Chapter 25: Salted wound
Disclaimer: I own nothing
AN: I apologize in advance for any medical facts being incorrect as the internet was my only source.
"You settled in okay?"
"Yeah, the last of my clothes are back in my closet. All I need to do now is tackle the twins room next." Caroline replied
"Bonnie and Katerina have already sorted that out love. Their room is as good as ready when they come home tomorrow." Klaus smiled edging closer toward her
"Oh well that's good. Guess I should probably check my emails and-"
"No working Caroline. Technically you are on maternity leave and your out of office has been set up."
Caroline reckoned it was probably wise that she rest as much as she could before the twins came home. The only problem is that because she'd been doing nothing else besides sleep during her time at the hospital; so getting any more sleep now seemed foreign to her.
"So what should we do now?"
"I have a few ideas." Klaus nearly groaned as he walked right up to her and before Caroline could comprehend a single word, his mouth was on hers.
All at once, there was nothing in Caroline's universe but Klaus kissing, touching, biting and exploring every inch of her body with his mouth, tongue and hands. For the first time in this whole debacle, Caroline let herself forget everything else and simply just.. feel
The bliss sent an earthquake through her loins, causing her body to teeter on the brink of sublime.
Nothing prepared her for these sensations she thought she would never get to feel again.
The tingle on her neck, arms and hands; the tightening of her belly when a wave of of pleasure engulfed it, the escape of her moisture as it saturated her, swelled her.
Once unrestrained, her need was urgent, desperate and critical but Klaus forced her to yield to his slow pace, he had been yearning to do this for so long and he planned to enjoy every agonizingly slow second of it.
His unhurried touch bringing her again and again to the edge of rapture and then denying her, until she wanted to beg for it. Beg for her release
His lips found her breast and nipples and tortured them with his tongue until she moaned in need
"Oh Klaus.." Caroline moaned
And with a movement that startled her, Klaus forced her legs open with strong arms, cupped her ass in his hands and lifted her hips to meet his mouth. With gentle and delicate flicks of his tongue, he brought her close to the edge so many times, she lost count in delirium.
Caroline could do nothing more than squeeze the blankets.
His hands finally opened her, slowly, gradually, insistently. With his thumbs he spread the softness, the moistness, grabbing her wrist to forced her own hand to feel herself.. Caroline gasped to discover how wet she was, and the thought alone of his hand guiding hers over her aching wet heat was utterly arousing...
"I want to be inside you Caroline.."
"Yes.. please.."
"Come for me love,"
"Oh Klaus.."
Caroline jerked forward in a breathless heap of sweat.
What the hell just happened.
She looked around her, surveying the room and her state of clothing to realize that she was still in the hospital.
She was not at home, and she was not with Klaus.
Oh dear god.
She just had a sex dream about Klaus.
"I had a sex dream about Klaus."
Caroline stated and she did not have to be in the presence of her best friend to know that she had spit out whatever it was that she had been drinking
"Good morning to you too Bestie." Katherine sounded through the phone "Well it's about damn time you got some, even if it was only just a dream."
"Funny." Caroline rolled her eyes
"So was it good?" Katherine asked and Caroline was eternally grateful that she was not her to see how red her cheeks became.
"It was a dream Kat.. Does it matter if it was good?"
"Well of course it matters!"
"In that case, yes it was getting good before I woke up." Caroline internally sighed. Sure Klaus was not exactly her favorite person in the world right now but she was not blind nor immune to the trivial female needs.
"So what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked
"I mean, are you planning on making your dreams a reality?" Katherine clarified
"What?" Caroline exclaimed, surprised as if it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "Of course not. That would ruin everything."
"Or.. it could be the best thing to ever happen and bring you guys closer together as a family." Katherine decided to point that fact out
"I don't know if i should be relieved or worried that you're actually routing for Klaus." Caroline frowned
"I'm not routing for Klaus, I'm routing for the twins having both parents in their lives. Having both parents be there for them together."
"We do not need to be a couple to raise our children Kat. I basically raised myself and I like to think that I turned out just fine." Caroline retorted
Katherine sighed and Caroline knew if she were here right now, there'd probably be the hair flipping-dramatic eye roll.
"Besides, today is the day I finally get to be with my kids and I need to focus on that." She smiled "And no I am not going to obsess about this sex dream all day I just- I needed to tell someone."
