Chapter 10: Defeat

A/N: Hi guys! A good long chapter for you all ;) Please remember to read 'Serendipity' if you haven't already, because it's technically a prequel to 'New Orleans' (as is 'Infinite'). It would mean so much if you could please read and review :) Sorry for the delay, we're just making a trailer for 'Requiem' and it'll be up before you know it ;D Enjoy! x

Rebekah looked up, startled as a very angry blonde crashed her way into the hospital room. Her shock quickly became befuddled amusement when she noticed that the vampire trespassing into her room was actually Caroline, not saying anything but rather pacing backwards and forwards in frustration as she pulled at her long hair.

"Caroline," Rebekah said with her signature smirk. "What in the bloody hell are you doing?" Her head tilted to the right as her sister-in-law continued her furious walking. She left Caroline to her own devices for a bit before finally deciding to intervene. "You know, Caroline, if you don't let up soon you're going to put a hole in the carpet. I don't know about you, but I do not want to explain that. So why don't you consider sitting down and telling your beloved sister all about whatever incident has caused your upset." She graced Caroline with an encouraging smile as the blond stopped moving and cautiously sat in the chair beside the bed.

"Your brother," Caroline started before quickly standing up again. "I can't even… There are no words! How did you put up with him for so long?" She pushed herself back into the chair, trying her best to hold in years of pent up frustration.

"Well, I would happily give you advice if you'd tell me what's going on." Rebekah gave her a pointed stare, wondering what her brother had done now.

"You warned me Bekah, you warned me and I… I should have listened. He can't love. He doesn't know how." From her past experience, Rebekah knew exactly how Caroline fet. Tentatively reaching a hand out to Caroline, she was shocked when her sister-in-law accepted the gesture.

"Are you… Are you not compelled anymore?" she asked cautiously, hoping that Caroline had her memories back so she wouldn't be at fault for worsening the issues between her brother and his wife.

"Klaus just gave me my memories back. I came straight here and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that for the past few days I haven't cared about you, haven't spared you a single thought. What kind of a person doesn't even think about her sister lying in her deathbed?" Caroline gave Rebekah an apologetic smile, silently asking for redemption. She received a playful grin back, quickly forgiven for the negligence that wasn't her fault. Caroline's relief quickly faded away, however, at Rebekah's next question.

"So, sister, what now? How shall we organise our retribution? I'm assuming you have some plan to get back at my brother."

"That's what I came to talk to you about," Caroline said sadly, trying her best to hide the doubts she still had about her decision. "Klaus and I, it didn't work out. I think I'm going to break it off with him." For a moment, Rebekah was shocked. She'd never even considered that Caroline and Klaus would someday split. They'd always seemed so happy, and she knew her brother loved his wife. Although she herself had experienced failed love so many times, she'd believed that Klaus and Caroline's love would prevail. To her, their love was infinite.

"Caroline, darling, that's hardly retribution. It's insanity. You're in love with my brother and you're married to him. Don't you think this is just a little rash? Not to mention, your name will go back to being Forbes. Hideous." Rebekah stopped talking when she noticed the helpless tears spilling down her sister's cheeks. She reached out a frail hand to gently push some of the sadness away, but she could do nothing to remedy the defeat that had conquered Caroline's glassy eyes.

"You're right Bekah, I am in love with him, but that doesn't mean I can do this anymore. All the lying, the unexplained disappearances, his constantly nonchalant attitude. I mean, I tried to have a serious conversation with him and he called me pathetic. It hurts and I can't do it anymore." Caroline shook her head and put her face in her hands, suddenly very tired and devoid of energy.

"But," Rebekah's voice was desperate and upset, not wanting to witness her brother being stripped of all happiness, "you're his family now; our family now. You can't just abandon your family." Her sister-in-law looked up at her, the frail girl in the hospital bed, and did her best to force a melancholic smile onto her face.

"That may have been the case at one point, and believe me when I say that I'll always think of you as my sister. No matter how much I want to be a part of your family, I will never be related by blood. My link to Klaus is only defined by petty splashes of ink on a fragile piece of paper. You may not be able to leave your brother, but I can. It's what I have to do Rebekah." The two girls held each other's hands, allowing an almost comforting silence to lull the conversation for a short moment.

