Title: Rescue
Pairing: Caremy
Rating: M (violence and some lemonade)
Timeline: Future Fic: The Vampire Diaries and The Originals Crossover (AU)
It was the night of the Senior Prom.
"Say cheese!" Caroline said holding up her phone to take a picture.
Jeremy pulled Bonnie closer as they, along with Stefan and Elena all chorused "cheese" as the moment was captured digitally.
"One more! Stefan was making a face!" she called out.
"Stefan's always making a face," Damon commented loudly as he slammed the door of his Camaro. He came up the pathway beside them and took the phone from Caroline. "Go," he said to her. "Get in the picture."
"Someone's being nice," Elena teased the elder Salvatore.
"Don't get used to it," Damon smiled.
Caroline squeezed in beside Jeremy, who threw an arm around her shoulder. She tilted her head so that it rested on his shoulder, pressing her palm against his chest.
Damon held the phone up instructing everyone to say, "Twilight Sucks".
Jeremy Gilbert woke up from that dream sighing. He couldn't remember the last time that they'd all been together…and happy. It wasn't that long ago the six of them were allies, working together to save Mystic Falls. They were the descendants of the Founders of the historic town. They were destined to walk in the footsteps of those before them.
The Salvatores.
The Gilberts.
The Bennetts.
The Forbes.
Four families whose ancestry dated back over two hundred years ago. There were more families too, The Lockwoods and The Fells and others whose names were listed on the plaque at town hall.
Jeremy closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep but the weight from the dream didn't let that happen.
Downstairs the morning routine of the Salvatore Boarding House had been disturbed by latest threat to their town. Damon and Bonnie were at the large oak desk, with a dozen grimoires surrounding them. Damon held Bonnie in lap, arms wrapped around her waist.
A lot had changed with time.
Jeremy rolled his eyes at them and turned into the kitchen where Stefan and Elena were having coffee and debating their next course of action.
"Morning," Stefan said sliding a mug of coffee Jeremy's way.
Jeremy grunted in gratitude. Bringing the mug to his lips he sipped the hot liquefied caffeine. "So," he set the mug down on the counter and tried to sound casual. "Has anyone heard from Caroline lately?"
Stefan and Elena's expressions widened at his question, which he had to expect. It wasn't as though Caroline had left on good terms with any of them.
"Why are you asking about Caroline?" Elena looked at him suspiciously. "Do you think she might have something to do with all this?"
"It's unlikely that she's involved," Stefan spoke with a furrowed brow.
Elena exhaled and set her mug on the counter top with a loud clink. "It seems that lately the most unlikely options are the ones that seem to catch us by surprise. Besides why would Jeremy mention her out of the blue like that?"
"I just had a dream…," Jeremy muttered.
"About Caroline?" Stefan put down his coffee. Clink.
Elena picked hers up and sipped, "Told you."
"What kind of dream?" Stefan prompted causing Jeremy to roll his eyes.
"The normal kind," he told the vampires.
"Are you sure?" Elena questioned. "Because some…"
"I'm sure," Jeremy responded with finality. Not every dream had a supernatural link. "I was dreaming about your prom," he told his sister.
"You're dreaming about my prom?" Elena questioned. "And Caroline was there."
"Something like that." Jeremy returned to his coffee, taking it with him outside to the patio as he avoided any additional questions.
To be honest, he hadn't thought that much about Caroline Forbes in a long time but today she was foremost in his thoughts. This was the third dream he'd had about her this week.
He wondered if she was still alive.
Damon joined him out on the patio. "Heard you drop the 'C' word," Damon smirked patting his shoulder.
Jeremy ignored him.
"You remember she took a turn down Klaus Street and ended up in Psychoville," Damon reminded him.
"I know," Jeremy looked out across the large estate.
"Maybe you should go visit her?" Damon suggested smirking. "A little Mardi Gras never hurt anyone."
"The last thing I'm going to do is walk into Klaus's backyard. I killed his brother, Damon. I don't think he's going to throw me a Welcome to New Orleans Party."
"Who's going to Mardi Gras?" Bonnie asked, sneaking her arms around Damon's waist.
"Jeremy is. He needs to see some tits and get laid."
Bonnie smiled sympathetically at Jeremy. Damon leaned down and kissed the top of Bonnie's head. "And speaking of getting laid…,"
As Damon propositioned Bonnie, Jeremy began to seriously consider taking a vacation. It was one thing to be dumped for Damon Salvatore. It was another thing to watch your ex hook up with him daily.
Right about now, Klaus and New Orleans didn't seem that bad.