"I get it Care. I just- I know it's not my place to say but I'm just going to be brutally honest with you. I feel like you and Klaus should give it another shot. I'm not saying marry him and forget what he's done, I'm thinking more; keeping an open mind to everything."
"Even if that was something I was considered doing, I'm just not ready Kat. And to be honest, I pretty much know how it's all going to play out. Maybe it'll be a good few weeks, a month tops. But then he realizes that this isn't what he wants anymore and everything just goes to shit. It starts with a lot of screaming and yelling, then the accusations kick in and then finally abandonment."
"You're being dramatic." Katherine retorted "Look and this is big coming from me, But I've really seen a change in him. The way his been the past few weeks Caroline.. This could be it Care."
"Seriously" Caroline nearly laughed
"You're overthinking things, as per usual so I'm just not going to argue. I have to go, I'll call you later to hear how it went with the twins yeah?" Katherine obviously hit a brick wall. In spite of that she wasn't planning on giving up. The future of her niece and nephew depended on her she was not going to let them down.
"Kay.. I'll just be here, overthinking things then." Caroline sighed ending the call.
She had to admit; she felt slightly better after the phone call with Kat. Admitting to having a very inappropriate dream about your ex was not healthy especially when there are lot of complicated feelings and people involved.
Nevertheless, Caroline had much more important things to think about.
As she sat impatiently in her hospital bed, she glared at the wall clock as if willing it to go faster.
Today Caroline would finally get to hold the twins. She spent two days undergoing test after test, conducted multiple interviews with the neurologist and pediatrician.
She had been allowed to see the twins briefly but the doctors wanted her to rest and regain her strength before she actually held them or spent any significant time in the NICU.
She was ornery and just wanted to see her babies refusing to wait another day.
As she waited for someone to get her, her thoughts drifted to Klaus.. again
*Flashback*
Caroline awoke the next morning and although feeling quite rested, she couldn't ignore the anxious nagging in her stomach.
She was surprised not to find Klaus in the room.
Thinking back to the last time she spoke to him, Caroline informed him of her choice for the babies names before sneakily slipping into a sleep where he could not protest.
It was a temporary get away, that she knew for sure because knowing Klaus, she saw a confrontation coming the next day if not sooner.
As much as she hated to admit, getting Rebekah's blessing did not outweigh the uncanny feeling, that her's was not the approval that Caroline needed. The only approval that seemed to weigh in significance to Caroline was Klaus'. From what she could gather, Klaus was much closer to little Henrik than the rest of the brood and not to mention the fact that he felt personally responsible for Henrik's death.. All in all it was a touchy subject and if it didn't create the desired outcome; Klaus would be the one to suffer the most.
She didn't want to hurt him nor did she want their son to be a constant reminder of the pain etched from his dark childhood.
On the contrary, Caroline wanted a name that would be meaningful and significant.. not only to Klaus, but the rest of the Mikealsons as well
Perhaps if she could just explain all of this to him, maybe he wouldn't be mad at her...
Her tummy let out an unmannerly growl bringing Caroline back from her Klaus-invested thoughts and into the real world where she had to run on more than thoughts of Klaus to actually live,
Agh that thought alone was dramatic enough to prove that she had been here way to long and needed to be discharged along with her children.
Food was needed so the name situation would have to be stacked in a neat pile of her wayward mind which she would deal with at another time or at least after breakfast.
She was about to alert the nursing staff, when Klaus entered the room
Caroline went rigid
Oh no
She knew this was coming but really thought a scheduled confrontation could be like after breakfast. Caroline couldn't think on her feet when she was hungry thus leading to half-witted comebacks and concluding in Klaus winning the argument.
And that was not okay,
Caroline slowly relaxed though when Klaus wheeled a tray in with food behind him, which she presumed was for her.
Okay.. He was here to give her food, not yell at her.
Klaus gave her a strained smile, expertly avoiding her gaze as he laid out the contents of the tray on the stand, set up in front of her.
He managed to arrange her breakfast without as much as a 'Good morning Caroline' and as much as she dreaded being yelled at, it really bothered her that he had not said a single thing.
He was angry with her.. Caroline thought
Klaus sat in the arm chair pulling out his phone probably to respond to everyone's inquisitive texts and emails about Caroline and the twins.
Again, blatantly ignoring her.
Not even glance, Caroline scoffed. How rude
"Seriously?"
That seemed to get his attention, when he looked up tentatively at her. Frowning when he realized she had not yet touched her food.
