Words are Weapons 25
Still with me? Too many updates? It's been twice a week for a while and this is an important chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
At 2pm on the dot, the doorbell rang. It made Caroline jump. Klaus stood, lifting sleeping Freya. She began to stir in his arms.
Showtime.
Klaus put on his ruthless game face, once again becoming the Original Hybrid.
They went to the front door and behind it, there was Aunt Dahlia in the flesh.
Klaus gave her a small nod, her eyes focused on Freya who was rubbing her face into Klaus' shoulder. "Dahlia."
Dahlia wore a long black tunic coat and matching pants despite the heat. Caroline didn't see a resemblance to Esther who was fair. Dahlia had brown hair and brown eyes. She was beautiful, but there was a coldness about her. Caroline was sure she would have sensed how powerful she was even if she hadn't seen it herself. It surrounded her like an aura. No wonder why Freya was so screwed up.
"Aunt Dahlia," Caroline said behind Klaus, shoving any nerves down deep inside. It was time to make her drama professor proud. "Come on in."
Dahlia slowly walked inside the front door, wary, but hopeful when she saw the sleepy infant. Hope was here and Dahlia could sense her unique Mikaelson magic. It was what she needed. She sensed other magic in the house, including Freya's, but she expected that since Freya had been living there.
Dahlia had been watching the house on and off, but was focused on Klaus and Caroline's apartment. She saw everyone go up, including Hayley and Hope, and watched as "Hope," Caroline, and Klaus emerged and drove over.
"I'm in the middle of renovations," Klaus said as he walked through the dusty foyer, Caroline in front with Dahlia following. He was sure to stomp his feet to get the dust going.
"I see," Dahlia responded with a frown, noticing how her suede shoes were already picking up some of the excess debris.
"Would you like something to drink? Get a tour of the house?" Klaus asked, eyes narrowed at Dahlia. He didn't want to seem as if he wasn't still wary himself, but he was making an effort.
"She's a beautiful Mikaelson, Klaus," Dahlia said, eyes on the baby. She answered his question though. "Yes, you mentioned her nursery. I'd like to see it."
"Follow me," he said, expecting this. They took the long way through the courtyard, making sure to get close to the piles of soil, tromping along the edges. It was another room Dahlia didn't want to linger in.
"I'm starting a container garden," Caroline added with a smile at Klaus. "Klaus is humoring me."
Up the stairs, Klaus led them into Hope's nursery. It was decorated in pale yellows with animal designs on the bedding. The furniture was dark wood and a rocking chair was set in the corner. There were two large windows looking out over the front lawn. It was a cute room that the real Hope was comfortable in. Dahlia looked around and Freya was getting more fussy on Klaus' shoulder, staring at Dahlia.
Dahlia smiled at her. "You'll make a fine witch, little Hope."
"It's hot up here," Caroline complained as Dahlia went about the room, touching a few items. There were her clothes, her toys. It was unique to Hope. Dahlia could feel it when she touched them.
Freya began to cry. Klaus bounced her in his arms. She got louder and louder.
Klaus handed her one of Hope's toys and she threw it which made Caroline smile. She was an adult bitch and temporarily a young one too. Dahlia smiled also.
"Can I hold her?" Dahlia asked, getting closer to Klaus.
"Let's go to the living room. I want a drink if you don't want one. It is hot up here and I think she's getting warm. You can hold her and do the spell," he agreed and then without letting her get a say, he marched on. Caroline followed with a hand on his back, staying close, and then Dahlia who looked around as they went down the stairs and into the new room.
It was clean and well maintained she noticed, pleased. A portrait of Elijah, Rebekah, and Klaus hung over the fireplace. Dahlia's family was all living together under one roof, except Caroline and Klaus, but that appeared to be changing. It sounded like Caroline would be moving in if Klaus was building her a garden. It was good for Hope not to be relocated over and over.
Caroline could feel the sweat gather in the small of her back when they returned to the living room. It seemed even smaller than it did mere moments before. Her eyes quickly spotted the three items in place and she knew she would have found the mortal area if her eyes were closed, concentrating on them so hard. Dart set on the coffee table, dagger on the bookcase, letter opener on the wet bar.