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His hotel was in the heart of the French Quarter. As Jeremy saw it, there was no need to hide or sneak around in the city. If Klaus had a problem with his presence then so be it.
It took nearly a week of ten-hour days in the shopping district before he finally caught a glimpse of Caroline. When he saw the blonde hair and her beautiful smile, he exhaled in relief. She was still alive and well.
Caroline was accompanied by a little girl and if the armloads of bags were any indication, the pair of them were on quite a shopping spree. Though it seemed odd to Jeremy, Caroline taking a kid shopping, he didn't dwell on it. Instead he took in the sight of Caroline Forbes, in her tight jeans. He'd forgotten how much he missed that ass of hers.
He watched as the little girl mimicked Caroline's every motion. From how she tossed her hair to how she stood as they looked into the storefronts. From his post he could see that they were even dressed similar. The little girl wore her own skinny jeans and heeled knee high boots. She even had a pair of sunglasses perched on her head, just like Caroline.
They went into shop after shop. He followed them a few blocks before losing them in the crowded marketplace. But it didn't matter. He found out what he needed to know. Even though Caroline seemed to be acting like her old normal self, he knew she wasn't the same person she used to be.
Caroline Forbes was their enemy.
Back at his hotel he began packing planning to leave the next morning. Tonight he'd have a nice dinner, maybe a drink or two and then get a good night's sleep for the long drive back to Mystic Falls.
While he didn't hear anything out of the ordinary Jeremy froze in place, sensing vampires. It was odd that they had taken this long to find him. He smiled to himself at the thought of Klaus sending his henchmen after a hunter. Those vampires had no clue how capable Jeremy Gilbert was at killing.
Removing a syringe loaded with a vervain from his bag, he cautiously slid toward the door. He double checked the stakes fastened to each wrist as he peered through the peephole.
All he could see was long blonde hair.
Caroline? Or Rebekah? Didn't matter. He was ready.
Thumb pressing against the plunger, he swung the door open with one hand and brought his other hand down quickly, piercing the vampire's neck with the needle. The body collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. When the vampire rolled over, Jeremy could see that it wasn't Rebekah or Caroline. Instead it was a guy, who just happened to have long blonde hair.
Three more vampires came through the door. The last one politely shut the door behind her leaving their friend face down in the hallway. The lone female vampire had long hair in a shade of auburn that reminded him of Vicki. One of the males was dark skinned with coils of hair sticking out in every direction. The other male was bulky. His thick arms were covered in tattoos.
Jeremy set his legs in position, ready for their attack. The wait wasn't long as all three of them came at him at once. He was hit from behind and knocked to the floor. Before he could roll over, his arm was grabbed and twisted until he heard the 'pop' of his shoulder dislocating.
"Fuck," he grumbled under his breath, as his arm was pushed so far up his back that he could feel his fingertips on his ear.
Teeth sank into his leg as his knee was twisted.
Then he was struck in the head by something.
The odds weren't in his favor but Jeremy wasn't about to give up. He used his good arm for leverage as he swept his legs in arc, kicking one of them. Another was knocked down. Jeremy used the opportunity to get back on his feet again.
Removing the always ready for battle stake he kept on his person, the inked vampire was the first to die. As the hefty vamp charged at him full force, Jeremy's agility was the advantage as he dodged the attack and simultaneously rendered a fatal blow.
The two remaining vampires watched their comrade fall.
Jeremy raised a hand and waved them on, eager for the pair to continue. No matter how many he killed, it still felt so good.
Curly hair lunged forward, Jeremy was defensively positioned and would have been able to counter. That is if he hadn't seen the girl strip off her shirt from the corner of his eye. The sight of bare breasts cost him his edge as the stake was knocked from his hand.
The force of the blow also broke his wrist.
She charged him (still topless) and getting the upper hand wrapped her shirt tightly around his neck.
Jeremy felt the pressure on his windpipe. Reaching over his head he grasped air as she ducked out of the way. But the hunter persisted and was rewarded with a handful of hair. He pulled as hard as he could, grunting against the sharp pain the shot through his shoulder down into his chest.
The fabric tightened around his neck.
The door opened and the fourth vampire staggered into the room, still recovering from the vervain.
While Jeremy briefly glanced at the newcomer, teeth sank into his neck. Jeremy gathered his strength to move ninety degrees, just enough to get the vampire on his strong side before landing a punch to her jaw. Laughing, the female released her hold on the shirt, and the tension around his neck loosened a little bit.
Two vampires grabbed him and restrained his arms while the blonde sucker punched him.
There was laughter followed by more abuse. After a second knock to the face Jeremy could feel his eyes swelling closed. Frustrated, he tried to fight back but now they had the advantage.
