"Can you stay in the car?" Caroline asked tentatively, after a few minutes of internal debate. "Please" she tacked on, giving Rebekah an apologetic smile. It wasn't as though Caroline didn't appreciate the Original sister's company. If Rebekah hadn't stepped in to take Caroline around, then she would have had a seriously pissed off Original Hybrid to deal with right now. Not that she needed a chaperone that was obviously mean't to double as a bodyguard. But even so, Caroline just couldn't bear to have a repeat of what happened when she went to visit Bonnie.
"You do understand that I'll have to tell Nik what happened?" Rebekah asked in a somewhat irritated tone. "If you think for one second that there won't be some sort of punishment waiting for me at home if I allow you to..."
"You're not allowing me to do anything" Caroline snapped, becoming the one irritated now at Rebekah's choice of words. "And Nik's not like that" she said, shaking her head.
Rebekah gave her an incredulous look.
"Miss Sheila, hi" Caroline greeted with a smile, as the woman slowly exited the room, closing the door behind her.
"The demon is not welcome here" Miss Sheila stated, motioning to Rebekah off handedly. "I would have expected you to know as much Caroline" she said in a disapproving tone, not reciprocating Caroline's smile.
Caroline frowned. She was taken aback by the coldness in Miss Sheila's voice. She was used to Bonnie's grandmother's bluntness, but her plain dislike and intolerance of Rebekah's presence threw Caroline off a bit. Caroline felt as though Miss Sheila wasn't any more welcoming of her presence either. Caroline felt Rebekah tense beside her, but that was the only reaction the Original gave to the witch's harsh words. Miss Sheila didn't know Rebekah from eve, and the Originals had been the ones to save her, Bonnie and Elena. Shouldn't Bonnie's grandmother be a little grateful at least?
"Rebekah's not a demon. She's my friend" Caroline said fiercely, but the hurt clear in her tone. "The Originals saved us. They were the ones who..."
But Miss Sheila was shaking her head before Caroline was finished. "The Originals are the reason why Mystic Falls is invested with demons of all kind. Vampires, hybrids... witches who practise dark magic. The powers to be aren't pleased. I've never before experienced such unbalance in my whole life" Miss Sheila said a bit sadly.
"If the Originals hadn't called all those demons, as you call them, to Mystic Falls" Caroline said heatedly, "then Bonnie, Elena and I probably would have never been found. We'd probably be dead right now."
Miss Sheila looked at Caroline, pity shown clear in her eyes. "Go home child. Mystic Falls is not a safe place for you any more. I can't protect you here. All I care about is my grand baby getting better, and until Bonnie can defend herself, I'm not letting anybody get near her. Not even you, but I'll tell her you stopped by."
Caroline huffed. "Fine" she muttered, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. So maybe she didn't know Nik as well as his siblings, but what could Rebekah possibly have mean't when she said that there would be some sort of punishment waiting for her at home? Rebekah made Nik sound like a slave driver. Geezz... so what if Nik was a tad bit over protective? Caroline was used to the over bearing male domineering attitude from her dad. Speaking of her loving father...
Caroline sighed heavily, studying Rebekah intently. Nik had given them his R8 to drive and Rebekah had looked like a kid whose parents bought her a candy store, when she took the keys from him. Rebekah looked young, despite her thousand years of immortality. Caroline was sure that Rebekah was turned at either her age or even younger.
"Look, I'm pretty sure word has gotten around about me accusing Tyler of being the one responsible for this whole mess. In fact, I'm sure he's spreading rumours that I've gone bat shit crazy" Caroline explained, shaking her head. "My point is, Miss Sheila and Bonnie are witches. They don't understand the concept of pack loyalty, and quite frankly, I understand why Miss Sheila would want to keep Bonnie away, but it isn't like that with Elena and her parents. They've been loyal to my father and now they're loyal to me. The dynamic is totally different. They're not going to turn me away. They wouldn't. I'm their alpha. I just..." Caroline hesitated, not knowing how to say what she wanted to say without hurting Rebekah's feelings.