Klaus stood at the edge of the triangle closest to the door after he poured himself a drink and quickly downed it, not stepping into the mortal space. Freya didn't stop crying.
Dahlia reached out and Klaus handed the baby over as she stood closer to the door than Klaus. Klaus was between her and the triangle. He needed to change that without being too obvious, concerned she could feel the binding spell if she was in it for too long.
"There, there, little one," Dahlia said as she took the baby in her arms. Big blue eyes full of tears looked up at her, but the baby stopped crying.
Caroline, as promised, stayed by Klaus' left side as he spun and switched places with Dahlia. The movement was unconscious for Dahlia as she was focused on the baby. Since Klaus was still invading her personal space, she took a step back, but she wasn't back quite far enough.
Dahlia's fingers touched Freya's cheek. "She looks just like Freya," she said, with a smile. She had been there for Esther's delivery of Freya, acting as a midwife. "I didn't spend much time with her as a baby, but I cared for her as my own when she came to live with me."
Klaus thought that was one version of the story.
"What do you need to perform the spell?" Klaus asked, discreetly trying to get Dahlia to take one or two large steps back. It had to be perfect. Only her heels were on the carpet currently. He took minutely small steps forward to get her to keep going.
"I need you to bite Caroline," Dahlia said in a firm voice out of nowhere. Her eyes were cold as she gave the order, unbendable.
"What?" Caroline squeaked and Klaus' stood up straighter. He was not going to bite Caroline.
"You promised to keep her safe," he reminded Dahlia, pointing at her.
"You'll heal her, but it's time you do something for me now. Prove you are trustworthy," she said, keeping Freya close to her chest.
"You're holding my daughter. What more do you need?" he yelled, getting closer and closer to her, but she wasn't stepping back.
"Bite Caroline or I'll disappear with her," she said simply, not looking at Klaus, but "Hope" in her arms. Klaus was showing too much allegiance to the young vampire. He needed to show more allegiance to his own family, Dahlia thought, especially to her. "Hope is your daughter. Caroline is not your family. Show me what you'll do for her, for me, that you'll do what it takes."
"Yes, Caroline is part of my family. Hope's too."
Caroline felt like her heart would beat out of her chest. This was not how this was supposed to go. Dahlia just had to take one big step back and this would be over, no bites or ultimatums needed.
Dahlia was not going to budge, figuratively or literally the other twelve inches backwards she needed to, not unless she got what she wanted.
Klaus turned to Caroline where she was by his side, putting his back to Dahlia, needing her to move a little further back. He got closer to Dahlia so she was just on the edge as she went back another inch or two as he spun, her feet halfway in the area and apparently distracted enough by "Hope" to not notice anything was amiss. "Caroline."
"Klaus," she said, tears starting to form. Her chest hurt, feeling a panic attack well up inside her. How could Klaus say no to Dahlia when "Hope" was in her arms and they had to appease her for another minute or two? He had to bite her, didn't he?
Klaus looked into Caroline's eyes and put his hands on the sides of her face. The panic was beginning to squeeze her heart, fear overwhelming her. He let his vampire face come out with the yellow eyes and blackened veins. She cried harder. He put his face against her neck. She could feel his fangs touch her skin and she wanted to run or tell him not to do it, but she knew she wouldn't. This was for Hope. He whispered so only she could hear, the words vibrating against her skin, and she almost blacked out in relief, "Play along. One. Two. Three."
With a quick exhale, Klaus exaggeratedly pretended to snap Caroline's neck as she obliged and dropped to the floor.
It kind of hurt, hitting the ground, but she'd take it over a hybrid bite all day, every day. Relief washed over her. She could fake being "dead," but she couldn't fake a bite. If they weren't going to kill Dahlia just then, Caroline would have gone after her herself for what she was doing! The hard part was trying to control her erratic breathing since she was supposed to be out cold.