"And how do you think this will affect her, hmm?" Both girls were startled out of their silence as Xander entered, bringing with him bloodshot eyes and a stained mug of slushy brown coffee. Caroline looked at him inquisitively, wondering what he could possibly be talking about. "Splitting up with Klaus. You and Klaus are," he trailed off, before absentmindedly wondering, "What is it that the teenagers say? Ah, yes. You and Klaus are her 'OTP'."

Caroline raised one perfect eyebrow at him before turning to Rebekah and conspiratorially whispering, "Would you mind if I threw something at him?" By the time she turned around though, he had scampered out of the room.

Rebekah only awarded her with a tiny smile, saying, "I'm not sure about you, but I'm under the impression that my husband is scared of you. Interesting concept considering he's married to one of the most formidable beings ever to walk the earth. Enough of that though." The remnants of her barely-there smile fell from her cheeks as she looked seriously at Caroline once more. "Are you really prepared to destroy the only happiness Nik has left in the world?"

The blonde vampire leant her head against the wall, curls frizzing up as she thought carefully about her response. After a while, she decided on a simple one. "I don't think I make him happy, Rebekah. I don't think he'll ever be happy. I can't accept a life where my partner is constantly unhappy with himself and disappointed with me." Rebekah slowly nodded her head, knowing exactly how Caroline was feeling. After all, the original sister had felt the same many times in her life.

"Were you not the one who always said he could find his happiness? You always believed that Niklaus could be saved." Rebekah was grasping at straws, reaching for every shattered fragment she could use to piece her brother's marriage back together.

"Look Rebekah, I know I used to say that he could be saved. Heck, for a while I even thought he'd already been saved. Whether he'd found his redemption through me or through himself, I was never sure. What I eventually came to realise, though, was that in believing he could be saved, I was lying to myself. Sometimes seeing the good in people just means that you're not seeing the truth." She paused for half a second, before looking into her sister's eyes once again. "I won't leave you though, not until we see you cured. I'll stay, but only for you, and then none of you will ever have to hear from me again." A lugubrious sigh leaked from lamenting lips as Caroline directed her gaze back to the floor, resigned to the reality of her doomed romance.

"I want you to know that although I understand how you feel, I don't support your decision. Maybe I just want too much." In a moment so quick Caroline almost missed it, Rebekah's doubtful expression switched to one of whimsical childishness. "I know what you need!" she exclaimed. "Girl's night! Let's sleep over. Xander's capable enough to find somewhere else to stay." Caroline looked at her sister-in-law, confusion and uncertainty etched upon her face.

"Look," Rebekah continued, "I know the necessity of such an event is debatable, but I'm guessing you don't want to go back home to Niklaus or the Quarter right now. I'm also presuming that you're exhausted, so what better remedy than spending the night with family?" Caroline shook her head in reluctant acceptance of Rebekah's words before crawling into the bed with her sister-in-law.

As Caroline fell asleep, Rebekah was left wondering how long she had until her best friend left for good. The original sister lay with her back to Caroline, wondering whether there was anything she could have said, anything she could have done, to save her brother from the inevitable heartbreak about to befall him.

The midsummer sun shone down on the two brothers as they made their way to the center of town, not only eager to revisit some of their past, but anxious to forget their intense meeting with Caroline the previous day.

Stefan was following Damon, letting the older brother lead the way through a city they hadn't visited since the 1940s. Turning down Bourbon Street, Damon stopped suddenly, Stefan nearly ramming into him. Holding his hand up in a militaristic parody of signing 'stop', Damon narrowed his eyes, making sure his mind wasn't deceiving him. Down at the end of the street, taking purposeful strides right towards them was Klaus, and he was looking none too pleased.

"Shit," Damon cursed under his breath, enraged at the sight of the Original hybrid. Not one to back away from conflict, Damon stood his ground, attempting to look as nonchalant as possible as Klaus swiftly approached. Damon nearly laughed at the expression on Stefan's face; his eyes were wide open as if shocked and afraid, but his mouth was set in a straight line, defiant and brave. The brothers weren't foolish. They knew that Klaus was an Original vampire, and could only be killed with a stake made of white oak, of which of course neither of the Salvatore's could obtain in the next few moments.