"Just spit it out" Rebekah snapped, clearly annoyed by the entire conversation. Caroline could feel her staring daggers ahead at the road, and knew it was mean't for her.
"I think the wolves might think there's some undue influence involved" Caroline said softly. "Your presence intimidates them. They feel as though we're standing together, against them. What I need is for them to know that I'm still on their side and the only way I can do that is..."
"If I stay in the car" Rebekah finished. She scoffed, shaking her head. "Yes, I was right" she said resolutely, "Nik is going to kill me for at least a century."
"What does that even mean?" Caroline mumbled, dejected. With a sigh, "I'm really happy you're physically here to give me company, but I could really use the support right now, ya know. You're supposed to be my friend" she said, shaking her head.
"I am your friend" Rebekah stated seriously. "One day we'll be sisters" she said, sounding a bit unsure. She gave Caroline a side long glance before keeping her eyes on the road once again.
"Then how could you choose between doing what your brother wants, from doing what your sister wants?" Caroline asked, giving her a pointed look. "I thought it was bros over hoes?"
"Are you implying that my brothers are whores?" Rebekah asked, her brows puckered in dismay.
"Of the male variety" Caroline stated matter of factly.
"Man whores?" Rebekah asked, sounding a bit unsure.
Caroline giggled. "Seriously?" she asked. "You've honestly never heard of that phrase before? It's along the lines of us girls sticking together... not allowing the guys to stand in our way of total world domination" Caroline said, laughing.
Rebekah laughed lightly, shaking her head. "I've always been in the company of my brothers. I'm not particularly familiar with female companionship and all that it involves" she mumbled, clearly feeling awkward after giving her confession.
At that, Caroline sobered. Once again, she wondered if any of the stories she had heard about the Originals were actually true. The stories had made the Originals sound like Gods amongst men. Caroline had thought that girls would be lining up to be the Original sister's best friend forever. But if what Rebekah said was true, and Caroline was sure that Rebekah wasn't lying, then it mean't that Rebekah never had a real friend. In over a thousand years, Rebekah never had a best friend to call up and talk about guys, or go shopping with, or have sleep overs.
"Well you do now" Caroline said, her voice ringing with sincerity. "And what it involves is us not listening to your brother when he's being completely unreasonable. He's your brother, not your father. Nik is sure as hell not my father, so the quicker we get him to understand that he can't just order us around, the better."
"Niklaus has been the way he is for over a thousand years Caroline" Rebekah explained softly. "He's extremely over protective. I'm pretty sure he's at home counting down the seconds till you return to him and he's sure you're safe. He went against his better judgement to let me accompany you instead, trusting that I wouldn't put you in harm's way. If I stay in the car, and he finds out, and trust me, Nik will find out. Then he's going to feel as though we betrayed what little trust he bestowed on me. He going to think I'm incapable and incompetent, and he's never going to let us go out alone together.
It isn't as simple as letting him have his way. Nik has protected my siblings and I for over a thousand years, and now... you're one of us. You're just going to have to accept..."
"No" Caroline said, cutting her off. "I trust him. I really do, but trust works both ways. This isn't going to work unless he trusts me too. If I say that I'll be safe, that the Gilbert's won't hurt me, then I expect him to believe me. I expect you to believe me. I shouldn't have to justify every single decision I make" she scoffed. "How I am supposed to convince my pack that I'm capable of leading them, if I can't even visit my best friend... Am I really that useless? Do I honestly look like some fragile little bird who got it's wings clipped? Because I'm really started to feel like..."
"Fine" Rebekah stated, putting the car to a stop. They had arrived at the Gilbert residence.
There was a beat of silence.
"What?" Caroline asked, disbelieving.
"You have fifteen minutes before I come in and drag you out by your hair" Rebekah ground out through clenched teeth.
Caroline was so ecstatic that she completely ignored Rebekah's threat. "Thank you thank you thank you! You're the best Bekah!" she said, as she scrambled out of the car.
"She sounds... normal" Elena said, laughing, but her tone was clearly disbelieving. "They sure don't seem like a bunch of psychotic serial killers, the way you describe them.
