This is the first attempt at a movie verse, so please be kind!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE SHOWS, CHARACTERS, OR THE MOVIE MENTIONED. I'M ONLY BORROWING.
SETTING: AU/AH (AMERICA-1774-76 DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR)
DESCRIPTION: Caroline is Klaus' sister-in-law, and helps take care of his five children after her sister dies. Secretly, she is in love with him, and when he goes to war, she stays behind to take care of his children, until they are reunited.
Movie Prompt: The Patriot. Romanticized
The sounds of children's laughter drifted to Caroline's ears, as she rocked in the rocking chair on the porch of her late sister's husband's two-story home. She smiled as she turned her head to see them running up on the porch.
"Aunt Caroline!" The eldest boy screamed with a delightful look on his face. "Look what we got." He replied, his blue eyes sparkling.
She smiled, and leaned forward. "What is that?" She asked, softly, gazing at the object in her nephew's hands.
He smiled. "Father made it." He replied, with a smile. "He said that it would protect me." He replied, squaring his shoulders, to make him look older and taller than his usual stature for a ten year old.
Caroline reached forward, and grasped the tiny solider in her hand. She turned it over in her hands, and smiled at the detail. "It's beautiful, Nathaniel." She whispered, handing it back to the little boy.
He smiled, and clutched it to his person. He turned on his heel, and ran off into the house, leaving Caroline laughing silently.
"Aunt Caroline?"
Caroline turned her head to see her young niece at her knee, and she smiled. "What is it, Charlotte?" She asked, reaching for the eight year old.
Charlotte had her mother's brown eyes, her father's hair, and everything about her screamed Mikaelson. "Are you going to stay with us tonight?" She asked, innocently.
Caroline smiled, and kissed her niece on the head. "I'll stay for supper, but then I have to return home." She answered, watching the little girl nod in understanding.
She lifted Charlotte up, as she stood up. "I'm going to go check on your father. Why don't you go play with Susan and Timothy?" She asked, sweetly.
Charlotte nodded, and skipped off towards the four year old Susan and the six year old Timothy. She smiled, and lifted her yellow skirt tails, and headed off to the workshop where she knew Niklaus was working.
She smiled as she opened the door to the workshop, and smelled the hint of pine and cedar filling her nose. "Nik?" She called out, entering the shop.
She heard a thump, and then she saw a head stick up behind a pile of wood. She felt her heart skip a beat at the sight.
Walking gracefully around the pile, she found him squatting in front of an almost built rocking chair. His sandy brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail, and his tanned arms were halfway covered by a white button down shirt with an apron on over it. His face had a two day old scruff, and frankly, she loved the look.
"Have you figured it out yet?" She asked, watching him scrap a piece of wood off the chair.
He sighed, and leaned back on his feet, finally sitting down completely on the ground. "I haven't yet." He answered, his accent leaking through.
She nodded, and moved to sat down on a small chair beside him. "I'm sure you'll get it." She encouraged, smiling.
He nodded, and focused on the chair before him.
She turned, and lifted a piece a wood. "Nathaniel was proud of the statue you made him." She replied, running her fingers over the wood in her hands.
Klaus nodded, and glanced her way for a brief moment, before focusing on the chair once more. He didn't say a word, causing Caroline to sigh, and place the wood back on table beside her.
"Are you ever going to look at me, Nik?" She asked, softly, dropping her gaze.
"I look at you, Caroline." He muttered, sending shivers down her spine at the sound of her name on his lips.
"But do you see me?" She whispered, with a hint of sadness. She hadn't intended to do this when she came into the workshop a few moments ago, but three years since her sister's untimely death, seemed like enough. She loved her sister, don't get her wrong, but she had moved on from the death, and her heart kept telling her she needed patience.
That was the problem with loving the man her sister married.
Klaus closed his eyes, and stilled his hands on the chair. Everything in his body told him to say the truth. To say, yes, he saw her. He saw her every day, but his head kept his mouth from saying the words. How could he tell her that he saw her before he saw her sister, but he couldn't do anything because she had countless suitors, and he would never be good enough, not with his past.
Caroline waited on thin breathe, hoping he said the words she longed to hear that he loved her as much as she loved him.
Knowing Klaus was never good at voicing his feelings, Caroline nodded. Standing up, she gave him a longing look, and sighed.
