Not much to say, except some shameless self-promotion : For those who like Klaroline, go check my new story 'Closest Thing to Crazy' and let me know if you like it ;o)
I already know that you will leave great reviews for this chapter because you guys are awesome like that ;o))
Enjoy !
Elijah was sitting on a chair in front of them, looking as dashing as ever in his elegant and barely rumpled suit, despite having spent the last few months in a coffin. He also looked impassible in face of the amount of information and apologies dumped on him all at once by his brother.
"Are you ok?" Caroline asked him, a bit put off by his stillness.
Elijah's inquisitive gaze went from Klaus to her. "I'm absolutely fine, Miss Forbes, thank you for inquiring."
Damon leaned into Stefan. "Why do they always talk like they are some Jane Austen's book rejects?"
"How would you know? You've never read Jane Austen," Stefan replied in the same hushed tone, even though everyone else could perfectly hear them.
"Pride and Prejudice is actually one of my favorite book," Elijah commented.
"Really? Me too !" Caroline chirped. "The funny thing is, one of my best friend's last name is Bennett. But you already know that."
"I do, but it is still quite amusing indeed," Elijah replied politely.
Klaus shifted on his seat, growing impatient. "Come on brother, don't you have anything else to say?"
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Obviously I have things to say. I'll just say them when it is just the two of us."
"Yeah, that's kind of what good old Klaus here was trying to avoid," Damon cut in.
Elijah smiled. "Come on, Niklaus, what are you afraid of? It's not like I can harm you in any way."
"You could leave," Klaus said calmly, and Elijah reacted to that. Caroline, who was observing him, caught a flash of vulnerability on his face. She raised from her chair and put her hand on Klaus'shoulder.
"We should go. You're going to be ok. He really wanted you back," she told Elijah before kissing Klaus'cheek and dragging the two Salvatores with her.
"But I wanted to stay for the fistfight," Damon protested once they were outside.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "There won't be any fistfight, you doofus. They have been brothers for a thousand plus years. They love each other, they will patch things up. They are like you, in about 800 years."
Stefan and Damon looked at each other.
"I don't think I'll ever forgive you if you start dragging me around in a coffin," Stefan deadpanned to his brother.
"Not even if it's upholstered in black silk?" Damon smirked.
"That's your thing. I prefer white Egyptian cotton."
"God, you guys are such idiots," Caroline said but couldn't help but smile. "Let's go home."
She started to walk, followed by the two men, before stopping. "Talking about home, Stefan, what are you going to do?"
He shrugged. "I haven't had the time to think about it yet. I'll stay at the hotel and start searching for a place to live."
"You're welcome to stay with us. It is your apartment too," Damon offered and Stefan smiled.
"Thank you, but you guys need your privacy. I'll find something, I'm not really worried about this."
"We'll help you," Caroline told him.
"But not tonight," Damon intervened while attracting her into his arms," because we have plans."
She smiled. "What plans?"
"It's a surprise," he told her before giving her a passionate kiss.
"Ugh, I'm so sleeping somewhere else tonight," Stefan muttered with a painful look.
The three of them went to eat together then Stefan went back to the hotel and Damon and Caroline went on their way. Soon after they stopped in front of the Empire State Building.
"Remember the last time we were here?" he asked her.
"Yes, we had a fight. Not one of my best memory," she recalled.
"So what do you say we go back up there and change those bad memories?"
She smiled, unsure of what he was saying. "But it's late, and it's probably closed."
He smirked. "Nothing is ever closed for us vampires," he whispered against her hair.
He took her hand and pushed the door, easily compelling the guardian into letting them take the elevators to the top. Caroline walked around, enjoying the quiet and the beauty of the view.
"That's ma favorite," she told Damon, pointing to the Chrysler Building. He came to stand behind her, circling her waist with his arms and putting his chin on her shoulder.
"Thank you for giving me my brother back," he said, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
"Well it's not entirely my doing. Let's just say I caught Klaus at the right moment. And I was able to do it because you trusted me," she added with a soft smile. "Besides, you were the one who bluntly asked for Stefan's release."
"Because you softened Klaus enough for me to take that opportunity."
She shrugged. "If you say so."
He laughed softly. "No matter how much I tell you how awesome you are, you'll never completely believe it, do you?"
She gave him a sheepish smile. "I might in a few hundred years, if you're still saying it then."
