Fallen
Chapter Ten
A.N. So hopefully no one minded the smut (AT LAST) last chapter...because there may be some this chapter too! All of your reactions to this story have been so great, guys. I can't even put into words just how much they mean to me. I love that you love it, and it's got you guessing.
My love for Kol kind of bleeds into this chapter a bit, so hopefully no one minds. But we also have some Kalijah, some Declan and Rebekah, and of course Klaroline...as well as a turn in the tides. So do let me know what you think!
Thanks to my amazing team of amazing people: Miranda, Becky, Katie, and Leah. Their patience is overwhelming, and Miranda listens to everyone of my ideas with grace, while Becky smacks me upside the head when I threaten to delete everything because I think it sucks. My team of friends are the reason these chapters get done. I love them so.
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The cotton shifted across Caroline's naked form as she rolled onto her side, breathing deep as her arm drifted out towards the other side of the bed. Her fingers met nothing but cold sheets, and her brow furrowed as she opened her eyes, frowning when she saw the spot where Klaus had been lying empty.
Rolling onto her back, she clutched the sheet to her chest, her eyes squinting in the dimly lit room. Their clothes were still scattered across the floor, and her face flushed with the memory of Klaus peeling the dress from her body, his hands dancing a beautiful rhythm against her skin. Sitting up, her gaze drifted further, her eyes softening when she finally caught sight of Klaus.
He was sitting across the room in a wooden chair in nothing but his black boxer briefs, his legs stretched out on the desk next to him. A sketchpad was propped open on his lap, his hand flying across the page as his eyes darting up to her, his lips twisting into a smirk when he saw her sitting up.
She smiled in return, wrapping the sheet tighter around her body as she pulled herself up on the bed. "What are doing?" she asked, her voice quiet in the midnight.
"My muse has been quite present as of late," he replied, his smirk widening as his brows lifted, his head tilting to the side as he dropped his gaze back to his sketch. "I saw this as the perfect opportunity to sketch her in all of her beauty."
Caroline scoffed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "A little creepy, Klaus," she laughed, knotting the bedsheet under her arm as she stood, slowly making her way towards him.
"Creepy or adoring?" he asked with a smile.
She laughed, shaking her head as she leaned back against the desk by his feet, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Creepily adoring, maybe." She cleared her throat quietly, crossing her arms under her breast and curling her toes against the hardwood floors under her feet. She could feel his eyes on her, and it sent goosebumps coursing over her skin, the heat of a blush burning her cheeks, and she rolled her eyes, lifting her gaze to look at him.
Klaus grinned, setting his sketchpad and pencil on the floor next to his chair and reaching towards her, dropping his feet to the ground. "Are you flustered by me, sweetheart?" he asked, sliding his hand into one of hers and lacing their fingers. "I don't think you have any reason to be."
She blushed again at the insinuation in his voice, letting him tug her towards him gently. She sunk down into his lap, her legs draped over to one side as one of his arms wrapped around her sheet clad waist, the other slipping from her hand and tangling into the mussed curls at the base of her neck. Her eyes searched his for a moment before he pulled her towards him, his lips caressing hers gently, and she sighed against him. Her hands rested against his bare chest, feeling his heart thud under her fingertips.
His lips peppered kisses along her jaw and down the column of her throat, the hand around her waist trailing to the small of her back.
Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back, letting herself be lost in the feel of his touch and kiss, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. His lips pressed to her skin, his teeth nibbling teasingly, and as his tongue darted out to soothe his nips, she was reminded of his tongue on a very different part of her body. She moaned quietly as she remembered the feel of his tongue swirling against her, bringing her to the highest peak she'd ever experienced in her life. She could still feel the grip of his hands on her thighs and the scrape of his stubble against her sensitive skin, and heat flooded to her core.
She'd never felt so cherished. So adored. So wanted, than with him in that moment.
Her eyes opened, and she pulled away from his exploring mouth, her hands sliding up his chest until they rested against the sides of his neck. His eyes snapped up to her, a question in his gaze, and she smiled, leaning forward and pressing her lips to his. Reaching behind her, she pulled his hand from where it rested against her back and moved it to his side, slowly raising her body until she leaned over him.
Her hands slid down his neck to his shoulders, her nails gently raking across his skin as they moved down his chest. Her lips soon followed, kissing a path across his collarbone and before following the trail of her hands. She felt his chest rise and fall as he chuckled quietly, and she smiled.
"What are you doing, love?" his chest rumbled under her touch, and she shrugged, moving further down until she kneeled between his legs. She smiled, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes. A smirk was awaiting her gaze. "If I didn't know better, I'd assume you're trying to seduce me."
She giggled, letting her lips dance around the skin of his abdomen, her hands sliding down to rest against his thighs. His chest heaved with his quickened breathing, and she couldn't help the smug smirk that graced her face. "Trying?" she asked playfully, surprised at her sudden burst of confidence but enjoying it nonetheless. Her fingers tipped beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs, barely grazing his hardened erection, and he shuddered out a breathy chuckle, his head tilting back against the back of the chair as his eyes fluttered closed.
"Succeeding," he relented with a smile.
She smiled, slipping her hand beneath the thin fabric and wrapping her fingers around his shaft. His sharp intake of breath rewarded her, and she used his distraction to tug at the material, smirking when he raised his hips to help her pull them down his legs.