"I do not take orders from you," Klaus snarled with his veined face as he looked at Dahlia, getting closer. Almost there. Freya screamed, scared at the yelling around her. Klaus didn't and would not bite Caroline. "Caroline will be in my life and Hope's life. I snapped her neck to keep her safe from you. She doesn't need to be kept safe from me!" he screamed, pushing closer and closer. Almost there. "Never again!"
"Fair enough," Dahlia said with a serene smile at Freya, trying to calm her. Klaus was playing along in his own way and she could accept that. "I can see that now. I didn't want Caroline to observe the spell. Only you and I will witness the ceremony." She kept her voice quiet in the midst of the screaming. Dahlia pulled down Freya's shirt that bunched up around her neck with her crying and squirming. When she did, Freya's charm bracelet touched Dahlia's fingers.
Dahlia froze.
.
.
.
Klaus saw it.
.
.
.
With a roar, he went after Dahlia.
.
.
.
There was a yell.
.
.
.
Everything went silent.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Freya began to scream again. It was the first noise she heard after Klaus' yell. Not hearing anything else, Caroline cracked open one eye and her dead heart stopped.
"Klaus!" her scream was blood curdling.
Rebekah was in the room first as Caroline reached Klaus' side. He was pale and getting paler every second.
"Klaus!" she screamed at him, pounding his chest as the tears fell from her eyes. She propped his head in her lap. What happened? What did Dahlia do to him? Klaus couldn't die. He couldn't. She couldn't breathe.
Bonnie, Davina, and Enzo came out, surveying the scene and racing to the bodies on the floor, surrounding Caroline.
"Do something," Caroline screamed to the room. They needed to help him.
Davina went to Freya and put a sleep spell on her, which quieted the baby. Bonnie put her hand on Klaus' arm. She could feel the magic in him, but wasn't sure what Freya did. She began to chant some spells she knew. Davina came over and tried others at the same time.
Caroline tore into her wrist, shoving her blood against his lips. "Klaus, you promised me. You promised me forever," she cried, tears covering her cheeks. "You can't leave me."
"What did she do?" Rebekah asked on the other side of Klaus, watching helplessly as her brother laid on the floor, possibly giving his life to save his daughter and the rest of his family.
"He pretended to snap my neck and then something happened, I don't know. I can't lose him, Rebekah. I can't." Her eyes broke the hearts of everyone there. Her desperation at losing him was palpable.
"We won't let him die," Enzo promised.
Caroline kept her wrist against his lips, but nothing seemed to happen. He didn't look worse, but he didn't look better either. What did Dahlia do to him?
Caroline moved Klaus so his head was on the floor as the witches tried spell after spell. While it had only been a few minutes, it felt like a lifetime for Caroline. "You promised," she cried, heart shattered, as she leaned down and kissed him again, her blood between them, staining both their lips. Her tears fell onto his cheeks. She didn't know what else to do.
When she eased back, unable to breathe due to her sobbing, she knelt next to him, running her hands along the side of his face. The others continued their efforts around them.
Klaus' eyes popped open, making everyone jump back.
"Klaus!" Caroline yelled. "You can't keep doing that," she said, hands covering her face as she cried with relief. He was there and he was ok. She would make sure he was ok. Enzo put his arm around her shoulders as she broke down.
Rebekah helped Klaus sit up. He was disoriented, but his color began to come back.
Klaus licked the blood on his lips. He recognized it was from Caroline and he put a hand to his head, looking at everyone around him. They all seemed ok. "What happened? Is she dead?"
Rebekah smiled at him, pointing out the heart in his hand that he refused to unconsciously let go of. "You did it, Nik."
He breathed out and dropped the heart by his side. Then Caroline jumped into his arms, knocking him back to the floor. He ran his arms up and down her back. Her arms squeezed him so tightly he couldn't breathe and nothing felt better. The others could breathe again and stood up as Caroline wouldn't let him up. "If you do that to me again, I will kill you. I almost asked Enzo kiss you next."