He was thrown down on his back and bitten again and again, until they'd all tasted his blood. Drained and light headed Jeremy taunted the vampires.
"Go ahead. Kill me," Jeremy sneered in their faces. He felt hands grip his neck and squeeze.
The dark skinned vampire gripped the wrist of his companion, loosening his grasp and allowing Jeremy to breathe again.
"Don't kill him yet. Klaus said to make him suffer."
Klaus. Jeremy turned his head and was able to catch a glimpse of the door before the pain in his shoulder forced him to look away.
Teeth sank into Jeremy's neck again. He managed to gather enough strength to move ninety degrees, just enough to be on his side. The female released her hold on his neck allowing him to dislodge his arm a little bit.
From this position he was able to look her in the eye. She looked nothing like Vicki now. Dark veins spidered down across her cheeks as sharp pearly whites glistened. Even though he could feel the blood running from his neck, she had not a trace of blood on her mouth.
"You didn't think Klaus was going to let you leave without sending his regards, did you?" the male vampire laughed as he grabbed Jeremy's shirt hoisting the hunter to his feet.
The vampire growled and sank his teeth into his victim's broken shoulder. Jeremy struggled to stay conscious but the pain was excruciating. He gave the half naked vampire one last look before he stopped fighting his instinct. In case this didn't go his way, he could die knowing that at least he did get to see some tits in New Orleans.
Unsuppressed, the hunter's abilities were powerful. Even with his broken wrist, Jeremy was able to rip an eye out of the male vampire. Reeling back, the vampire screamed and covered his face.
He yelled something, but Jeremy didn't pay attention, kicking a chair down, he used a broken leg as a stake.
The blonde charged in anger catching Jeremy around the waist and tackling him to the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of Jeremy for a minute. As he lay gasping for air the vampire punched him in the stomach.
Jeremy's hands floated across the carpet until he hit an object. His boots. Knocking one over and reaching inside as the vampire landed another punch, he managed to extract his switchblade.
A quick slash opened up the vampire's throat. A second pass and the blade lodged in the vampire's ear.
He roared in pain.
In the instant it took him to pull the knife from the side of his head, Jeremy was able to thrust Alaric's old stake on the wrist device into his heart.
Three down.
One to go.
She smiled and stood her ground watching as her fellow vampires' last moments. When Jeremy turned her way, she prepared herself.
Jeremy struck first, a right hook that ended with a fist full of plaster as she easily dodged the blow. The wall however, was not as lucky. As Jeremy pulled his hand free, she laughed aloud.
She ducked as he threw another punch, chuckled as he removed the stake fastened to his calf and cartwheeled as he advanced on her again. She knocked the weapon from his hand with her spinning legs. He staggered and fell against the dresser.
"None of The Five could kill me. And neither can you," she taunted. She pushed against his chest with both hands. Jeremy fell backward to the ground once again. She knelt on top of him.
Neither of them moved.
Leaning in close to his face she whispered, "I know about the curse, so you're safe. For now."
"What are you going to do then?" Jeremy asked.
"Oh, I have some ideas," she grinned.
Her fingers brushed against the side of his cheek.
"Have you ever made love to a vampire, my little hunter?" she asked bringing her lips within a millimeter of his.
As her mouth touched his, Jeremy tasted the coppery flavor of his own blood.
Turning his head sideways he broke the kiss. As he stared at the glass doors to the balcony, planning his next move her teeth sank into his neck. Then she ripped his shirt open.
Still kneeling on his chest, Jeremy felt her weight shift in the just the right way to crack (but not break) his ribs. Jeremy could barely keep his eyes open as the fire spread through his chest. Breathing was nearly impossible between the weight of the vampire on his chest and the pain from the injuries they'd inflicted.
Jeremy grabbed her hand, ripping the daylight ring from her finger. The balcony doors were open and sunlight flooded the room. The vampire tried to get her ring back but Jeremy was able to hold onto it just long enough.
As the vampire caught fire in front of his eyes, Jeremy used his last ounces of energy to push himself across the floor into the golden rays. He closed his eyes as he felt the warmth on his face.
A pile of ash and the bodies of three dead vampires surrounded him.
It wasn't what he came to New Orleans to do but he was a hunter after all.
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Caroline wasn't even sure why she was there.
This wasn't her mission or even her business.
But she'd overhead Klaus talking;
A vampire hunter was in New Orleans.
She had to know.
Could it be?
She told herself it wasn't. It didn't make any sense.
Yet here she was standing on Bourbon Street in front of the hotel.
