Fixing Mistakes
Chapter 7 - Mikael
Caroline stared at Mikael before her, he stood tall and proud with a sneer on his face as he looked, no, more like glared at Klaus. This was the man whom turned Klaus into the vicious, distrustful, paranoid man he becomes in the future. Caroline glared back at Mikael and stepped next to Klaus, curling her hand around his and squeezing it.
Mikael snarled at the girl's show of support to his worthless son. When his wife told him she had taken in a stray he had grown enraged, it was up to him and him alone who lived in his house and shared his food. He would have to remind Esther just whom was the head of their home.
"Father," Elijah approached Mikael, subtly standing in front of Caroline and Klaus, "you have returned. How was your trip?"
"Trip implies it was for pleasure, Elijah." Mikael narrowed his eyes at his eldest child's show of protection, "I leave this family to help us survive and nothing more. I do not have the luxury of playing in the woods like children. I do my duties to protect this village."
Elijah bristled as Mikael inferred they act like children. Gritting his teeth he replied, "We had a eventful night and we needed a light hearted moment as opposed to the fear and drama of the night."
Mikael shook his head, "Duty comes first. Survival comes first."
"No, father," Elijah disagreed, "family comes first."
"Do not presume that I do not know whom your favourite is." Mikael glared at first Elijah and then at Klaus over his shoulder, "Your fights led me to believe that you had finally seen how worthless he is." He stepped toward Elijah and slapped his shoulder, so hard that Elijah winced, "I was wrong." He looked out at his assembled children and yelled, "All my children go home and get back to your chores."
Rebekah took Henrik's hand and led him away from their father as quick as possible. Kol followed behind them, keeping his eye on them as they made the trek back to their mother.
Klaus kept his head down and pulled Caroline along with him as he joined Elijah. They were about to leave when Mikael's voice stopped them.
"Wait." Mikael walked in front of them, "I told my children to go home." He gestured at Caroline, "She is not one of my children."
Klaus tightened his hold on Caroline's hand, raising his eyes and staring defiantly at Mikael, "I will not leave her alone with you."
Fire filled Mikael's eyes, "You dare defy me, boy!"
Klaus held his head high, "Yes!" He stared at his father, showing him that he would not back down, Caroline's hand giving him the strength to stand up to his father, "I will stand by her."
Mikael clenched his fists, he itched to beat the defiance out of his wretched child, to make him suffer for thinking he deserved to be happy. He would make Klaus pay, the beating could wait, first he would deal with the girl. Mikael smiled, not a friendly one but one filled with malice, "Fine, stay."
Caroline stared back at Mikael, not showing an ounce of fear in the face of this truly evil man. The way he had talked to Elijah and Klaus infuriated her, they were his sons and he treated them with contempt. Klaus was right, his relationship with his father was more complex than hers. She felt stupid for telling him that he should have sat down with his father and talked to him. How young and naive she was.
Mikael looked at Klaus with a satisfied smile on his face as he addressed Caroline, "You are no longer welcome in MY home." He turned to leave, "Take your things and leave as soon as you return." He walked away hearing his children's protestations as he left, Niklaus does not deserve happiness.
"No!" Klaus cried in despair, "He cannot throw you out."
"He just did." Caroline was not surprised at Mikael's order, he was a controlling and abusive father and as she made Klaus happy he wanted to remove her presence from his son's life.
"I will not allow it." Klaus cradled Caroline's face between his hands, "I will come with you. I will live in the forest with you, Caroline."
Caroline smiled, "How sweet of you to offer but I will not let you." She raised her hands to cover Klaus's, "He will not separate us, Klaus."
Klaus blinked back tears, "How could it not? My," he spits the word out, "father, wishes to separate us and will not stop until I am as I unhappy as he is."
"I will not let him." Caroline vowed, looking into Klaus's eyes she showed him her true feelings, "I care about you. So, so much and I will not allow that man to take you from me."
Klaus could not help but smile at Caroline's declaration. He brushed his thumb along her cheek and whispered, "I care for you more than mere words can express." He lowered his head and barely brushed her lips with his, "I will not lose you, Caroline." He kissed her, one hand caressing her cheek the other curling around her waist to hold her tight against him.
Caroline sighed into Klaus's mouth as their lips caressed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning as she opened her mouth and tangled her tongue with his.