"I told you it would work, sweetheart," he said and she smiled sadly, still all over the place, keeping him there for long minutes, checking him over and making sure he was ok. Eventually she got up and helped him up too. Rebekah handed him a washcloth to wipe off his bloody hand since he was making a mess of Caroline. Rebekah wiped Caroline's back off where Klaus got her. Luckily her red shirt hid most of the blood.
Klaus saw Dahlia's body was fully in the carpeted area with a gaping chest wound. It was over. His daughter was safe from her biggest threat.
Caroline stayed glued to Klaus' side, her arm around his waist, making sure he was ok, which meant not letting go.
"She touched the bracelet and she knew," he said quietly. "I saw it and I pushed her back into the zone, pulling her heart out, but she must have gotten a spell off."
Caroline was relieved, but couldn't believe what happened. They were all ok, but it was a close call.
"Can I now?" Bonnie asked Caroline.
She nodded, keeping her arm around Klaus, her face pressed against his shoulder. She almost didn't want it to happen just then, but it was time. Things were changing. She couldn't pretend otherwise.
Bonnie put her arms out towards them, Klaus not sure what was happening, and in a second, the gold bracelets popped open and landed on the floor.
Klaus' jaw dropped, not expecting it. Caroline picked up her bracelet and slipped it into her pocket. There was no better souvenir of her time in New Orleans. Then she gripped Klaus around the waist again. They weren't attached by a magical bracelet, but she was still clinging to him by choice.
"Our work here is done. Let's leave them alone," Enzo said, directing the women, who picked up Freya.
"Go to our place and tell everyone it's over," Klaus instructed.
When they were alone, Caroline wiped under her eyes, taking a few steps from Klaus to calm herself. She had just gotten off an emotional rollercoaster.
"That's why you were crying," Klaus said, figuring it out. Caroline didn't need to be there with him, but she wanted to be there.
"Yeah," she admitted quietly. "That and when I thought you were dead."
"Why did it make you cry then?" He knew why she might have cried when she thought he was dying. It meant her and her friends would die too, although he suspected there was even more than that if he let himself dream.
"You know why," she said, looking up at him through her wet lashes. "I couldn't not be a part of this. Klaus, you were amazing. You did it."
"Because of you," he said and then she was in his arms again, holding him close. "I made you cry too much today."
"Seriously. You really should stop doing that," she said into his shirt and he smiled, stroking his hands down her arms.
Caroline tugged him to the couch. She needed to sit for a minute as they looked at Dahlia's body. Caroline pulled the pen from her hair and tossed it to the side. It was just a pen again after all. "What happens to her?"
Klaus looked over Dahlia's body. "I'll have her cremated. I have a feeling she might come in handy in the future." He had a strong suspicion if they needed to create a weapon to kill Freya, it would involve Dahlia's ashes. As much as she claimed to hate her and she truly might have, there was also love between them.
"You and your ashes," she said with a smile, finally feeling the peace of knowing they were ok and Dahlia was really, really dead, but she was still shaky. "Are you ok? Do you need more blood?"
"I'm feeling better and better," he said and she could see it. His color was back and he looked healthy and strong. She always wanted him to look that way.
Elijah came tearing through the door. "What happened?" he yelled when he found them.
Neither one of them said anything and Elijah spotted Dahlia's body.
"You killed her." He didn't know what else to say. He'd been racing all over, checking on Hayley and Gia. Neither Freya nor Rebekah were answering their phones and the guards weren't on duty. Somehow, Klaus did what they couldn't. He killed Dahlia. He saved his own daughter and wasn't that how it should be?
Caroline and Klaus stood up and without words, left Elijah behind.
Outside, they decided to walk back to their apartment. Caroline still felt twitchy and Klaus did too.
"I can't believe it's over," she said softly again.
Klaus was quiet. He was thrilled, but wasn't sure how to express it. It was such an accomplishment for something that kept him awake at night. It almost killed him and Caroline in the process though.
"Thank you for not biting me," she said softly, looking up at him. He looked good. He looked great to her.
He squeezed her hand. "I could never hurt you, Caroline," he said quietly. "I wanted to jump her then, but I thought if she believed you were unconscious, you'd get a chance to use the pen if I failed. It's never smart to underestimate Caroline Forbes you know."
