Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or its characters. If I did, The Originals would never have happened, Kol would be alive and causing mayhem somewhere, and Klaus and Caroline would be travelling the world and sexing it up.
It's the sunlight streaming brilliantly through the window that finally pulls her from the darkness.
It doesn't take her long to take in the familiar surroundings of the hospital, although her room is far nicer and more spacious than any other she's seen so far. The perks of being the ruler of this country she supposes. Even Klaus hadn't got this sort of treatment, even though she'd insisted on the best.
She turns her head far enough to see Klaus asleep in the chair beside the bed, chin propped up by his hand. He's changed clothes at least, and his cuts have been cleaned up and he looks fairly presentable all things considered. There's a small frown on his face and she's powerless to stop the fond smile creeping across her face.
Apart from his presence the rest of the room is empty, the only sounds being the soft beeping coming every so often from the hall, and the squeaking of shoes against linoleum floors.
"Klaus." She croaks as his eyes fly open suddenly, blinking away the sleep rapidly. He looks terrified for a moment before he anchors himself in the present, bringing himself back to the room with her.
He looks relieved to see her, a careful smile taking over his face.
"Hello darling." He murmurs as he cautiously reaches for her hand. "How do you feel?"
She takes a moment to consider her injuries, where it hurts and where it doesn't. Her ankle feels a lot better, no doubt she's pumped full of painkillers and once they wear off it'll be bearable. The side of her face feels a little tender, no doubt a side effect of the cuts and bruises. Her ribs are a little sore, and her arm is neatly wrapped and bandaged. And it also hurts like a bitch.
"My arm. Did I get shot?" She asks in a dry voice as Klaus pulls his hand away, reaching over to pour her a cup of water. She takes it gratefully, downing it in one as she sighs.
Klaus' face twists unpleasantly as he nods in confirmation.
"That was Mason. You're lucky he was a horrible shot. He was aiming for your head." He says with a tired smile. She notices the dark circles under his eyes, how exhausted he actually looks and seems.
"You haven't been here the whole time have you?" She asks, absolutely aghast. "Klaus, you need sleep." She adds with a frown.
"I'm fine." He promises, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, resting his forehead briefly against the side of her head. "I went back to the Palace for a change of clothes and came straight back. You've only been out for 24 hours."
"And you're alright?" She asks quietly, pressing her palm against the side of his neck carefully.
He nods as a way of reply as he rests his cheek against the bed. Her fingers tangle through his sandy blonde hair, scratching gently at his scalp.
"I'm just glad you're okay." He mumbles as she sighs.
"I'm fine. A little worse for wear. But I'm fine Klaus. We'll get through this, like we have everything else." She begins as he squeezes his eyes shut.
"I thought I'd lost you, when I heard that gunshot. There was so much blood and you just collapsed and…" He lets out a ragged breath, finally lifting his eyes to meet hers.
It seems odd, that she's the one to be comforting him but this is what they do. And it's so unusual to see him like this, stripped down and bare and vulnerable and eyes wet with tears.
"I love you." She gasps out, pulling him into a one armed hug as he buries his face into her shoulder, body heaving as he sobs.
And she does, she really does. This man, who had seen her at her best and had seen her at her worst, and was still willing to put her first no matter what. Who put up with her crazy mood swings and her erratic thinking and somehow managed to see the method in the madness.
A person, who she trusted above all else and wanted to share everything with. Now and forever.
"Marry me." She breathes into his ear. She feels him stiffen as he pulls back slightly. He hastily wipes at his tears, chuckling as he swipes a thumb over her cheekbone.
"Only you would ask me when I'm at my worse." He says with a quick smile.
"Well?" She asks expectantly, one eyebrow arched as she waits for his answer.
"I thought you'd never ask." He says, tipping her chin back and pressing his lips to hers. "Yes." He pronounces after a short pause.
She launches herself towards him, smiling into his kiss as he wraps an arm carefully around her waist, other hand diving into her hair and tugging gently.
And it amazes her, the feelings that he can produce in her, even when she's exhausted.