"What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Damon. I think I recall us saying our farewells last night, which leaves me wondering what you're still doing in my city."

Damon felt a shadow cast over his own, and looked to his right to see Klaus standing before him, looking as angry as ever. The older Salvatore barely trumped the Original in height, though Damon still enjoyed being able to look down on those he disliked.

"Damn, you caught me. There goes my plan to take over New Orleans," Damon grinned, looking Klaus in the eyes, palms raising up in mock surrender. He knew he was playing with fire, and that any wrong move would cause him to burn. "Oh, and Klaus. I was just wondering...I mean I've heard gossip, but where's Caroline? Did she leave you?"

Damon felt Stefan's hand on his shoulder, silently begging him to stop and let it go before either of them were killed. Shrugging it off, the older Salvatore no longer cared. He would play with fire, and learn how to tame it, or extinguish it.

"Here's my proposition for you, mate. I'll tell you about my Caroline when you enlighten me on the wellbeing of our dear, sweet Elena. Is she waiting for you back in Mystic Falls? My guess is she's been reunited with Mr and Mrs Gilbert at the bottom of one very familiar river. Now I don't know about you, but I feel that a meeting with her adoptive parents is justified." Klaus had his signature smirk etched into his face, obviously taunting Damon in order to elicit a reaction from the younger vampire.

Damon noticeably flinched at the mention of Elena, but anger flashed in his eyes at the bringing up of her parents, and at Klaus speaking of his Caroline. Doesn't he know she's not his anymore, Damon thought bitterly, wanting so badly for Klaus to disappear and leave Caroline alone, so that Damon could selfishly take the blonde vampire for his own.

Not bothering anymore with the pleasantries, Damon dove for Klaus's neck, ready to shred him apart, disregarding the fact that Klaus was indeed an Original vampire, and proceeded to ignore the pleas from his younger brother, telling him to be rational, and that he'd get himself killed. As if it'd matter. "I will rip your heart out and shove it down your throat," the oldest Salvatore snarled, turning into an animal before Stefan's eyes. It was an immense amount of luck that brought them a completely deserted Bourbon Street.

"Uh uh uh," Klaus said, waving one goading finger at Damon in a disapproving manner, stopping the older Salvatore's just as he reached out to make good on his promise. "I wouldn't want to ruin that pretty little face of yours. At least not tonight. I expect you'll need it when you see Elena again. I mean, it's the only reason she ever liked you in the first place. Look at you. You're a mess, a nobody, a pitiful toy she took it upon herself to fix."

Stefan took a step back, letting his brother reap the repercussions of his errors. He would step in should should Damon be at risk of being harmed, but for the moment he would remain on guard with a watchful eye.

"I think you're mistaking me for someone who cares, Klaus." Damon was intent on shrugging off all temptation to rip out the Original's throat, but to do so, it'd require a great amount of luck and stupidity, even with his brother at his back.

Ignoring Damon's sarcastic remark, Klaus persisted with his provocations. "And what delusions persuaded you to believe that her death was unavoidable? I myself am convinced that she let herself go because she couldn't even fathom the thought of being stuck for one more day with you."

Damon's face was set in stone, and all his features conveyed frustration, anger, guilt and grief. "I'm the one who let her go. After all, isn't everything my fault?"

"It seems I've learnt something new today. Naive little Damons can feel remorse." Klaus' tone was almost sympathetic, if not for the underlying sarcasm laden behind his smirk. "And I wonder, was the funeral fulfilling? Did it fix the hole in your heart? Pity I couldn't be there, but I was busy making wedding plans with Caroline. I'm sure the service was a boring disappointment for Elena too, what with the despondent boyfriend attending merely because he was to blame for her departure. Did you even love her, way back when? Or was she just a petty replacement for my wife, a woman far more alluring than that doppelganger bitch."