"You're not going to say anything?" She crossed her arms against her chest
"I'd much rather you enjoy your breakfast sweetheart." He stated monotonically and went back to his texting and oh- was he playing candy crush?
"Are you- are you playing Candy Crush?" Caroline scoffed "I can't believe you have nothing to say to me right now."
"What would you have me say love.." He sighed putting his phone away
"I tell you last night that I want to name our son Henry after your late brother and you have absolutely nothing to say at all? I mean I expected a a lot of yelling, protesting and death glares." Caroline shrugged biting into her toast
"Why would I be angry though?"
"You've already made it clear to me once that I had no business meddling into your affairs Klaus.. I felt like this would anger you and that maybe you thought I was trying to hurt you by bringing up the past-"
"I'm not angry Caroline. I love that you chose Henry. Do you know the meaning of the name?" He asked seeming to be in a complete change of moods and sat on the edge of her bed
Caroline shook her head
"It means home leader; or ruler. Power. Despite in where your choice is stemmed from, it is a good name. Our son is indeed worthy of it." He pecked her forehead quickly before she could protest and left her to finish her food and lull in the after-shock of his complete 180 in moods
*End of flashback*
Klaus had been amazing and contrary to what she suspected, he took to fatherhood like a duck to water.
When he wasn't with her he was in the NICU feeding, changing or cuddling with the twins. Bonnie told her that Klaus only left the hospital for a quick shower and change of clothes otherwise he had been there nonstop.
The dark circles and loser fitting pants were evidence that the hospital had been his home since he brought her here.
And speaking of; Klaus strode into the room pushing a wheelchair his patented smirk present on his face.
He knew she hated to be coddled and it was amusing him greatly to watch her suffer through everyone treating her like she was made of glass. She knew the kid glove treatment was because everyone was worried and if it meant she could see the twins faster then she would put up with it.
"Your chariot awaits." Klaus locked the wheels on the wheelchair before circling around scooping Caroline off the bed.
"Klaus" Caroline whined. "I can get into the chair myself."
"Nope" Klaus said popping the 'p' sound. "Doctor's orders love."
Oh, he was so enjoying this...
Deciding to pick her battles she didn't argue but focused on the fact that she was on the way to see her babies.
Once in the NICU Klaus helped her move to the rocking chair. Caroline tried to hide the wince from the pain in her abdomen that occurred whenever she moved. She noticed a scowl on Klaus's face and she knew she had been caught, but Klaus thankfully kept his thoughts to himself. The doctors had warned her she would be sore for a few weeks from the surgery.
Caroline watched with bated breath as Klaus expertly pulled each twin out and gently cradled them in her waiting arms. The tears came unbidden as she first looked at Charlotte, the girl she thought she would lose forever; then to Henry her other miracle.
Flashing Klaus a watery smile she looked back at her beautiful babies.
"Hello my little miracles. I have some catching up to do to be as good at this as your dad. I know I'll make mistakes but I promise to always do my best and to always love you." Caroline murmured
Klaus knelt before them kissing each of the twins before looking into her eyes. She could see unshed tears that made his eyes even bluer and even easier to drown in.
"So have you told the girls yet?"
"And steal Stelena's engagement thunder? No way." Bonnie snickered
"Oh.." Kol replied rather disappointingly before turning back to the road.
"And what's with that face?"
"Nothing" Kol rolled his eyes
"Kol.."
"I don't know Bonnie, I feel like the reason you haven't told the girls that we're moving in together is because you don't think of it as something permanent."
"What? Oh my god that's ridiculous." Bonnie scoffed as she turned to face him full on as he continued to drive through the Quarter
"Kol.. We are going furniture shopping right now.I mean you more permanent does it get than furniture shopping?" She sighed
"Whatever you say darling." Kol smirked seemingly convinced and out of his bad mood which just gave Bonnie the urge to whack him. She seriously would have considered it had he not been driving.
"You're so bipolar." She muttered
"But you still love me and already agreed to move in so I guess that means you're stuck with me." He smirked "We're nearly at that thrift store I googled. I swear they have the best antiques that'll just be perfect." He added gushing like a kid finding a new shiny toy
Interior decorating was her forte. The simple things that she considered normal on a day-to-day basis, Kol considered extraordinarily uplifting. Ironic and a little amused, she just went with it.