Elijah looked away as Caroline and Klaus's embrace became more intimate. He hated his father for trying to separate the young lovers. Klaus had never been so happy since Caroline's arrival, he had forgiven Elijah for what happened with Tatia and was his closest brother once again. He would not let Caroline be left out in the cold. She was like his sister and he would not let any harm come to her.
Esther stood as one by one her children entered their home, "Why are you back so soon?"
"Father!" Kol answered, he was still upset that their father cut their fun short and sent them home, "He did not like that we were having fun so he ordered us back." Kol folded his arms and glared at the ground, "He never allows us to have fun."
Esther sighed at the actions of her husband, Mikael never understood that his children will never respect him if he does nothing but censure them and their harmless past times.
Kol suddenly got up, "I do not care what he says. I am going outside and I am going to entertain myself." He stormed out, hating his father and wishing that he had stayed gone, their family lived just fine without him.
Esther could not fault Kol his ire, he out of all her children enjoyed having fun the most. She hated how Mikael treated their children, especially Klaus, he did not even know that Klaus wasn't his son. Esther prayed he never found out.
Mikael stomped inside calling for his wife as he entered, "Esther!"
Esther greeted her husband, "Yes, Mikael?"
"I have told Niklaus that the girl must leave us immediately." Mikael told Esther what he'd done, "She will collect her possessions and go."
"What?" Esther was shocked and appalled at Mikael's actions, "How can you do this to Caroline? She is a part of our family."
"She is nothing to do with me." Mikael replied, "Just because she opens her legs to that boy does not make her one of the family." He snorted, "By that logic that Petrova girl would be one of us."
SLAP!
Mikael stared wide eyed at Esther, his cheek stinging at her slap.
Esther glared at Mikael, for the first time hatred showed in her eyes, "Do not speak about Caroline that way ever again. She almost died last night trying to find our son whom she thought was lost."
"Niklaus was lost?" Mikael chuckled, "I knew that boy was worthless."
Esther clenched her jaw at Mikael's vitriol, "It was Henrik."
Mikael's face changed instantly into one of rage, "You allowed our son to wander off into the woods on a full moon." He hit the table with anger, "Are you stupid?"
"He wondered off and Caroline almost died trying to find him." Esther crossed her arms over her chest, "She fought a wolf and lived. Have you ever done an act of such courage and bravery?"
"Courage and bravery?" Mikael replied, shaking his head in disbelief, "I call it luck dearest wife and nothing more." He stood and made his way to their chambers, "I expect the girl to be gone before nightfall."
"Do you truly believe that I would leave her to fend for herself?" Esther asked, "Mikael, I will not..."
CRACK!
Mikael breathed heavily as he lowered his hand, "Do you think I would forget that you dared to lay a hand on me?" He brutally held Esther's wrist, jerking her close, "Do not test me, Esther! Or I might be tempted to lose some more members of this family."
"Do you forget that I am the second most powerful witch in this village?" Esther narrowed her gaze at Mikael and began chanting under her breath.
Mikael groaned as his fingers began twisting at odd angles, the slow movement of his joints causing him agony, his bones close to fracturing. With his other hand he shot up and held Esther by the throat, "Do you forget that I could kill your precious Niklaus?" He sneered down at his wife, "I assure you that it would be a great pleasure for me to end his miserable existence."
Esther held the spell for another minute, wishing with all her being that she could end Mikael once and for all, but the punishment for a woman killing her husband was death and the ostracisation of her family. She could not allow that. She stopped her incantation and turned away from Mikael's smug look.
"The boy shall live." Mikael turn to leave, adding before he departed, "For now."
Esther dug her fingers into the table to stop herself from attacking Mikael. Taking deep breaths she calmed herself down. Finally able to think rationally again she tried to find a solution to Caroline's living arrangements. At once she knew what to do.
Esther left.
Klaus, Caroline and Elijah took a slow walk back home, not willing to rush the moment where Caroline would be thrown out and have to fend for herself.
Klaus kept his hand securely wrapped around Caroline's, he did not want to let her go and wasn't sure that he wouldn't leave with her. How could he leave the woman who'd captured his heart out in the cold. He couldn't and he wouldn't.
Caroline was unsure what to do or where she'd go. She only knew the Mikaelson's, Tatia and Ayana, Tatia was out for obvious reasons and Bonnie's ancestor was only a recent friendship. They may have got on well but did that mean she would open her home to her? She wasn't sure.
