As promised - the second part of Chapter 24 - Home is where the heart is. I hope you like it!
Home is where the heart is - part 2
Caroline was the first one in the kitchen the next morning. She had just started preparing breakfast when Rekebah joined her and begun setting the table. It looked like a wholesome American family having breakfast when Caroline's Mom and Elena and Damon arrived for breakfast. The rest of the Mikaelsons family was out again; Caroline wondered, not for the first time, what it was that Elijah and Klaus always had to do so early in the morning. For a minute, she amused herself with the image of Klaus jogging around the nearby lake, wearing a running kit and headphones in place.
Stefan was out for his 'breakfast' in the woods, it was his usual time, Caroline had learned. Hayley, usually an early riser as well, joined the breakfast group just in time for eggs and bacon. From the glance Elena threw the werewolf girl, it was apparent that someone had filled in the newcomers on the baby situation.
'I wonder who spilled the beans,', Caroline thought.
"Since my brothers have decided to throw a party, in my own home no less, without giving me any kind of decent warning, I will be heading over to the supermall to get myself pampered. Do you girls need a ride, or are you all set for dresses?" Rebekah asked between two bites.
Caroline threw a questioning look at her mom and Elena. Mrs Forbes smiled. "To be honest, I thought of making the best use of the wonderful grounds outside today. Since it will be an eventful evening again I may just get a book and a chair and sit outside to enjoy the quiet for a few hours. I guess you girls will not want to let this opportunity of necessary shopping pass?" Liz Forbes looked amused.
"I think it sounds great, we need to do a girl's day anyway, Care, I want to hear everything I have missed!" Elena said excited. Glancing at Damon, she added "You will be okay, right? You said you'd want to hang with Stefan anyway..."
Damon rolled his eyes. "As if any sane man would be going to the supermall with you girls out of his free will..."
The girls laughed. The friendly chitchat continued and Hayley, who had declined the invitation for a trip to the mall, told Liz where the plantation grounds where best for a peaceful afternoon.
Caroline was amazed. Ever since she had walked into the living room the day before, she felt like she was in a parallel universe, or living a dream. Since when did they all get on so well? Or, at the very least, since when did the Mikaelson family and the Mystic Falls gang stay in the same room without going at each other's throats? She was looking forward to the shopping trip; not only because she really wanted a new dress but also because she assumed it was time to find out what exactly Klaus had told her mom and her friends to get them to come - and be on their best behavior.
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The supermall was a little outside New Orleans, on the main highway towards Baton Rouge. It was a popular weekend destination in the area since it did not only offer all kinds of shopping amenities but also held a multiplex cinema, several restaurants, bars and a bowling arena. On the top floor it also housed a fitness club.
After arrival, the girls split up. Rebekah went to see if she could get an appointment with her favorite hairdresser and planned to get her nails done. Elena and Caroline stopped in front of the large mall overview plan and then decided to just start walking around, dipping into a shop here and there to look for new dresses.
The mall was not very busy since it was still before noon on a weekday and there were no queues in front of the changing rooms. Soon, the two vampires had found new dresses and they went on to accessories shopping. After trying on at least 50 different pairs of shoes and looking at hundreds of necklaces, Elena and Caroline decided it was time for a coffee in one of the small cafes on the ground floor. They found a table with two comfortable looking couches in a quiet corner of 'Saint Michel'.
"So... tell me." Elena said, once they both had their coffees and they had settled into their little corner.
Caroline raised an eyebrow at her. "Tell you - what?"
"You went to New Orleans for an internship four weeks ago. We have spoken at least once every week since then, and we have texted way more than that. And not a single time have I heard you mention any of the Original vampires. And then I get a phone call out of the blue, from Klaus, no less, asking us to stop by for a mini-break in New Orleans because you live with them?" After a pause for effect, she continued. "Spill."
"Oh. That." Caroline sighed. "To be honest, Elena, it is kind of a long story. And it starts pretty much with me arriving in New Orleans. I just, ...I knew you guys would worry once I told you that I had run into Rebekah, and then Marcel got into the picture and it all just kind of got so complicated..."
"Wait - who is Marcel?"
"Oh."
"Oh? Care?"
"I just forgot that I haven't told you about Marcel either... okay." Caroline took a deep breath. "Let me start from the beginning..."