The door flies open suddenly as she draws back quickly, wincing at the sudden movement her arm makes.
"Oh my god I have the worst timing in the world." Stefan Salvatore pronounces, glancing between the two of them quickly, blush staining his cheeks.
Klaus slumps back in his seat, waving him into the room.
"It's fine mate. Come and join us."
Stefan looks reluctant to enter the room but does so anyway, turning and shutting the door carefully behind him. He picks up one of the chairs resting against the wall, dragging it over to the vacant side of her bed.
"I get the feeling that I just interrupted something monumental. Did I interrupt something monumental?" He asks wide eyed, glancing at Klaus, who's got a resigned look on his face that makes her smile.
"Do you want to tell him? Or should I?" She asks Klaus softly, who tilts his head towards her in obvious deference.
"Tell me what? You're pregnant. Is that it? Am I going to be a godfather?" Stefan asks excitedly, glancing towards her stomach as if he'll see the answer printed out on the bed sheets for him.
"God no Stefan. Kids are not on the agenda for a good couple of years." She says with a laugh as Klaus hides his own smile. She reaches for Klaus' hand, squeezing it gently.
"We're engaged. As of about 2 minutes ago actually." He supplies quietly.
Stefan blinks at Klaus in surprise before turning to her for confirmation. She nods once as Stefan's smile splits into a full blown grin.
"Congratulations to the both of you. I'm so happy you both finally came to your senses. And I'm sorry that it took something like this to make it happen." He finishes softly as he takes her other hand.
There's silence for a beat before Stefan speaks again.
"I think you finally went insane you know, installing me as your successor." He begins conversationally as he kicks his booted feet up onto the bed. It'd be enough to give any of the nurses in here a heart attack.
"I think I made exactly the right decision. How did you like all of the power?" She asks curiously, because she's always wondered what her role would be like for anyone else.
"I hated it." Stefan replies quietly. "Just the knowledge that you were missing. And that if you were dead then I would be the King. I don't think I'll ever be ready for that much responsibility. It makes me admire you all the more for taking on the role at such a young age."
"I would rather you, than anyone else." She says with a quick smile. Stefan returns it, letting her know that things were going to be okay. That he wasn't mad at her decision to make him a successor.
"I know. And I'm not angry at you. I never could be. I'm glad you're okay, for the record. You have no idea how worried we all were when Elijah discovered that you and Klaus had gone missing from the palace." Stefan replies with a shiver.
"How did he find me by the way? I mean I'm glad that Elijah did, don't get me wrong. But what made them tie it all together?" She asks curiously, because now that she's awake and coherent she genuinely does want to know just how everything went down.
Stefan smiles faintly, glancing at Klaus.
"You have your youngest sibling to thank for it actually. He's sort of scary when he gets going. He really gets into this zone and you know not to disturb him. I think he'd been working for about 48 hours straight before you went missing, trying to trace the deed of the property where the King of Acamos had been held."
She tries to picture in her mind a half crazed and brilliant Henrik, hunched over the keyboard of his laptop, screen illuminating his impossibly young face. A part of her wishes that he'd never been exposed to this world, because she knows that now he's been a part of it there's no turning back for him.
"We're still not quite sure how he did it." Stefan continues thoughtfully. "The money changed hands half a dozen times, but Henrik can do things with a computer I didn't even think was possible. Once we'd found the origin of the money we had them. We sent Elijah and Katherine after you as soon as we came to the conclusion and they went and commandeered a Royal chopper." Stefan adds with a faint smile.
"That would've been a sight to see." Klaus remarks amusedly as she tries to picture it herself.
"There may have been one or two concussions involved." Stefan reveals with a secret smile, glancing towards the door. "Elijah is equally as terrifying as Henrik when he gets going. He was worried about you, you know?"
A gentle tapping on the door has all of them looking up as Alaric pokes his head through the opening. He smiles at her when he sees her awake and sitting up.
"I've come to bust you out." He reveals, pushing a wheelchair in front of him. "If we move now, they won't even realise you're gone." He winks conspiratorially as she hides her laughter.