The sound of rushing footsteps could be heard. Stopping, Klaus and Elijah stood protectively on front of Caroline as they waited for whomever it was to show themselves. They prayed it was not Mikael.
Esther and Ayana appeared through the trees, they were relieved to find Klaus, Elijah and Caroline together.
"Mother. Ayana." Elijah greeted, "What brings you out here?"
"Does it have to do with fathers return?" Klaus asked, tightening his grip on Caroline's hand, "And his decree for Caroline."
"Yes, my sons." Esther answered, her eyes filled with sympathy as she addressed Caroline, "I did not know he would cast you out, Caroline."
Caroline nodded, "I know."
"I have come to care for you in the time you were with us." Esther stepped forward and took Caroline's free hand, "I am truly sorry for my husband's actions."
"I care for you too." Impossible as this was a few years ago Caroline had also come to care for Esther, all of the Mikaelson family in fact and the thought of how they were in the future pained her. They were barely a family they were so broken, which is heartbreaking to know after seeing them so together now. How she wished she could save them from the lifetimes of hurt.
"I have a solution for your living situation." Esther smiled at Caroline before gesturing at Ayana, "My dearest friend Ayana has agreed to let you live with her in her home."
"What?" Caroline whispered shocked.
"It is true, child," Ayana confirmed, "I am opening my home to you." She smiled at Caroline, "If you are willing to accept."
"Yes!" Caroline agreed immediately, hardly believing that Ayana would open her home to a practical stranger, "Yes of course I am willing. If you are sure. You barely know me."
"After what we discussed, if my own considers you family then whom am I to disagree." Ayana replied, subtly referencing their discussion of Bonnie.
Caroline grinned, "How I wish she could meet you."
"Some things are not to be." Ayana approached Caroline and took her hand, "I will meet her one day when she passes from this world."
Caroline's heart clenched at the thought. Bonnie had already died saving them from Silas and giving her life to bring back Jeremy. Bonnie's only alive now because she is the anchor to the Other Side, any supernatural that dies passes through her. She will technically live forever as long as the Other Side remains. Caroline would have her three best friends forever, Bonnie, Stefan and Elena, as long as she became a vampire again. But the price for vampirism was Henrik's life and she would rather die in the past a thousand years before she was born than sacrifice that sweet boy.
"Should we return to Esther's and gather your things?" Ayana asked.
"I do not have anything." Caroline replied, her heart beginning to mourn the loss of her friends, I am truly going to be here for the rest of my life.
"I will fetch your dresses, Caroline." Before Caroline could object Esther added, "Rebekah gave them to you."
Caroline nodded. She solemnly followed behind Esther and Ayana, her hand firmly encased in Klaus's with Elijah walking beside them. Her mind was turning, she had put off thinking too much about the future as she was scared of returning and she was also scared of staying. Mystic Falls now was so different to the place she grew up in and yet, it was still her home. She missed her mom and her friends.
Klaus did not understand Caroline's somber mood. His mother had found a solution to her living problems and yet she still seemed unhappy. Did she not want to stay? He hurt at the thought. Slowing his steps he waited until he and Caroline were a few steps behind.
Caroline finally noticed that they were behind their companions. Turning to Klaus she asked, "Why are we behind the others?"
"I wished to speak with you." Klaus replied before chewing his cheek, unsure how to ask.
"What is it, Klaus?" Caroline asked, becoming concerned at Klaus's hesitancy.
Klaus opened his mouth to speak a few times before finally blurting out, "Are you unhappy about staying?"
Caroline was taken aback at Klaus's question. She didn't know how to feel about the very real prospect that she would spend the rest of her life here. One thing she did know is that she would make sure that Henrik lived. If vampires were created again it would not be because of his death.
"Caroline?" Klaus's voice quivered, he was afraid that Caroline did not want to stay here, his unanswered question only fuelling that fear.
Caroline shook herself out of her thoughts and finally responded to Klaus, "I am not...unhappy." She sighed, "I am still missing my family and getting used to the idea of being without them." That was the truth, she missed all of them and she knew she always would. Perhaps there is someway she could leave a message for them so that they would know what happened to her.