At first, it was hard to explain everything that had happened but after a few minutes, Caroline got into it and she did not stop before she reached the events of the weekend. Here, for the first time, she left out a few details - her kissing Klaus was not really adding anything to the overall story, was it?
Once Caroline had told the whole story, Elena hugged her friend fiercely, realizing what she had been through. "Oh Caroline, I had no idea! It was no accident? And you almost got poisoned? And that Marcel...wow. I can't believe you got into all this!"
"Yeah, it was pretty intense, lately... And really, Elena, I wanted to tell you! And actually, I called my mom on Monday because I really wanted to come home for a few days and see you but then, my mom was busy with work and I didn't know where to start with telling you all this and...I don't know. I just stayed."
"Your mom told me, actually. I mean, she didn't tell me on Monday but she told me on the flight. Klaus had arranged tickets for us on the same flight and your mom was wondering if you calling her had anything to do with the 'accident' of your friend. "
"Klaus arranged for the flight tickets as well?"
"Klaus arranged everything. Seriously, it was kind of creepy. I mean - it was a normal Monday and I was hanging out with Damon at the Boarding House because, you know, I don't have classes on Mondays, and then I get this phone call. And first, I really wanted to hang up again after I realized who was calling. But Klaus was really weird on the phone. He didn't even say that much about you, he just said that he would appreciate it - and he did use that word - appreciate!- if we would come to New Orleans for a few days, and that he had invited your mom. . And when I asked why he would invite your mom and what he was playing at he didn't even freak in usual Klaus-style but he reacted quite civil and only said that you were not feeling well because your friend had been in an accident."
"I can't believe you actually went for that. I mean, it is true, kind of, but you just believed Klaus?" Caroline was kind of amused by it. And here she thought her friend Elena and Damon hated nothing as much as the Original Hybrid.
" I don't know, he sounded sincere, kind of. And he didn't threaten or yell or anything, he just said that there would be flight tickets waiting at the airport and it was up to us if we'd use them. And well at first, I was really panicky and I asked him if you were okay and why you did not call and he was still not all-Klaus and he said that you were trying to deal with it on your own. Elena laughed. "And to be honest, that did sound a lot like you, trying to keep all the pain to yourself. But I hadn't even thought about it in detail then, it was Damon who was then wondering how the heck Klaus knew how you felt. He was also the first to catch up on the possibility of you living in the same house..."
"No threats, he? Well, that's a start. I must admit that when I saw mom yesterday for the first time, I was scared that Klaus had just kidnapped her or something. But then you all looked so relaxed and friendly, seriously, it was eerie! All evening and all morning, I was wondering in what parallel universe I had just jumped in!"
"You haven't been there when we arrived- it had been a bit more ...strained... when we arrived. Damon was so sweet, he was always walking in front of your mom and me and he did put on his most threatening face and told Klaus that if he was playing any games then he would regret it. Elijah is the one who broke the ice, he was very nice to your mom and he told Damon that he would vouch himself for us not being in any danger. And you know Elijah, what kind of effect he can have on people, your mother was charmed within a minute!"
Elena laughed out loud. "But - let me get this right: You thought last night was weird? You are one to talk - I almost died when I saw how comfortable you were!"
Caroline looked confused and she blushed slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Care, come on, you are living in the same house as Klaus! Klaus! You know, the Original vampire who killed your Tyler's mother, who tried killing you twice with werewolf venom, who has killed me and who has tried to woo you for as long as we know him? And you just sat there on his couch, and you didn't even flinch a muscle when he refilled your glass or when he smiled at you! Do you have any idea how creepy that was yesterday?"
"Why is that creepy? I mean, we didn't do anything creepy, we just sat all in the same room and talked..." Caroline said defensively. She didn't like where this conversation was headed and suddenly, she was very happy that she had not mentioned everything that had happened on Saturday.
"I should have filmed it with my cell phone camera, maybe then you would believe me. Care, it kind of...it looked like you are part of their family, I mean, with Rebekah acting like you are besties and Klaus inviting your Mom to New Orleans, and you actually sleeping under the same roof as him. I mean, it's his house - he doesn't need an invitation, Caroline, you have absolutely no protection there!"
"It's not like that, Elena. Rebekah...well, actually, I think we are kind of friends now. Don't look like that, I am serious. She saved my life, I told you, and we got to know each other much better and we kind of get on well. " Caroline raised her hand to signal Elena that she wasn't finished yet and she should not interrupt her.