Damon had had enough. He was beginning to see red, and he hardly noticed his nails digging painfully into his palms in rage. All he could see Klaus as was a target. Something he could kill, and something he would kill...but he'd wait a few moments longer. He would take the Original by surprise, and then it'd all be over, but of course Damon no longer cared that the aforementioned white oak stake wasn't in his possession. Forgetting his silent promise to Caroline not to mention anything of their conversation together a few days prior, Damon told Klaus something he shouldn't have...something that to a great extent, was a lie. "You know I had a little chat with Caroline the other day. Funny thing, really." Damon laughed humourlessly, surprisingly finding little entertainment in lying to the Original vampire. "We talked about you, really...and sorry to burst your bubble, Klaus, but she's in love with me. Not you." At this point in the conversation Damon had draped his arm over Klaus's shoulder, like they were old friends, and the oldest Salvatore could see the fire igniting in Klaus's eyes, anger, hurt, and confusion emanating all at once. "I heard it from her lips," Damon taunted in the Original's ear, finally getting some enjoyment out of the charade he was playing.

"Don't flatter yourself, mate. After all you are nothing, a puny insect no one can ever seem to be rid of." The insulting grin once again pushed its way onto Klaus' face as he shrugged Damon's arm, and claims, off his shoulders. "Whatever you imagined from her lips, I hope you found some consolation. You know my Caroline, always trying to make pitiful beings feel a little less mundane. Although," he added as a side note, "I do hope you remember this the next time you think of me. I have everything I want; a city to rule and my queen by my side. What have you got? Broken bones in your heart and a dead girlfriend at the bottom of a lake." He gave a sardonic laugh before winking at Damon, mocking him by feigning a friendly gesture.

Unable to muster a reply, Damon tried to convey his disapproval of Klaus and his cocky behaviour through his eyes, boring deep into Klaus's, hate colouring the air between them. Completely dismissing everyone and everything around him, his eyes only focused on one thing, and nothing else existed but his target. Taking a step back, he braced himself, and sent a forceful punch straight at Klaus's jaw. Hitting his mark, Klaus's head whipped back, and Damon noted with satisfaction that a dismal crack was heard originating from the Original's nose.

Gloating in his small success for a moment too long, he barely registered Klaus approaching him at such a speed that even a vampire couldn't follow. Feeling his back slam against the old brick walls of the ancient buildings, a large bang resounding through and shaking the city. Damon saw black encroaching his vision, and for a moment he couldn't take a breath. Trying to see past the blood dripping in his eyes, he attempted to dodge a rigorous blow from his aggressor, but his head cracking against the cement told him he failed to do so.

Mustering up the strength to stand up, he dove for Klaus's legs, knocking them both into the ground in a tangle of flailing limbs, occasionally landing a blow on the other. Taking this opportunity, Damon delivered multiple blows to the Original before he was yet again thrown off, pulled off by his younger brother. Damon was enraged to see a smile stretching across Klaus's face, teeth stained with blood leaking from his broken nose, and mocking laughter echoed through his ears.

Stefan attempted to pull Damon to his feet, but his dead weight did nothing to help the young vampire, and he decided to let Damon help himself for the moment, otherwise Stefan would be caught in the middle of what seemed like a fight to the death.

Damon cringed slightly as Klaus approached, knowing this time he wouldn't be able to get another punch in, and he shut his eyes in anticipation for the blow he knew would come...but it never did.

He was about to question why, but a single weak voice answered his inquiries for him.

"Klaus?"

"Care, get up." Caroline opened exhausted eyes, her vision greeted by two blurry figures poking and prodding her. She noticed that one of the incessant hands digging into her shoulder was very weak, stripped of energy. As her vision cleared, she slowly made out the two figures in the haze. Rebekah was laying beside her, nudging her gently, whilst Xander poked her as hard as he could, leering in satisfied fascination.

She sat up quickly, simultaneously moaning, "What do you want?" as her head collided with the bar above Rebekah's bed. "Why do these stupid things exist?" she rubbed her head before slowly manoeuvring her way into a precariously upright position, still sitting on her sister's bed.

"You know, I've never been too sure about that particular question, although I believe it might be one my brother is more adept to answer." Rebekah gave Caroline a tentative smile as Xander grabbed her hand, nodding in encouragement. Caroline slowly shook her head at the two of them, not feeling that she was quite ready to face her husband again. Just thinking about him hurt and she didn't want to imagine the ache that would return to her heart if she saw him.

"Elijah? Do you even know where he is?" Caroline attempted to avoid Rebekah's implied suggestion, unable to bring herself to accept that she would have to face him eventually.