She smiled and they enjoyed their silence as the city of New Orleans buzzed around them. The world still spun. Babies were born and people died. Life moved on.
As they walked up the five flights of stairs again only a few hours after they left, it was surreal. They could hear the party behind their door.
When they opened it, they were given a big cheer.
Bonnie raced to Caroline, giving her a hug. Caroline whispered in her ear and Bonnie nodded. She was more than ready to do what Caroline wanted.
Hayley brought Hope over to Klaus. He snuggled Hope close, pressing kiss after kiss against her cheeks. She was the real deal and she was safe. He nuzzled her under the chin and she giggled, happy to be held by her dad once again who was in high spirits, after her nap.
"Dahlia is dead," he announced and another big cheer went up.
Everyone came and congratulated them. Caroline stayed within ten feet of Klaus, not realizing she was even doing it, but wanting, needing, to stay with him. Her fingers traveled along his arm when he held Hope. She made sure he had a drink. Klaus hovered behind her when she relayed the story to Marcel. His hands founds hers over and over.
Pizzas were ordered and Marcel went out for an alcohol run. Josh was invited over and music was played.
Freya began to transform back to her adult form not long after. When Rebekah saw it happening, she quickly carried her into the bathroom. She stripped off the baby clothes and dropped Freya's clothes next to her, shutting the bathroom door behind her.
Adult and upset Freya came out of the bathroom a minute later. The music was shut off and everyone stared at her, unsure if she would cause a problem. She was a powerful witch who lost her mentor and captor.
"Dahlia is dead," Klaus said as he held Hope.
Freya nodded, still not sure what happened. The party picked back up when they saw she wasn't going to immediately do anything. Rebekah stayed with her, wanting to offer her sister a little stability since her world was spun upside down.
Eventually it was time for the wolves to head back. Some were going back to the bayou, like Hayley, Hope, and Jackson. Others were going out to local bars. They gathered their belongings and began to say their goodbyes.
Klaus made an arrangement with Hayley to get Hope the following day for a few days. He kissed Hope goodbye and then handed her to Caroline, his hand on her waist.
"Hope," she said as she held her, the baby looking up at her intently, "you're a pretty great baby and in fact, I think I love you. Please be safe. Listen to your mom and dad, but only when they give you good advice. Girls rule. Boys drool. Stay away from them until you're 25. I'll miss you." Caroline gave the baby a kiss and a hug, handing her over to Hayley.
"Thank you," Hayley said sincerely and Caroline nodded.
The wolves left leaving Klaus, Caroline, Freya, Rebekah, Marcel, Enzo, Josh, Davina, and Bonnie.
"Fan club," Enzo yelled. "Who wants to do some shots?"
Every hand went up. Everyone wanted to have a good time, but Freya finally spoke up, all of it hitting her. Her thousand year nightmare was over. What did it mean to her new life?
"She's really dead?"
"She is," Rebekah confirmed, slamming back some whiskey.
"And you were all working together?"
They nodded.
"I'm still going to only be around for this year," she revealed. "Killing Dahlia won't stop it."
Klaus shot her a look. "Night night, Freya." As if that wasn't a bonus he was looking forward to.
"There is one way to stay with your family," Caroline said as it came to her.
"How?" Freya asked, taking a shot and reaching for another.
"I can turn you," Rebekah offered, seeing where Caroline was going, and approving of the option. It was the choice she would have liked to have received herself, mortal or immortal. Maybe in a hundred years Hope would have enough power to save Freya from the spell herself if she wanted to stay a witch.
"I'd lose my magic," Freya said, fearful at losing everything she'd known.
"Lose your magic or gain a family," Rebekah told her. Those were her options.
Freya sighed, but it was something she would consider. She'd always have a family, but she was learning what that meant. If she did decide to stay a witch, she'd still see her siblings. If she became a vampire, she'd get to see everything.
"How did you do it?"