Caroline kissed the taut muscles of his outer thighs as her hand began to stroke him, slow steady pumps causing a growl to start low in his chest. She lifted her gaze, taking in the sight of his slackened face-closed eyes, parted lips, his hands clenching around the arms of the chair. She let her eyes drop towards his lap, watching her hand move, and then she leaned towards him, unconsciously licking her lips as she spared on more glance at his face. He was peering down at her through half lidded eyes, and she broke their gaze when she felt her face flush. The last thing she needed was to feel self conscious right now.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she leaned forward and pressed a feather light kiss to his tip, pulling back slightly when she heard her name escape his lips in a strangled gasp. From the corner of her eye, she could see his grip tighten on the chair, and she bit back a grin as she moved forward once more, dragging her tongue up the base of his shaft. She swirled her tongue around his glistening tip before gently closing her lips around it, taking him fully into her mouth. Pressing her tongue against the underside of his shaft, she closed her eyes as she began to bob her head, her cheeks hollowing as she slowly moved, her hand stroking where her lips couldn't reach.
His hips jerked beneath her, thrusting him further into her mouth, and she moaned quietly, swirling her tongue around his tip once more when she felt his hand tangle in her hair. It just rested there, not forcing her head down further or quickening her movements, and she inwardly sighed, sitting up straighter on her knees and taking him in further. His moans were echoing in her ears, giving her a surge of power she hadn't felt before, and her free hand slid up his thigh and onto his chest, her nails scraping lightly against her skin. His hips jerked hard beneath her, and she twisted her wrist, stroking him quicker, hearing his sharp intake of breath.
Klaus' mind was reeling with the sensations Caroline's luscious mouth and tongue were lavishing on him. He never thought there would be a more enticing sight than the beautiful blonde kneeling between his legs, her eyes closed and her mouth around him, her hand working at a frantic pace. The vibrations from her moans only added to his stimulation, and he knew that if he didn't stop her now, their next round would be over much sooner than he'd like.
He forced himself to sit up, the motion causing Caroline to sit back, her mouth disconnecting from his cock with a pop, and he felt a surge of newfound lust course through him at the sight of her hand reaching up to wipe at the sides of her mouth, her eyes wide and confused as they stared up at him. He reached down, gripping her arms firmly, and pulled up her up against his body, crushing his lips to hers.
Her hands reached up to wrap around his neck, her tongue swirling around his, and he lifted her off her feet, kicking his discarded boxer briefs to the side as he stepped forward. He pressed her against the edge of his desk, his hands flying out at the surface, knocking anything that came into their path to the floor.
Caroline heard the paper shuffling and the various items crashing to the floor, and as she felt the wood press into her lower back, she slid her hands down to his biceps, gripping ahold of them and spinning on her heel, reversing their positions until he was the one pressed against the desk. His surprised laugh greeted her, and she smiled before crushing her lips to his, pressing herself against him.
"Taking charge tonight, sweetheart?," he asked against her lips, his hand tugging at the knot under arm.
She laughed, her hands trailing across his chest. "I don't get to do it often."
He murmured against her skin, his mouth traveling to the curve of her neck as he loosened the sheet from around her body, letting it pool at her feet. "I like this side of you," he said as his hands sprawled across her back before settling on her hips. "I like every side of you."
His words stopped her cold, her hands freezing on his chest as her eyes opened to stare at the wall over his shoulder. His lips were working his way down her shoulder, his hands pulling her closer against him, and all she could concentrate on in that moment was that she'd been lying to him since the day they'd met. He didn't really know her. He knew Caroline Forbes, the girl starting over in a new city, but he didn't know the real her. And every day she'd spent with him she'd been finding herself getting more and more lost in the persona she'd created. She'd talked with him and laughed with him, slept with him, and every day she found herself falling more and more for him and his family, and right now there was an unbearable tugging in her chest that she couldn't shake.
Klaus' hand was sliding from her hip to her stomach, his fingers dancing across her skin, and she sighed, shaking her head. "You don't know every side of me, Klaus," she whispered quietly.
He chuckled against her skin. "Then show me every side," he murmured against her skin, his kisses trailing up her neck and under her jaw. "Every quirk." His hand slid across her stomach and up her abdomen. "Every kink." His fingers tickled the underside of her breast. "Every trait." His hand cupped her breast, his thumb flicking against her pert nipple. "Every fetish and every dream you've ever had."
She let out a sigh at his ministrations, pushing gently against his chest as she shook her head again. There was such a sincerity in his hushed tone. Such promise and yearning, and all she could think in that moment was that her darkness would drown him."There's so much-"
His lips cut her off, and she found herself melting into the kiss. The hand at her breast continued to massage the plump flesh, the hand at her hip quickly slipping between her legs and brushing against her throbbing clit. A loud moan slipped from her lips, and she found her concerns from earlier fading from her mind as lust clouded her senses.