It's Klaus that helps her out of bed, a gentle hand curled around her upper arm as he steers her over to the wheelchair and gets her situated. Stefan rests a gentle hand on her shoulder once she's seated, Alaric backing out of the room and pulling her with him.
Its Stefan that signs her out, using the last vestiges of power that she'd bestowed on him to pull rank. She'd been in for the requisite 24 hours, and she has two medically trained siblings at her disposal so she figures that she'll be okay.
Klaus makes a move to step into the elevator with her and Ric, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on his chest.
"I'll be taking Caroline out to my estate to recover. You can come and see her when she's rested." Ric tells him gently as Klaus' eyes meet hers.
"All the same, I'd rather accompany Caroline." Klaus returns politely as Alaric shakes his head.
"And I'd rather you didn't. As I said, you're welcome to come and see her in a few days."
"Ric." She scolds him gently as he turns to look at her.
"Caroline I almost lost you a day ago and right now I can't bear the thought of letting you out of my sight even for a moment."
She closes her mouth, eyes meeting Klaus' as the elevator doors close between them.
"Alright kiddo?" Alaric asks kindly from the doorway. She looks up from her book and gives him a smile.
"You don't have to hover Ric. I'm not going to suddenly drop dead on you." She says with a laugh. She winces again at the dull pain in her shoulder, wondering if that's something that's ever going to go away.
"I know you're not. I just wanted to make sure you're okay." He replies, moving further into the room and nudging her legs aside. She puts her book down in her lap as he settles into the window seat, arms crossed over her chest.
"What do you want me to say Ric? That I'm totally fine and that I'm going back to work tomorrow? I have no idea if Matt was alone in how he felt or if some of the other families really do feel that resentful towards me. Towards us." She says pointedly, including Ric in the equation, and the rest of the Saltzman family.
Ric tilts his head against the glass window, content to just sit and listen to her ramble.
"I have to deal with whatever the hell is going on over at Acamos as well as pass a sentencing on a former bodyguard of mine, a man who's been with my family for years. So no, I'm not okay right now. I probably won't be for a very long time." She finishes with a huff as Alaric regards her carefully.
"Have you discussed any of this with Klaus?" He asks after awhile as she throws an incredulous glance at him.
"What after you made it extremely clear that you didn't approve of whatever relationship we have? No I haven't." She tells him pointedly as Alaric sighs.
"I'm not proud of my actions that morning." Alaric admits quietly, knuckles grazing over her arm. "I think I've been denying to myself just how much he means to you. Forgive me?"
"We're engaged." She blurts out, noting the surprised expression that crosses Alaric's face before it's gone. "I asked him just before you came to get me from the hospital."
Alaric's mouth opens and closes her godfather obviously in shock. And then he tilts his head back and groans.
"Oh my god I have the worst timing in the world." He echoes Stefan's words from earlier, and she laughs before she's even realising she's doing it.
"I'm sorry I didn't say so earlier. I should have told you right awa-"She's surprised then when Alaric places a finger over her lips.
"Stop talking." He instructs her bossily. "Caroline, congratulations. That's amazing news. Really." He adds, taking both of her hands in his.
"You really mean it? You're not mad?" She asks warily, because although Alaric had never really said that he'd disliked Klaus, he hadn't exactly demonstrated that he approved of him either.
"I think it's time that I realise that no matter how long I associate with Forbes women, they're still going to be as stubborn and headstrong and go their own way. I think that you and Klaus both have your own issues and problems. But I think you'll be stronger if you share them and sort them out together." Alaric says hesitantly, as if he's testing out the words on his tongue before he says them.
"Is that a blessing I hear?" She asks curiously, putting her book aside and staring at her godfather.
Alaric glances around uneasily, as if he's worried that someone is going to hear him.
"Caroline darling, you've always had my blessing. Because I know that no matter what you'll always make the right choice. He'll make a fine King. And an even better husband."
The next day she takes her sling off, testing the range of motion that she has in her arm and shoulder. Thankfully it wasn't her dominant arm that had been injured, and as she tenses and flexes a part of her just knows that she's going to be okay.