"No, Caroline," she told herself out loud. Adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder she turned and took a few steps away from the stone building.
Then she stopped.
"Keep going, Caroline."
She took another step, which turned into a pivot and then several steps in the wrong direction until she was on the fourth floor of the hotel staring at the door of room 412.
Pressing her ear to the door she listened.
No one was inside.
She compelled a housekeeper to open the door and let her inside.
"What am I doing?" she asked herself as she stood in the middle of the room. "I'm a stalker. I am officially a stalker. This is crazy!" She turned to leave but then turned back again.
"Two minutes. I'm going to give myself two minutes and then I'm leaving," she rationalized as she began to go through the occupant's belongings.
The dresser drawers contained some clothing, jeans, tees, socks and underwear. There were basic toiletries like deodorant and toothpaste. She rummaged around the rest of the room finding only a duffle bag with an assortment of stakes and knives in it but nothing to reveal the identity of the hunter.
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest, in frustration.
Going down to the front desk she loitered in the lobby until she could safely compel the man at the desk. The clerk turned the screen so she could see the information.
The reservation for Mike Rotch was made online and paid for by corporate credit card.
"Mike Rotch" Caroline said out loud. As the clerk muffled a laugh, she realized what that sounded like and smiled.
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Caroline Forbes stood on Bourbon Street in front of the hotel debating her next move. He'd been following her today. She wanted to know why.
No.
She needed to know why.
She used to know him. She used to know all of them. Called them friends. Always helped them. And then they'd turned on her. It was hard remembering that night. Bonnie and Elena were her best friends in the entire world. People she trusted with her life. And Stefan. He was like a brother, helping her when she first turned. Being there when she needed advice. She never imagined they would ever turn against her.
Then there was Damon. He'd poisoned their minds. One by one he stole her friends. She didn't know it was happening. A conspiracy right in front of her face and she never suspected it.
She would be dead right now, if it wasn't for Klaus.
She used to hate him. Klaus. An Original Vampire. The first hybrid. The ultimate evil.
Funny how things change when someone saves your life.
All he asked for in return was loyalty, which she happily gave. She knew they would never believe it but despite his malicious intentions, raging temper and frequent habit of killing people – Caroline learned more from him than she ever had from anyone else.
This is why tonight she was getting answers.
She made her way up to the fourth floor once again and pressed her ear to the door. The scent of fire and death wafted through her nose. Forcing the door open she saw the carnage in the room.
Three dead vampires.
One near-dead hunter.
Blood everywhere.
Stepping over the vampires corpses, she noticed a pile of ash beside the body of the hunter.
He was on the floor, unconscious near the open doors of the balcony. Caroline knelt down beside him, brushing away the blood matted hair to look upon his face.
He wasn't as young as she remembered but somehow Jeremy Gilbert still looked the same. Pulling him into her lap, she cradled him in one arm. Using her teeth to open the vein in her other arm, she let her blood drain into his open mouth.
With her thumb she rubbed against his throat, helping the fluid seep inside him.
When he healed she would have her answers.
The warm breeze blew the sheer curtains. They puffed like balloons as Bourbon Street came to life. There was music and debauchery every night. No one questioned rawkus celebrations or wild behavior.
Looking down upon the hunter she held in her arms, she brushed his hair from his face once more. Ran her hand down his bare chest so she could feel his heart beat.
His breathing steadied.
Caroline hoped he would be conscious soon.
She traced the outline of his jaw; ran her thumb along his lips.
His eyes moved beneath the lids.
She swept her hand down his arm then interlaced her fingers with his. His hand squeezed back.
Music played out on the streets as Caroline waited patiently for him to awake. His body stirred slightly. His lips parted.
Eventually brown eyes fluttered open and stared up at her.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," he replied.
She continued to hold him as he woke further. When he was ready she helped him onto the bed. Taking a seat beside him, she waited as he flexed his hands and swung his arm overhead checking his shoulder.
Caroline had waited long enough. "Did you know?" she demanded impatiently.
"Know what?" Jeremy replied cluelessly, returning his body to its normal position.
She shifted on the bed beside him, slouching over, leaning her elbows against her thighs. She held up the chain around her neck, twisting it so the ring hanging from it sparkled in the moonlight. Then she placed it back on her chest. "Bonnie made me this ring, back when she was my friend. Remember?"
"I remember," he answered slowly, cautiously.
"Did you know they were going to unspell the ring?"
The room remained silent as Jeremy lowered his gaze.
Caroline couldn't contain her temper any longer.
Jeremy's head snapped sideways as she slapped him across the face. "I almost DIED!" she yelled with rage. "And you KNEW!"