"Caroline," Klaus called out, standing up, a pained look on his face as he caught her eyes with his. "I…I…" He whispered, lowering his eyes, shaking his head.
Caroline saw the emotions reflected in his eyes, and she straightened her back, and renewed her strength. Taking a step towards him, she smiled. "Nik," She began, raising her right hand to his face.
Klaus searched her face, and saw the emotions he longed to see so many years before, before he married her sister. He opened his mouth to say the words he wanted to say, but she interrupted him.
"I'm not my sister." She stated, shaking her head.
Klaus smiled, and nodded. "I know." He whispered, searching her eyes. "God, do I know." He added, lightly, watching her smile.
She leaned into his hand as it stroked her face. "Nik…" She whispered, as he searched her eyes, nervously.
He began to lean forward, wanting to do what he had dreamed of for so long, but before he could, horses neighed and galloped into the yard outside. He sighed, and dropped his hand, before walking outside to see what the commotion was, leaving her trying to catch her breath from the intense emotion she felt and saw in his eyes.
~XXX~
She found him later in the study with his hands placed on the desk he had carved years before. His head was bowed, and his back stiff. She sighed, and entered the room, slowly.
She knew the news that his eldest son, her nephew, had signed on to join the continental army, was hard on him, and she knew why.
"It's his decision, Nik." She replied, closing the door behind her.
He slammed his hands on the desk, and straightened his back, his eyes flashed towards her, and she saw the pain. "Damn it, I know!" He shouted, but she didn't flinch. She had seen his temper enough to know not to be afraid, unlike her sister, who always feared it. Caroline knew he would never hurt her.
He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "He's still my son." He replied, sadly.
She nodded, and approached him, carefully. "He will always be your son. This won't change that." She replied, shaking her head.
He nodded, and lifted his face to look at her. "They called me to join too." He stated, firmly.
Caroline bit back her fear, and swallowed hard before speaking. "Are you going?" She asked, her voice shaking.
He swallowed, and inhaled deeply. "I've seen enough blood and death to last two lifetimes." He replied, stiffly.
She read his eyes. "But you want to protect your son." She concluded, nodding her head.
He sighed, but never let his eyes waver from hers. "He's my son, Caroline." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.
She smiled, and touched his face, lightly. "Then, protect your son, but trust him." She replied, searching his eyes. "Perhaps this is to prove to you that he is a grown man." She stated, watching him smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Perhaps." He added, reaching up to grasp her hand in his.
She felt her blood run hot at the touch, and she smiled.
"Stay tonight." He replied, softly. "I feel the children need you." He added, watching the light in her eyes dim. "As do I." He finished, not wanting to lose her light.
Caroline smiled, and leaned forward. "I'll stay." She whispered, kissing his cheek, lightly, before walking away.
~XXX~
The next morning Caroline held the children close to her as Klaus and Gabriel, the oldest son of eighteen years, prepared their horses. She held back her tears, trying to be brave for the children. She tried to smile as Klaus walked towards her and the children, and knelt down in front them kissing each and every one of his children, letting them know to behave, and to be brave for their Aunt Caroline.
She tried to smile once again as he straightened, and reached his right hand forward, and caressed her cheek. She let go of Nathaniel's shoulder, and grasped his hand with hers. She wanted to hold him, and never let go. He seemed to read her thoughts, for the next move, shocked her, as he brought her into his arms, and held her, threatening her to cry.
"Come back to me, Niklaus." She whispered, into his ear so only he would hear.
"Always, love." He whispered back, causing her heart to pound in her chest.
He pulled back, and touched her face once more, before turning to climb on top of his horse, sending her and the children one last look, not knowing when he would be able to see them again.
"I love you all." He called out to his children, and lifted his eyes to hers, and for a moment she dared to hope.
"We love you too." She replied, as the children nodded through their tears.
He smiled, and she saw tears fill his eyes as he turned his horse, and rode away until he was nothing but a memory in her heart.
~XXX~
She received a letter from him a few weeks later, and smiled as she read the contents to herself, and then to the children.
Each day her heart yearned to see his face, hoping he would return to her and the children, safely. She remembered vividly how she felt when her sister came and told her that she was marrying Klaus. She had gone to her mother, and cried all through the night, away from her father and sister, for her only her mother understood.
For so long, she had loved Klaus, and for a brief time, she hoped that he loved her, but he never approached her, never asked for her hand. Instead, he had asked for her sister's, and it had killed her.