"I'm pretty sure they all have a super high kill list, but she is" Caroline agreed, nodding. "I can't wait for you and Bon to meet her."
"Did Bonnie's grams really say that though?" Elena asked curiously.
"Yeah" Caroline said a bit sadly, "she's pretty anti vampire, hybrid and witches too, I guess." Caroline shrugged.
"I can't believe she would act like that with you" Elena said, shaking her head. "My mom said that when she and your mom went to visit Bonnie, Miss Sheila didn't allow them to see her either. But I just thought..."
"Oh" Caroline said. She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I didn't know my mom went to visit Bon."
"You were probably still sleeping" Elena stated off handedly. "Your mom picked my mom up before eight this morning. They had to get back in time for the council meeting at nine. How was that by the way?"
Caroline frowned. "I didn't know there was a council meeting."
At Elena's confused expression, Caroline continued. "Nobody told me anything about a council meeting."
"What? How is that even possible? The meeting was about you" Elena said, perplexed. "You're the new alpha. They can't just up and have a meeting without even telling you. There's not supposed to be a meeting at all without your permission. What the hell is going on?" Elena asked, worriedly. She tried to sit up. It was clear that she was quickly getting worked up.
"Lena..." Caroline started, trying to get her to lie back down.
"I think it's time for you to leave" a soft, but firm voice said.
Elena looked up and frowned. Caroline turned around, and Mr. Gilbert was standing by the doorway.
"Grayson" Mrs. Gilbert chided.
"Why does Caroline have to leave? She just got here" Elena ground out angrily.
"Elena you need to rest" Mr. Gilbert said, giving her daughter a small smile, a frown marring his features. Then he turned to look at Caroline. "I won't ask you again, Caroline. You should go home."
Caroline swallowed down her emotion, and got off Elena's bed. It was the second time for the day that she was basically being kicked out. It hurt.
Elena's hand automatically shot out to grab her wrist. "Besides for being my best friend, Caroline is the alpha of our pack. Something you've apparently forgotten. She obviously respects you a lot, but you're not going to talk to her like that dad.
Mom, can you please?" Elena pleaded.
With a sigh, "Caroline's position as alpha of our pack is no longer certain" Mrs. Gilbert said, giving her daughter an apologetic look.
"Miranda" Mr. Gilbert said harshly.
"The girls don't know what's going on and this level of stress is not good for Elena" Mrs. Gilbert said just as harshly. Taking a deep breath, "Caroline you need to go home and talk to your parents about this."
Caroline nodded, tugging her hand free of Elena's grip.
"Care..." Elena said, worriedly.
"It's fine Lena. Your parents are right... I just need to go sort this out" Caroline said, leaning in to give Elena a kiss on her hair. "I'm glad your getting better, and I'm really sorry... again... I..."
"None of this is your fault, okay? None of this" Elena stated fiercely, glaring at her parents. "As soon as I can stand without toppling over, I'll see you. I'll get out of here the first chance I get."
"Elena Gilbert" Mrs. Gilbert said, outraged.
Elena scoffed, tears filling her eyes.
Caroline looked away, her vision becoming blurry. She kept her eyes down as she quickly made her way out, trying to ignore the Gilbert's arguing.
"So Nik called, like I said he would, less than five minutes after you disappeared inside" Rebekah started, as Caroline approached the car. "Apparently he has a couple hybrid minions following us... so...
Caroline?"
At this point tears were streaming down her face faster than she could scrub them away with the back of her hand. Caroline sniffed, slamming the door shut as she got inside.
"Dammit Caroline, what the bloody hell happened?" Rebekah asked, noticing Caroline's distress.
"Can you take me home?" Caroline asked, her voice sounding weak and broken even to her own ears.
"What did they do to you?" Rebekah asked worriedly, but she started the car.
"They kicked me out. Can you please just take me home?" Caroline asked, buckling her seatbelt as Rebekah reversed down the driveway.
"Of course, but you need to calm down a bit. Nik is going to be furious if he sees you crying..."