"I couldn't..," he began.
But she didn't want excuses. Striking him again, harder, she watched as the impact sent him off the bed.
"I trusted you," she continued as she stood up and delivered a solid kick to his mid-section. His body lifted from the floor and collapsed again.
As Jeremy panted, a tiny stream of blood trickled from his lip.
"Do you have any idea what it feels like to be on fire?" Caroline didn't know why she was still talking. Maybe it was because she had thought about this moment so many times. She imagined the conversations she would have with all of them; Elena, Bonnie, Stefan and Jeremy. Not Damon though, the next time she saw Damon she was going to kill him without so much as a word.
"Look, what they did to you was shitty Caroline. Really shitty. I don't blame you for hating all of us. I would too. But you were out of control…"
"I was NEVER out of control."
"You killed that woman…"
"Oh, so when I kill someone – you think I'm out of control, but when Elena does it – she's a fucking hero."
"Elena never killed…"
"Jesse," Caroline spat back at Jeremy.
"Who?"
Caroline gritted her teeth together and fought the urge to kill the hunter. "Jesse. Our first year at Whitmore. He was my FRIEND and he needed help. But she killed him to save Damon."
"Wasn't Jesse a vampire?"
"Not the point!" Caroline paced the room. Why did it always come back to Damon Salvatore? "I'm not expendable," she informed Jeremy, who had moved into a sitting position. As he leaned back against the bed, she could tell he was watching her with intense caution. It also didn't escape her notice that he had picked up a stake and slipped it behind his back.
"I am a leader. I have excellent communication skills. I am organized and reliable. I am detail oriented. And now I have PURPOSE," she shouted at Jeremy. "I am a part of something now. Something none of you could ever even begin to understand. And look," she waved her hand in front of his face. "I have a new daylight ring. From Klaus. One that none of you can ever take away."
"You're on still on Klaus's side," Jeremy shook his head. "That's fucked up, Caroline."
"You know what's fucked up? Trying to kill your best friend," Caroline snapped. "Don't talk about Klaus. He saved my life," she added, punching Jeremy hard in the midsection. He groaned in pain, squeezing his eyes closed.
"Saved your life?" Jeremy uttered as he winced. "What life? Living here. Taking orders from Klaus."
"I don't take orders from Klaus," Caroline retorted. Jeremy had no idea it was more complicated than that.
"No he just compels you, right?"
His remark made Caroline smile, Klaus hadn't compelled her in a very long time. Their relationship was far beyond that now.
"If you're here to kill me, go ahead." Caroline noticed he'd slid the stake closer to his palm.
"That's not why I'm here."
"Okay, I'll play along." She sat down on the floor beside him. "Are you here for the Jazz Festival?"
"No." He replied getting to his feet. "Actually, I don't even know why I came."
"See the sights? The architecture? Gamble on the river? Try some of our world famous cuisine?" Caroline continued to rattle off mindless suggestions as Jeremy removed what was left of his torn and bloodied shirt. He dropped the stake on the bed and went into the bathroom.
She heard the water running for the shower.
How completely rude!
Irritated by his inconsiderate behavior, she sat on the bed in a huff. Who did he think he was to walk into her town, kill three or four (she wasn't sure about the pile of ash) of her fellow vampires and then simply walk away from a conversation.
It was so not happening!
In an instant she was in the bathroom, ripping back the shower curtain.
She had planned to say something threatening, something to get his attention but it had been a very long time since she had seen Jeremy Gilbert naked.
Covered in soapy suds, Jeremy look at her with disgust and yanked the curtain closed again.
Caroline stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest fighting the conflicting emotions she was having. The primary reaction of ripping his heart out of his body and sending back to all her old friends in Mystics Falls was very strong but another sensation was there too. It was a feeling she hadn't felt since the lake house. A warm flush starting at her feet rose through her entire body.
Disturbed by her own weakness, she left the hotel at vampire speed and kept going until she reached the closest nightclub. Once she was safely seated at the bar with a large drink in front of her, she sent a mass text to her new circle of friends to come join her.
Downing the drink in a single long gulp, she hastily ordered another hoping to drink away these unwanted feelings for Jeremy Gilbert.
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Jeremy stayed in the shower until the water was ice cold. Not that he expected her to join him there but there was a small part of him (well, maybe a large part of him) that was still attracted to Caroline Forbes. In his mind he tried to come up with a half-decent explanation of why he couldn't tell her about their plan. But everything he came up with sounded like a lame excuse – which he supposed it was.
When he had been out of control those first days as a hunter she had come to his rescue.
