The hotel room door opened and Rebekah breezed in dumping shopping bags just inside the door. The sleepers, one on the chair and one on the sofa, abruptly woke up, startled by her unannounced entry.
Rebekah noiselessly approached the bed and stared down at Stefan, fast asleep, still in his clothes, one arm thrown over his face. She easily detected the tracks of dried tracks still visible on his cheek.
Her face was murderous as she abruptly turned and walked out to the anteroom of the hotel suite. "What happened?" she asked, her voice low but icy.
Caroline was afraid of Rebekah at the best of times. Rebekah, with flashing eyes, impatiently tapping foot, and vicious expression, downright terrified her. There was something about her now that made the hairs on Caroline's spine stand on end. She snuck a peak at Lee and could tell from the look on his face that he felt the same.
Something primeval, deep in Caroline's core, warned her not to try to run from this predator. She stayed very still and spoke in a quiet, calm voice. "Elena turned."
Rebekah froze, staring off into space. "This could drive him over the edge," she said to no one in particular. "Well, enough is enough."
The Original looked them over and seemed to come to a decision. "Get dressed – both of you. We're going shopping."
Lee appeared stunned by the change in Rebekah's demeanor. At one point he was sure they were going to be ripped to pieces, and now she was talking about shopping. He shook his head in confusion.
"Shopping?" Caroline was so shocked she actually squealed. She looked pointedly at the six shopping bags Rebekah had plopped down just inside the door. That was a lot, even for a shopping queen like Caroline.
"Those are for me, and we're about the same size so there's something for you to wear." She clarified her intentions. "We're going clothes shopping for the guys."
At Caroline's puzzled look, she stated, "We're going to Ritz-Carlton for High Tea, and the guys have to be dressed."
Lee quickly stood up. "Ah, that's not really my thing. I'll just be going. "
Rebekah's icy stare immediately quelled his half voiced protest.
"I'll just go get washed up," he finished rather lamely. He quickly headed for the bathroom.
"High Tea! I've always wanted to do that." Caroline gushed, clasping her hands together.
Rebekah smiled. "I spent a thousand years on the run. Now I intend to experience and enjoy everything that life offers."
"How did you find us?" a very puzzled Caroline asked. "Did Stefan tell you he was coming here?"
"Stefan is so naïve. I confiscated his old cell phone and gave him a new one with a GPS tracking device." Rebekah smirked. "I may have been out for ninety years, but I learn fast. I like these times, and all the toys people have nowadays."
"I don't think Stefan is going to be up for this." Caroline's first enthusiasm faded as concern for her friend took over.
"He's not going to brood." Rebekah was adamant. "I won't allow it. He's going to have to accept that Elena loved Damon more, and he's going to have to get past it."
"Can he?" Caroline asked uncertainly.
"He has no choice in the matter. I'm going to put it to him this way. If he wants his brother to live, he lives up to the bargain he made. It's time for me to take control."
Caroline considered this. "Maybe it's for the best. He's floundering on his own."
"I'm going to go wake him up." Rebekah's walk, forcibly clicking her heels, was a distinct contract to her earlier tip toe entry into the inner bedroom. She shook Stefan hard. He woke slowly, eyeing her lethargically.
She was not sympathetic. "Get up and get in the bathroom when . . . ah, that guy I haven't been introduced to is done. We're going shopping."
Stefan looked at her like she was crazy.
Rebekah grabbed his arm and pulled him out of bed. He stumbled, but managed to find his balance and land on his feet, but he was clearly confused. She thought he looked shell-shocked.
He stood in front of her; eyes red-rimmed and lackluster; hair sleep tousled; clothes rumpled. She shook her head. "You are a hot mess."
~ X ~
Rebekah, holding hands with Stefan, and Caroline, her arm linked with Lee's, stood in the foyer waiting to be led to their table. The quartet was the subject of many whispered conversations, perfectly audible to vampire ears, and the target of numerous covert glances. Caroline was amused and delighted by it.
"They must be models. Men don't dress like that unless they are."
"They must be famous. They're all so beautiful."
"Their hair is perfect."
"Oh My God, those dresses!"
"Couldn't you just kill for a figure like that?"
The change in the guys was amazing. Their hair was perfectly styled. Lee looked handsome now that he was cleaned up. He had let himself go and come to London with a grizzled look. Rebekah insisted that he be clean shaven. She had also overridden protests from both men and forced them to get manicures. They thought it was ridiculous, but Caroline had to admit their hands looked fantastic with cleaned, buffed nails. It didn't end there either - their suits were the latest style and fit perfectly. Caroline had admired the way Rebekah bullied the sales people. Men, too often, didn't pay attention to detail. They let their pants bunch up around their shoes or would buy a really expensive jacket and not make sure it fit properly. Rebekah's eye for men's clothing and grooming was infallible.
As for Stefan, well, Carolyn had to admit he was stunning. His brooding good looks had women's eyes targeting him.
The two girls attracted their share of attention also. Men openly admired the two striking blondes, and she caught a number of envious stares from the women.