"What?" Caroline asked, confused. Then she realised, "no, not your house. My house."
"Oh. Right. Yes. Of course you mean't your house" Rebekah said. It looked as though she were mentally berating herself. "Do you mind telling me what happened in there? I wasn't able to listen in with Nik shouting..."
"Rebekah I get that Nik's angry and I mean no offence, but I really don't care okay" Caroline said bitterly. "I don't think I'm leader of the pack any more... there was a council meeting and now I... I just really need to talk to my parents and figure out what the hell is really going on. How could they do this to me?" she cried, running her hand through her hair in frustration. Caroline sniffed, rubbing her nose in a very unladylike manner.
Rebekah stayed silent. She looked a bit lost. Then, with a sigh, "I really think you should calm down a bit, call Nik and the both of you will figure this out together."
"I know you mean well, but quite frankly this has nothing to do with him, or you for that matter" Caroline said, shaking her head. "I should't have come here with you. I shouldn't have spent the night at your house. I should have stayed at home and dealt with everything instead of running away. Now look at the situation I've found myself in... I've lost my pack."
"I know you think I know nothing about pack dynamics, but trust me when I tell you that your parents or the other council members can't simply demote you. When you became leader of the pack, all the pack members swore fealty to you..."
"No they didn't" Caroline said softly, as realisation dawned on her. "My father announced that he was stepping down and I would take his place, at my birthday party. I never actually held a meeting with the entire pack to confirm my status. Nik showed up, then the accident happened... I didn't get a chance to address my pack yet, and now, it doesn't even matter."
What Caroline's father had done was an informal procedure. The formal procedure to instate a new leader of the pack was supposed to take place within the first week of succession. The entire pack was supposed to meet at the site in the woods where they turned every full moon, get down on their knees and pledge loyalty to their new pack leader. That hadn't happened. Caroline's dad could easily... change his mind. The pack was only loyal to her because her father said so. But if Bill Forbes decided to become leader of the pack once more, Caroline would lose her place. It was as simple as that.
What hurt the most was the fact that her parents didn't even tell her. Caroline found about the meetings from Elena, who was effectively bed ridden. Did everyone know except her? Caroline didn't know if to be angry or ashamed.
"Can you just drop me off?" Caroline asked softly. "Tell Nik I'll call him later okay?"
Rebekah frowned, but gave no reply.
Caroline hoped that mean't her acquiescence.
As Caroline opened the door and walked inside, she was met with three guards. As they stood, blocking her path, she had never felt more like a stranger in her own home before.
"I'm here to speak with my parents" Caroline said, hoping the guards would get out of the way. She could hear her parents in her father's study at the far left of the house, but she couldn't quite understand what they were saying. When the guards made no move, she tried again, "can you please tell my mom I'm here, and I'd like to speak with her and dad?"
At that one of the guards bowed slightly, before making his way to the study.
Caroline sighed, grateful when not a minute later the guard returned, ushering her further inside. "Thanks" she mumbled dejectedly.
One of the guards opened the door and motioning that she could enter. Caroline did so, and before she could take a breath, her mom was holding onto her tightly, in a warm embrace. "I'm so sorry about that sweetheart, if I'd known you were coming I would have greeted you at the door."
Caroline smiled, returning her mother's hug. It felt so good to be in the safety of her mother's arms. Her own mother who didn't believe her, the bitter thought entered her mind.
"Can we talk?" Caroline asked softly, looking between her mother and father.
They exchanged a look, before Liz took Caroline' hand and led her to the couch. Bill remained standing, looking on curiously.
"Sheila called" Liz started, "Miranda as well. I'm glad you got to see Elena. She's doing well... healing quite quickly, considering..." Liz smiled sadly, gently tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Liz looked tired. There were dark circles under her eyes and her skin looked frail. Caroline's mother's beauty had diminished somewhat, in a single day. "How are you?" Liz asked. "Have they been treating you well? You look beautiful as always" Liz said, her voice wavering slightly.