"There's a frozen yogurt store that we could stop at.." Bonnie trailed off
"Why don't you just call April, have her pick it up and meet us at the house." Kol replied already feeling a Bonnie bust coming along.
A 'quick detour' or 'another addition to their list of plans' is what Kol meant by a Bonnie bust. She always did this and it seriously annoyed him.
He specifically remembered asking her before they left the house if there was anything she wanted to get to eat before they started furniture shopping and she said no.
"But I want it now."
"I totally understand. But you're not pregnant so It's not a life and death type of craving." Kol stated
"You don't have to be pregnant to intensely crave things Kol, and if you must know being around a lot of pregnant women and babies has screwed with my hormones. So yeah it is possible for me to be craving frozen yogurt. I know I watched a show where Dr Oz said-"
"Oh you have got to be kidding me! You literally have an excuse for everything."
"But the frozen yogurt store is on the way." Bonnie retorted
"It doesn't matter if it's on the way, It's still going to be 20 minutes of you being indecisive. You're going to walk in the store an say 'Oh should I get vanilla? or chocolate or mix berry' or whatever hell there still is." Kol said and Bonnie rolled her eyes even though she knew he was probably right. But whatevz he didn't need to know that.
"We are not going to the yogurt store. We are going straight to furniture shopping." He stated
After a few minutes of complete silence, Kol didn't recognize the thrift store anywhere nearby
Of course he hadn't been there before but he was sure that there should be furniture shops instead of restaurants in his peripheral view.
Kol then turned to Bonnie, beyond annoyed
"Is it the thrift store or the yogurt place in the GPS right now?" He asked
"It's the little yog and frozen-"
"Oh come on!"
a few minutes later...
"I feel like I need a little crunch." Bonnie looked thoughtful to her large cup where she had scoop full of different flavors.
Kol stood on, furiously texting into his phone. He continued to ignore her, he figured the sooner this was over the better.
"Yeah, I definitely need a little crunch. But I don't know what that should be.. Let me see what's up here." Bonnie stated as she walked towards the various crunchy toppings all displayed along the counter
Kol gave her a look. The 'come the fuck on woman we are going to be late look' but she blissfully ignored him as she continued through her yummy search for the perfect crunch to top her delicious frozen yogurt
"Do you think my crunch should be Oreos?"
In tough times like these, people always wondered how Kol always kept his cool. Well mostly his brothers and sister. But the truth was that it wasn't that hard.
Whenever Bonnie did something that pissed him off, he remembered what that ass looks like in lingerie and he stayed strong.
Simple.
"So the twins will still be in the hospital which totally sucks. But Caroline will be home, so I feel like we can go ahead with the dinner as usual. I need you to call Rose and also have the menu sent over to Greta. I also want shrimp brought in, maybe some lobster, I'm not exactly sure what Stefan likes yet and-" Katherine stopped mid sentence as she glared down at Madison her new appointment PA as of a week ago. "Why aren't you writing this down?"
Madison turned bright red and pulled out a small note pad to jot down what her boss was saying.
Katherine Mikealson was her new boss, and for any young fashion blogger, this would probably be a dream come true since Katherine was very well known in the fashion industry given who her husband is, her sister in law Rebekah Mikealson that did many photo shoots for Calvin Klein and Vogue, she attends Fashion Week every year with exclusive seats not to mention the VIP after party invites to sip expensive French bubbly while rubbing shoulders with the most elitist designers and models in the world.
Yep.
It's pretty safe to say Madison idolized Katherine.
Katherine had literally no time to feel sorry for her though, her twin was getting engaged and as her older sister she made it her job to have everything go perfect for their announcement dinner at the Manor.
She didn't see the need for a PA at all, it was Elijah who suggested the idea and after much given thought she actually warmed up to the idea. Since she no longer lived with Elena and hadn't seen Caroline in a while, she missed having someone to boss around all day.
Not to mention she now had a daughter who required her undivided attention so the other duties on her day-to-day would be her PA's job
"Shrimp.. got it." Madison croaked after scribbling something down on her notepad.
"Hold that thought." Kat held up two fingers to answer her phone which couldn't have come at a better time since Madison now actually had some time or a few minutes at most to write everything down Katherine said. Or everything she tried to remember that Katherine said.
"Rebekah?" Madison could hear the weary tone of Kat's voice which was weird since she was so used to the strict boss lady voice that seemed would be in her nightmares for the next few weeks to come.