It seemed almost wrong that he hadn't been there for her.
Maybe he did owe her an apology. Maybe that's what his dreams were all about.
After all this time his guilt was finally catching up with him.
The door between the bathroom and bedroom was still open. Jeremy grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.
"Caroline," he called to her as he walked into the bedroom.
But the only company he had was the dead vampires. Caroline Forbes was gone.
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He planned on a quick meal before he hit the road back to Mystic Falls. Jeremy knew couldn't risk staying in the city another night. Caroline's blood pumped through him and his body felt better and better by the minute. By the time he was ready to leave he should be almost completely healed.
He sat at a table alone, ordered the house special and sipped on a beer.
The restaurant was just starting to get busy. He kept an eye open for anyone or anything suspicious but tonight there was nothing out of the ordinary.
He ate his meal, a spicy Cajun seafood dish, in peace. When he finished his beer, he paid the bill in cash leaving a generous tip for the waitress.
Walking down Bourbon Street one last time on his way to the parking lot where he'd left his car, Jeremy looked around at the hordes of people partying the night away. Groups of college students walked down the street, drinks in hand, yelling up to people perched on balconies. Music blared from each club and bar on the street. He passed a group of girls putting their breasts on display for beads, which apparently happened all year long not just at Mardi Gras.
Passing by all the normalcy, Jeremy turned down a side street. His car was only a few blocks further.
This section of the town was much quieter. There were still plenty of people around but the music wasn't as loud. He stayed to the right of the sidewalk to keep with the flow of pedestrians. A few feet in front of him, a door opened and a group of drunken girls poured themselves out of a club.
Laughing and hanging all over each other, he watched as one of them tripped over her own feet and face-planted. Her friends burst in hysterics. One of them tried to help her up but was pulled down too. They laughed harder, hugging each other as they rolled right in front of his path.
Jeremy stopped dead in his tracks as he came face to face with Caroline Forbes.
She was one of the girls still standing but he could tell she had indulged as well.
"Following me, again." Her hands found her hips and she looked at him coldly.
He wanted to say something but couldn't think of anything worth saying. Even worse, it almost felt like high school again. Caroline, the popular cheer captain with a sea of friends and he was the loner.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Sorry," she nodded expectantly as she started to walk away. Her fallen friends were now back on their feet and the group of them followed Caroline. As they continued down the block they discussed their next stop.
A block later, Caroline spun around and screamed, "Why are you still following us?" The group of them stopped and stared at him.
"I'm not following you," Jeremy replied. "My car is parked over there." He pointed in the distance.
"Go ahead then," Caroline stepped out of the way. The girls followed suit opening a path for Jeremy to cut through and walk in front of them. Shifting his duffle bag on his shoulder, he went ahead despite the nagging feeling that he should not turn his back on a group of vampires. Especially one led by Caroline Forbes.
Picking up his pace, Jeremy kept his head low and concentrated on getting to his car. Even so, he couldn't help hearing the conversation behind him.
"Topic: Best one night stand – Ever!"
"Marie, you first."
"His name was Gauther deTessieres-Lizeroux."
"What made it so memorable?"
"He had the largest penis I have ever seen!"
There were squeals of laughter and rounds of congratulations. Jeremy rolled his eyes. Is that the kind of thing that mattered most to girls? He knew he wasn't making anyone's "biggest penis list". He walked faster trying to put some distance between himself and Caroline's little clique.
But try as he may, he was still close enough to hear when it was Caroline's turn.
"I'll tell you later."
Her reply was met with much protest and he couldn't hear anything she said over the banter. But things quieted down and he heard, what was probably supposed to be a whisper.
"You had sex with the guy walking in front of us right now…."
"SHHHHHHHH!"
Jeremy couldn't help turning around.
The second he did, there was snorting laughter and a very-pink cheeked blonde vampire.
He stopped allowing them to catch up to him. As they passed by, he felt the eyes of each one of them on him. Even though he was well past the age for this sort of thing Jeremy felt himself blushing anyway.
Caroline was the only one not looking at him as she went by. But he couldn't help stepping in front of her and blocking her path.
"Were you talking about me?" he asked. He had to be sure he heard everything correctly.
"Yes, she was," one of the other girls answered.
"See you later Caroline." Someone sang.
"Don't stay out too late." Another voice called.
"Hope it's just as amazing the second time."
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Caroline sat in the passenger seat of Jeremy's car.
Despite being thoroughly embarrassed by her friends she somehow managed to convince Jeremy that the reason he was her best one night stand was because he was her only one night stand. That was a lie of course but she wasn't about to admit the truth.