"And the whole commotion about whose house I live in, that's just ridiculous. It's not like that, Klaus would not do anything to harm me."
"Care, do you hear yourself? How do you want to know that?"
"I just do. I mean, I trust him."
The sudden silence between them told Caroline that she had made quite a statement with her last sentence. Looking rather shocked, Elena, recovered first. "You. trust. him? KLAUS? Care, we are not talking about a promise to return a borrowed book or something. Do you trust him with your life?"
Caroline didn't answer for a second. Instead, she thought about what she had just said, and about what Elena had said, but it didn't change. The feeling in her gut didn't change. Yes, she did trust Klaus. She had no idea when it had happened because sure as hell did she not trust him four weeks ago, when she arrived in New Orleans...
"I know that sounds weird, Elena. And I know who Klaus is. I know what he has done, and I know that, especially to you, he has done horrible, horrible things. But that's not about what he has done. It's really...he was honest to me, and he was really trying to protect me and keep me out of the whole Marcel debacle when I arrived here. It's my fault that I got mixed up in it - and that only because I did not trust him. I don't know how to explain this but I just ...I am certain that he will not do anything to harm me and I feel safe at the plantation. I really think it's the right place to be right now."
Tentatively, Caroline looked at Elena. "Hearing myself I do know this sounds weird, and believe me, this conversation three weeks ago would have turned out very different. But -can you understand this, Elena? At least a bit?"
"Wow. Well, I mean, I am still shocked. I am shocked by everything; by everything that has happened this past month, and by you staying with the Original Family and that you are so comfortable and, I don't know, everything. I am still shocked by being called by Klaus, and invited for a mini break as if that's just the most normal thing to do, as if we'd be vacation friends!" Elena, sighed, but then continued. "But, I trust you, you are my best friend, and I love you, Care. If this is what you want to do then I will support you. Even if it means joining Niklaus Mikaelson and his family for a cocktail party!"
The girls both laughed, clearly relieved that the difficult conversation was out of the way. Caroline felt a heavy weight lift from her heart. She had dreaded this moment, the first time she would have to explain to anyone from Mystic Falls that she had indeed made peace with the Original Family.
"I think it's time to see if Rebekah is done and to head back, don't you think? I want to curl my hair for tonight so I really need some prep time!" Caroline said while she already started typing out a message to Rebekah on her cell phone.
Yes, she was ready for the cocktail party tonight. Her mom was here, she had just bought a gorgeous new dress, her best friend Elena was there to celebrate with her and Stefan would be staying in New Orleans for as long as she stayed. It all looked good, for the moment at least.
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Back at the plantation, she found her mom sitting in a lounge chair in the garden, reading a book. Caroline sat with her for a little while, showing her shopping successes and enjoying to see her mom face to face again. Caroline's mom asked about Sandy's accident and if there was anything she could do to help Caroline through it, and Caroline used the opportunity to check with her mom if Klaus had been civil to her as well.
Liz Forbes smiled at her daughter. "I was shocked myself as how comfortable yesterday evening was. I would not have come to New Orleans only because of a call by Klaus, of course. But Elena called me, shortly after Klaus had called, and since both her and Damon agreed to come, we decided to do it. And you will be happy to know that most of my suitcase is occupied by vervaine and stakes."
Caroline laughed a little laugh. "Well, vervaine is good and you should drink it anyway all the time but the stakes will not really help you here, you do realize that?"
"I know, honey. But I still feel better if I am prepared. And, I was worried about you. You calling me had left me wondering and I would have called that evening to check up on you. But Klaus beat me to it. " Her mom looked at Caroline questioning. "But really Caroline, tell me - are you okay? In this house? With this family, if you can actually call them that?"
Caroline sighed. "I just had the same conversation with Elena, and, a week ago with Stefan. I am fine, really. I have Stefan here with me, that helps a lot, and, I don't know, with Sandy gone, I don't want to be alone and it's kind of nice to have other vampires around for a little while. "
"I understand this, Caroline. And to be honest, Stefan being here, it is a huge relief for me. And I do trust Elijah, he is part of this horrible family but he has tried to save Elena and he did act honorable before. If he says that you are safe here and welcome to stay then I do believe him."
"I'm glad, Mom. I didn't want to lie to you, really. I wanted to tell you about me staying here but it just happened so fast and then I didn't really think I'd stay longer than a day or two..."