Her sister never loved him, but had considered it a grand opportunity to marry a hero, and to gain the prestige that came from it.
Caroline never cared about the prestige or the wealth. She only cared for the love. After Klaus had married her sister, she vowed to never marry, and instead inherited her father's plantation when her parents died. She stayed close to her sister for many years, only to stay close to Klaus, and then to the five children.
Her sister did dote on her children, but she never loved them completely, not like a mother should, and she knew Klaus knew.
She lowered the letter in her lap, trapped in the memories of days past, tears filling her eyes. The children had long gone to bed, and she was alone. She heard the door open to the study, and she turned her head to see Bonnie Bennett, her longtime companion and friend, enter the room.
"I'm sorry, Caroline; I didn't know you were in here." Bonnie replied, backing up. Even though it was against the law or at least improper to always refer to a white woman as Miss, Caroline had stressed that all of her employees call her Caroline. She hated slavery, and everyone knew that.
"It's alright, Bonnie." She replied, smiling. "I was just reading the letter again." She added, lifting the letter.
"You are going to wear it out from reading it so much." Bonnie replied, smiling.
Caroline nodded, and bowed her head. "I know, but I can't help it. It's the only thing that connects me to him, besides the children." She replied, sadly.
Bonnie sighed, and approached her, carefully. "Have you ever told him how you felt?" She asked, sitting across from her friend.
Caroline shook her head. "I tried, but the words never come out." She replied.
"Then perhaps you should tell him in the letter." Bonnie replied, softly.
"I can't." Caroline replied, shaking her head. "I don't know how he feels, or if he sees me or my sister." She replied, bowing her head.
"You never know until you try." Bonnie replied, touching Caroline's hands.
Caroline nodded, and sighed. "I'll write him in the morning, but he won't feel the same." She stated, softly.
Bonnie smiled, and knelt down in front of Caroline. "I believe he will." She whispered, hugging her friend.
The next morning Caroline wrote the letter, and at the bottom she placed three words. I love you.
~XXX~
Caroline and the children arrived at an island a month ago, and were reunited with Bonnie and a few others, for the British soldiers had forced them to leave the plantation, and then promptly burned her ancestral home. She learned of Klaus' escapades in dealing with the British, and since this was a war, she knew no one was safe.
News reached her that Gabriel was marrying a woman from a town over, and as she and the children prepared for their arrival, she held her breath. Since sending the letter a few months ago, she had received countless others, but not once did he mention his love for her.
Each letter broke her heart, and even though she was pleased that he was safe, she couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't return her love.
She watched from a distance as Klaus and Gabriel arrived and were greeted by the children. She smiled, and dipped her head, trying to hide her pain.
She heard footsteps coming behind her, and she turned her head to see Klaus approaching her. With a smile on his face, he pulled out the letter she had sent months before, and she held her breath once again.
He shook his head, and pulled her to him in one quick movement, and placed his lips on hers for the first time.
She melted against him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, reveling in the feel of being in his arms, and his lips on hers. She hummed against his lips, and ignored the children's cries of glee, only focusing on him.
He pulled back, and panted as he searched her tear filled eyes. "I love you, Caroline." He replied, watching her smile, and leaned down to kiss her once again.
Later, after Gabriel and Anna were married, Klaus and Caroline walked down the shores of the beach hand in hand.
"I tried to write those words so many times in my letters, after you wrote them," He began, as they stilled by the moonlit water. "But I couldn't." He added, turning to face her. "I couldn't write them, because I felt they should be said to your face." He replied, holding her eyes.
She bit back the emotions, and lowered her eyes. "I wanted to say them to you for so long, but…" She began, trailing off, turning to face the water.
"Elena," He concluded, watching her nod her head. "Caroline, I never loved her, not like a man should love a woman." He replied, walking closer to her. "I always loved you, and only you." He added, brushing his left hand over her bare shoulder.
She smiled, and bowed her head. "I loved you from the first day we met, and I wanted to tell you, but mother always said to wait for a gentleman to tell you." She replied, shaking her head through her tears. "And then Elena showed up and said you had proposed marriage." She paused, lifting her head to look at the water. "It killed me inside when she told me." She added, brokenly.
Klaus bit back the emotion, and slowly turned her to face him. "I thought I didn't have a chance with you, Caroline, you had so many suitors. I felt I had nothing to offer you." He replied, shaking his head. "Especially when Tyler boasted to me that he was going to marry you." He stated, holding her eyes.