They all took turns telling the story, which made them laugh in certain parts. Bonnie picked out some pieces of bush from Davina's hair as Enzo explained all the steps he made her go through for them to get inside versus Rebekah just picking Bonnie up and running. There was crawling, dirt smeared on their faces, and serpentine running involved.
Freya was shocked that all it took to get her blood was to give her some alcohol so she pushed her glass away which made them laugh. She was impressed by Bonnie and Davina being able to figure out the spell to make the weapons and to create the zone. She also noticed the magic bracelets were off. That spectacularly backfired on her.
"Your plan was tearing our family apart," Rebekah said and Klaus put his hand on her arm. "Klaus was trying to save his. It's why I had to help him."
Freya nodded. In the end, what she was doing was about her and not the people she wanted to be a family with. They didn't trust her and only succeeded when she was left out. They did to her what she wanted to do to Klaus. They loved each other and sometimes hated each other, but they were there when the going got tough. Could she ever be a part of that?
"Can someone drive me home?" she asked.
Josh volunteered. He was beat and even he couldn't keep up with the other guys like Marcel and handsome Enzo.
"Are you sure, Freya? Do you want me to come?" Rebekah asked kindly. She'd texted Elijah a short note that Hayley and Gia were both fine. He finally got a hold of Gia and was waiting at home for them. "Elijah is there with Gia."
"No thanks, Rebekah. I'll see you later."
They left and then Klaus smiled at Davina. "Little witch, I have something you've been waiting for."
Caroline clapped and Rebekah did too.
With a flourish, Klaus dug around under the boxspring of the bed and slipped out the five containers with Kol's ashes. The others were amused by the lack of security.
"Bring my brother home," he said as he gave them to her. She brought them to her chest and then carefully put them in a plastic bag Caroline gave her.
"I will. We all have to treat each other better," she said and Caroline gave her a hug at the sentiment. Davina saw how the family and especially friends came together, not for one of Klaus' power-hungry schemes, but to make things right, to save a little girl. That's how they should all work.
"I'm going to miss you, Davina Clare. Will you call me?"
"Absolutely. I'm going to miss you too, Caroline," she said, seeing that Caroline was really saying goodbye and not goodnight. She would miss Caroline. Caroline had the love of an insane guy, but could keep him in check because he wanted her love in return. Caroline didn't save Klaus. She made him save himself. That took power and Davina saw how Caroline looked at Klaus when they thought he was dying. The feelings weren't one-sided. She also thought Caroline had a great sense of fun and style. They needed more of those vampires around. "I think you're amazing. Love the hair by the way," she said with a smile.
"I think you're pretty special, too. Thanks for the tip," Caroline said back since it was Davina who told Klaus where to go for the new hairstyle.
It was down to the final six of them as Davina raced off to start the process of bringing Kol back.
Caroline tugged Enzo to the side as the others chatted.
"That was pretty scary today, Goldilocks. You didn't lie when you said you weren't staying out of trouble."
"Seriously. It was enough for a lifetime," she agreed with wide eyes. She tucked some hair behind her ear. "I"m going back to Mystic Falls tomorrow."
"Why?" he asked, confused. She was happy and fulfilled in New Orleans. What could Mystic Falls offer her? Why leave now?
She sighed. "I'm not finished with what I need to do there. I need to get my concert together and see the damage I did in person. It's the right thing. I haven't visited my mom's grave yet." She was rambling and she knew it. "I did what I promised and now I need to go."
He understood that she considered her business unfinished there, although he did think it was a little fast. Was Caroline running from her feelings for the big, bad wolf? "I'll come with you. Damon's been calling non-stop."
"You don't need to. Bonnie's coming with me and I need to do all of this on my own anyway."
"Which is why Klaus won't be going with you," Enzo finished.
"Exactly." She looked over her shoulder and saw that Klaus was talking to Marcel. "If you stay, will you keep an eye on him? Please?"
He smiled. "Don't wait forever to make up your mind about him, Caroline. I think you belong here, but I'll miss you and I'll be back for the show. You can't keep me away from you now, gorgeous."
"Exactly," she said with a smile and she gave him a huge hug. "Sorry to keep ditching you, Enzo. You're the best."