The pain is for the most part gone. There's still an odd twinge every now and then, and probably will be for awhile.
The crunching of gravel underneath the tyres of a car draws her gaze to the window, and it only takes a second to realise who's behind the wheel.
She almost barrels right into Alaric as she dashes into the hall and towards the front door, wrenching it open and blinking against the sunlight.
Klaus has already killed the engine, leaping out of the SUV and dashing around the front of the car, meeting her halfway as she throws herself into his arms.
Their bodies collide and he takes a step back to accommodate this. She buries her face into the crook of his neck, breathing gently as he squeezes her tightly, and one hand cradling the back of her head.
"You're here." She breathes into his skin as he finally lets her go, hands curling into the fabric of his shirt.
"Alaric called." He replies softly, resting his forehead against hers. "To congratulate me on our engagement."
"I'm sorry. He was just being protective I"
Klaus kisses her to shut her up if anything. She lets him.
"That is something I can understand. I have however, been remiss in my duties as your fiancé." He begins seriously as she hides her smile at the fact that he's here with her.
"Okay I'm curious." She says with a soft laugh.
Klaus tucks her hand into the crook of his arm carefully as he steers her out towards the gardens at the back of the house. It's an absolutely beautiful spring day, and she can't help but tilt her head back towards the sun and smile.
"I'm not quite sure if we're meant to be following any protocol here." Klaus begins conversationally as she rests her head against his shoulder. "But I figure it's healthy to break tradition every now and then. You see in normal society, it's usually standard for one party to present a ring to the other. In our case it would be you that wears it." He continues as he draws her towards a low stone wall.
She sits back and watches as he fumbles in his pocket for a minute before producing a small velvet bag. It takes her a moment to realise that his hands are shaking as he fumbles with the drawstrings, cursing under his breath the entire time.
Finally, he makes a small sound of victory as a stunning diamond ring spills out onto his palm.
"My father helped me pick this out from the family vaults. I don't even know how old it was, but the jeweller I took it to was terrified to clean it. So Caroline. My love. Will you accept this ring?"
And it's more than just an engagement she realises, as she lets him slip the ring onto her finger. It's a promise that he'll always be around to love her and care for her and be there for her no matter what. And it thrills her and terrifies her, because it's only been a year since they've met and surely this shouldn't feel so right after everything that's happened? But really she has nothing to go off, so she figures if she's this happy it must be a good thing.
"You know what this means?" She asks playfully as he furrows his brow in concentration, head cocked to the side as he waits for her answer.
"Any number of things. But I'm sure as always that you're going to surprise me."
"Kol is never going to let us live this one down."
It's Enzo that's waiting for her outside of the prison where they're holding Tyler Lockwood, and his gaze zeroes in almost immediately on the ring on her finger before landing on Klaus.
"Congratulations are in order I believe." He says with a deferential nod, first to her and then to Klaus. That surprises her. She's even more surprised when Klaus nods back, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
She'd done some reading overnight, Klaus sleeping peacefully in the bed next to her at Alaric's estate.
And it had been hard, to try and make sense of exactly what she was supposed to do next. In the wake of recent events she wasn't even sure if she wanted to follow tradition and protocol and procedures that had been in place in this country for centuries now.
"Thanks Enzo. And thanks for being here. I really do appreciate it." She tells him gratefully, because she actually, really is.
"I'm glad you're okay. How's the bullet wound?" He asks, eyes flicking briefly towards her shoulder as she lifts it in a shrug.
"Getting there. Still the odd twinge every now and then but I'll be fine." She replies with a quick smile.
"Good to hear. This isn't something you have to do you know. Elijah was more than happy to come in your place all things considered." Enzo notes lightly as she starts towards the entrance of the prison.
"No. This is something that needs to come from me. Are you coming?" She directs this towards both men, who simply exchange a glance before falling into step beside her, flanking her on either side.