Caroline was innocently enjoying the attention and smiling from ear to ear when Rebekah said sotto voice, "You look like a hick. It is so gauche to be seen enjoying yourself. Watch me."
Caroline snuck a sideways glance at Rebekah and immediately gazed wearily off into the distance with a bored look. She caught Lee's raised eyebrows and couldn't stop herself from grinning. A frown from Rebekah wiped it off her face.
The maitre' d came to lead them to their table. Caroline gazed around the tea room and had a hard time keeping her mouth closed. It wanted to drop open as she looked at the beautiful décor.
She caught Lee watching her with a little smile on his face. "What?" she whispered, suddenly insecure. "Did I do something wrong? Am I gawking?"
"No." He shook his head in denial and whispered back, "I just like that you know how to enjoy yourself. You're not like the ice princess over there. Oomph!" A look of intense pain crossed his face.
"I'm so sorry," Rebekah said sweetly. "Did I kick you?"
Caroline ducked her head to hide a smile. "Let me pour you some more tea."
"Thanks!" Lee grinned despite the pain.
Lee and Caroline thoroughly enjoyed everything that was put in front of them. Neither of them had ever tried a cucumber sandwich before and were pleasantly surprised by the taste. Caroline thought the delicate little sandwiches made it like the tea parties she used to have when she played with her dolls. Lee had never had clotted cream before and heaped it so high on his scone that they had to have the waiter bring more.
Stefan quietly drank tea, not touching any of the tiny little sandwiches, the scones, or the savories. Rebekah not only ate all of hers, but finished his share too. She was obviously delighted with the whole experience.
Lee and Caroline exchanged glances when they brought around trays for seconds and Rebekah helped herself to more of everything. They quickly looked away from each other before they burst out laughing.
Once Rebekah's appetite was finally satisfied, she decided she wanted to go dancing. She linked arms with Stefan leaving Lee and Caroline to walk side by side. The four had gone a couple of blocks when Caroline couldn't restrain herself anymore. She suddenly twirled with her arms outstretched. "That was awesome, Rebekah. I really enjoyed it."
The Original's smile was triumphant. "Stick with me kid. I intend to have a blast." She tucked her arm even more securely into Stefan's and nudged him. "Ya hear that, Stefan? We're going to have a blast."
He didn't acknowledge her, just kept walking. She looked around him at the other two and rolled her eyes. They couldn't help but chuckle at her expression.
They walked until they found a little bar that advertised a live band on their windows. They paused and listened, the music clearly audible to them, and Rebekah said, "Great slow dance music."
As soon as they had ordered and been served drinks Rebekah said, "Dance with me, Stefan."
"I'm not really in the mood." His response brought a frown to her face and a curt demand, "I said dance with me, Stefan."
He looked at her for a moment and then pushed his chair back and stood up. He slid her chair out and put his hand out. She gracefully placed her hand in his, and he led her out to the dance floor.
Lee and Caroline looked at each other and she made a face. "This may not go well."
Stefan held his partner lightly and guided her expertly around the floor.
"You always were a good dancer." Rebekah complimented him.
"Thank you." His response was wooden.
"Get over it, Stefan. You got dumped. It's happened to others before you and it will happen to others after you. Now you know how I felt." Rebekah refused to be sympathetic.
"But you didn't love me," Stefan countered.
"That's the sad part, Stefan. I did. It's why I got daggered – because I wanted to stay with you, and it angered Nik that I chose you over him."
Her statement shocked him out of his apathy. He looked into her eyes as if trying to judge the truth of what she said.
"Why are you so disbelieving, Stefan? Why do you think I would lie to you about this? What do I have to gain?"
Stefan swallowed and confessed. "She told me she loved me. I believed her. It's why I let myself open up to all these emotions again." He closed his eyes briefly as if the pain momentarily overwhelmed him.
"I have to admit that you never told me you loved me." Rebekah gave a sad little laugh. "But it doesn't change what I want. You agreed to the terms and I expect you to abide by them. I've left you alone until now, hoping you would come to me voluntarily. You haven't and I'm done waiting. You will be my lover, willing or unwilling." Her tone left no room for argument.
Back at the table Carolyn and Lee were studiously looking at their drinks, but their attention was focused entirely on the conversation taking place on the dance floor.
"Oh my!" was Caroline's only comment.
"Guess we know how THEIR night's going to end," Lee remarked.
After a moment of silence Caroline asked, "Hey, can you dance?"
"I'm not as slick as Stefan, but yeah, I can. Are you inviting me, Ms. Forbes?"
"Yes, I am," she said and imitated Rebekah's haughty manner. "And I won't take no for an answer."
They both laughed and headed out to the dance area. The two couples danced until the wee hours of the morning.
When they finally left Stefan wasn't steady on his feet. Rebekah chewed her lower lip as she watched him. Suddenly she grabbed him by the chin and searched his face. "When's the last time he ate?" she asked the other two.
