Chapter 9 Looking to the Future
Caroline didn't want to move, she was perfectly okay with staying just as she was for the rest of eternity, with her head of Klaus' chest and his arms wrapped around her waist. The color of the sky was telling her that was not an option of course. It was growing dark and soon Elena and the Mikaelsons would start to worry if they did not return to the village. His breathing was calm and even but she knew he was not asleep, he was simply enjoying the moment, such as she was.
Caroline was probably most surprised by the fact that she had just spent a few lovely hours in the passionate arms of Klaus. Klaus who was supposed to the man she hated above everything else, the enemy. And she couldn't find an ounce of guilt though present in her thoughts, only a sense of calm and happiness. She snuggled into his chest and said, "We should get back, they will start to worry soon."
"I wish I could keep you in my arms forever." He said and kissed the top of her head, "I do not think I have ever felt like this before."
"Neither have I." Caroline whispered and kissed the place above his heart before she stood up and started to put her clothes back on.
"You don't regret this do you?" He asked as he laced his pants, doing anything but looking her in the eyes.
"Klaus, look at me." She demanded, her tone leaving no choice in the matter. When he looked up she walked over to him and put a hand on each cheek, making sure he could not look away, "I do not regret a second of our time together and nothing will ever change that. I know you have not had a lot of trust in your life, but you need to trust me. I did this because I wanted to. Because ever since that first kiss in the woods you are all I have been able to think about. I have tried so hard to push you away because that feeling consumes me, which is why my guard was down in the caves. But, I promise you, from this moment on, I will never lie to you about how I feel and I promise that I will never push you away."
"What did I do to deserve you? You are so beautiful, so strong, so kind, so full of a light that draws me like a moth to the flame." He rose a hand to grip the one she had placed on his left cheek and kissed it, never taking his eyes from her.
"Maybe one day I will tell you." She whispered and placed a light but meaningful kiss on his lips, "Now, can you please tie me back up?"
"Of course love." He answered and slowly laced up her dress, his fingers ghosting over her bare back as he did so, "I should promise you something as well." He said and waited for her to turn around before he continued, "I promise that for long as I live, you will be the only woman that holds a place in my heart. Now and forever Caroline, it will be only you."
She smiled sweetly at him, "Put on your shirt Nik, we don't want to get in too much trouble. Do we?"
Klaus felt his smile grow larger at the use of the nickname only Rebekah and Kol ever used. It sounded even more pleasant falling from her glorious lips and he looked forward to hearing that voice for the rest of his days.
Elena was starting to worry a bit, Caroline had promised to back before dark, but that had been nearly an hour ago. Elena hadn't even realized the lateness of the hour until Elijah had left, only twenty minutes earlier. She knew that Caroline could more than take of herself, being a vampire and all, but it was just in her nature to worry. Elena could hear Mikael yelling long before he stood in front of her.
"Elena, is Niklaus here?" He asked, coming up to her as she sat the fire outside of Ayanna home.
"No sir. I haven't seen Klaus today." She answered honestly, glad she didn't have to lie to the man, even as a human she found him terrifying.
"What about your sister?" He demanded, "I know he has been showing interest in her."
"Caroline is running a few errands for Ayanna, I haven't seen her since this afternoon. I am actually starting to worry about her, she was supposed to be home an hour ago." Elena told him, hoping that Mikael would accept her answer.
That seemed to stop Mikael's angry rage at his son, realizing that a young girl might be in trouble, "We should probably gather…"
"No reason for that Father, I have her." Klaus' voice said suddenly out of nowhere, causing both Mikael and Elena to jump at the sound.
Elena stood at once in shock as Klaus walked up to them carrying Caroline in his arms, and a lumber bag on his back. She noticed that Caroline's left ankle was wrapped in torn material from her dress. "Oh my, Caroline what happened?" Elena asked at once as Klaus set her on the bench next to her.
"I slipped, you know how clumsy I can be. I think I twisted my ankle something horrible because it hurts to walk on it. I got about half way back when Klaus found me." She paused and smiling sweetly at Klaus before going back to her pained face, "He was kind enough to carry me back here."
"I am just glad you are alright, I was so worried." Elena replied, pulling her into a hug, and whispered so low only Caroline could hear, "I want the truth when we are alone."
"I knew you would." Caroline answered aloud, smiling at her 'sister', before turning to Mikael, "I am so sorry I kept Klaus from his duties sir."