Klaus felt terrible, he completely forgot that Caroline had lost her family before meeting them. She was just so happy all the time that it was hard to think that she had suffered such a tragedy. He held her hands and apologized, "I am so sorry, Caroline." He looked at the floor as he admitted, "You are so very happy most of the time that I am ashamed to admit that I sometimes forget that you lost your family."
Caroline truly hated the lie she had to tell but it was unfortunately necessary. She placed her palm against Klaus's cheek, "You do not have to be sorry." She stroked her thumb against his skin as she emphasized, "I HAVE been happy." A small smile covered her lips, "You have made me happy, Klaus."
Klaus smiled, his heart doubling in rhythm at Caroline's declaration. He raised his hand to cover hers, "You have also made me happy, Caroline." He lowered his head to rest on hers, "So much so in fact that I can come to only one conclusion."
"And what's that?" Caroline whispered, fascinated at the look on Klaus's eyes. It almost looked like...
Klaus smiled, his eyes shining, "That I am totally and utterly..." He cradled Caroline's face between his palms and opened his mouth to confess when he was interrupted by a voice.
"Niklaus? Caroline? Where are you?" Elijah called as he searched for his brother and friend.
Klaus groaned before releasing Caroline and answering his brothers yell, "We are over here, Elijah."
Caroline was frustrated as she watched Klaus walk away from her. She could have sworn that Klaus was about to confess his feelings for her before Elijah interrupted. Was she glad of his intrusion? She wasn't entirely sure though her racing heart suggested otherwise.
Elijah walked to where Klaus and Caroline were, "Where have you two been? We have been worried."
"I am sorry that we worried you." Caroline felt guilty for causing them unnecessary stress.
"Caroline and I were talking and we fell behind." Klaus added. He was frustrated at Elijah's interruption, he was so close to declaring his true feelings to Caroline and once again he was interrupted.
"Are you finished talking?" Elijah asked.
"We have." Caroline answered, beginning to walk in the direction Esther and Ayana went.
"For now." Klaus mumbled under his breath, determined to tell Caroline his feelings whenever they had the opportunity to be alone.
Esther and Ayana stood in the forest waiting for Elijah to return with Klaus and Caroline. They had not noticed them fall behind until they were nowhere in sight.
"How do you plan on dealing with Mikael?" Ayana asked, curious as to what Esther had planned.
"Regretfully I must keep the children apart as I try to calm Mikael." Esther did not want to keep Caroline and Klaus apart but she needed Mikael to believe he had the power, "I must protect them all I can."
Ayana nodded in agreement, "I will keep Caroline away from Mikael as much as I am able."
"I will make sure Niklaus has his happy ending." Esther vowed, after all that Mikael had done to belittle Klaus he deserved someone as kind and strong as Caroline.
"And you believe Caroline is that ending?" Ayana asked curious as to Esther's answer.
"Do you not?" Esther asked, surprised that Ayana asked that question.
"I neither believe nor disbelieve." Ayana responded in the vague way witches are known to, "Caroline, from what I know of her, is a lovely girl and shall make whomever courts her a lucky man."
Esther narrowed her gaze, "Niklaus is the man that courts her."
"I know that." Ayana did know that Caroline and Klaus were in a courtship, however, she also knew that Caroline was from the future with no clue as to how she came to be here and no way of knowing if she would be sent back.
"Then why do you doubt that they will last?" Esther asked.
"No one knows the outcome of our choices." Ayana responded, "It is in fate's hands." She knew that there was no way of explaining her concern for Klaus without revealing Caroline's secret. She would watch them and pray that whatever fate brought Caroline to them wouldn't take her back.
Caroline, Klaus and Elijah came upon the clearing where Esther and Ayana waited.
"I see you found them?" Ayana asked, a smile on her lips as she eyed Klaus and Caroline's joined hands.
"Yes," Elijah winked at Klaus, "they were not too far away when I found them."
Ayana chuckled at the blush on Klaus and Caroline's cheeks, "Come, child. We must hurry before night falls."
Caroline, Klaus, Elijah, Esther and Ayana set off and quickly made their way through the forest to their village.
Esther and Caroline went inside and collected the few items she had acquired since staying with them. They managed to avoid Mikael as they left the house, Rebekah and Henrik joining them to say goodbye to Caroline.
Rebekah threw her arms around Caroline and held her tight, "I will miss you so much!"
"I will miss you also." Caroline returned Rebekah's embrace, truly meaning that.