"Look, Caroline," Xander looked at his wife's closest friend, deciding that Caroline could not elude her husband forever. From his limited past experiences, he knew that issues were best dealt with earlier rather than later. "I really think you should talk to Klaus. I don't know much about your relationship, much about either of you really, but I can see it every time you're together. You love him and he loves you. That's not something that should be ignored or disregarded. Gosh," he added as a side note, "I am such a woman."

Rebekah only giggled slightly before agreeing with him. "You need to find him. I know you don't want to but you have to. As your sick sister, I hereby demand that you do it. Bring me a coffee on your way back." Her tone was cheerful, her smile laden with naïve optimism. However, Caroline did not miss the eyes full of sadness, despairing for a brother who had done her wrong so many times.

Giving into their demands, she carefully slid off the bed, doing her best to avoid the obstructions present in the tight space. She waved over her shoulder as she made her way out, doing her best to fix her now crumpled dress. As she left she heard Rebekah quietly whispering, "I hope Nik isn't dumb enough to actually lose her. He's smarter than that. Although, I wonder if she knows…" Caroline didn't stick around long enough to hear the rest.

She walked from the hospital, needing more time to clear her head. As she walked, she thought over the multiple conversations she might have with Klaus. She realised that it could really go both ways. Now she had cleared her head, she realised that there might be a chance for them, might be a way for her to keep fighting. If he could show her that he still loved her, as much as he had when they'd married three years before. Maybe it would be enough. Not enough to mend their relationship, not enough to mend the past, but enough to keep them going; to give them another chance. He just had to say it, and she would give in. She always gave in at the end. Indeed, though, it could go both ways. He was so disconnected, so used to forcing people to his demands that he didn't know how to love. He had been correct when he had proposed to her. He was so naïve for a 1000 year old immortal hybrid. Caroline wasn't sure whether she would be the one to teach him how to love someone, be with someone.

As she strolled aimlessly around the city, she heard an uncharacteristically loud bang followed by the sound of sardonic laughter. Her brow crinkling in worried fright, she listened, trying to identify the general direction of the sound. In her years in New Orleans, she had learned all about the politics of the city, and she had learnt to impose the rules. It was daytime; no fighting should be happening in the streets.

Surprised to hear the ruckus originating in Bourbon Street, she turned in that direction and briskly walked toward the scene. She was experienced enough now that she didn't need Marcel for backup. She didn't need him. Relieved to find Bourbon Street completely empty of people, she began to run towards the culprits of this distraction. As she ran towards them, she realised she knew the men. Stefan. She noticed him as the man attempting to pull the attackers apart. A mop of dark hair identified the man on the ground as Damon, pushing himself up and attempting to dodge a well-aimed punch from his assailant. Caroline watched in horror as he was knocked to the ground yet again. Without thinking she ran up and wrapped her arms around the aggressor, pulling him away from her friend. She felt all the breath leave her as she was knocked backwards, her head colliding with the ground. A guttural growl stunned her as she recognised it, finally identifying the third man.

"Klaus?" she pushed out, her words marred with the pain from a broken rib and bloodied head. The man in front of her turned quickly, horrified terror crossing his face.

"Look at her," he sighed quietly, "always showing up at the most inopportune times." He had said it so silently Caroline almost didn't hear it, and she knew that he hadn't intended for her to be listening to his nearly inaudible speech.

"Is that what I am to you? A thing that constantly shows up at the wrong time? Do I need to schedule times with you now?" her words were weak, her body trying to cope with the blood loss as she tried to push herself up. Klaus looked shocked that she had heard, almost remorseful for his actions. She knew he only regretted that she'd noticed his words. Her husband's shock quickly changed to an almost rabid jealousy as she felt strong hands at her waist when she tried to stand. Once she was up, she turned to find that Damon was behind her, his face bloody although he was seemingly okay. Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly pushed herself away, telling him that she needed a moment with Klaus. He nodded in understanding, motioning at Stefan to follow him.

"We'll see you back in the Quarter once you're finished, Caroline." The older Salvatore spoke coldly, completely detached from the situation. Damon made special note not to mention Klaus's name, making sure that he wasn't invited to any form of social activity between Stefan, Caroline and himself. Turning around, Damon began to make his way down Bourbon Street, staring down at the pavement, fascinated by the small droplets of blood raining down from his forehead onto the concrete below. Completely void of energy, he made no effort to converse with Stefan, instead getting lost inside his own thoughts. Brother in tow, he turned the corner, and continued down the road to the Quarter.

