people are untrustworthy and Klaus comes to the painful realization that there's no loyalty unless it's forced by the circumstances.


your letters got sadder.

your lovers betrayed you. kid, I wrote back, all

lovers betray. it didn't help.

- Charles Bukowski


Ben — compelled to forget about the whole incident with Kol— jumps for joy when Caroline and Klaus, with smiles plastered on their faces, tell him that they are moving in together to a house on the beach. (The Hamptons. Rich and spoiled society. Desperate housewives and men always hunting for more money and younger women. Klaus in obviously an elitist.)

Yes, they are together. Yes, they will live happily ever after.

Yes, they will get him a dog, too.

As soon as Ben disappears in his room — ready to pack his things even now— the cold distance between Klaus and Caroline is back.

She's wondering if he'll ever change his mind. If he doesn't, one day she'll have to tell Ben the truth and send him to somewhere in Europe where Klaus can't find him. And she'll take the consequences, she'll handle the measureless wrath she'll bring down on herself. But for now she has to focus on Ben's own good, she has to stall for more time to hatch not a good but a perfect Plan B. Good is not enough when it comes to defeating Klaus. She needs excellent.


A few days later everything's prepared. Caroline is silently amazed at Klaus' organizational skills. Well, he's had more than a thousand years to refine his methods.

Their new house is a breathtaking villa on a cliff just right next to the beach. A jaw-dropping landscape. An impressive garden with a small cozy garden house in one of its corners. Two swings. And a kennel.

Klaus would ask her, do you like it? She would wrap her arms around his neck and shower him with kisses, yes, yes I love it! It's perfect! But he doesn't say anything. A week ago he would give her the whole world if she asked him to, but now every time he looks at Caroline, he just wants to strangle her. Still, no matter how much he wants to erase her from his heart, there's a tiny little bit of him that enjoys her smiling face and her fascination with the house.

While their luggage is being taken care of by a compelled crew, Caroline lets Ben stay in the garden. He loves everything about their new house.

Their home.

"When are we going to get a dog?" Ben tugs at Caroline's summer floral dress.

"As soon as we settle in," Caroline smiles at him. Then she remembers what Klaus said about making decisions. She looks at him uneasily, "Right?"

Klaus nods. "The only thing that is missing here is a dog."

"And a younger brother." Ben pouts. Caroline gags. Klaus raises an eyebrow.

"A brother?"

"This is why we moved out of New York, right? Because I'm going to have a brother or a sister?" Ben looks at them suspiciously. Caroline seems too shocked to say anything. Klaus clears his throat, smirking unintentionally.

"Ben, we are not having a baby."

"Oh." Ben sighs disappointed. "You sure?"

That makes Klaus laugh more and Caroline's cheeks just turn crimson with embarrassment.

"I'm sure. But a dog is enough, it will do, you have my word."

Ben shrugs and trudges away to sit on a swing. Klaus looks for Caroline's face, but she's already gone.


it's best to sit in a small room

with the shades down

and

wait.

the strongest men are the fewest

and the strongest women die alone

too.

Charles Bukowski


The blonde sends the maids away and decides to sort out her clothes herself in the privacy of her own bedroom. She needs some distraction. She doesn't know what upsets her more — the fact that Ben thought she was pregnant or that Klaus was so amused by the improbability of such a situation. Caroline is sure he laughed at her not because she's a vampire, he laughed because he now despises her so much he would never touch her even if they were humans. She's fully aware of how he looks at her now. With loathing. Contempt. Hurt.

She's lost the only advantage she had over him. Now it's her time to earn his trust and she has to apply herself to the task if she wants to set Ben free from the hybrid's greedy, power-hungry claws.

When she's going through her lingerie, Caroline thinks about Tyler. The last time she was wearing this beautiful red lacy set was when she and Tyler celebrated their anniversary. She puts it against her body and looks at her reflection in the tall mirror hanging on the wall. She'll probably never wear it again.

"You better choose a dress for the cocktail party tomorrow." She hears Klaus' voice. Caroline spins around, hiding the set behind her back.

"What?"

"Our neighbours — terrible snobs but oh well — are throwing a party tomorrow. The whole community is going and so are we."

"Why?" She shakes her head. "We don't have to mingle. It's only temporary, anyways."

Klaus rolls his eyes. "But I need to know who's a werewolf and who's a vampire in the Hamptons without exposing myself. It's a perfect opportunity to, as you put it, mingle.''

Caroline doesn't want to play again the socialite she used to be. She doesn't have it in her anymore. She hates the cliques and scheming now.

"But you can go alone and I will stay with Ben." Please, let me stay at home.

"I think I didn't make myself clear. You are going with me and you'll play Mrs. Mikaelson brilliantly, do you understand?" He threatens her with all his hybrid self — his voice, his stare, his body language. Shivers run down Caroline's spine. She nods silently.

"Speaking of keeping up appearances," he takes a few steps forward and puts something small on her bed. She takes it and frowns. A golden ring? A... wedding ring? She gulps.

"Don't you dare take it off."

"Klaus, it's a wedding ring." She chokes out.

"Any problem with that? Or maybe you want me to actually put it on your finger with reverence?" He snaps, irritated. She winces at his brusque, sharp tone.

"N-no. I just thought... it... wouldn't be necessary."

"Don't be ridiculous." He bridles at her troubled expression. "It's not like you're forced to marry me. It's just a sham." He says, then adds quietly, like you.

Later that night Caroline lies in the bed playing with the wedding ring.

Mrs. Caroline Mikaelson. A sham.


Say this city has ten million souls,

Some are living in mansions, some are living in holes:

Yet there's no place for us, my dear, yet there's no place for us.

W.H. Auden