"So you and Damon were more than one night?"
"Unfortunately." The memory of that point in her life made Caroline want to vomit.
"He's with Bonnie now."
"WHAT!" Caroline couldn't help her reaction. "Bonnie? How did that happen? I thought he was so madly in love with Elena…"
"It's a very long story," Jeremy sighed. "And for the sake of my self-esteem, I'd rather not go into it."
"Wait a minute." Caroline was beginning to put it all together. "Bonnie dumped you for Damon Salvatore."
Jeremy nodded.
"Well, she got that one wrong," Caroline snorted.
"She doesn't seem to think so."
There was a long period of silence. Jeremy's hand hovered near the ignition before he finally uttered, "Vacation's over. Time to get back to the real world."
Caroline didn't object but she didn't get out of the car either.
"You want come?" he offered.
"No," Caroline shook her head. She definitely did not want to go back to Mystic Falls. She did not want to be reminded of the betrayal and hurt. New Orleans was her home now.
Caroline got out of the car without a word. She said her goodbyes a long time ago. As she walked away she heard the car start, then the illumination of the headlights sweep past her. The vampire continued on, removing her phone to text her girls, find out where they were and join them. Tonight she would put the past to rest.
Tonight would be the last time she would ever think of any of them.
She was at the corner, waiting for the light to change. The text came back that they had met up with some guys and were heading back to Bourbon Street. Caroline was about to turn around when she heard footsteps behind her.
Not just any footsteps as there were other people nearby.
But his footsteps.
Envisioning him with a stake in hand, she turned to face him. Caroline Forbes was not going down without a fight.
He met her with an outstretched hand.
"Truce?" he offered.
It was that innocently hopeful look on his face that chipped away at the wall she'd built around her heart. His deep brown eyes, and tossled hair were hard to resist.
"Truce," she agreed. "But only between you and I." She had to clarify that the rest of them were not forgiven for what they had done to her.
Jeremy nodded.
They shook hands.
Caroline didn't let go.
Neither did Jeremy.
She looked at him.
Only to find was looking back at her.
With that look.
His free hand stretched forward to her arm as he stepped closer.
Her stomach flip-flopped. Her dead heart began pounding.
This could not be happening.
"Take care of yourself, okay." He smiled and removed his hands from her.
Nodding, she remained in place as he turned and began walking back to his car.
One.
Two.
Three.
Seconds passed by as she watched him leaving. She didn't want him to go, yet she was too stubborn to chase after him.
Then he turned around.
And he came sprinting back.
He stopped right in front of her and brushed the hair out of his eyes.
Caroline didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around him. "Stay with me," she whispered in his ear. He didn't reply in words though his arms slipped around her body and pulled her tightly against him.
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With her current status in New Orleans, Caroline Forbes expected the best. She'd compelled quite a few members of the hotel staff and was rewarded with a master suite. She supposed Jeremy wasn't used to having such plush accommodations as he 'wowed' over and over at every detail of their room.
As he ran his hand along the silky sheets of the bed, Caroline crept up behind him. She ran her hands from his waist, over his back to his shoulders.
He shivered with delight then turned to face her.
"It's been a long time," he said softly.
"It has," Caroline agreed remembering their teenage liason at the Lake House. But the past was just that; the only thing that mattered was right now. This moment. Her hand slipped up his shoulder and to the back of his neck. Her fingers combed through the hair hanging above his collar. His eyes closed as her mouth descended on his.
It was a long overdue kiss.
Jeremy was surprisingly passive, which delighted Caroline. She pushed him down onto the bed, covering his body with hers as she kissed him harder. She noticed his pulse quicken, heard his breathing change and felt the swelling between his legs.
She undressed him, ever so slowly, replacing every inch of clothing with soft kisses. His body, while still in excellent physical shape, now was littered with battle scars. Many were fading but there were two very fresh wounds; ones that her blood had not healed.
His fingers swept through her hair, as his body rose beneath hers. Sitting on him, a leg on either side, she took his hands in hers, noticing more faded battle marks, thick knuckles and rough skin. Each of his fingers met her lips, before she held his hands against her body. Caroline caressed her curves with his hands, kissing him again and again.
When their mouths parted she pressed him into the bed again. As she unfastened his jeans, the button of which was not quite right, she felt the need to recount a story from their past going so far as to call him out on his preference for skanks back in his school.
He admitted to remembering some of that night, but assured her the only skank he'd been interested in that night – had been her.
She playfully punched him for the remark but took it upon herself to reach inside his boxers anyway. His breath hitched as her fist tightened, gently stroking him to complete arousal. As his hands gripped the bed sheets, she saw his eyes roll into his head. With confidence Caroline placed her lips on the tip of his penis, fluttering her tongue against the sensitive skin.