Her hands flattened against his chest and pushed him back. She watched as he acquiesced, quickly hopping onto the desk, and her eyes catching a flash of plastic on the floor in the dim lighting. She bent down, her arm stretching towards Klaus' discarded pants from earlier, snatching up one of the small foil wrappers she would have to thank Kol for before quickly pulling herself up after him. His eyes were dark as she settled above him, one leg on either side of his torso, her hands surprisingly steady as she made quick work of the foil wrapper and slid it onto his erection, her lips swallowing his hiss of pleasure. She pulled her away, her hands bracing themselves against his shoulders as she slowly sunk down onto him. She gasped at the feeling of being so filled, hearing Klaus moan through gritted teeth, and she sighed as she draped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her forehead to his before capturing his lips in a heated kiss.
Their tongues dueled as Caroline slowly lifting her hips before sinking back down, taking him in deeper, inch by inch. His hands were on her hips in a bruising grip, aiding her slow and steady and movements, and they were so achingly gentle he thought he would go mad from the pleasure. But he needed more, and he could sense the same underlying passion in Caroline as she kissed him senseless.
He sucked her bottom lip between his own, biting down gently, and he smirked at her gasp, feeling her movements quicken the slightest bit, and he knew he was right. One hand slid up to tangle in her hair, pulling her face down further towards his own. "Take control," he whispered between kisses, opening his eyes to see her staring down at him with clouded eyes. There was a fire there, a spark that was just waiting to be ignited, and he knew he wanting to see it burn. He kissed her hard, thrusting his hips up sharply, swallowing her gasp. "Fuck me, Caroline."
His words spurred something in her, and she grabbed his face, pulling him to her and kissing him fiercely, all teeth and moans, each claiming the other. She raised her hips, riding him with more fervor, her hands curling into his hair. She steadied herself with her forearms against his shoulders, rocking her hips against his, pulling him deeper inside with each movement.
The desk creaked beneath them as she bounced along his length, her moans growing louder with every thrust of his hips up into her. She tore her lips from his as she tossed her head back, her cries pouring from her mouth shamelessly as she rode him. Her hands flew to the wall behind him, nails scraping into the plaster, and her leaned in torso gave Klaus easy access to her bouncing breasts.
His mouth closed around one, his tongue darting out to flick patterns across her erect nipple, his other hand reaching up to lavish attention on her other, and she let out a wanton moan, speeding up her movements.
The sound of their flesh slapping together echoed in her ears, and she could feel the familiar pressure building between her legs. Every thrust of his hips brought her closer, every click of his tongue or twist of his fingers, and his grip against her lower back was tight and pulling her impossibly closer to his sweat soaked chest. She muttered incoherently as she felt the first coils of release welling inside of her, her eyes clenched shut, fingers digging into his scalp as she lost her balance above him.
His hands flew to her hips, continuing her movements as his lips crushed against hers, swallowing every moan and cry as he pounded into her from below. Her tight walls were squeezing him mercilessly, and he heard her breath quicken, one hand flying to her hair and tugging her face away from his. A sharp thrust up into her snapped her eyes open, and he met her gaze, his jaw clenched as he moaned. "Look at me," he demanded raspily, watching her nod as she gasped, her fingernails scraping against the wall behind him. "I want to see you come, Caroline."
Caroline moaned, her hands dropping to his shoulders, nails digging into his skin. Her eyes never left his, their crashing breaths mingling as they continued to move. She could feel the fire burning deep within her core, and she forced her hips to move quicker, chasing after the spark. She felt his hand leave her hip and a second later his fingers were working her aching clit, and she gritted her teeth as it sent her reeling, crying out as the delicious spasms coursed through her body. She could feel the climax from her fingers to her toes, every wondrous shock stealing her breath and making her moan.
He rode it out with her, watching the emotions play across her face, and Caroline in complete ecstasy above him was a sight he never wanted to forget. His hips worked erratically against her own, and with one final deep thrust, he spilled inside her delicious heat, his body convulsing against her own.
They collapsed against each other, their slick bodies melding, chests heaving and delightful whimpers escaping from Caroline's parted lips, causing a smile to spread across his face.
"Now that was definitely worth the calories," he smirked into her shoulder, chuckling when she halfheartedly slapped him across his back. He lifted his head and caught her lips with his, pressing a tender kiss to her mouth.
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Caroline giggled as Klaus pressed her into her front door, nipping playfully at the skin below her ear as she pushed on his chest. "Quit it," she laughed, sighing as his arms wrapped tighter around her waist. "Real life is calling, and we have to get back to it, as much as we might not like to."
He hummed against her throat. "I think life's as real as it gets, love," he murmured. "Though I do suppose responsibilities do beckon."
She smiled when he raised his head and met her gaze, tilting her head to the side. "They do," she agreed quietly. "Rebekah is probably ready to tear her hair out since she's been stuck with Katherine as her baby sitting partner all night. And I, as much as I might not want to, have to go inside and face Bonnie, and most likely Kol, while doing the dreaded Walk of Shame in last night's dress."
He smirked as he let his eyes scour over her, noting the rumpled dress that hugged her curves with a gleam in his eye, reaching out with one hand to trail a finger across her exposed collarbone. "I certainly hope you don't feel shame about anything that happened last night, Caroline."
Caroline shook her head, lifting herself up on her tiptoes and pressing a light kiss to his pursed lips. "Not a thing," she whispered.
He chuckled against her lips. "Good." Kissing her again, he squeezed her hips one last time before pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"My first Mikaelson family dinner," she smiled. "Should I be worried?"