If Tyler Lockwood is surprised to see her when she's showed into a private visitation room with him he hides it well. He looks tired, worn down more than anything else and she even feels sorry for him for an instant before she remembers all that she did to plunge this country into chaos.
Enzo pulls out a seat for her and Klaus on the opposite side of the table before drifting to a spot towards Tyler. He leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and dark gaze on the prisoner.
"Hello Tyler." She begins quietly as Tyler visibly flinches. He doesn't look her in the eye, and he's seemingly trying to pretend that Klaus isn't even in the room with her. It's probably for the best considering Klaus is probably contemplating all of the ways that he can kill the younger man and make it look like an accident.
If the look on Enzo's face is anything to go by, she suspects his thoughts are going in a similar direction.
"Your majesty." Tyler finally replies tiredly, eyes finally meeting hers as he brings his cuffed hands together to rest on the table in front of him.
"I'm sure that you understand why I'm here?" She continues gently as Tyler nods.
"I think I have some idea." Tyler replies with a defeated sigh. "They tell me that Mason is dead." He adds with a frown.
"I know that you're expecting a child with your fiancée. I also know that you tried to distance yourself from your Uncle. But despite this I cannot let your crimes go unpunished." She begins, drawing herself up to her full height.
"A death sentence would be too kind." Klaus cuts in suddenly, his whole posture held stiff as he stares down Tyler. Tyler trembles under the force of his gaze as Enzo bends down and hisses something into his ear.
"You will be imprisoned in this facility for 18 years, with no chance of parole." She continues in a flat voice. "After your release you will not be allowed to settle in Qirevia, or Acamos, or Serisa for as long as you live. Any lands and titles that you inherited are now forfeit to the crown, and will be bestowed on another as I see fit." She adds with a sharp smile.
Tyler blinks at her in surprise but says nothing. He's obviously devastated by the news, and she's essentially taken his child away from him, at least for the first 18 years. And she knows that it's very likely that he and his child will never have a normal relationship and she does feel guilty. But he can't go unpunished.
Klaus smiles when he reaches the same conclusion as she just had.
"Your fiancée and child will be allowed to remain, but they will be monitored until such a time that I deem it unnecessary. If they lift a hand in retaliation they will be banished and your sentence extended. If they step out of line your sentence will be extended."
"That can't be legal!" Tyler snaps suddenly, eyes blazing with anger.
"Punish me however you like but please don't bring them into it. They haven't done anything wrong please." His voice drops to a whisper as she stares at him unflinchingly.
"The sentence for regicide 100 years ago was death by execution. Would you rather I followed through with that particular path of punishment? You might not know your child growing up but you'll still a chance with them if they accept you. Be grateful that I'm giving you this much." She replies stiffly, getting to her feet and nodding at Enzo.
Enzo steps around Tyler to open the door for her and Klaus. Klaus steps through it without looking back. But she turns one last time to look back at Tyler, who looks completely and utterly defeated.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this."
The next visit she makes is to Ben, who's staying on the other side of the complex in less than savoury conditions. Like Tyler, he doesn't meet her or Klaus' eyes when they're shown into the room.
He'd been picked up by Palace forces, wandering around near the site of the accident dazed and confused. After a quick trip to the hospital he'd been delivered right into the hands of the Warden's here, and kept separately from the other prisoners until they could pass sentence on him.
Klaus stares at Ben, the man whose life he'd saved, an odd tick in his jaw as he holds himself stiffly.
"Oh Ben." She begins, reaching across the table towards him. "Why didn't you tell me about your sister?"
Ben leans back in his chair, turning instead to stare out the window.
"I did tell your Mother last year." He begins softly, finally turning to meet her gaze. "But she said it wasn't something that she could really do anything about. I offered to work the longer hours for more money but she said that she couldn't spare the extra cash."
"You should have told someone mate. Especially if it was affecting your work performance." Klaus informs the younger man quietly as he leans back in his chair.
"But it wasn't. Was it Ben? I didn't even realise that anything was wrong." She continues as Ben nods curtly.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Klaus cuts in. "Surely you must have known that Caroline would have done anything she could to help."