"We need to get you to a hospital, love." Klaus looked her over, visibly flinching at the injuries he had caused.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I've just come from there and Rebekah told me not to go back until after I talked to you. Besides, if we go there now, I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to have the conversation we're about to have." She unconsciously grabbed his arm as she took a step forward, wincing at the pain. It would heal soon, she knew, and then she wouldn't have to worry about her physical injuries anymore.

Lifting her into his arms, he smiled a little, knowing that her pain rendered her unable to complain about this action. "I'll take you home then, sweetheart." He began walking in the direction of their apartment block, moving as slowly as he could and relishing the feeling of Caroline in his arms.

"I don't know if you remember last night, but in case you don't I'll give you a refresher. I don't have a home anymore." Her words were bitter and Klaus watched helplessly as a single tear fell down her face. It was his fault. It would always be his fault. He was silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts and trying to find the right words to say.

"Contrary to everyone's beliefs, you still have a home and you're not leaving." He looked down at her, watching her eyes soften a little. Her mouth, however, was still set in a stony grimace. She responded to his words only with silence.

They arrived at the apartment after walking for only 15 minutes. Klaus shouldered the door open and made his way into the lounge room, gently setting Caroline down on the couch. His arms felt empty without her. He crossed them in an effort to make up for the cold that now draped across his chest, slowly sitting beside her as she brought herself into an upright position.

Dried blood flaked from the back of her head, her wounds now healed as she looked up at him. Without saying anything, Klaus blurred to the bathroom, grabbing a small washcloth and wetting it before making his way back to her. Reaching up to push the blood from her head, he was dismayed when she snatched the towel off him. Obviously, she didn't want him to take care of her anymore. He looked down, an inner storm waging a dejected battle within his heart.

He was almost startled when a cold, wet lump collided with his head, gently dabbing at his forehead. Pushing his gaze up, the melancholic maelstrom settled as his eyes met Caroline's soft green ones. She was focusing on cleaning the blood from his face, destroying the remnants of the fight he'd had with Damon.

"Love, I appreciate the concern, but I don't really need…" he began, knowing that Caroline wasn't very happy with him and she wouldn't be proud if this incident led to anything else. He was cut off however, by a voice that was stern yet gentle at the same time.

"Don't talk," Caroline commanded him, smoothing his worried brow and giving him an almost tentative smile. Once she'd finished, she moved over to the kitchen sink, where she cleaned the towel and fixed herself up. When she sat down again, Klaus moved his hand, cupping her face with tender softness. She moved away from him though, and he realised with great sadness that the previous moment was lost.

Finally gaining the courage to break the somewhat awkward silence, Klaus gave in to the knowledge that he and Caroline had to talk about their tense conversation the night before. "Look, sweetheart," he began, "about our little spat…"

"Little spat!?" Caroline looked affronted, her memories of the night before encompassing an argument that was anything but little. "I know you've been around for a long time, Klaus, and maybe you've had arguments that made last night's disagreement seem small or inconsequential, but for me, that conversation was important. You can hardly describe it as little. It wasn't a petty or trivial disagreement, Nik. There are real problems in our relationship." Klaus looked up at her, a frown beginning to form on his face before it was quickly covered by a superior smirk.

"Caroline, love, in case you have yet to realise it, the only problem here is you." A resounding smack sounded throughout the room as Caroline slapped him, a red mark quickly spreading across his face.

"I've had it with you!" She shouted, her voice rising an octave in anger as Klaus stared at her in shock. "You're always blaming me for everything! You know what? It doesn't even matter whose fault it is anymore! The problems we're having, they're our problems, and we both have to fix them. I've been trying, but what have you been doing? Nothing! Prancing around your precious city, blaming me for everything you've done wrong! If you're not willing to put the effort in, then what's the point?" Caroline lay her head against the back of the couch, giving into the overwhelming feeling of loss that had now consumed her.

"I'll do better." It was almost a whisper, Klaus' voice floating across the empty space between them.

"That's the thing, Klaus," Caroline's voice had dropped, becoming soft and defeated once more. "I don't think you can."