"Terrified. We're a brutal bunch. But I have no doubts Declan will be there to hoard off the masses from interrogating you too much."
She laughed. "Well, I'll stick close to him then." She looked at him for a moment, shifting on her feet. "He's okay, right? With the idea of you and me?"
"He was practically the instigator of you and me, Caroline," Klaus said with a smile. "Believe me, I tried to stop thinking about you, but it was always 'Caroline this,' and 'Caroline that,' and I have no doubt in my mind that he knew just what he was doing to his old man. He's quite devious when he wants to be. Don't let the cute act fool you."
Caroline nodded, sighing in relief. Declan's reaction to her and Klaus' relationship was always a concern for her. The bright eyed boy always seemed so happy to see her when she was over, but you never really knew what children were really thinking. To hear that he had a hand in Klaus' pursuit of her made her grin, and certainly made her feel better about their situation. The last thing she wanted was to alienate the little boy she'd grown so fond of over the last few months.
Klaus watched the happy smile spread across her face, and he nodded, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She nodded, biting her lower lip as she watched him turn and head towards the stairs, unable to stop the giddiness that she could feel pouring from her every being. Her hand curled around the doorknob behind her as she bounced happily on her feet, giggling quietly before pushing open the door and walking inside. She kept her eyes closed as she shut the door and leaned against it, her happy smile still in place.
Sighing happily, she tossed her keys into the bowl on the table and pushed away from the door, running a hand through her hair as she looked up-and promptly shrieked.
"Kol! Seriously?" she screamed, slapping a hand over her eyes and turning her back on the man that sat on the couch, a baseball game on the TV and a bowl of popcorn on his lap-his very naked lap.
"Oh, hello, Caroline darling," his voice sang to her from across the room, and heard the crunch of popcorn as he chewed another handful from the bowl. "I didn't expect you back so soon. I would have dressed for the occasion."
"Why the hell are you naked?"
"My clothes are the dryer," he said nonchalantly, tossing his head back and catching a piece of popcorn in his mouth. "I have very little patience."
She heard him sit the bowl on the coffee table and shift on the couch, and she cringed. shaking her head. She felt something smack her softly on the back of her head and she turned to look over her shoulder, peeking from between her fingers. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Kol sitting back down on the couch, but now with the throw from the armchair wrapped around his hips. "And you decided that you'd just lounge around naked instead of just going home to get a change of clothes?"
"And miss the first inning? Don't be ridiculous. Although, since we're on the subject of clothes," he asked, leaning on the arm of the sofa and grinning at her with raised brows, his eyes looking over her rumpled dress and disheveled hair. "That dress of yours looks like it saw a night on the floor as opposed to on you." He winked, clicking his tongue. "Did we finally get good and ravished, sweet Caroline?"
Caroline rolled her eyes, turning away from him before he could see the blush that flooded her face. Scoffing, she shook her head, slipping her heels from her feet and heading towards the hallway. "I am not having this conversation with you, Kol."
"That wasn't a denial!" he called after her. "Come now, Caroline, you can tell me! We've been through so much-there are no secrets between us now."
Laughing, she stopped in the doorway of the bathroom, throwing him an eye roll before crossing the threshold. "And we're burning that couch."
"Someone's still a little grouchy," Kol mused, tossing another kernal in the air and catching it with his teeth. "Maybe you should call Nik and have another round." He laughed when the door to the bathroom slammed shut, and he threw back his head as he stretched his feet onto the coffee table, crossing them at the ankle. "Oh, good times…"
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"You can't take another card from the pile, Declan."
"Yes, huh, Uncle Kol said that's how you play."
"Uncle Kol is a liar and a cheater, so don't believe anything he says."
Caroline giggled as she looked over her handful of cards, peeking up at the three Mikaelsons who sat crosslegged across from her. Rebekah was glaring at her nephew and brother, the two of whom sat with their heads close together, a grin that only meant trouble on Kol's face. She exchanged a look with Bonnie, who sat at her side, and the two rolled their eyes and shook their heads before looking back at their hands.
Not that it helped-the rules had changed so many times in the last five minutes, she had no idea what game they were even playing anymore.
"Don't worry, mate," Kol said, nudging Declan with his elbow. "Aunt Bekah is just a sore loser, as she has the lowest score. Perhaps in the history of lowest scores, and she's out to ruin the fun for all of us." His sister only rolled her eyes and grabbed another card from the pile, shoving it into her already full hand and mumbling under her breath. Kol grinned before letting his gaze slide over the other end of their circle. "So...how was your date with Nik, Caroline?"
Caroline smiled as she thought back to the events of the aforementioned date, trying to fight back the blush she could feel starting to spread across her face. She bit her lip as she lifted her gaze, seeing all three pairs of adult eyes on her while Declan continued to shuffle the cards in his hands, and she cleared her throat, offering a shrug. "It was great."
"Just...great?" Kol asked with a disbelieving brow.
"Kol," Bonnie warned quietly. She knew quite well just how "great" the date with Klaus was. She'd practically trapped Caroline in the apartment after she'd gotten off work at the bar and forced the details out of her, the two girls giggling like teenagers over a bottle of wine as Caroline blushed and regaled her with the details.