Liz smiled. "It's okay, honey. And you know what? Enough with all this serious talking. I think it's time for us to return to civilization and get ready for tonight, don't you think? I was hoping to get a nap before tonight, I haven't slept much lately."
Returning to the house through the gardens, Caroline and her mom realized for the first time that they had been outside for quite a while and that the party preparations had started already. There was staff everywhere, probably from a Catering Company judging from their uniforms, setting up heaters on the outside and tables and chairs. Inside, the sitting and dining room had been transferred into open space with small tables to stand around. A third room, which Caroline had not noticed before, had been opened wide and was being transformed into a dance floor.
Caroline said goodbye to her mom and headed to her room to get ready. Elena, who had been searching for Damon after the mall, was supposed to join her for makeup and hair later in the evening.
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The plantation had been transferred into a sparkling wonderland. Elena and Caroline headed downstairs after the first guest had already arrived and they found Stefan and Damon sitting at a table on the patio. Small groups of people were wandering through the house, glasses in their hand, chatting and greeting each other.
There were lights lining the walk up to the house and the edges of the patio. A barbecue grill was set up outside with Catering staff handing out their delicacies. Inside, Caroline had seen a few more food stands, all preparing and offering other finger food and snacks. Waiters were walking around, carrying wine, champagne and taking orders for cocktails. Music was wafting quietly through the house.
The four vampires sat outside and ordered cocktails from a passing waiter, watching the other guests. Caroline had not seen any of the Original Vampires yet but she assumed they would be near the front doors, to greet their guest when they arrived. She wanted to wait for her Mom to come downstairs though, before she would be heading over. She really wanted to get a minute with Klaus - and if possibly not within earshot of the others.
Caroline's mom joined the group around 8. The guests had become more numerous and the chatter around the group grew louder. Most of the guests seemed to be human and Caroline recognized a few of them as business people from New Orleans, who had been on the Mardi Grad meeting with her. Her mom looked proud when Caroline got up to greet a local business woman who had been at a seminar with here, a few weeks back. It felt like a different lifetime to Caroline, the first two weeks in her internship. After chatting with the business woman Marie and her husband Clive, she used the opportunity to wander inside. There, she recognized a few more guests, and, meeting the New Orleans Police chief, she quickly grabbed her mom from outside to introduce the two.
She found Klaus, as suspected, near the front door. Elijah was outside on the porch, talking to the new arriving guests while Klaus was in conversation with a priest. Caroline hovered near them until Klaus could not ignore her any longer and waved her over.
"Caroline. Please meet Father Kieran, he is the priest of the church in the Latin Quarter." Klaus introduced her. Caroline smiled politely and shook hands with the father. "Are you enjoying the party so far? Maybe you want to show Father Kieran around?"Klaus asked.
Caroline had the vague feeling of Klaus trying to shoo her away. She hesitated, not knowing how to remain polite but also to make sure she did not have to take the priest around."I'm not sure if I am the right person for this, I don't really know anyone around here..."
Father Kieran smiled, waving his hand. "Please, that is absolutely not necessary. I assume I know most of the guests and I'll start with a bite to eat, actually. I don't think this young lady came over to meet me". He smiled at her. Caroline blushed a little but returned his smile.
Father Kieran said his goodbye and made his way towards the other rooms of the house. Klaus turned back towards the front door, seeing if anyone else has arrived in the meantime.
"Klaus, actually, the priest was right, I did come over because I was looking for you..." Caroline started.
Klaus turned towards her again, sighing and rolling his eyes. Not letting her finish her sentence he interrupted.
" Look love, I know what you are about to say but now is really hardly the time or the place. I should not have called your mother or your friend, it was not my place to invite them over and who do I think I am to do this. I know, I know..." he started defensively. Klaus seemed angry but he kept his emotions in check and just talked rushed, and very quiet.
Caroline reached out and touched Klaus' upper arm. It helped, he stopped talking and looked at her questioningly.
"Thank you" she said very quiet. She smiled a little smile.
Klaus looked surprised, and speechless, for just a second.
"But you did not have to throw me a party - that is really quite over the top. Inviting my mom and Elena was great but we could have just hung out with pizza and wine tonight" Caroline continued.
Klaus looked at her for a second, before he laughed out heartily. "Love, the party is not for your sake. Our being here in New Orleans, as a family, has been linked to Marcel since we arrived and Elijah had thought it was about time we cemented our standing in the community without Marcel. For the time after he has been dealt with, so to speak. Most of the guests around you are local businesspeople, men of the church and politicians."