"I didn't think it mattered!" Ben burst out suddenly. "I didn't think that you even cared. You were so focused about carrying out your duties. I didn't want to burden you further."
"It was a burden that I would have gladly beared. Ben we could have worked something out. Did you really have to go to Mason Lockwood?"
"He came to me." Ben whispers, voice cracking. "I don't even know how he found out, but he said that he'd take care of everything, make sure that my sister got what she needed. All he wanted was information. How could I have refused? She's all I have left Caroline."
"Your majesty." Klaus snaps. "You don't get that luxury anymore."
He falls silent when she throws him a look that tells him that he's very much not helping the situation right now.
"That information nearly killed me Ben." She continues softly. "It almost killed Klaus. Do you have any idea what would have happened to this country if I'd died?"
Ben falls silent, staring down at his hands as a single tear slips down his cheek. And honestly, her heart goes out to him because he's been in her life for so long now and he doesn't deserve this.
"I'm sentencing you to five years in prison. No parole." She begins softly as Klaus glances at her in surprise. It's not a long enough sentence, she knows that. But a part of her also knows that Ben was just an innocent pawn in a larger game.
"Thankyou." Ben breathes as she holds up her hand.
"You will be allowed to visit your sister once a week. No more than that. I will pay for her treatments myself, and in return once you're released you will come and work for me for five years without pay to pay back the debt. Is this agreeable to you?"
Ben nods his head furiously, eyes shining as he regards her with awe.
"You're lucky, that Caroline is nothing like her mother." Klaus allows with a curt nod towards him. "Good luck."
She doesn't wait for Enzo to open the door for her this time.
She and Klaus return to the palace that afternoon, much to Elijah's delight who welcomes both of them with hugs and a warm smile. Klaus meets his brother's enthusiasm well, slapping him on the back before stepping back and congratulating him on his engagement.
"And congratulations are in order to you as well." Elijah replies graciously as he catches sight of the ring on her finger. "Family heirloom?" He asks curiously as Klaus nods.
"You could say that. It was collecting dust down in the vaults beneath Chatsworth. I couldn't think of a worthier or more appropriate use for it." Klaus replies, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they fall into step beside Elijah.
"The rest of the family are thrilled of course." Elijah begins, glancing down at his tablet. She blinks at him, trying to reconcile him with the blood soaked, gun wielding operative she'd seen only a couple of days ago with the perfectly put together man he is now.
"Kol won't shut up about it, and Rebekah is already looking at sourcing a wedding dress for you. I have informed her that a wedding probably won't be for quite some time, at least until things get settled down. Shall I draft a statement?" He finishes, eyebrow arched as he waits for her answer.
"Release it via twitter. I'm in the mood to make a few changes actually." She tells her advisor, who gives her a smile.
"Excellent news really. Shall I draw up a list of traditions and protocols to review?" He asks astutely, guessing the direction of her thoughts as he always has in the past.
"That would be fantastic Elijah. Can you bring Henrik out to the gardens as well? I'd like to have a chat with him about something actually."
Klaus bends down to press a kiss to her cheek.
"I believe that's my cue to take my leave. I'll catch up with you later. I should probably go and spend time with the siblings." He informs her with a wry smile before patting Elijah once more on the shoulder and loping off up the stairs.
Henrik gives her a wide smile when he's showed out into the garden, and before she can stand he's bending down to give her a clumsy hug before sliding onto the bench next to her.
"No need to stand for me Caroline. How are you feeling?" Henrik asks concernedly, brows knitting together in a frown.
"I'm fine. Your brother has been taking good care of me as always." She replies with a kind smile. "I just wanted to extend my gratitude to you. I owe you my life."
Henrik looks embarrassed at being put on the spot, let alone accepting her thanks for his actions during the past week.
Truth is the younger boy had been invaluable to her, and she really, really wouldn't have been sitting here if it wasn't for him.
"I was told that we were almost too late. I'm sorry that you were put into that situation in the first place. We should have realised sooner that something was wrong." Henrik stares off into the distance, gaze troubled as he casts his mind back.