"Well have you tried changing her diaper?" Katherine sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. She seemed more annoyed now than stressed
"Well if you can't handle dirty diapers why did you- This is the exact reason why I insisted you not babysit Emily -" "I don't care if you just got your nails done, clean my daughter or get Greta."
Madison never met anyone from Katherine's family before, no one except Elijah that is. But from what she could make out, Katherine was on the phone with Rebekah Mikealson. Another idol of hers, an idol that seemed not to take a liking in changing dirty diapers.
"What did I say about cursing in front of the baby Rebekah.. If you start cursing at me, I will start cursing at you. So let's not play the curse game. Do you want to play that game? Caz guess who's better at it." Katherine edged off starting a slow pacing back and forth in front of Elena's apartment. Madison feeling extremely out of place, stood awkwardly along the sidelines.
"I have to go. Bye." She shoved the phone into her jacket pocket before turning back to her PA "Whatever that saying about mother-in-laws is,sister-in-laws are so much more terrible."
"Anyway where was I?.. Oh yeah, I just needed to make sure that Stefan wasn't allergic to anything but my stupid sister wouldn't answer her phone which is why we are here." Katherine stated ringing the bell a couple times before that proved to be useless so she just let herself in. Madison following close behind like a lost puppy
"Knock knock.." Kat called out
"In here Kat."
Katherine followed her sister's voice to the bedroom where she found Elena in nothing but a toweling gown still laying down in bed
"What the f- It's 3pm Elena." Katherine frowned
"The dinner is only at eight Kat, don't be a bitch," Elena rolled her eyes before it landed on the younger teen standing awkwardly in the doorway
"Who's that?"
"Madison. Elena. Elena Madison.." Katherine breezed through the introductions
Madison smiled nervously at Elena who to her surprise waved her further into the room
"My PA."
"Of course she is." Elena snickered trying to suppress a giggle.
"And the reason that you're here so early is..."
"Well I need to know if Stefan is allergic to any shell fish since the majority of the menu will be seafood."
"He loves seafood."
"Well good because it's too late to change the menu anyway." Katherine flipped her hair coming to sit beside Elena on the bed.
"Okay since that's done, can you leave me to sleep now?" Elena replied while cocooning herself into the duvet
"Elena it's already after 3, get up."
"Can't."
"If Dean Winchester can crawl out of Purgatory, then you can crawl out of your damn bed."
Madison found it awfully cute and profoundly weird that Katherine and her twin could bicker like this but also that besides looks, Katherine and her twin were nothing alike.. at all.
"Elena.." Katherine suddenly changed her voice trying to bring across the seriousness of needing Elena to get up which failed since Elena responded by burying her head further in the pillow.
"I'm sorry.." Elena peeked out looking, apologizing to Madison "Katherine takes her older by 10 minutes wayy to seriously."
"Wait, why are you still laying down? I'm really curious." Kat interrupted before Madison could respond
"I um- the Doctor said that every time I have sex, I have to lay down for 15-20 minutes." Elena said "So I just had sex before you guys got here."
Complete and utter silence stretched over
Madison took in the scene before her that could only be described as a stare off between the two sisters. Well that was until Katherine finally spoke
"Euw."
"But I can't just leave them here."
"With the rate of their recovery they're looking at another two weeks tops and that's a good thing." Enzo explained as he wheeled Caroline back to her room after spending some time with the twins, Klaus following closely behind
"So then discharge me in two weeks." She crossed her arms giving them all the death glare
"You know he can't do that love."
"It sucks that I get to leave and they don't." Caroline
"It's the only option for now. Now finish packing, go home and take a long hot bubble bath. They are in good hands." Enzo kisses her on her head and leaves them to finish her packing
Klaus was temporarily relieved that they were now alone but the immediate thought that having this conversation at this very moment in time, did not seem like the brightest idea. They both just found out that the twins stay at the hospital would be for another two weeks.
That was good. It meant they were growing and getting healthy.
Caroline on the other hand was being discharged today and that meant the babies would stay here while she was not.
He could imagine that it was difficult for Caroline to deal with since the mere thought of the twins being just a level away was comforting to her. And that was all going to change now for the next two weeks.
Oh, fuck it..
"Caroline.. we need to talk."
The fear of being alone with Klaus was for this exact reason. She didn't feel for this confrontation, she wasn't ready to deal with this yet.