Elena could tell that Mikael didn't really believe the story, but he had no proof to the contrary, and Caroline kept holding her foot at an odd angle, to go with the lie. He had no choice but to say, "He only did what was right. Now, Niklaus, go home." His voice left no room for agreement.
"Yes Father." Klaus answered, and nodded a farewell to both Elena and Caroline before walking off into the semi-darkness toward his home.
"Well Caroline, I hope your distress does not last too long. Elena, I am sorry that I disturbed you earlier. Have a pleasant evening." Mikael said before walking off, not even waiting for them to respond.
Elena waited until she was sure he could no longer hear them before turning to Caroline, "Okay, what really happened? Why were so late and why were you with Klaus?"
"I just ran into him in the woods and we lost track of time. So, I came up with this wonderful ploy to keep him out of trouble when I heard you talking with Mikael." Caroline explained, her smile too innocent for Elena's liking.
"Really? What were you and Klaus doing that you lost track of time?" Elena asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
"Why did we have to be doing anything?" Caroline questioned, getting up and walking into their temporary home.
"Caroline…" Elena's voice warned as she followed, "Don't lie to me."
"Why don't you tell me what you think I did and I will tell if it happened or not?" Caroline suggested as she started to remove her dress to change into a clean one.
"Oh I think you know." Elena replied, sitting down on her bed and watching Caroline carefully. Looking for any of the signs, but knowing with Caroline's healing abilities that anything could have happened without a trace left, "We have discussed this. No judging about anything that happens. Starting over. We can't lie to each other about anything."
Caroline sighed and started to paly nervously with her hair, "You're right we did agree to not judge or lie to each other." She replied and took a deep long breath before saying, "I…had sex with Klaus."
"I figured you might have." Elena responded, trying her best to not put too much emotion in her words. She didn't want it to seem like she was judging her friend, "And, how do you feel about it?"
"Truthfully…It was wonderful." Caroline admitted, smiling at Elena despite that she knew it really wasn't what Elena wanted to hear, "I don't think I have ever felt so…comfortable being with a man as I felt with Klaus."
"You don't regret it then?" Elena couldn't stop herself from asking.
"No. I don't feel a single ounce of regret for having sex with Klaus. Tyler and I have been over for a while now, whether or not I have admitted it aloud. And Klaus isn't the same man we knew…he is so different here. The way he looks at me, it makes me feel like I am the only thing in the world that he sees. Have you ever felt that way?"
Elena was quiet for a moment, thinking hard on her past male experiences. Matt had worshiped her, treated her like she was the air he breathed, but she had found that smothering, not romantic. Stefan did sometimes look at her like she was the only thing that mattered to him, but every once in a while, especially after she had learned about Katherine, sometimes she wondered if he was really seeing her, or Katherine. It was the same for Damon, and she also wondered if his interest was to finally get the girl over Stefan, like a challenge he needed to win. "No, I don't think I have." Elena answered after her thoughts had played out, "But I am glad that you have Care. You, more than anyone, deserve to have a man that wants you because of who you are."
"So do you Elena. Don't count yourself short." Caroline replied and sat down on the bed next to Elena, "I think that the only way you will find it though is to get yourself out of your love triangle with Stefan and Damon. Either pick one or let them both go. This life isn't fair to you or them."
"I know, I know. The decision just is not as easy as one would think." Elena sighed and laid down with her head on the pillow, her feet behind Caroline's back.
"I would never think that choosing between two men you deeply care about would be an easy decision. Just even allowing myself to admit the truth I felt with Tyler and Klaus was enough to drive me insane." Caroline admitted, and started playing with her daylight ring to give her hands something to do.
"What was the thing that changed your mind about Klaus?" Elena asked suddenly, sitting up and leaning her back against the wall, and hugged her knees to her chest.
Caroline moved and copied Elena's position before answering, "It was him…truthfully it really was just him. He treats me so wonderfully. During that first night in the caves he kept me calm. Being around all that pumping blood, with everyone's emotions running so high because of the wolves, it was getting too much for me. That was why I disappeared as soon as I could. Even with your blood, I needed to get as far away from everyone as I could. Klaus followed me and somehow, he kept me calm without even really knowing what it was that was bothering me."
"Why did you not tell me that before?" Elena asked, suddenly very concerned Caroline had told her about her need for space, but hadn't told her how Klaus had helped her stay in control.