"I'm fine mom" Caroline reassured her. "Rebekah and I are about the same size. I'm probably two jeans sizes bigger. I think I should pack some clothes and a few of my things to take over there. I can't keep borrowing her stuff."
"You're not staying" Bill was the one who spoke, and his question sounded too much like a statement of fact.
Seeing her mother so emotional, made Caroline's resolve shaken. But the tone in which Bill used, made Caroline sit up a bit straighter. "I can't stay here" Caroline stated.
Liz whimpered, and Caroline didn't dare look at her mother.
"This is your home" Bill stated, matter of factly, as if reminding her.
"This was my home" Caroline said, a hint of accusation in her voice, "before you changed your mind about me being worthy of leading your precious pack."
"You don't understand" Bill said, shaking his head. He sounded clearly annoyed by her insinuation.
"What was the council meeting about this morning? Why didn't you tell me?" Caroline fired at him.
"Do you really want to do this now?" Bill asked, giving Liz a fleeting glance. Caroline could tell that he was worried about hurting Liz's feelings, but Caroline couldn't bear to put this conversation off any longer.
"Yes, I want to do this now" Caroline shot back. "I want to know why there had been a curfew that night. I want to know why you weren't home the night of the accident. I want to know why you would go behind my back..."
"Caroline..." he tried interrupting her.
"I want to know why my own mother doesn't believe me. Why my father, who stood up there and announced how proud he was of me, how much faith he had in my ability to lead, how much he loved me... would..." Caroline cried, angry tear blurred her vision. She hastily wiped them away with the back of her hand. "I want to know what I did to deserve being punished."
Bill's expression dropped. "Do you think that's what I'm doing?" he asked, sounding defeated. "Punishing you?" he asked, as though he couldn't fathom how she came to such a conclusion.
"Caroline, I..." he started, and the look he gave her was so pitying that Caroline suddenly became irritated.
"Don't give me some bullshit excuse okay" she ground out angrily. "I want to know the truth!" she shouted.
"Caroline, do not speak to me like that. I am still your father" Bill stated seriously. Then he turned to Liz, "my love, can you give us a moment?"
"Bill" Liz breathed. She hesitated for a moment, before getting up and making her way out.
Caroline scoffed.
"You want to know the truth?" Bill asked, and Caroline almost flinched because of what shown in his eyes. "The truth is, I would have rather you have no mate, than that Hybrid who showed up. The Original Hybrid being your mate completely extinguished all credibility of you leading our pack. It was a romantic notion at first, until the members of the council began to understand the ramifications of what it would mean when you submitted to him. You'd no longer be the leader of our pack Caroline. The Hybrid would be. There are not too many werewolves keen on being turned into sired Hybrids."
"Nik and I talked about this" Caroline defended. "He has no interest in the pack. Nik has his own pack... he has his own Hybrids."
"So your mate decided that he would allow you to keep your pack without turning them into Hybrids. How chivalrous of him" Bill drawled. "What if he changes his mind?"
"Nik wouldn't..." she said, shaking her head.
"But what if he does? What if you two get into a disagreement at some point, and he decides to turn them for sport? How could you possibly attempt to protect your pack from him?" Bill asked seriously.
"He wouldn't. Nik... he" Caroline stuttered. "I... I trust him."
"You trust him" Bill said, incredulously. "You've known him for two seconds."
"Yes. I do. He's my mate" Caroline said fiercely. "You trust mom, don't you? How many seconds did it take before you trusted her?"
Bill narrowed his eyes, and Caroline knew she had stepped off bounds. "I'm sorry" she amended.
There was a beat of silence, before Bill continued. "Then in the midst of what was already a tense situation, you decide it was a good idea to accuse Tyler Lockwood of being responsible for what happened to you, Bonnie and Elena."
"Because he is!" Caroline shouted, letting her emotions get the best of her.
Bill continued as if Caroline hadn't spoken. "In a house full of witnesses, infront of Tyler's mother" Bill said, shaking his head. "The Lockwood's are no longer members of our pack Caroline."
"What?" Caroline asked, disbelieving. Caroline never would have guessed...
