A/N: Okay, I lied! I split this last part into two chapters. We have fluff, new characters, and loose ends hopefully being tied up in this one.
And I feel I should address the problems with Tyler before I continue. Everyone's going to have a different opinion on this, which is actually pretty cool, but I just want to straighten some things out real quick so you all know where I'm coming from, and aren't left thinking I'm just making these guys seem out of character. Because I promise you, this problem isn't going to just go away, even though Caroline is trying to make peace with it.
I don't condone what he did (that's why I had him do it), but you guys have to realize also that Caroline has been best friends with him for about twenty years. That time doesn't just disappear suddenly because of what he did. She doesn't agree with how he made Klaus look, but she kind of just wants to keep the peace between everyone. So of course she's going to try and forgive him.
Tyler didn't lie out of evil either, but fear. I love all the different opinions though. I didn't want to just make a problem that was black and white. There is supposed to be some gray matter in this one.
Explanation over. Enjoy the chapter! =]
A month passed since the big food fight in Caroline's house. It had been hell cleaning it up, but with Klaus' help, she managed to make it look nearly spotless again. The couch still had stains on it, but she viewed them as memories. Every time she looked at it, she remembered that night. Her apartment wasn't that posh to begin with. It fit in with the décor.
Tyler was still away in Mystic Falls, visiting with his family. Caroline had said she was over what he did, but every time Klaus had a bad dream, she felt her anger come back. What was she supposed to do? Caroline wanted everything to be over with, but Tyler had lied to her. They had always been open with each other. And it wasn't even the lying that was the real problem. He had made poor Klaus seem like a delusional ex-soldier.
Her heart was torn, and it was the worst feeling in the world. That was no exaggeration either.
She still had a month though. There was still a month left for her to figure out what to do. Klaus still hadn't forgiven him, and he wasn't anywhere close to doing so. How was she supposed to live with them in harmony if those two were still in a war zone? So many questions left, and still so few answers.
In the past month, that wasn't all that Caroline had been occupying herself with though. When she wasn't thinking of what to do about Tyler, she was actually enjoying her time with Klaus. They didn't have to worry about the yelling as much. At night, they would stick together and she would help him through any problems. She had taken away all the weapons, and any other reminders of his past life. The less he had to look at from his past, the better chance he had at recovering.
Elijah and Rebekah's frequent appearances helped Klaus a lot too. It helped to remind him that his family was alive and well. It helped that Elijah was in his apartment most nights with a bed of his own now. They were all becoming a family. Even Matt could be considered a part of that family at this point. Rebekah and Matt had been dating officially for about a week. Caroline was happy to see Rebekah with someone who didn't have a secret identity as an evil crony. It made their life seem almost normal.
All of that had brought Caroline to where she was now. In the middle of June, she was still teaching her yoga classes at the studio across from the coffee shop. Only this time, instead of just Elena being in her class, Rebekah had joined as well.
The blonde was even better at poses than the brunette. There was always a small competition between Elena and Rebekah to see who could follow Caroline's instructions better. As hard as Elena tried, Rebekah always managed to win out. Caroline couldn't help but giggle at them. Poor Elena. It was all in good fun, but Caroline knew Elena always pushed herself to do her best. To know that Rebekah was a natural at yoga always steamed Elena.
They had been doing a supported headstand when Caroline checked the clock, and saw that it was time for class to be dismissed. She eased herself out of the pose, and stood up cheerfully.
"That's it for today everyone! Don't forget to keep practicing!" she smiled, watching everyone file out with their mats shortly after. Elena was still in her pose.
"Caroline…I can't get out of this," she deadpanned.
Caroline chuckled, and was about to walk over when Rebekah beat her to the punch. She helped Elena get out of her pose, while Caroline watched. The blonde offered her a hand, and Elena gratefully took it.
"Thanks Rebekah."
"Not a problem. I had a hard time with that one at first too. It gets easier."
"She's right, it just takes time," Caroline smiled, gathering up her mat.
The three girls turned their head when they saw three men walking out from inside one of the other classrooms. To their surprise, it was the studio owner with Klaus and Elijah. Elijah was talking animatedly to the owner, while Klaus walked beside him with his hands clasped behind his back. The owner was enthralled by whatever Elijah was going on about. He laughed, smiled, and seemed completely taken with the eldest Mikaelson. Caroline watched the interaction with interest.
Not long after the three had stepped out, the owner shook Elijah's hand, and waved to Klaus, before greeting the three girls shortly and walking outside. Caroline raised an eyebrow at the two boys. Elijah simply smiled.
"Elena, Becca, would you care to join me for a cup of coffee? I need someone to explain this 'Words with Friends' game that the owner mentioned to me," he said. Elijah patted Caroline on the shoulder as he passed by her, a smile still on his face. And then he walked outside. Elena and Rebekah looked at each other, and then Caroline, before grabbing their stuff and following Elijah.