"What?" he asked as he spread his arms out at his sides as far as his sitting position allowed. "I'm just curious. After all, with that besotten grin you came through the door wearing yesterday…" He grinned, glancing down at his nephew before looking towards her again, impishly. "Did he draw you like one of his French girls?"
Rebekah groaned, tossing her head back with a grimace. "Oh, bloody hell."
"Swear jar," Declan commented lightly, his eyes still on his cards.
Kol cackled while Rebekah huffed and shifting onto one side so she could reach into her back pocket, and he smiled as she forked over a dollar to her grinning nephew before turning his attention back to Caroline. "I'm just saying. You looked properly good and...sketched...when you came home."
"Oh, God," Rebekah muttered.
"Like you'd been sketched all night long."
Next to her, Bonnie started to laugh, and Caroline couldn't help but join in, the combination of Rebekah's apparant disgust and Kol's ways of skirting around the use of the word sex being more entertaining than she could fight against. She giggled, sliding her leg out from underneath her and kicking it towards Kol, landing a hit on his shin and causing him to wince.
"The two of you have been spending far too much time together," he said, glaring at the blonde and brunette across from him as he rubbed the sore spot on his knee.
"I win," Declan declared as he sat his cards down face up, revealing an odd assortment that made absolutely no sense, but left the little boy grinning proudly.
"You do not, that it is not how the game is played at all!" Kol cried, tossing his own hand down with a pout. The girls could only roll their eyes, shrugging their shoulders as they threw their cards down as well.
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"Caroline has acclimated quite well."
Klaus glanced over his shoulder as he took a sip of his bourbon, his lips tugging up when he saw Caroline's lovely face thrown back in laughter, her eyes lighting up as they watched Declan crawl over Kol to reach for the cards his uncle held high over his head. He shrugged as he turned back, catching his brother's intrigued gaze as he watched him.
Elijah smiled, pursing his lips as he looked at the small group in the other room. "It's not easy, diving headfirst into our family. As Katherine and Sage will both attest to, not to mention Miss Bennett. But she seems to be accomplishing it with flying colors. She's even gotten Kol's stamp of approval, and we're all well aware that he doesn't give it lightly."
"Sage has given up on it, actually," their brother Finn commented as he came to their side, a steaming cup of tea in his hand. "She'd accepted that she'll always be known as my 'tawdry lady friend' when it comes to Kol and Rebekah. And I shudder to think what nicknames they have for Katherine," he said with a smirk as he took a sip, chuckling under his breath.
"Oh, she's well aware of what they are, and believe me, she has quite a few choice ones for them as well," Elijah added with a chuckle. "I have no doubt they may have a one or two for Caroline before too long."
Klaus scoffed. "If they know what's good for them, they'll keep it to themselves."
"So protective, Niklaus," Finn laughed, slipping his hand into the pocket of his dress slacks as he shifted on his feet. "I don't quite know what to make of that. Though that grade school song does pop into mind. What's it called? The one about baby carriages and sitting in trees?"
"Could you be more of a dullard?" Klaus deadpanned, Elijah clearing his throat to mask his chuckle while Finn glared with a scoff, turning on his heel and heading towards the kitchen where he could hear Sage's voice drifting from. He rounded the corner to see his wife standing at the sink with Katherine, the two conversing quietly, and he wondered for the thousandth time how the two women had ever managed to form a friendship over the years, so differing were their personalities.
"Our brother does have a point," Elijah said as they watched Finn disappear into the kitchen. "There's been a...shift in you over the past few months, Niklaus. Something has changed, and I attribute most of it to Caroline. I haven't seen you-or Declan for that matter-so...lighthearted. Not for a very long time." He smiled softly, watching the emotions pass across his brother's face as he continued to watched Caroline and Declan. "The two of you deserve some happiness, brother. I'm glad you've found it."
Klaus turned to him then, his lips parting to speak, but the words caught in his throat. It was true-he and Declan had been happier since Caroline had come into their lives. He loved his son, and he prided himself on believing that he had a strong bond with him, but even he could admit that it had gotten stronger with Caroline around. He'd spent so long just trying to be a decent father, making up for the mistakes he'd made and the worrying about the absence that Hayley had left taking a toll, that he never really stopped to see that Declan didn't need him to try that hard. He just needed him.
Before he could respond, Katherine came from around the corner, leaning against the wall and crossing her heeled feet at the ankle as she smirked at them. "Sorry to break up the brotherly bonding, but dinner's ready."
Elijah nodded, lifting his drink to his lips and raising his arm to catch Kol's attention, motioning towards the kitchen.
The small card group began to rise to their feet, Kol wrapping an arm around Bonnie's waist and pulling her up into his side. Declan hopped to his feet quicker than the others, racing around Caroline and Rebekah to reach his father's side. His hands wrapped around his arm as he grinned, tugging him down towards his level, his dark brown eyes smiling up at him. "Uncle Kol owes me three million dollars," he exclaimed.
Klaus laughed, ruffling his son's hair. "Well, good luck with that, mate. He still owes me ten from when he was your age and I took the fall for bending the handlebars of Uncle Elijah's bicycle."
"I knew it," Elijah muttered, offering Kol a glare as he turned to join his wife in the hallway, unable to stop the smirk when he heard his nephew's disappointed sigh. He pressed a kiss to Katherine's lips as he wrapped an arm around her waist, glancing over his shoulder to see Klaus and Caroline in a similar position, and he smiled. "Let's eat."