She lays a gentle hand on his arm, startling him and making him jump.
"What's done is done." She points out softly. "I want you to stop wondering about what might have been if you'd done something differently. I actually wanted to give you something. Call it an investment for the future."
Henrik glances at her curiously as she straightens carefully, unsure how the boy will take the news that she's about to give him.
"I want to give you the Lockwood Estate." She begins with a deep breath. "Now that Mason is dead and Tyler is incarcerated it falls back to the Crown to do whatever they wish with it. I want you to have it."
Henrik blinks at her, stunned into silence.
"Caroline thankyou." He begins uncertainly. "But it's not something that I could possibly accept. Not after what happened there."
"You can do whatever you want with it." She continues on. "Knock it down, burn it to the ground. I don't care."
"Can I think about it and get back to you? I need to go back to Serisa to finish my studies anyway. I've missed far too much uni to graduate next year as planned."
"I'm sorry." She says sincerely. "I know you had plans. I'm sorry that my problems got in the way of them."
She's surprised when Henrik slings an arm around her shoulders. This is probably the closest she's ever been to him, but they're going to have to get used to it now that they're going to be family soon.
"Caroline, you and my brother are practically married, which means that we're pretty much family. And if there's one thing I've learnt it's that family stick together through everything. No matter how big or small."
She stares at him for a long moment before enveloping him into her arms. Henrik leans his head against her shoulder with a smile.
"I couldn't think of anyone else that I'd rather call my family. When are you heading back to Serisa?" She asks curiously after they've finally broken apart.
"Tomorrow actually. I'm booked on the first flight out."
"I can pull some strings. With the king." She begins awkwardly as Henrik shakes his head at her.
"Caroline I love you and I appreciate it. I really do. But I think I need to be a normal teenager for awhile if that's okay?"
She leans over and ruffles his hair playfully, laughing at his scowl.
"Okay then kiddo. But you know that you're always welcome here, whenever you want to come back."
"I know. And I will be back. I promise."
Elijah seats himself next to her and Klaus as King Albert appears on the video screen in front of them.
They're in one of the many conference rooms of the Palace, Albert seated in a similar setting somewhere back in Acamos.
"King Albert. I take it you've reclaimed your throne from your son?" She asks politely as the King nods once. It's Klaus that leans forward beside her, as if realising that something isn't quite right about the whole situation.
"My son is dead your majesty." King Albert delivers bluntly as she stares back at him in shock.
Albert smiles bitterly.
"We found him in his bed, a bottle of alcohol still in his hand. He'd asphyxiated on his own vomit, too drunk to do anything."
"You won't mind then, if I send Katherine to Acamos to verify the validity of that statement." She returns immediately as Albert glares at her.
"I'm telling the truth." The older king snaps at her, face wearied and old and worn.
"You'll have to forgive me for making sure. You see your country doesn't exactly have a reputation for being entirely truthful, and your son was implicit in a plot of regicide. Forgive me for making sure that all of my bases are covered."
"I have to bury my son. And you want to make sure he's really dead?" The king asks incredulously, as if he's in total disbelief that she's capable of such cruelty.
"My mother and I are different in many ways your majesty." She allows after a short pause. "But in this we would be of one mind. Katherine will be on her way shortly. While she is there you will show her every courtesy and cater to her every need. After the funeral, we will discuss further how we can begin to forge an alliance between our two countries."
Albert looks furious, but resigned all the same as he nods.
"I'm sorry that it had to come to this." He allows as she sighs, taking Klaus' hand, the only show of affection she'll allow in a situation like this.
"I am as well." She admits out loud. "But I'm prepared to make amends for this situation if your offer still stands."
Albert inclines his head towards you.
"In this I will defer to you. I will be at the airport to personally welcome Ms Pierce to our great country."
She turns towards Elijah, who nods and pulls out her phone.
"I'm glad. Until next week your majesty."
Albert returns her sentiments as the screen fades to black. Klaus turns to her, kissing the back of her hand gently as she slumps in her seat.
"Was I too harsh on him?" She asks him quietly as he shakes his head.