Nope. Nothing suspicious was going on at all.
Caroline turned to Klaus, who was wearing this sheepish grin.
"What's going on?"
"Just a little business, sweetheart."
"What kind of business?" she asked skeptically, walking toward Klaus to put her arms around his waist.
"The kind that discuss a job. A job that comes with a paycheck."
"What?" she asked in disbelief. Wait…what?
"I can't take donations from Rebekah all the time. I have a reason to start earning my keep," he said, stroking her cheek affectionately with his thumb. Was she hearing him correctly?
"You mean…you got a job?"
"Elijah and I got a job. We'll be teaching self-defense classes together. He does the explaining, and I do the demonstrating."
"Klaus! This is wonderful!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. What better place to teach self-defense than in the city that never sleeps? And who better to teach it's citizens than the two toughest men she knew? It was perfect.
"It's not going to pay a lot, but at least I'll be completely separated from mother and Mikael. And I think others would benefit from what only I can offer," he said sincerely. She smiled, burrowing into the crook of his neck.
"Who cares if it doesn't pay a lot? This is terrific, Klaus. Really. I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, love," he said softly, rubbing small circles on her back as he held her close to him. Caroline could understand why Elijah had to work with him. Klaus had been doing better at talking, but he was far from ready to take on the world. He was only just now opening up to the group. If he wasn't on a job, like he had been back at the facility, his quiet nature came back. Now that he didn't have any more missions, Klaus was slowly trying to acclimate to his surroundings.
"We should celebrate!"
"Caroline…" he warned her playfully. She started dragging him to the door.
"Fine, we'll wait on celebrating."
"There's something else I want to talk to you about."
"What's that?"
"Would you mind taking lessons from me? I need to practice my demonstrating after all. And it would make me feel better knowing you could protect yourself."
Caroline smiled, nodding her head without hesitation. "Yes! I mean…not that I need the lessons, of course," she giggled. He laughed.
"Oh of course not. You just let me put you against the wall instead of fighting back," he said sarcastically. She hit him on the chest.
"Maybe I just like it."
"I'm sure that's the reason you don't pin me as well," he smiled smugly. She rolled her eyes.
"Come on, let's go see the others. You can teach me later." He acquiesced, smirking as he ran to her, and scooped her up in his arms. She giggled, putting her arms around his neck and letting him carry her out the door.
Klaus didn't put her down until they were in the café, and walking over to the couches where Elena, Rebekah, Matt, and Elijah sat. Guess Matt had finished his shift at the bookstore. Caroline plopped down beside Elijah, Klaus sitting down beside her. Elijah was concentrating on his phone.
"That's not a word," he said, sounding appalled. Elena giggled.
"It is on here."
"Who in the world ever uses that in their vocabulary though? It's two letters and yet you've just gotten forty points."
"That's how you play it."
"Well, this is ridiculous. Scrabble is a lot more sensible than this," he said, putting his phone away and shaking his head. Rebekah chuckled at that.
"That's just the only game you can win, brother," she teased.
"I disagree. I was also excellent at Clue," he said with pride, "But these new games are simply rubbish. They don't make a lick of sense."
"You just have to get the hang of them," Elena comforted.
"Whatever happened to the classics?" Elijah sighed.
Caroline was about to comment when the little bell rang over the door, indicating a new customer. It was Damon, and he didn't look happy at all. He stormed over, grabbing a chair and turning it so that he could lean on it's back. He buried his face in his arms. Elena sat up and put a hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" she asked with concern.
"My job," he replied, his answer muffled by his arms.
"Damon…what exactly is your job?" Caroline asked. All this time they spent together and she still didn't know.
"I work on Wall Street. I thought you knew that," he said, lifting his head up and giving her a perplexed look.
"Ah," she breathed. The money, the suits…it all made sense now.
"What happened at work? Did you get fired?" Elena persisted.
"No. That would be too easy."
"Would you stop beating around the bush and just tell us what happened?" Rebekah said with obvious impatience. Damon scowled at her.
"Shut it, princess. I got an assistant, okay? That's what happened. They forced me to get an assistant."
"How awful that you got someone to do whatever you want. Not a leggy enough blonde for you?" Rebekah commented sarcastically.
"Unfortunately, no. And I prefer brunettes." Elena gave him a disgusted look.
"Right here!" she said, hitting him on the arm.
"I'm not apologizing for that!" he retorted.
"Damon, focus. What. Happened?" Caroline asked, trying to keep him on track.
"The company hired some guy to be my assistant. He has to shadow me until he gets the hang of how things work."