Bill nodded. "Got your attention now, didn't I?"
He sighed heavily, before making his way over to her. He sat where her mother had previously been sitting, right next to her on the couch. "When the Lockwood's left, they took their original pack members with them, and members of our pack threatened to leave as well..." Bill explained. "That's why I had those meetings without informing you. The pack doesn't trust you right now baby girl. They think you're under the Hybrid's influence. It's as simple as that.
The only way I could have prevented them from leaving, was to reassure them that I was still in charge. That they were being led by a Forbes, not a Mikaelson. I'm sorry, but that's just the way a pack works. If I hadn't held that meeting this morning, or if I had invited you to come, the pack wouldn't have believed a word I said."
"So you make it look as though you're against me?" Caroline asked, trying to understand what her father had just said.
"Not against you" Bill said, shaking his head. "Never against you. You're my daughter Caroline. I love you."
"Then..." Caroline wondered.
"Most of the werewolves are genuinely worried about you. They think you're still weak from the attack. They think you're being pressured by the Originals" Bill answered. "They think you're not ready... you've got too much on your plate to deal with, no experience. Now that the Lockwood's are a threat, the pack needs stability.
Stability I can give them, by taking up leadership of the pack until you're able."
"But won't Nik still be a problem? Even after I've gone through the requisite healing time, Nik is always going to be my mate dad... I..." Caroline said, getting a bit frustrated.
"Look, I know the situation is far less than ideal, but without a threat hanging in the air, and without the stress, the pack would be open to the idea of the Hybrid being your mate..."
"But you just said..."
"Mystic Falls is full of vampires and hybrids, witches... our wolves are hanging out with the wolves from your mate's pack. Go to the Mystic Grill... all the young kids are hanging out and having a good time. It's been days Caroline... give it a few weeks. There's a reason why the Lockwood's left with their pack. They're not strong here. Mystic Falls is Forbes' territory. As soon as the werewolves from our pack start feeling secure again, we can start re introducing the idea of you succeeding me as leader."
"You're saying that I have to wait" Caroline sighed. "That the pack doesn't hate me. They just don't trust me to lead them if the Lockwood's decide to attack."
Bill nodded. "Take some time out Carebear" Bill said, giving his daughter a fond smile. "The last time, I just threw you in, but this time... this time you get a chance to think about what it means to be a leader, and decide on what type of leader you want to be. You need to understand what it means to have a mate. You'll need to be able to balance those two responsibilities..."
"I..." Caroline chuckled without humour. She ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not ready" she realised. "A good leader would have secured the allegiance of their pack, anticipated their pack's fears and reassured them. Then become better acquainted with their mate. A good leader sure as hell would not have thrown out accusations without a hint of proof, about a potential threat's son" Caroline said, sounding defeated.
"I did everything wrong dad" Caroline said, throwing her hand up in frustration. "I allowed my emotions to guide me. When I should have used my head instead. I... I'm not ready" she confessed, the honest realisation stopped her short. She felt like a such a silly little girl.
"Oh my darling girl" Bill said, putting his arm around her shoulder and pulling her against him. Caroline buried her head against his shoulder. "You were inexperienced, that's all. There's nothing wrong with feeling what you feel, but you have to weigh what you think is right with what's best for your pack. You know, sometimes you're going to have to choose, and those choices might not be easy to make. But the ability to do so... that's what makes a good leader."
"Thanks dad" Caroline nodded, smiling against him.
She didn't know how long they stayed like that, with his arm slung across her shoulder, his cheek resting against her hair, but soon the sun started to set, and Caroline knew it was time to go. So she got up, kissed his cheek and with a deep feeling of gratitude, Caroline took her leave.
She declined a ride to the Mikaelson's. As she walked down the long driveway, every single step felt like freedom. Caroline toed her heels off, one by one, before breaking into a run. As the sun fully set and darkness began to fill the night sky, the houses began to thin, with the thick forest up ahead.
Caroline decided to do something she had never willingly done before.
With one look at the fraction of a moon peeking out, Caroline started to turn.