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"When do I get to have wine with dinner?"
Caroline smiled around her forkful of food, looking over at Declan as he watched his father pour the deep red liquid into her glass. He was looking at his own bottle of grape juice with a look of disappointed disdain, realizing that he was the only one at the table seeming to miss out on the adult beverage.
"When the age old question of What Does the Fox Say is finally answered," Kol replied from across the table, snickering at his own cleverness while the others around them rolled their eyes.
"You'll have plenty of time to try it when you're 21," Elijah answered, folding the napkin in his lap as he straightened the silverware next to his place settling. "You're not missing much, Declan, believe me. Some people never develop the palate for it."
Declan sighed, shrugging his small shoulders and pulling the glass bottle to him with both hands, lifting it to his lips and taking a large gulp. He was used to his uncle using big words like that around him. Uncle Kol told him long ago to just nod along and it would all be easier, so that's what the chose to do. He didn't even know what a palate was.
"So, Caroline," Elijah said casually, leaning his elbows on the table as he chewed his steak slowly. "How have you been enjoying New Orleans?"
Caroline looked over at Elijah with a cautious smile. She still hadn't managed to relax completely around Klaus' eldest brother. There was always that worry, that fear that he knew all along what she was trying to hide, and was just biding his time until he caught her in a lie. "Very much," she answered, feeling Klaus' arm stretching across the back of her chair, his fingers dancing across her shoulder lightly.
"Have you gotten to see much of it? There's so many places I still haven't seen, and I grew up here," Sage said with a smile.
"Well, Klaus has shown me some pretty great places so far," she replied, glancing at him from the corner of her eye to see him smiling at her softly.
Across the table, Kol snickered into his wine glass. "I bet he has," he murmured, choking on his drink when Bonnie's hand reached out and smacked the back of his head. He glowered at her, ignoring her reprimanding glare as he sat his glass back on the table.
"I'm excited for Mardi Gras, though," Caroline continued, rolling her eyes at Kol. "Cami says it's definitely something to experience."
"It is," Bonnie smiled.
"It's chaos," Elijah nearly groaned, causing a trickle of laughter to spread across the table. "Vulgar, the entire concept. It started as a cherished celebration, and through the years it's been overtaken with drunken students and tourists, intent on promoting as much nudity and degradation as possible."
"You're just grumpy because you have to work harder," Katherine smirked at him from his side, resting her head in her hand, her dark curls pouring over her shoulder. "You should hear him complain every year."
Elijah ignored his wife's heckling as he continued on, looking towards Caroline. "The establishments get a bit out of control during Mardi Gras. I suggest if Camille has you working that night, you use caution, Caroline. I'm afraid you'll lose count of how many drunken party goers will throw a strand of beads in your face in attempt to get you to lift your shirt." He shook his head. "It's deplorable, really. In my day, women were respectable. They didn't strip at a drunken request or for something as pathetic as a piece of tacky jewelry."
"Funny, isn't that how you met Katherine?" Rebekah asked from across the table, a mean smirk on her face as her blue eyes slid towards her sister-in-law.
"Couldn't be," Katherine fired back without missing a beat, an equal smirk on her own face. "How could he, when he always has his hands full keeping your clothes on during the celebration?"
Rebekah's grin slipped into a sneer and her eyes narrowed, her hands flattening on the table as she watched Katherine smirk and twist a curl around her finger.
"Enough," Klaus said quietly, lifting his napkin to his lips while shooting a glare between the two women. "Honestly, there are times when I believe Declan holds more maturity than the both of you combined. Sometimes even Kol."
Rebekah laughed when the brother in question grinned proudly, and she cocked her head. "Yes, Kol is quite mature, isn't he? So mature, in fact, that your girlfriend waltzed in on him lounging around naked the other day." She smiled when Kol choked on his wine again, Klaus' face losing it's teasing grin while Caroline and Bonnie sighed. "Oh, didn't anyone mention it to you?"
Klaus glared across the table at his brother, feeling Caroline's hand settle on his thigh. "Apparently it slipped everyone's mind."
Kol tossed back his head, shrugging. "Oh, come on, Nik. It was just a bit of fun. Completely unintentional at that. I honestly didn't expect her to come home so early. You usually keep her to yourself for as long as you can."
Katherine heard the growl coming from Klaus' throat as she looked at Kol with a grimace. "Why were you lounging around naked in the first place?"
Kol shrugged, stabbing a piece of steak with his fork and bringing it to his mouth. "Game was on."
"And you had to watch it naked?" Sage asked skeptically.
"If you all must know, I ran out of clothes. And I certainly wasn't going to sit around reeking all day, so I tossed them in the wash and watched the game while I waited. Honestly, you all act like I'm some scoundrel who lured the poor maiden into a precarious situation. It was an honest mistake."
"He's right," Caroline piped up. "I really just think it was a wrong time sort of thing." She felt Klaus relax under her hand and she offered him a smile, sighing when his hand slipped into the curls at her neck and his fingers massaged the skin of her nape.