She paused to remove his jeans, which he practically tore off himself, before continuing to pleasure him. Filling her mouth with his swollen cock, she reached between his legs, sliding her fingers below his scrotum. At his entrance she pressed her finger inside, finding the spot that made his body jerk. His hips thrust against her face; hard.
He cried out in pleasure as he exploded down her throat.
Caroline swallowed it all, cleaning his shaft with her tongue as he lay panting uncontrollably beneath her. Reaching down he pulled her upward so they were eye to eye.
And then he kissed her.
With more passion that anyone ever had in her entire life.
It left Caroline Forbes, breathless.
It seemed as though Jeremy needed a break too. He moved his mouth from hers to her jawline and then down toward her earlobe.
"Can you do that again?" he asked childishly, making Caroline giggle.
"Wouldn't you like to see what else I can do?" she replied, wiggling her dark brow.
"There's more?" Jeremy smiled.
They kissed again, giving Jeremy's body time to recover. Caroline assisted the hunter in undressing her. Which, it seemed, he certainly needed help with.
"Sorry," he muttered as he faltered with unfastening her bra.
"Sorry," he apologized again as he trapped her in her own shirt.
"I'm sorry," he began a third time as he had to get off the bed in order to remove her jeans. "It's just been a long time."
Caroline looked over at his naked body as he working on righting her inside out jeans. It was as though she was hearing his statement for the first time.
When he'd said it earlier, she'd thought he meant it had been long time since they had been together, but now she understood that he hadn't been with anyone in a long time.
"I'll get that later," she told him, taking her pants from his hands. She pulled Jeremy back onto the bed and curled up beside him, nuzzling his neck. Her hand slid down his side, to his thigh and eventually back to his penis, which was ready for seconds.
Rolling him onto his back again, Caroline kept one hand on him and used the other for herself.
"I can help," Jeremy offered, sliding a hand in between Caroline's thighs.
"You can watch," the blonde informed him as she sunk two fingers deep inside her opening and rubbed her clit against the Jeremy's shaft. Closing her eyes, Caroline recounted all the times she'd thought of him. She envisioned all the things she wanted to do to him. All the fantasies and memories coursed through her mind.
Her fingers worked faster.
She could Jeremy moaning beneath her.
Calling out her name.
The thrilling sensation inside her escalated. Her muscles twitched as she reached climax. Both her hands became slick and slippery. Jeremy had finished too.
Her body trembling, Caroline collapsed onto Jeremy's warm chest.
"Oh. My. God. Caroline," he said between gasping breaths.
Caroline pulled the covers up around them and rested her head above the sound of his beating heart. Tracing her fingertips across his muscled torso, she wondered if there was a way to keep him here – in the city.
It would depend on Klaus.
Jeremy kissed her again as they lay entwined.
Caroline kissed him back, feeling more alive than she could remember.
But it didn't last.
The door was blown open as Elijah entered the room.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your moment," Elijah announced in his most diplomatic fashion. "But while you were busy with my brother's murderer – there was a breach at the border."
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Jeremy sat up in bed, the silky covers shielding his nudity from the vampires in the room. He listened to every word of the conversation but didn't quite understand what was happening.
Caroline was hastily dressing as Elijah spouted off a serious of locations. He and Caroline briefly disagreed about a course of action but then Elijah bent to Caroline's plan of assault. Then Caroline was mass texting Klaus's legion of vampires.
They were about to leave, when Caroline told Elijah she needed a minute alone.
"We have not a moment to lose, Caroline." Elijah replied with urgency. "But my brother trusts you and so do I."
Jeremy remained in place, barely believing what he was hearing. Caroline Forbes commanded respect, not only from Elijah but from Klaus as well.
It seemed almost ironic as she rushed around the perimeter of the bed gathering his belongings. "You have to get of the city, now," she told him, piling his clothes on the bed. "It's best if you go out the west side. It's out of the way but it'll be the safest route until I get everything under control."
"I can help," Jeremy offered as he stepped into his underwear.
"This isn't your fight, Jeremy." Caroline replied. "Go home."
Her phone buzzed.
After a briefly glance at the display, she disappeared at vampire speed into the night.
Jeremy finished dressing, left the hotel and returned to his car. Taking the western roads out of the city, the bigger picture was finally starting to make sense.
When he got back to Mystic Falls; he was going to have a very long talk with one Damon Salvatore.
Thank you for reading.
Reviews are always appreciated.
Gemma.