"I've forgiven you Klaus, I just don't think we can be together." There, she said what needed to be said. Maybe it was a little harsh and to the point but she was too pissed off about leaving without her kids to be walking on any eggshells around him right now. Surely he would understand.
Klaus didn't expect a different response, in all honesty he anticipated her resistance to giving them a second chance but that did not mean he accepted it. He started trembling but tried taking deep breaths hoping that it would sate his anger and guilt and somewhat keep up the calm demeanor he had going.
"We have children together-"
"That doesn't change anything between you and me" Caroline stated "We're as over today as we were months ago."
Klaus paced the floor as if trying to wrap his head around this entire situation. He could hear the words coming out of her mouth and as much as he understood them, he hated them. As coherent as they sounded it pained him that it seemed so easy for Caroline to just give up on everything they once were.. on everything they have yet to be.
So much for trying to keep a calm demeanor, he thought.
"How can you just slam the door on what we had Caroline? I know I fucked up. Really fucked up but after everything that we've been through together, after these last few weeks.."
Caroline sighed as she stacked the last pile of clothing neatly into her duffel bag before turning to face him. She preferred not to because his face would always melt her heart and then subconsciously convince her to say something that he'd actually want to hear. Like that fact that they could be what they once were.
And as much as it broke her heart to say.. she had to give it to him straight.
"You want to know why I've avoided all your talk about feelings this whole time, why I change the subject whenever you bring it up?"
"Yes.." He said almost too afraid to ask
"Because if.." Caroline's throat clogged up as her eyes gave way to fresh tears "If I allowed myself to feel, really feel what I felt for you? I would dissolve into a million pieces and I would never be able to be put back together again."
Klaus's shoulders slumped as if he had physically shrunk into himself
She loved him before, might still even love him and yet the thought of allowing herself to love him again would destroy her?
"I made a list of all the ways that loving you has brought me nothing but pain. Other than the twins, I don't think we have that much in common anymore Klaus."
"Caro-"
"You broke my heart. You cut me deeper than anyone has my whole life and if I tried to touch that pain, I wouldn't survive." She blinked the last few tears down her face before turning back to getting her bag ready.
She was in so much pain.
Physically from the op and exhaustion from being at the hospital for what felt like forever, and emotionally from finally admitting to Klaus her real fears of being with him and the fact that her babies would still be here for another few weeks while she had to go home.
Caroline hadn't heard anything more from Klaus and actually thought that he might of left but was surprised when he reached out to take her bag and slung it over his shoulder. Klaus walked towards the door without a single glance toward her nor any words, he opened the door waiting for her to walk
She couldn't help but think that no matter how pissed off he was whether he was sad or temperamental, Klaus was always a gentlemen and he could never change. It brought her back to the time when she was heavy pregnant and craving Ben and Jerry's Belgian dark chocolate and he refused to let her walk through New Orleans in the wee hours of the night.
"Take me home Klaus." Caroline sighed already fed up that with the conversation as they reached the car and buckled up
"Fine. We'll get something to eat first." He finally spoke after not uttering a single word since their earlier conversation
In all honesty, that really sounded like a good idea given how sick she was from the horrible food they served at the hospital and no matter how many snicker bars and cheeseburgers Kol smuggled in for her, she yearned for a nice home cooked meal
But despite her hunger, she had no intention of accompanying him to a restaurant. She would just be giving him plenty of opportunity to talk to her about "their relationship" and how "being together is what's best for the kids" and somehow worm his way back into her heart
"I'm not hungry" Caroline said firmly
Klaus made a tsking sound with his tongue against his teeth as he pulled into a parking lot
"Don't lie Caroline, I heard your stomach growling at the hospital"
That seemed to shut her up long enough for him to usher her to a coffee shop and into a booth
Caroline hid behind a plastic-coated menu for another few minutes as her red cheeks cooled and the old-fashioned atmosphere of the family restaurant exercised a soothing effect.
When the waitress came to take their orders, she managed to say with credible dignity "Just a salad please."
"-And chicken soup too, for the lady. I'll have the pepper crusted steak." Klaus tacked on.
When the waitress left he met Caroline's annoyed look with a bold one.
"I've heard chicken soup is good for you."
"Yeah, If you have like a cold or something." She retorted rolling her eyes at him "I don't think it's going to magically heal the six stitches I have in my gut. She added haughtily
"Hmm maybe it will help cure your crankiness." He murmured
Caroline ignored him while she ate her meal.