"You do realize your clothing problems would cease if you and Bonnie just cohabitated in the same location all the time, don't you?" Klaus asked his brother, leaning back in his chair as he glanced over at his son, amazed once again how the boy could be so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't even bat an eye at the bloodshed that would nearly spill at every family dinner. He was smirking when he turned back to Kol with a raised brow.
"Bonnie won't move in with him until they're married," Rebekah commented, rolling her eyes. "A stupid condition. The two of you are practically married already. Lord knows you bicker enough, so I don't see what the big deal is."
Bonnie sighed, shrugging. "It's not a big deal," she said, and from her tone, Caroline assumed this wasn't the first time she'd had this conversation. "Well, it is, because living with anyone is a big deal. I mean, there's leases and utilities and...I mean, what if we broke up, what would we do then?"
Kol's fork clanged against his plate as he turned towards her. "What, you think we'd break up?"
"No, that's not what I was saying," Bonnie said. "I'm just saying to just casually live with a guy seems risky, because nothing is set in stone, and it can cause a hassle on down the road. We're not breaking up, so stop freaking out."
Caroline watched the insulted look spread over Kol's face, and she tucked her lips together to keep from smiling. She knew it wasn't actually funny, but when it came to Kol and Bonnie, there was just something that made her laugh. Maybe it was because Bonnie was so rational and Kol tended to overdramatize. And from the equal looks of amusement on the faces of his family, she supposed she wasn't the only one.
"And what, marriage means it's set in stone?" Kol asked. "Do you know the divorce rate in this country? Really, what's the real issue here? You don't want to live with me?"
Bonnie sighed. "Kol, come on."
"I mean, why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?"
Elijah's sigh of exasperation did Caroline in, and a giggle slipped passed her lips. She lifted a hand to her mouth, but from the grin on Klaus' face, she knew she hadn't masked it in time.
"Kol, for goodness sakes, I was just answering Nik in regards to his question. Bonnie won't live with you until you're married, it is what it is," Rebekah said with a shrug.
Kol looked from his sister to Bonnie for a moment, his finger tapping on the back of his chair before he shrugged. "Fine, then let's get married."
Every occupant at the table froze at his nonchalant words, silverware no longer scraping against china, every pair of eyes gaping over at the couple. Even Declan had raised his head, his brown eyes wide with curiosity.
Bonnie was staring at Kol, her mouth agape and her eyes wide in surprise, her hand tight around the stem of her wine glass. "Are you joking?" she finally managed. Kol opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off, holding a finger up to his face. "Marriage proposals aren't a joke, Kol Mikaelson, so I swear to God..."
"For your information, I've been planning to ask for weeks now," Kol defended, taking her accusatory finger in his hand and curling it back down before lacing his fingers with hers. "I've just been gathering the courage, darling, waiting for the perfect moment; the right way to do it."
Katherine snorted. "And you thought this was it? Idiot." She rolled her eyes when Elijah nudged her, swallowing a large gulp as wine as she crossed her arms over her chest and settled back in her seat.
Kol grinned. "No one ever said I was a traditional sort of sport." He looked back to Bonnie, seeing the softened expression on her face, and he leaned forward, bringing their laced hands to her lap, his thumb tracing a delicate pattern on her skin. He reached into his jean pocket, hearing her sharp intake of breath, and he smiled as he pulled the single solitaire ring he never left home without. His eyes were on her face as he slid the ring onto her left hand finger, smiling as her wide eyes followed its every movement. "So? What do you say, my Bonnie lass? Put me out of my scantily clad misery and say yes."
Bonnie's eyes were shining as they slowly lifted to his, her lips forming a radiant smile as she laughed. "You're such an idiot," she whispered, her hands slipping from his grasp to curl around his neck, pulling his lips to hers as his arms wrapped around her waist.
The table erupted into a chorus of claps and awws, with Declan's quiet exclamation of disgust mixing in as he wrinkled his nose. Caroline smiled as she watched her friend giggle and start to cry, her head shaking as Kol whispered to her quietly, and she leaned into Klaus, feeling him press a kiss to the top of her head. "Are all of your family dinners this eventful?"
His chest rumbled as he chuckled. "Well, we don't do things half speed, love," he said, lifting her chin with his fingers so he could peck a quick kiss on her lips. "Haven't you learned that by now?"
Caroline laughed, rolling her eyes before pressing another kiss to his lips, sighing happily as they both reached for their glasses when Elijah proposed a toast.
She watched Kol and Bonnie, smiling at the happiness on their faces, and she started to think, as Klaus laid a kiss on her temple, that maybe she'd have that one day as well.
xxxxxxx
Tyler Lockwood watched from his desk as a uniformed officer hauled a struggling drunk into the precinct, his feet dragging on the ground, his words unintelligible as he slurred out insult after insult. He rolled his eyes in disgust, resting his face in his hand as he sighed, turning back towards the computer screen in front of him.
His eyes were scouring the black and white footage in front of him, watching the masses of people in the bus terminal flit from place to place, and he rubbed a hand over his tired eyes.
She'd been there, he knew it. This was how she'd gotten out of Mystic Falls. He knew it was her he'd seen in the crowd that night. He'd know her anywhere-how could he not? He'd spent years with her. He could pick her out of any crowd.
Showing her picture hadn't garnered much response. Most of people who had been there that night were in the wind. You took buses to disappear, after all. That was the entire idea.