Caroline blushed, looking embarrassed again. "Oh..."
"It's not that I would not throw you a party, love. If you want a party just say it and I will throw you one every day - with guests or without." Klaus smirked.
"Oh no, I don't want a party, I didn't mean it like that. It was just the timing, that's all. But it's great, really, having my mom here and my friends. I should go find them." Caroline wanted to get away quickly, she felt stupid and was angry with herself for assuming. Turning away, she had one more thing to add. "But just for the record, I am an excellent party planner, the best of Mystic Falls for that matter. And I do prefer throwing my parties myself."
With that, Caroline turned around and rushed back to the others, through the sitting room. She did not see Klaus' smile when he looked after her.
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Stefan had left the group of friends outside with an excuse to look for Caroline. He did not really plan on looking for her, it was a party with almost only human guests and he could see the Original family greeting the new arrivals, he was pretty sure they would not invite anyone who would be a danger. In reality, he just wanted to get away from it all, from the party, the party sounds, and most of all Elena and Damon. Making a detour to the front of the house, he walked back to the garden along the side of the house.
He was not as heartbroken about Elena as he used to be. In fact, he had learned to see the positive side of it, her effect on Damon, for example. Elena was good for him, she brought out his calm and good-natured side and she made him happy, that much was clear. But that did not mean that it did not hurt seeing them together, happy and in love, always touching and wanting to be near each other. It was like they gravitated towards each other; whenever one of them turned one way, the other one followed shortly after. He had enough of this for a while, he had been trying to get away from it when he had left Mystic Falls.
Stefan had reached the little gazebo near the lake in the back of the garden. He had found it just this morning, on his way back from hunting in the woods. He sat down, letting his thoughts drift back in time. The party sounds continued quietly in the background but he just sat there and enjoyed the mild evening.
Rebekah found Stefan in the gazebo. She had not seen him outside with his friends when she had made her tour through the party and seeing Elena flirting giddily with Damon, she did have a feeling as to why. She knew Stefan had heard her coming, he was a vampire after all, but he made no sounds of acknowledgement. She sat down quietly next to him, looking across the lake.
"Ditching the party?" she asked after a while.
"I needed some alone time, that's all."
"You want me to leave?"
Stefan turned towards the blonde vampire. "No, no it's alright. I guess we can ditch the party together" He smirked. "Although you are usually not the one to leave a party early..."
Rebekah smiled. "Well, shockingly, I am not really in a party mood. And considering that most of the guests inside are like walking dinner but Elijah has made it perfectly clear that no guest is to be harmed, I thought I can just as well sit outside here and brood with you."
"I am not brooding."
"You are always brooding, Stefan, it is like your middle name!"
Stefan smiled. It had always been like this with Rebekah, easy conversation and quick banter, a little bit of flirting but most of all just comfortable time with a likeminded soul.
"So why are you not in a party mood?" He asked her, back to the serious conversation.
Rebekah hesitated for a second, trying to put her thoughts in words. "It's nothing, really. The whole thing with Caroline and Sandy just brought back memories from the last time we stayed in New Orleans. When Marcel was still human and my brother turned him."
"What was Marcel like, back then? If Klaus turned him, I guess he really trusted him. Which, thinking about it, is very hard to believe..." Stefan added.
"Marcel was different from most humans I had ever met. He had this strong fighter inside of him, already as a child. Nik surprised all of us, to be honest. When he started teaching Marcel how to fight and when he taught him to read and write. It was the first time I saw my brother like this, almost like a father to the boy."
Stefan was fascinated, listening to Rebekah. After describing how Marcel had grown up with them and how he had been turned, Rebekah continued by telling about her time with Marcel, how she had begun to like him.
Stefan had known that there was something between Marcel and Rebekah, Klaus and Elijah had hinted at it in conversations. But hearing the story from her, he had not expected it to be so... tragic. It seemed that she was right, Klaus had tried to stop her from experiencing happiness with any man in her history. The same way as he had compelled him to forget and daggered Rebekah in the 20s, he had daggered her then. He felt sorry for her.
Once Rebekah had finished the story, he told her so. "I'm sorry about this, Rebekah. I had no idea. It will not be much help but I do believe Klaus only acted like this because he was afraid of losing you. He does love you, you know? he told me as much often enough in the 20s, when we were alone."
Rebekah smiled at him. "Thank you, Stefan."