He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I mention something about forever? I'll never stop telling you how amazing and beautiful you are, and how much I love you," he told her fervently, pressing her tightly against him. She turned her head and their lips met in a loving kiss.
"We should travel, when we're done with school," he said.
"I would love that! Let's go to Europe first."
"We'll go wherever you want," he smiled at her enthusiasm.
"You're so good to me," she sighed, putting her hands on his.
"You deserve it, Care. You deserve the world, and I'll do everything in my power to give it to you."
She turned around and slid her arms around his neck. "I don't need the world, Damon. I just need you. I love you so much."
He gave her a series of slow, shivery kisses.
Out of breath, she asked with a teasing look, "Do they have surveillance camera up here?"
He smirked. "I'm pretty sure they do. But we have a nice bed waiting for us at home."
She laughed. "Listen to us, a bed! We sound like an old, arthritic couple already."
"For what I'm going to do to you, I need to be comfortable," he whispered with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
He gave her another kiss, as an appetizer of sort, and by the time he was finished her legs were barely holding her.
When Stefan walked into the salon of the suite he shared with Klaus, he found Elijah standing in front of the window.
"Hey."
The Original turned around.
"Stefan. I thought you would have stayed with your brother and Caroline."
The youngest vampire smiled. "They've been together for barely two weeks, they need their privacy," he explained.
Elijah nodded. "Ah yes. Young love. I understand."
"How did it go with Klaus?" Stefan asked, curious.
"If I didn't know that it was impossible, I would think that you brainwashed him," Elijah answered calmly.
Stefan smiled. "If it makes you feel better, we were as surprised as you when he agreed to let me go. The last few weeks have been rather decisive regarding his change of heart."
"From what I understood, the lovely miss Forbes is no stranger to that situation."
"She was apparently able to get through him. But her interest was genuine. There was a will to help me at first, but she actually started to like him."
Elijah nodded pensively. "It's rather unsettling to see him like this. I haven't seen him in that state of mind in a very long time...since we were humans, actually. I would have never imagine he could be like that again."
Stefan raised an eyebrow. "Do you see it as a good thing or a bad one?"
Elijah smiled cryptically. "I didn't have time to decide yet. I suppose that in the long run it will be a good thing."
Stefan knew Elijah was not the belligerent type, which was confirmed by his next words.
"I do not wish to re-enter in some war with your family and friends. What I did back then was to help Klaus with the sacrifice. I have nothing against you personally. Despite what he is and what he's done, Klaus is my brother. If you are able to give him a second chance, there's no reason I can't do the same. I think you can appreciate the value of family ties."
"I certainly do," Stefan answered, thinking about his own rocky history with Damon. "Have you decided what you are going to do?"
Elijah left his spot near the window and came closer to Stefan, putting his hands in his pockets.
"A little trip is in order, from what I understood. Some down time so we can talk. I'm sure Niklaus will let you know son enough."
Stefan nodded. "Ok, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night, Stefan."
Stefan went to his room and started to undress, his thoughts wandering. If Klaus wanted to get his family back, was there a chance for Rebekah to be next?
The alarm went on and Caroline groaned, pushing the snooze button and turning around, seeking Damon's heat. He was still half asleep but his arm automatically sneaked around her.
It was their first day back after the holidays.
"Too early," she muttered, nuzzling her nose against his neck.
Eyes still closed, he smiled. "You don't have to go to school. You could compel your way into becoming a famous fashion designer."
"Yes, but what would be the fun in that?"
He opened one eye and looked at the alarm clock. "Still more fun than having to wake up at 6.45 every morning."
He kissed her forehead and caressed her back while they waited for the alarm to go on again. Caroline got up to take a shower while Damon prepared some breakfast and blood.
She joined him, still wearing her bathrobe, and they ate quietly. Damon had turn the TV on the News channel but the sound was put on low.
Caroline got up to put her mug in the sink and he caught her, pressing her again the kitchen island. His mouth took hers in a kiss, not really passionate but more tender and intimate. She realized pretty quickly that it was all he intended to do, and they spent the next 15 minutes making out in the kitchen.
She had no idea that Damon would turn out to be such a loving and adorable boyfriend.
His mouth left hers and wandered on her neck, making her shiver. He knew exactly where her sensitive spots were.
"You are going to break so many girls'hearts at school today," she sighed with a mischievous smile.
"And you're going to love every minute of it," he smirked.