"Hey, Lockwood," a fresh faced deputy called out as he came into the bullpen, his hand resting against his firearm and a bright smile on his face. "You catch the game last night?"
Tyler gritted his teeth as he looked up at him, forcing a jovial expression on his face when all he wanted to do was tell the younger man to fuck off and leave him be. "Yeah, man, it was pretty tight there for awhile," he said, his voice sounding much lighter than he felt inside. "But we came and conquered, just like always." He smiled as he turned back to his computer monitor, feeling the other officer's eyes on him.
"Caroline still out of town?"
He told himself it wasn't an insinuation as he felt his shoulders straighten. There was no accusation or mocking behind the young kid's words, just curiosity, and he forced his voice to remain even as he forced out a laugh. "Yeah, her friend is still pretty torn up about this break up. I talked to her last night, though. She'll be home soon."
"Great," the deputy said with a grin. "Mary was just saying it's been awhile since we've all been out, so we'll have to hit up the Grill when she gets all settled."
Tyler nodded, smiling. "Yeah, you bet man." He kept the smile on his face as he watched the kid give him a thumbs up before turning and continuing on his way, his polished shoes thumping along the hard wood floors as he went. When he'd disappeared around the corner, his eyes slid back to his computer, clearing his throat as he pressed play on the video player and watched the screen zoom in on a slight woman hurrying through the crowd.
His fingers tapped against the wrinkled photo on the desktop, the fingers of his other hand stroking the skin of his lips as his dark eyes watched the screen.
The ticket attendant frowned as he stared down at the photo, adjusting the glasses on his face. "I'm sorry, sir…"
"Just take another look," Tyler stressed, his hands curling around the edge of the counter as he stared at the older man. "Think, sir, please. This is very important. I need to know if you saw this woman come through the terminal."
The older man sighed, leaning against the counter as he brought the faded picture towards his face again. His brow furrowed, and he clicked his tongue, tapping his finger against it. "You know, the face looks awfully familiar. Course, she wasn't as happy go lucky as she is in this picture. She looked skittish, you know. Glancing over her shoulder."
"But she was here?" Tyler asked. "You saw her?"
"I think so...but.."
"But what?" Tyler demanded, his voice harsher than he intended.
The attendant barely flinched as he slid the photo back through the ticket window. "She wasn't a red head."
Tyler leaned forward as he froze the image on the screen, his eyes narrowing as he took in the gritty image. Her face was turned to the side, but he'd know her profile anywhere.
Even with the blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun, it was still Caroline.
"Damn it, Care," he muttered under his breath, his hand crumpling the picture of his red headed wife in his grip. Her smiling face was laughing at him, and he could feel his anger boiling. He threw himself back in his chair, running a hand down his face as he tried to steady his breathing. He licked his lips, letting his eyes scour the room around him before he cleared his throat, sliding his chair closer to his desk and pulling up a few programs, stomping down the feeling in his gut that was telling him he was crossing the line.
"Hey, can you believe that guy?"
He looked up as Ben McKittrick strolled towards his desk, stirring a Styrofoam cup of coffee in his hands as he watched the drunk from earlier thrash around in the holding cell, yelling slurred obscenities at every passing officer. He was a rookie, barely a year out of the academy, despite having been a year or two ahead of Tyler in school.
Tyler sighed as he turned back to his computer, his eyes watching closely as he manipulated the photo the screen. He tried to look past her smiling face, her bright blue eyes. He focused on shortening the hair, swapping out the bright red tresses he'd loved to run his fingers through for pale yellow ones, fighting back the cringe he could feel fighting to break through. "What about him, McKittrick? It's nothing you haven't seen before."
"Still...you can't help but feel kind of sorry for the guy. I mean, to be that drunk, all the time. How rough does your life have to be?"
"It doesn't matter," Tyler murmured, dragging the altered photo into another window, lining it up perfectly with the original, his eyes narrowing at the stark difference in her appearance. "It doesn't matter what kind of hand life deals you, okay? You make your own decisions. That guy can tell you whatever sob story he wants, but it doesn't matter." He copied the gritty photo from the bus terminal footage, cropping it frame Caroline's silhouette only before dragging it to join the other two, positioning it overtop them. "People are liars, Ben. Every one of them. They lie, they cheat, they steal. They break promises they make before God and everyone." His fingers flew across the keyboard as he filled in the blank boxes that littered the screen. Age, name, height, weight. "It doesn't matter what drives them to it. They ultimately make the decision. They decide it. No one is innocent, man."
He watched the letters form across the screen, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
Wanted. Suspect. First Degree. Murder. Considered dangerous.
Sighing, he leaned back in his seat as his eyes scoured the APB, his finger hesitating over the mouse for a brief moment before he clicked Submit, his hand falling to the hardwood desk as he tapped his fingers against it. He flicked his eyes back up to Ben, seeing the officer staring at him thoughtfully, and he shook his head.
"Everyone's got something to hide."
xxxxxxx
Dun dun duuuun.
Oh dear. Something tells me things are about to get complicated.
The next couple chapters should come pretty quickly, so until next time! Let me know what you thought, and for random bursts of crazy and crying and who knows what else-it really depends on when the mood strikes-follow me on Tumblr: klarolineepiclove.