"It will be lonely when I sleep without you to talk with." Rebekah had loved sharing her room with Caroline, it was so nice having another female around that was her own age. She would truly miss her.
"I will only be across the village." Caroline tried to cheer Rebekah up.
"Good." Rebekah pouted, hating to lose her friend, "I will see you often."
"I'm counting on it." Caroline gave Rebekah one last squeeze before letting go.
Henrik wrapped his arms around Caroline's waist, "Goodbye, Miss Caroline, I will miss you."
Caroline held Henrik tight as she returned his embrace, "I'll miss you too, Henrik."
Henrik pulled back and smiled at Caroline, "We will see each other soon."
Caroline ruffled Henrik's hair, "Yes we will."
Elijah came up and kissed Caroline's cheek, "Be well, Caroline."
"Thank you, Elijah." Caroline smiled at Elijah.
Klaus took Caroline's hand, "I will walk you to your new home."
Caroline smiled at Klaus and began walking with him to Ayana's. She was sad to leave the Mikaelson's as it had become a home to her in the time she'd been there. Sooner than she'd like they arrived at Ayana's. Turning to Klaus she tilted her head to the door, "We are here."
Klaus tightened his hold on Caroline's hand and gazed at her with sad eyes, "I wish you did not have to go."
"So do I." Caroline sighed, looking off to the side before returning her gaze to Klaus, "But I have to." She stepped forward her eyes locked with his, "So let's make the most of this situation."
"Okay, sweetheart." Klaus curled his arm around Caroline's waist pulling her closer to him, "We will make the most of it." He lowered his head and covered her lips with his, moaning quietly at the taste of her.
Caroline placed her hands on Klaus's chest, massaging her fingers into his muscles as she accepted his tongue in her mouth.
Klaus pulled away from Caroline placing his forehead against hers, "Goodbye, Caroline."
Caroline smiled at Klaus, "Goodbye, Klaus." She turned around and walked inside her new home.
"Make yourself at home, child." Ayana welcomed Caroline, she showed her to her new room "Your room is on the left. It was my daughter's."
"Where is she now?" Caroline asked.
Ayana smiled with happiness, "She met a lovely young man whom she married and moved to a nearby village." Her eyes lit up with pride, "She is currently with child. Her first."
"Congratulations." Caroline smiled at Ayana's joy.
"It is all my daughter." Ayana was happy that her daughter had found true happiness, "She is due within the next three moons." She backed away, "I will leave you to settle."
Caroline entered her new room and sat on the bed. She would have to get used to another new setting just after she settled with the Mikaelson's. It never even occurred to her that the moment Mikael returned he would kick her out, not that it surprised her. She would just have to go with it and continue as she was. At least she would still have Klaus.
A week later
Caroline was in the forest her back against a tree as she took a rare rest. Ayana kept her busy with the various chores she had to do, so busy in fact that she had barely seen Klaus in the past week and that made her sad. She missed him.
All of a sudden Caroline heard a crack and a yell in the distance. Jumping to her feet she ran in the direction of the noise. She peered around a tree to see what the noise was.
Caroline gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as her eyes filled with tears.
Mikael stood over Klaus, his hands covered in blood as he rained blow after blow onto Klaus's prone form.
Klaus was curled into a ball, his hands covering his face as Mikael hit and kicked him. He cried out in pain at each new hit.
Caroline couldn't stand to see Mikael hurt Klaus any longer. The sight was painful to watch and it broke her heart to see Klaus defenceless. It also made her mad, boiling with rage actually.
"STOP!" Klaus yelled in desperation, his ribs close to being broken, "Please, father."
Mikael stopped his assault for a second, "No, boy, I will not stop." He kicked Klaus's ribs once again, "You are a poor excuse for a son." He punched his face, "I will never stop."
Klaus cried in despair, fearing that Mikael would finally succeed in killing him.
Caroline had seen enough.
She ran to Klaus.
Ara grabbed Nera's hand as Caroline ran toward Klaus and Mikael. She was afraid what Mikael would do to Caroline after she interrupted them.
Nera squeezed Ara's hand in support. She would not like what was about to occur. Mikael was about to become an even worse person than Ara had previously thought.
Nera's heart went out to Caroline.
TBC
AN - What did you guys think? I hope you all enjoyed it. What do you think is about to happen? What could Mikael to do to make him an even worse man than he is now? Until next time X X X