There was nothing else to say and they both just sat there, in amiable silence, both hanging after their thoughts. After a little while, Stefan reached out with his right hand and took Rebekah's hand, not breaking the silence. Giving her hand a little squeeze, they both continued looking out across the lake in silence.
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Back at the house, the party was in full swing. Elena, Damon, Caroline and her mother had left the patio and were now standing inside around one of the little tables, watching some couples dance and nibbling on some finger food. Caroline had been surprised as to how content Damon seemed and how nice he was. Of course, she knew he could be nice, after all, he had been charming the first time she had met him. And he had charmed her mother for a long time, before she had found out that he was a vampire. But this was different. He just seemed so well-adjusted, kind of. At peace with himself. And Caroline assumed this had mostly to do with her friend Elena.
It was a surprise when Elijah came over to their little group and asked her mother to dance. Her mom blushed violently but she did agree and followed the handsome vampire to the dance floor. After the first shock, Caroline and Elena started giggling and they all watched the unlike couple on the dance floor.
Caroline stopped laughing quite soon though, when Klaus suddenly appeared on her side with a mischievous smile, signaling with an extended hand that he asked her for a dance as well. She did think about declining for just a second but then she just shrugged. Leaving her little clutch with Elena at the table, she followed Klaus to the dance floor, noticing Damon's raised eyebrows and Elena's worried expression.
Afternoon talk or not - her friend had not expected her to accept so willingly, she suspected.
The dance was a waltz and Caroline relaxed quickly. This is something she knew well and she did not have to concentrate on her steps. Besides, Klaus clearly had the practice of a few centuries, he lead with a strong hand on her back and with a determined step. The scene reminded Caroline of the Mikaelson ball when they had danced together for the first time, the only difference in the scenarios being herself.
She remembered feeling uncomfortable at the ball, and trying to hide her fear of the Original Vampire behind aloof behavior. How much different felt it this time around to dance with him! Caroline had feared Klaus, as probably almost every other creature on earth, and she had hated him violently when he had first arrived in Mystic Falls and had started wreaking havoc. But now, almost three years later? Caroline came to realize again that she did not fear Klaus anymore, and that, strangely enough, she almost understood how he ticked and what made him act like he did. Right now, she also was grateful, for his protection, for him caring enough to call her mother despite him expecting her to be cross with him for it.
Gliding across the dance floor in the Original's arms, she had to admit herself that she also felt safe with him.
Since inviting her on the dance floor, Klaus had not said anything, only silently guiding her through the steps. The silence made Caroline nervous, she was highly aware of Klaus' hand resting on her back and of his general vicinity. She tried hard not to look at his face, pushing back any and all memories of Saturday night to be back of her skull.
'Think Caroline, any conversation is better than to think of 'stubble' again', She chided herself.
"So, now, that you have invited my mom and Elena and Damon - what is the plan? My mom does not know about Marcel or the truth about Sandy's death, so how do we continue while they are here?"
"My invitation had been spoken with an open-end to their stay but your mother has mentioned that she will need to leave the day after tomorrow since there is an ongoing murder investigation in Mystic Falls, I am afraid. I doubt your friends being here will have any impact on our plan to deal with Marcel for the time being, I don't think he will try anything just yet and we haven't found more anyway." Klaus replied. He had spoken quietly to keep the conversation between them.
"Yeah, my mom told me, there has been a string of murders at home. Well, it's in the middle of the semester, I guess Elena will need to get back as well."
"Will you go with them?"
"What? No, why?"
Klaus smiled lightly. "Well with them being here, I thought maybe you have changed your mind and you want to return to Mystic Falls with them."
"No." Caroline said deciseively. "I love my mom and Elena and I miss them both but I need to stay. I need this, I need to be here when the fight happens. It's not just about Marcel trying to use me and playing games, it's about Sandy. She had nothing to do with this and Thierry, or Marcel, or both of them, they just killed her. Only because they wanted to, and to hurt me. And now more than ever I want to see them pay for it. I have needed this, my mom and Elena being around. But when they are back in Mystic Falls and I know they are out of harm's way, I am ready."
"Okay." Klaus said. He accepted her explanation with a single word. Silence settled between them again, but more comfortable than at the start of the dance. They both seemed to have found a common ground, an understanding as to how they stood to each other.
And Klaus surprised Caroline again, by swirling her skillfully once around, before the dance was over.
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