"I didn't want to bother you with it. You have enough on your plate, you shouldn't have to listen to all of my little problems." Caroline assured Elena.
"Are you sure? I know going off human blood to animal blood can't be easy." Elena asked.
"Yeah, I have never been too keen on the animal thing but it is my only option here. I am not at all comfortable with taking and compelling, you know that. Which is I kill a very large deer every full moon day." Caroline confirmed, and then added, "You aren't upset, are you?"
"No Caroline, I am not upset." Elena told her, "I just want you to be happy and you know who Klaus becomes in our time. I don't want us to get back there and have him be the same man that we left behind and have you feel this way."
Caroline closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she hadn't ever thought of that as a possibility. She knew now she was falling in love with Klaus and she had always felt attracted to him, even before they had come to the past. That was the reason after all that she had allowed him to kiss her after only being here a week. She opened her eyes quickly when she heard footsteps approaching the door, "Ayanna is coming."
"Good evening Elena. Caroline." She said and went straight to sit across from Caroline and waited for Elena to sit down as well before adding, "I think I have found the solution to your problem."
"You know how to send us back?" Elena said almost jumping up in excitement.
"I do, but it will be complicated and time consuming." Ayanna started to explain, "It has to be done in unison with the witch that cast the original spell and must be cast under the same lunar event."
"How do we manage that?" Caroline asked, thinking that just maybe they would be stuck in the past forever, "Have you figured out how to make the memory spell temporary?"
"Yes, if the 'Originals' are present at the time I cast your return spell, I can use that magic signature to perform a memory spell on them. The return spell from here will hide their memories of you but that spell will be removed when the witch casts the spell that sent you here. This way the future will not change due to your presence here but it will still allow you a way to return to your time." Ayanna explained, her eyes staying focused completely on the fire.
"Okay, when would be the right time to do this?" Elena asked, trying not to get her hopes too high, there were a lot of variables involved in this plan.
"What time of year was it when you left?" Ayanna asked in return.
"Umm, early June." Caroline answered, only really knowing the answer because they had finally graduated from high school, the last two years seemed like it took closer to four.
"Alright, I do not know what that means. Had the summer solstice passed?" Ayanna replied to Caroline's answer.
"No." Elena responded, trying to remember the date of that correctly, "I think it was still a few weeks away."
"Good, that will be the date we choose then." Ayanna confirmed.
"But it is winter, you are saying we will have to wait another five months to go home?" Caroline asked, her voice sounding a bit desperate.
"Yes, it must be done with a heavy celestial event. A solstice is the perfect timing and the winter one has already past. If we miss this chance, we will have to wait another half year." Ayanna informed them, "Just go along with your lives as you were. When spring comes we will discuss this more."
"Okay." Elena said quietly, still not fully believing that there was finally a chance they were headed home.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. I have to travel to the neighboring village, which is a two day trip. I will most likely be there for over a week. You two will be on your own. I have asked Esther and Mikael to check in on your to make sure you are alright." Ayanna informed them, causing Caroline to look up from gazing absently at the fire.
"That really isn't necessary Ayanna, we can take care of ourselves." Caroline assured her.
"I am aware of that, but it would not proper to leave the two of you alone." She said, her voice leaving no room for agreement, "Mikael or Esther will be checking with you daily. I will see you girls in a few weeks." Ayanna didn't wait for a further response, instead she just turned and walked the short distance to her private room.
Elena watched the door close slowly, not sure whether to be happy that a plan was finally in motion for them to leave or to keep her hopes in check in case something went wrong, like it usually did. One look at Caroline told her she wasn't alone in her thoughts.
"Niklaus!" Mikael yelled and it was followed by the sound of a door slamming shut.
Klaus flinched at his father's voice and rose quickly from the table he was sitting at with the rest of this family, "Father…." Klaus started to say but stopped when he noticed his father's rage.
"Do not speak!" Mikael roared and stopped in front of his middle son, "I do not believe for a second that the girl's story is the truth. I am sick of you bringing disgrace and rumor to this family."
"Father, I have not…" Klaus began but the hand to his cheek stopped his words.
"I don't wish to hear your lies boy." Mikael spat at him, "Tomorrow, I want you to go hunting near the falls. Make it a two day trip, that should put you home just before the next full moon."