"That doesn't seem so bad. Just spend a day with him, and come home. Teach your young padawan how the stocks work, Yoda," Caroline teased. Damon glared at her.
"If only that were possible. However, he's taken the 'shadowing' just a little too literally."
"What do you mean?" Elena pushed.
"I mean he followed me! And I can't get rid of the little parasite!"
As if on cue, the little bell to the café rang again, and a man around Caroline's age strutted in. He had short, light brown hair, and a smug smile that could compete with Klaus' own. In fact, the man seemed to get a rise out of all three Mikaelson siblings as he walked in and grabbed a chair, copying Damon's movements.
"You can't lose me that easily, partner," he said cheerfully.
"Kol?" Elijah, Klaus, and Rebekah all said unison. Kol waved happily to them, as if nothing was out of place.
"Well hello! It's been a long time, hasn't it? How have you been? Hell, I thought you were dead Elijah! We got fucking zombies on our hands now?"
"Kol, why aren't you with Abigail in England?" Elijah asked calmly. Kol seemed to become a little saddened at the mention of this Abigail.
"Mum passed away a couple days ago. So dad shipped me here, and offered me a room. Found the job with my buddy here all by myself. Lovely place New York is. The number of beautiful women I've seen without a man on their arm though is almost criminal. Speaking of which, who are these attractive ladies with you?" he asked, eyeing Caroline and Elena with equal interest. Caroline felt Klaus' arm go around her shoulders. Damon grabbed Kol by the collar.
"They're off limits," Damon threatened. Kol shrugged, unfazed by his words.
"Alright, no need to get all pissy over it," he said nonchalantly.
"How do you know him?" Caroline whispered to Klaus. He leaned in toward her ear.
"Step-brother. Abigail was Mikael's wife before he met my mother. I don't enjoy his company."
"He's a little obnoxious, but he seems harmless."
"Just wait…you'll learn better soon enough," Klaus said ominously. Well that was comforting.
"So what are we doing? Is this what you do after work? Do all the girls come here?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Damon looked at him for a couple of minutes, then promptly buried his face back in his arms. Kol shrugged and looked around like a child in a candy store.
"No matter. Now tell me," he began, turning toward Elena with a very serious expression, "how did Damon manage to snag a catch like you? Personally he seems like a perfect grump to me. You'd do much better with someone more fun and carefree," he remarked suggestively, giving her a wink. She furrowed her brows.
"How did you get to be Damon's assistant exactly?" Elena wondered. Kol popped his collar.
"Well…I happen to be a computer genius. I can get into anything and everything. Including those files on Damon's computers that have naked pictures of you, dear."
"What!" Elena said, blushing. Caroline's eyes widened, alternating her gaze between Kol and Elena.
"Ha!" he said excitedly, wagging his finger at Elena, "I knew there was a little minx in you! I've never been through Damon's files! Yet…anyway. I have incentive to do a little snooping now."
Kol was suddenly falling to the ground, as Damon's arm remained extended in the direction Kol had been sitting.
"If I find any trace that you've hacked my computer, I will report, and fire you. Pervert."
"Ah you can't hurt me, boss," Kol said, jumping back into his seat as if he hadn't just fallen on his ass. Caroline buried her head into Klaus' shoulder, not sure if she wanted to sigh in exasperation, or bust out laughing.
The bell over the door rang again, and Caroline looked back up. What next, circus animals? Then again, Kol kind of had that covered.
Two girls walked in, their heels clicking in sync as they glided to a table near the window. One woman might have looked like Elena, had her long hair not been in loose curls that cascaded down her back. And she would have resembled Elena more had she not looked like she could kill someone by only staring. She carried herself with a deadly grace that Caroline envied a little. Why couldn't she look that badass walking into a run down coffee shop?
The girl's friend was around the same height as she was, but her skin was a soft brown, and her hair was as black as the night. Her long hair was also in loose curls, hanging carelessly off of one shoulder. She didn't seem as intimidating as the other girl was, but still fierce in her own way.
Caroline concluded that she didn't want to mess with either one.
They were both dressed rather seductively. Not attire Caroline would have chosen for a coffee shop run, but maybe they were going somewhere after. The Elena look-a-like wore a short dress that accentuated her long legs when she crossed them. The other wore a dress that displayed her curves in an alluring manner. Caroline almost couldn't stop looking. She wanted to pull off dresses like that.
Caroline was pretty sure the drooling Kol just wanted them. Period.
"Excuse me," he said quietly, getting up from his chair and walking over to them with an overly confident stride. Caroline was close enough that she could hear their conversation when Kol sat down with them.
"Did it hurt?" Kol asked, placing his chin in his hand.
"Go away," the brown haired beauty said curtly, never meeting Kol's eyes.