She shook her head. "I turned him down, because I didn't love him. I waited for you." She stated, placing her right hand on his face. "I wanted you, and only you. You were everything to me, and you still are, plus the children." She added, smiling through her tears.
Klaus smiled, and caressed her face with his right hand. "You are everything to me, too, Caroline, and the children." He added, searching her eyes.
She smiled, and closed the distance between them, as his lips touched hers for a brief moment. "I love you, Niklaus." She whispered, placing her forehead on his.
He smiled, and kissed her forehead, gently, before returning to place it on hers. "I love you, Caroline." He whispered, holding her close to him.
The next morning Klaus awoke to find her in his arms, and he felt his heart pound in his chest. No, they didn't make love, but a part of him wished they did. He kissed the top of her head, and sighed, as she stirred in his arms.
She lifted her eyes, and smiled. "I thought I dreamed it." She whispered, watching him shake his head.
"Not unless we had the same dream." He replied, kissing her lips, gently.
"The children will wake soon." She replied, as he rolled her over on the small blanket they had procured during the night.
He sighed, and pulled back to gaze down into her sparkling eyes. He felt her hand on his face, and he smiled. "I have to return today." He replied, sadly.
The sparkle seemed to die in her eyes, but the love remained. "Promise you will be careful, Nik." She whispered, softly.
He sighed, and caressed her face, gently. "I promise, my love." He whispered, bending down to kiss her lips once again.
He kissed her goodbye in front of the children, and gave each of his children a hug and a kiss. He straightened, and smiled once more at her, and kissed her lips, wishing he didn't have to leave, knowing she was wishing the same.
"Fight well, Nik." She whispered, against his lips. "And return to us." She added, tears shining in her eyes.
He smiled and nodded his promise before turning to leave them behind once again.
~XXX~
Weeks later, she sobbed into the sand as news reached her of Gabriel and his wife's death. Her heart broke inside at the pain Klaus must have been feeling, for she felt the same. She was surrounded by the children, and together they cried for Gabriel, and the life that will never be.
~XXX~
Almost a month had gone by since the news of Gabriel's death, and then the news that the war was coming to an end brought relief and excitement to them all.
Caroline searched the horizon everyday with hope that she would see his face. She felt a tiny hand on her arm, and she looked down to see little Susan smiling up at her.
"Daddy will come." She stated, in a small voice, causing Caroline to smile at her.
"Yes, he will, sweetie." Caroline replied, touching the little girl's brown curls.
"Will you marry him?" She asked, softly.
Caroline paused, and felt a blush hit her cheeks. "I will, if he asks me." She answered, softly.
Susan smiled, and leaned forward to hug her. "I would love that." She replied, hugging Caroline. "You'll be our mother." She replied, lowly.
Caroline smiled, and bent to kiss her head. "So I would." She replied, with a large smile on her face. She lifted her head, and smiled brightly. "There he is." She added, Susan perking up.
She laughed as the children gathered around Klaus, each one taking their turn at holding him, and kissing him. He straightened, and saw her.
"Caroline," He whispered, heading towards her, enveloping her into his embrace. "Oh, my Caroline," He whispered, holding her tightly against him.
She smiled, and laughed as she held him tightly against her. "My Niklaus," She whispered, placing her right hand on the back of his head.
He smiled, and pulled back to kiss her lips with a passion that rivaled any felt before. "I dreamed of you so much." He whispered, pulling back, panting slightly from the passion.
She felt tears burn her eyes and she nodded. "So did I." She whispered, lovingly.
"Daddy, ask her!" Susan called out, causing Klaus to turn to look at his young daughter.
"Ask her what?" He asked, though Caroline could read the playful nature in his eyes.
"Dad!" Susan stated, crossing her arms over her chest, along with the other children.
He smiled, and turned to gaze into Caroline's eyes. "Will you marry me?" He asked, softly.
Caroline smiled, and wrapped her arms around him once again, whispered the one word she longed to say to him. "Yes."
Please be kind!
I know this is different from the other one-shots, but I hope you liked it anyway. I had this sitting in my computer for so long, and I finally got the nerve to post it!
If you read the description, you'll see that I've decided to write both songs and movies or whatever prompts you send in. I'll take them all for this story! :)
Until Next Time...