"Father, you want Niklaus to go on a two day hunting trip alone?" Elijah ventured, trying to keep his tone calm.
"That was going to be the plan, do you disagree with me Elijah?" Mikael asked, turning to face his eldest, with only a little less hate visible in his features.
"Yes Father." Elijah braved, "At this time of year it would be unwise to be alone in the woods for an extended period of time."
Mikael seemed to be considering Elijah's words carefully, plus he had very little faith in Klaus' ability to actually bring anything home with him, "Fine, you will go with him Elijah. I want both of you to leave first thing in the morning."
"Yes Father." The brothers responded in unison before Mikael stormed off to the private room he shared with Esther, who followed close behind her husband.
"You did not have to do that Elijah." Klaus told his brother, sitting back down at the table with his other siblings.
"I do not like the idea of you out on your own for two days, especially now when the bears are waking from their hibernation." Elijah replied.
"I am glad you aren't going alone Nik." Rebekah added, "I will be much calmer while you are gone if the two of you are together. I've getting a bad feeling for a few days."
"Yes, yes so glad you won't spend two night by yourself." Kol piped in and then, with curiosity laced in very word, asked, "So Nik, why where you so late?"
"I just ran into a distraction, nothing that concerns you Kol." Klaus responded, sending a glare at his younger brother.
"You just can't help yourself, can you Niklaus?" Finn questioned suddenly from his seat before standing and walking off toward his own bed area, "I just hope your actions don't get you into even more trouble in the future."
Klaus didn't reply to his brother, not really seeing the point in defending himself to the retreating back. As his door closed however, Kol put in his two cents, "Always bringing joy to a conversation that one."
His comment caused the other three to crack grins but none were brave enough to let out a true laugh within the hearing of their father.
"We should all retire for the evening. It will be a long next few days." Elijah informed them and slowly stood from the table, making his way to the room he shared with Finn. The others also got up from the table and made their ways to their own rooms, neither speaking another word.
Present
Klaus stopped running when he reached his destination, the location of his previous home, which now happened to be the cemetery. He heard the footsteps slowly approaching him from behind, and knew right away who they belonged to, "Glad to see you back mate. Though I don't remember giving you permission to leave in the first place."
"I am my own person, I don't need your permission to do anything." Tyler spat back, stopping a good six feet from his previous master.
"If you say so." Klaus replied sarcastically, "Did your little vacation yield anything special for you?"
"I already told you, I am my own person." Tyler responded, smiling fully, "You no longer get to tell me what to do."
"Figured out a way to get rid of that little sire bond did you?" Klaus asked, his voice laced with anger at the thought. He planned to use that bond to force Tyler to leave town again before Caroline returned, insuring he would be able to keep her all to himself.
"Yep, all I had to do was break my bones a few hundred times for the girl that I love." Tyler informed the Original, not holding back his confidence in the matter.
"And what makes you so sure if was all worth it?" Klaus asked the young boy, deciding to dash all his little hopes and dreams about his life.
"Caroline was worth every pain." Tyler replied, "I've heard about your little obsession with her. That will now end." Tyler threatened, but he could see it did not have the desired effect.
"Oh, I would of course listen to you, but I am not sure that is what Caroline would wish to happen." Klaus said and leaned leisurely against the façade of the Salvatore crypt behind him.
"Of course it is!" Tyler yelled, his voice rising in anger at what Klaus was suggesting, "She loves me."
"That might have been true at one time, but things change Tyler. Do you know where Caroline is at this moment?" Klaus questioned, keeping his body relaxed while his voice was demanding.
"In the past." Tyler answered simply, his face falling in confusion, trying to figure out Klaus' line of thought.
"One thousand years in the past to be more detailed. She is currently spending a lot of quality time with myself and my family. Lots can change with time Tyler, you should think on that." Klaus told the boy with a telling smirk and flashed off.
Tyler could do nothing but stare into the empty space now in front of him, confusion and anger slowly contorting his features.
AN: Its a miracle!
Thank you all again for the awesome reviews! Don't forget to keep giving me your opinions on the story, it really helps with the creative process.
So, I was asked, and I do have a tumblr account, psychvamp25, but it is really new and I have no idea how to do anything on it, lol. I would only suggest following me if you don't ever want to learn anything (at least until I figure out how it works, or someone tells me how it works).
There will be an update on Tuesday, maybe before if I find the time (like I some how did with this one).