"But you didn't let me finish," he said, feigning hurt.
"Don't. Care," she responded.
"May I at least have your names? Please…please let me have your names," he said, laying the charm on thick.
"Will you go away then?" the brunette asked in exasperation.
"I'd do anything you'd two ask of me," Kol said suggestively.
"Katherine. This is my roommate, Bonnie. Now leave."
"Katherine and Bonnie. What beautiful names. Tell me-"
Kol once again found himself on the floor. This time, it was because of Bonnie's forceful shove. Katherine smiled with amusement as she continued scrolling through her phone. Kol only looked up in awe.
"I like a woman with spunk. I will never forget you, Bonnie. You may have forced me to my ass…but it was my heart you wounded," he said, making his words sound like a Shakespearean recital. Bonnie only rolled her eyes.
"Go before I'm forced to chip a nail," she spat.
Kol growled at her like a tiger, winking before he came to sit down next to Damon. Elena slapped him across the shoulder before getting up.
"I'm going to make sure you didn't run my customers off," she sighed, walking over to the table Kol had just left.
"I was only making friendly conversation," he said, not seeming to understand what he had done wrong. "That Bonnie…she has stolen my heart. I will make it my week's goal to woo her."
"And should your mission fail?" Caroline asked. Kol raised an amused eyebrow.
"That's cute. You think I'll fail," he scoffed, waving a hand as if his goal were nothing. Caroline was sure it would be more of a challenge than he was anticipating. She turned to Elijah, but whatever she had been about to ask left her when she followed his gaze.
He was staring fondly at Katherine.
"Oh Elijah…you can do so much better," she whispered.
"Now Caroline…I would have thought you'd be the last to judge a person by their looks alone," he whispered back.
"But…I…" Caroline stuttered, and then huffed. Well, he had a point.
When Elijah continued admiring her from afar, Caroline leaned in closer to him.
"I heard her say that her name is Katherine."
"Katherine? Hmm. She is certainly a vision to behold."
"Go talk to her," Caroline encouraged. Elijah shook his head.
"Now is not the time. They are busy, and my dear brother Kol has already prepared them for the worst. They won't be very open to more introductions." Caroline gave him a sympathetic look, patting his shoulder. She leaned back so that she was against Klaus' chest, and she felt his hand come around to hold hers.
Yet another ring came from the bell, and Caroline wondered why so many people were interested in coming to the coffee shop. It must have been a big night for going out or something.
Caroline hadn't expected to see two sharply dressed soldiers walk inside.
Everyone in their group turned to Elijah and Klaus then as the soldiers marched over. Their expressions never changed as they approached the couches. Klaus went tense underneath Caroline, and Elijah immediately stood up.
"If the pictures I've seen are recent, you would be Elijah Mikaelson?" one deep voiced soldier asked. Elijah nodded.
"That is I."
"I'm General Hughes, and this is Lieutenant General Wilson. It is an honor to meet you son," the man said, his voice instantly taking on a much friendlier quality. Elijah nodded once, acknowledging the compliment.
"I'm afraid I can't return the honor. My brother and I have not had the best experience with the marines, sir. We're a bit wary nowadays."
"I'm aware," the man said sympathetically. "We're actually here to see your brother for that very reason."
Klaus' hand tightened around Caroline's, and she knew he was scared. How could he not be? Thankfully, besides all the people Caroline had seen walk in, there weren't any other patrons. Good. In this case, the less people, the better.
"Son," the man started, turning to Klaus, "is there anywhere we can talk in private?"
"No," Klaus said, not as pleasantly as the other man had asked.
"We wish to speak to you about a subject that relates to Walker, and I'm afraid this is a matter of utmost importance. May we please talk?"
Elijah quickly surveyed the coffee shop, and nodded toward the back. "There is an empty booth back there. I don't wish for Niklaus to leave my sight."
"Understandable," Hughes agreed, turning back to Klaus, waiting for his answer. He considered for a couple minutes, before answering.
"She comes with me," Klaus replied unexpectedly, referring to Caroline. She whipped back to face him, and he was serious. Hughes hesitated.
"These matters are rather private-"
"She knows everything there is to know about me. If you want to speak with me, then she comes along. I think I've been through enough to be allowed that request," he said seriously. Hughes considered this, and eventually nodded.
"If you'll follow me then?" he asked, marching to the booth Elijah had indicated. Caroline got up reluctantly, allowing Klaus to take her hand and lead her to where the two men sat.
Why did she have this gut-wrenching feeling in her stomach suddenly?
A/N: Tiny cliffhanger, but it's the last one I get to give you guys for this fic! I already have the last chapter written, so it won't take long to get out.
The next chapter will be the set up for the sequel my dears. What could possibly be in store? =]
Until next time!