"On the contrary love I think you went far too easy on him. But I also fear you've made yourself an enemy." Klaus supplies softly.
"I disagree Niklaus." Elijah says amiably from her other side. "Albert won't be foolish enough to try anything again, not now he knows that Caroline here has the army of two countries at her disposal." He adds, referring to her odd friendship with Enzo and his promise that he'd be her ally through thick and thin.
She stands at the same time as Elijah does, Klaus getting to his feet soon after.
"Actually I was hoping that the two of you would come with me. I have a surprise for the both of you." Elijah begins as she narrows her eyes at him suspiciously.
Klaus takes her hand in his as they fall into step behind Elijah, who it seems can barely contain his excitement.
"Your engagement was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the public, especially in the wake of what happened a few days ago." Elijah begins as he ushers them down a carpeted corridor. They're heading towards the front of the palace, the part that backs out onto the city.
"And the people have actually been clamouring at the gates for ages now. Caroline I know that you're all about shunning tradition and going your own way, but it is tradition for newly engaged monarchs to put in a public appearance of sorts." He continues, ignoring Klaus' sigh of exasperation.
"Really Elijah?" She asks incredulously as she stops short, Klaus stumbling to an uncharacteristically clumsy halt next to her.
Elijah presses his lips together as he turns to her.
"Caroline, the people are waiting for you." He begins imperiously as she rolls her eyes.
It's Elijah that steps past her, pushing open the doors to the balcony with a flourish.
"Has he always been this dramatic?" She grumbles under her breath to Klaus, who laughs as he wraps an arm around her waist.
"You heard the man, we can't deny the people." Is all he says in reply before he's pushing her out onto the balcony and into the bright sunlight.
It takes a couple of seconds for her eyes to adjust, but when they finally do she stares in awe at the veritable sea of people spread out before her, who all start screaming when they catch sight of her on the balcony.
She rests her hands against the stone for support as she rearranges her features into a smile, lifting her hand into a hesitant wave. Hundreds of people wave back at her, and buoyed by this she lets the grin spread across her face.
The gentle hand on her shoulder is accompanied by an increase in the volume of screams as Klaus steps up next to her, hip leaning against the stone railing.
"This is crazy." She murmurs just loud enough for him to hear as she continues waving.
"These are the people. And they love you. Will love you whatever happens." Klaus reassures her with a kind smile.
She goes up on tip toes, to press a gentle kiss against the stubble on his cheeks. He blinks down at her in surprise.
"And I'll love you. Whatever happens. Whatever comes next." She vows as he holds his palm up to hers.
And when he pulls her in for a kiss that's definitely not appropriate in the current setting she lets him, and tries to block out the screams and the cheering.
Instead, she focuses on the way that the very earth seems to stop spinning every time their lips meet.
A/N: Wow! What a wild ride! It's been such a great week for me and I've been on such a high and I think this is reflected this chapter haha.
I was actually considering making Caroline pregnant in this chapter, as per the plans for the original draft (the one where Klaus died) but instead decided against it. We will see a glimpse of Klaus and Caroline's descendants in the epilogue though!
The long awaited engagement is made official, this time Caroline asks Klaus. He reciprocates with a ring and that's that. Next chapter we'll see a bit of their wedding.
Tyler Lockwood gets a worse punishment than death- 18 years imprisonment, and he loses the chance to see his child grow up. This might seem uncharacteristically cruel of Caroline, but considering the severity of the charges laid against Tyler it's actually pretty lenient of her.
Ben on the other hand, I didn't really think was a criminal as such. I think he was in way over his head and didn't have any other options. Caroline can recognise this and is willing to give him another shot to prove himself. He'll be under heavy surveillance for the rest of his life though.
She totally owns King Albert as well. Our girl has to make some tough decisions, but she has to do what she has to do.
We will see the changes that Caroline is thinking of making next chapter when she addresses parliament.
The rest of this chapter was quite serious, so I wanted to end it on a lighter note. One more full length chapter and then an epilogue!
Until next time!
Xx