There was nothing more annoying, she decided twenty minutes later, than a man who was right. Especially if that man was Klaus of all people.
She did feel better after eating the rich soup and much more able to handle the distinguishly satisfied looking male who sat across from her watching her eat in silence
Setting down her spoon, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin and then plunged into another issue at hand that she knew he was just itching to bring up when the twins were ready to come home. She had to do it now deciding not to put it off for any longer
"I can afford to live on my own."
He was a bit taken a back from her sudden announcement but quickly recovered as he remembered that he made a mental note to talk about living arrangements
At first he seemed okay since he was so sure they would reconcile and moving back would hardly have been an issue but alas..
"You can afford not to if you're endangering your health sweetheart," Klaus countered, pushing aside his own empty plate.
His lips flattened in a straight line as he added, "The twins will have plenty of room at our old place."
"That's besides the point." She retorted
"Klaus I'm their mother okay, I need to be able to stand on my own two feet."
"And you will love, I know you will. But right now that isn't a possibility." He added impatiently "You're still in recovery, your body has taken strain and is still healing. You not only have one but two babies who are dependent on you Caroline- please you can't do this alone."
And besides that, why would she want to continue paying rent at that little apartment, when they had a perfectly fine house near the docks that had enough room for both of them and their children.
Caroline picked up her abandoned napkin and absentmindedly began shredding it into tiny pieces lulling over what Klaus was saying.
He had a good point.
But why did he always have to make sense? Arrgh it was so annoying.
"I've already had all my furniture moved over to the apartment." She murmured sounding whiny like a petulant child.
"That can be moved back. Come on Caroline, tell me what's really bothering you. And its not moving silly furniture." He scoffed
Caroline pushed all her shredded pieces of napkin into a tiny white little mountain pile while she lulled over his words once more.
'What's really bothering you?'
"I just- I don't want to depend on you. You have plans." She sighed earning a confused glance from Klaus before she elaborated
"Your Gallery? It means a lot to you and I don't want you to blame me and the twins for you not getting what you worked so hard for." She stated
"They mean so much more to me than a silly old Gallery Caroline. You and the babies are all that matters to me right now."
"When I thought I lost you I-" Klaus swallowed "I never want to feel that way ever again Caroline. And no contrary to what you may think, there is nothing more important to me now than you, Henry and Charlotte."
How can he sit there and say this without knowing how fucked up its making her feel right now? Caroline thought aimlessly
"I'm not trying to weaken you Caroline, or interfere in your role as their mother I'm just.. I'm trying to do what's right."
"Okay.." She whispered after a long couple of minutes.
"Okay?"
"Yeah. I'll move back.. Because I know I won't be able to handle both of them and my job at the moment and they need constant attention so It's what's best for the twins. But only temporarily until I figure out a better more permanent plan." She retorted firmly
"Of course." He replied but couldn't hide the look of disappointment that lulled over his face knowing that her stay wouldn't be permanent.
AN: To recap:
- Elena is trying to get pregnant and she may or may not have told Stefan that.
- Bonnie and Kol are moving in together
- Katherine now has a PA
- Caroline and Klaus will continue to live together but not permanently according to Caroline, I don't plan on a happy loving reunion anytime soon. If anything, things are going to get extremely emotional and chaotic
** I'd like to thank everyone once again for their continued support. Your reviews, fave's and follows are much appreciated. And on that note, I'd like to ask you guys a huge favor..
As you know we now have new additions to the Mikealson clan; Emily Miranda Mikealson and her cousins Henry and Charlotte Mikealson
The names have been chosen after much deliberation and I'm glad you all like it. However, there are still many things we have yet to discover about these children and that hopefully, is where you all come in.
For each twin I still need:
- A middle name and reason for choice of middle name.
For both Emily and the twins I need:
- Personality traits i.e. (who has inherited Caroline's OCD and Klaus's natural cooking talents? Katherine's stubbornness, Fashion sense, or Elijah's manners and proper vocab Etc etc) *This is where you guys should really get creative!*
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Likes and dislikes
- Favorite aunt(s) and/or uncle(s) with explanation
- A godparent(s) and reasons for choice
Your responses doesn't have to be in depth and you can keep it as short or long as you like.
If I missed anything feel free to add on your own thoughts to the list. I'm super excited about this and getting you guys involved. I feel like it'll motivate me to write more.
This is probably the longest AN ever so I'll just end it off there lol
REALLY looking forward to your responses!