She shrugged. "I just want to make sure that they don't get any illusions. I don't share what's mine," she replied with a seductive look from under her lashes.
Damon groaned and kissed her again, this time more intensely. He opened her bathrobe, his hands sliding on her body, finding what they were looking for. His fingers worked their magic and soon enough a soft cry of blissful release resonated in the kitchen.
"Best way to start a day," she whispered, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shining.
His hand came to cup her face, and he looked at her very seriously. "You are so beautiful," and her heart swelled at the deep love and devotion she read in his eyes.
"I love you. Always and forever."
"Always and forever," he echoed.
Klaus and Elijah came to the apartment the following night to have dinner and discussed their travel plans. They had decided to go to England, spend some time in London and in the countryside where apparently they had some good memories.
Caroline couldn't help but wonder if those memories involved some sort of bloody mayhem, then decided she didn't want to know. If they accepted Klaus, it was with his past and all his previous deeds. Trying to change him would be foolish and useless. The changes they had witnessed in him so far were nothing short of a miracle already.
Klaus offered Stefan to stay in the suite at the hotel during his absence. He knew about Stefan's plans to move out eventually, and was internally glad that Stefan hadn't left at the first opportunity once he had been freed.
They spent a nice evening, slowly forming some sort of weird friendship, even if none of them would actually call it that right now. But the animosity and the mistrust were gone, replaced by genuine laugh and amicable bantering.
The next weekend the three of them went out to dance. Damon stayed at the bar with Bryan, who had tagged along, while Caroline dragged Stefan on the dance floor.
"Ugh, Care, you know I'm not really into dancing," he complained.
"That's absolutely untrue. I saw what you could do at our school dances. Besides you need to get out there, attract some pretty girl. You need to get laid," she stated bluntly.
"What I need is to stop hearing you getting laid," he muttered, and she smiled brightly.
"I heard that. That's too bad. Damon and I have been talking, and we were thinking of buying a big house so you could come live with us."
"That would be awesome," he said, obviously enchanted by the idea. "As long as my room is on the other side from yours," he added teasingly.
She laughed and they stopped talking to dance, Stefan making some goofy moves to make her laugh. He suddenly slowed down and looked behind her shoulder with a frown.
"What?" she asked, turning her head.
"Just...there was some guy looking at us, and his face seemed familiar...I was probably wrong," he said with a smile and they resumed dancing.
"Maybe he was impressed by your Travolta dance moves," she joked.
Some time later Caroline decided to call it a night, but Damon wanted to stay a bit longer, so Stefan offered to bring back Caroline, and he would stay the night at the apartment.
Caroline took Stefan's arm and they left the club, starting to walk back as the club was not far from their place.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
A guy had appeared in front of them, kind of out of nowhere. Caroline jumped slightly, and her heart raced when she saw the look of rage and despair on the guy's face. He was talking to Stefan, and she understood that it was the man he had seen in the club.
"Your face is familiar, but..." Stefan started, but the man cut him angrily.
"Yeah, why would you? I'm sure we were not the only pack you and your friend massacred!"
With a gasp, Caroline understood that this was probably a werewolf from a pack that Klaus had experimented on.
Stefan put Caroline behind him, raising his hands. "Listen, I'm truly sorry. This was not my cause, and I was forced to do it. I know that doesn't make you loss any less painful, but I am sorry, I really am."
The man nodded, seemingly calming down. "My brother and my girlfriend, man. Both dead. I was luck to be able to escape. Do you know how much that hurt?"
"I can imagine," Stefan said, turning to Caroline to try to make her understand that he wanted her to run back into the club. Unfortunately, she didn't get the hint.
"Well, imagine isn't good enough," the man told him, and before any of them could move he had grabbed Caroline by the shoulder and put his face in the crook of her neck. She pushed him away with a cry, and Stefan grabbed him, punching him in the face. The man stumbled but didn't fall, and disappeared quickly.
Stefan turned to Caroline. "Are you ok?" he asked frenetically, checking on her neck and shoulder where her jacket was torn.
"I think so, yes, it happened so fast. I didn't really...oh God."
"What?"
She pulled her hand from under her shirt. It was covered in blood.
Stefan's face blanched.
"I think...I think he bit me."
Yes I know, it is really not nice of me to end it that way, and I apologize profusely ;o) But think of all the Damon angst in the next chapter ;o)