Lee and Caroline thought for a moment. Lee was the one who finally remembered. "Early yesterday." He turned to Caroline for confirmation. "He wouldn't eat last night, and he hasn't had any blood today."
"You're right." Caroline looked conscience stricken. "We knew how upset he was. We should have kept an eye on him." The three of them talked around Stefan like he wasn't there.
"Let's take care of that now. Follow me." Rebekah vamp sped them to a much seedier section of London. "Go feed and meet me back here," she commanded.
Caroline looked uncertain. "Ah, Stefan needs someone to watch him."
"We'll feed together," Rebekah assured her. When Caroline hesitated, Rebekah added, "I won't let him kill. I know what that does to him after."
A relieved Caroline and suddenly very hungry Lee sped off to hunt.
Rebekah quickly found a drunken couple in one of the allies. She compelled both and summoned Stefan over to the woman.
"Drink." She watched with satisfaction as the veins under his eyes darkened and his teeth elongated. He pulled his head back slightly and viciously struck, snakelike. She let him get a good long drink and then put pressure on his spine and said, "Enough from this one."
He growled at her, but she increased the pressure at the nape of his neck until she felt him stop drinking. She prevented him from jerking back and ripping out the women's caratoid artery. "Release her." She held him until she felt his jaw loosen, and then she allowed him to draw back.
"See, that's the way it's done. No dead bodies to clean up afterwards and no wallowing in guilt and misery; forcing everyone to watch you brood."
"I'm still hungry," Stefan protested.
"That's why we have the other blood bag." Rebekah commanded the man to come over, and they repeated the process.
When she was satisfied he had enough to eat they found another person for her to feed on. She kept an eye on him while she fed, making sure he didn't slip away. At one point he tentatively tried to sidle up and feed with her, but she backhanded him hard, and he quit.
When she was done she explained, "It doesn't do you any good to overfeed. It's a self-defeating cycle – the more a ripper has, the more they want. I know how much blood you need for a healthy diet, and that's all you get."
Caroline and Lee had found them by this time and overheard what Rebekah said. Caroline was impressed by her take charge attitude.
Rebekah and Stefan got a separate room when they went back to the hotel.
Lee and Caroline returned to the original suite.
"This is definitely not how I expected this trip to turn out." Lee scratched his head.
"I know. Pretty amazing." Caroline plumped herself down on the sofa and patted the cushions next to her, inviting Lee to sit.
He picked up a bottle and the two used glasses from the night before. "You mind?" he said.
"Nope. Not like any germs are gonna kill me," Caroline responded.
He laughed and sat, body angled towards her. He poured out two glasses and handed her one. "You have quite the sense of humor, Ms. Forbes. And guts. A toast then. To Caroline – one damn fine vampire."
Caroline smiled, clinked her glass against Lee's, and gulped.
She sighed. "I am so confused about the past two days. This is the happiest I've been since my mom, well since the whole thing happened in Mystic Falls. Yet, I feel terrible for Stefan."
She waved her hands helplessly. "I hate Rebekah with a passion, yet I think she's going to be good for Stefan. She was so much fun today, even when she was being snarky. I want to do all the things she wants to do. But I hate her. I'm so glad I met you. It's great to have a normal vampire friend. Now, you're leaving tomorrow, and while Stefan is a great friend, he's going to be a bigger mess then before. I enjoyed myself so much but I feel so guilty for feeling good when my mom is dead." It was all said in a rush with no stop for a breath of air. She covered her face with her hands. "I'm babbling and repeating myself. I guess I'm just tired."
Lee put his glass down and took her hands in his.
"No, you're not babbling. You're uncertain and afraid. I know what you mean about Rebekah. At one moment she's a normal fun person, and then suddenly she turns a switch, and you're so scared you could crap your pants." He paused and almost shivered as he remembered.
"And I know what you mean about Stefan. He's a great guy and a great friend, but Lexi had to rescue him a number of times. She was strong, but he could be a handful even for her. I don't think you can do it by yourself, Caroline. You're one determined person, but I think you're going to have to trust Rebekah to make him toe the line." Lee paused and then continued, "He's been who you turned to for help, hasn't he?"
Caroline nodded.
"Now, you don't know if he'll be there, and you're scared to be alone."
A tear rolled down Caroline's cheek. She pulled one of her hands from Lee's and quickly wiped it away. "I know I'm strong. I'll be able to cope. It's just . . he always knew just what to say. He helped me so much. When I get all frantic he knows exactly how to calm me down. I know he was sad, but he always put it aside when I needed him." She paused. "It's selfish of me, but I don't know if he'll be able to do it now, and I'm afraid to be totally on my own."
Lee stroked her hair sympathetically. "I know what it's like to feel alone."
Caroline looked imploringly at Lee. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Lee was confused. "I'm not going anywhere tonight."
Caroline gave his leg a little slap. "That's not what I meant!"
"Oh. OH!" Lee finally understood what she was asking and an earsplitting grin broke out on his face.
He quickly stood and lifted her in his arms. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I guess that means you accept my implied proposal."
"Yes, it does."