"Stay away from Stefan," he said seriously and she rolled her eyes.
Rebekah came walking over to them. "What's going on here?"
"I'm going home tomorrow."
"You can't leave now," Rebekah complained, hands on her hips. "Kol will be back. Freya's hopefully less crazy, but she might be the worst vampire ever if she turns. You have just as many friends here as you do there. Plus my brother loves you."
Caroline laughed at her bluntness and put her hand on Rebekah's arm. "Your family is changing a lot, but Rebekah, I need to go back and try to atone for what I can there. I know you don't know everything about what happened, but a lot did happen and a lot that makes me question everything. Despite everything I feel for him," she said very softly so Klaus couldn't overhear her, "…I can't right now. It wouldn't be fair to him or me." She smiled at both of them. "I need to get off the rollercoaster for a while."
Rebekah figured there was a lot more to the story of why Caroline turned off her humanity and she smelled the Salvatores all over it. She ached for Klaus though as much as he aggravated her. He had the woman he loved here and now she was going. "When are you leaving?"
"In the morning. Bonnie's coming with me."
"I will drive you," she said confidently. Enzo gave her a huge smile, putting his arm around her shoulder that she shrugged off. Then she relented. She smirked and then she put her arm around his shoulder that him grinning at Caroline.
"Seriously? You just listed everything that's going on here with your family."
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "It will take a day to drive there and a day to drive home. It will be three days at the most. I'll check in at the house. I'm doing it for Klaus and I'm doing it for you. Elijah can deal with Freya and Davina will take care of Kol. Deal with it."
Caroline couldn't resist and gave Rebekah a hug. Rebekah wasn't sure what to do and Enzo ate it up, but she admitted to herself that it felt nice. "Thank you, Rebekah. I'd like that."
Caroline walked to the others and Enzo took Rebekah's hands in his. "Thank you," he said and she smiled at him.
"Are you leaving here soon too?" Rebekah asked Enzo coyly.
"New Orleans seems to have a hold over me. I want to see more," he said flirtatiously and they decided to leave.
They said their goodbyes, Klaus giving Rebekah a tender hug and a firm handshake to Enzo. Bonnie and Marcel cleaned up the remnants of the party quickly. Then they decided it was time to go too since everyone else left. It had been a long and stressful day.
"So we're going home tomorrow," Bonnie said, excited, but nervous. New Orleans really grew on her, but when Caroline told her she was ready to leave the next day as soon as they returned to the apartment, she was ready to take her home.
"Rebekah's driving us," Caroline said with an exaggerated smile. "Thank you for everything Bonnie, we, I, couldn't have done it without you."
"You're my best friend," she said simply. "I'm happy I could help and I'm so glad we're here so I can say that."
"Marcel," Caroline said as she hugged him. "It was so nice to meet you. Please help him," she whispered against his skin. He nodded subtly.
"This isn't the last time I'll see you. You have to come and visit." Marcel saw how much pain there was in Caroline's eyes. She didn't want to leave, but she didn't think she had a choice just then. She had things she needed to do first. He would step up for Klaus, seeing the kinder man he knew a long, long time ago who took him in.
"I will," she agreed and let him go.
Bonnie and Marcel waved at the door.
Then they were alone.
Caroline licked her lips and looked at Klaus. The distance already felt too big.
He put his hands behind his back. "You're leaving tomorrow."
She nodded, trying not to get emotional. Maybe she should have told him first, but it was too hard. "I have to."
He was quiet and awkward. "I thought…I hoped…"
Caroline took his hand in hers, pulling it from behind his back. "I know, but I have to, Klaus. For my mom, the people, for me…I have to go. I was taken away and now I have to go back."
"I know you don't want me here or there. I should go then," he said, looking at the door, hating everything about what was happening. He didn't want to be separated from her at all. Hadn't things changed? He sighed, hurt. He knew all along she would leave when she could, but he didn't want her to. It was best to shut down and not get hurt even more. "You need your rest. It's been a long day."
"No, Klaus. Please stay with me tonight."