A/n: Edited on 2/25/2015.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 29: Over and Over

Chicago

Past – Summer of 1922

There were times that Caroline could never truly understand the logic behind her own actions. Every time she tried, it would only leave a nasty headache behind. She blamed her stubbornness for having a difficult time accepting that sometimes people do things without thinking. It was instinctual, and sometimes even the most intellectual ones can't explain the unknown. Curiosity be damned.

Heh, as if that was easy.

Caroline couldn't help the ironic smile pulling on the corners of her mouth. Peering into the vanity mirror, she finally took herself in after these crazy days of landing in Chicago of all places.

Caroline never thought that one such as herself could be changed by just a single event. One little ripple began and contributed to the gigantic waves of change hurling for her, and it drug Caroline under the water. The tsunami of everything continued to keep targeting her, and she already proved to have a hard time keeping herself afloat. However, she wasn't one to easily give in to the circumstances around her. The Gate Keepers, God, or whatever fate was waiting for her, Caroline was ready to stand her ground.

It's funny how she never remembered being this brave and defiant. Yes, she would always defend her friends to her last breath, but never has there been a time where that part of her would be continuously drawn from her, bringing it out in the open. It felt so foreign and overwhelming in the beginning. From protecting Klaus to defying him, fighting her own demons, and seeing more of what she never would become from him, it was mind-boggling. Wrapping her brain around it was easier said than done.

Yet in the midst of all that happened, Caroline had grown accustomed to this dormant side of her that came forth. It became part of her armor, and she was beginning to love it. It was a part of her now like a major organ. Everything was coming together. Her confidence grew as did everything else. Everything about her was blossoming right in front of her, and she couldn't help the rush of pride lighting her eyes. She even allowed herself a hint of vain arrogance in those blue-green orbs staring back at her. If Klaus had his way, he would say how proud he was to say how his influence rubbed off of her.

She wouldn't let him have all the victories.

All she could say that it was about time.

She took the silver brush from the vanity and resumed in trying to untangle her blonde curls. Her hair had grown longer than she preferred, and she knew it'd been a while since they had a proper trim. Caroline eyed the split ends in her hair, scrutinizing them with narrowed eyes. Yeah, she definitely needed a haircut.

"You know, we may be immortal but we can't kill anyone by glaring at things to death." The familiar lilt of a female British voice spoke catching Caroline's attention.

Caroline turned her head with mild surprise in her face, but that changed into annoyance as she glared at the intruder. "It's still rude to come into someone's room unannounced even if they're immortal or not."

Rebekah paid no mind to Caroline's retort. Caroline maybe a hybrid or what not, but both knew who was the one that lived for a millennium. It's going to take more than words to scare her off. She had to admit, Caroline kept things interesting despite being a blonde pain in Rebekah's backside. The little blonde distraction. How quaint...

"That really doesn't apply to me, Goldilocks. I've lived in this house long enough to appropriately show my ownership and everything that's in it. Even the guestsare subject to that so I can dig into my pockets for my manners when I choose to do so." The blonde Original sauntered over in a leisurely manner in her midnight blue silk robe, flowing behind her like a dark waterfall. She stepped into Caroline's reflection in the mirror, her eyes studying the hybrid in front of her.

"So, this is the little blonde distraction that has my brother wrapped." Rebekah mused aloud, fingering the blonde strands of Caroline's hair.

Caroline's body stiffened with the intrusion into her space. It really didn't help that all the Original family have this unsettling fetish to touch everything they see, especially when the object of their attention didn't appreciate it so.

"Can this little blonde distraction have peace and quiet without every Mikaelson talking to her every five minutes?" Caroline muttered in an annoyed tone, flipping her hair away from Rebekah's grasp. As much as she understood Klaus' reasons of keeping her in his sights, the constant hovering over the past two days has driven her nuts.

"Sorry, love, but privacy is a luxury that's already too expensive to afford. Living in this family long enough, you learn that when your siblings have ten times better hearing than of a regular vampire, solitude and privacy are merely delusions. Might as well get used to it now without trouble. It'll make things easier on both of us."

"Then I will make things easier and make my leave."

Ironically, Rebekah was the one who intruded into her room without permission. Caroline didn't care either way. She only cared about just having five minutes alone without all the Mikaelsons occupying her time for all eternity. Too bad her tolerance for them was thinner than usual.

However, Rebekah had other plans. Caroline's effort to escape was plundered with Rebekah's iron grip on her shoulders. Holding her still, Rebekah used her strength to keep her in her seat before any escape can be made. She felt Caroline's resistance under her fingertips, and she frowned at the hybrid with skepticism. Fearless and brave and beautiful. Those were her brother's words to describe Caroline Forbes. Ha, Rebekah didn't meet Niklaus eye to eye in this aspect. She saw something very different.

She only saw a blonde brat playing a dangerous game with the big boys (and girl when it included Rebekah.) A yappy puppy who wouldn't stop barking until she got her way. Caroline's little tantrum as Rebekah deemed fit only brushed against her annoyance by a fraction.

Caroline kept trying to worm her way out of Rebekah's grip, furthering the blonde Original's annoyance. "Will you keep bloody still already?" she exasperated.

"How about you stop pawing me with your man hands?" Caroline snapped back in return.

"On the contrary, my hands are very far from it." Rebekah said as she caught the blonde hybrid in an iron grip with her arm around her shoulders and neck. "As you can tell, my hands and nails are flawless and quite well taken care of. Compared to mine, the state of your hands are nails are atrocious. Where you've been lurking is a matter of question."

Caroline rolled her eyes and gave the Original a pointed look. "Well, at least while you were manicuring your nails and counting off your compelled boyfriends, I was actually arriving fashionably late into this time period with someone actually glad to see me."

"Oh, and arriving as a giant wet furball at my feet is such a fashion statement. Trust me, darling, the wet dog smell isn't your best perfume choice. It's quite revolting." Especially to Rebekah since she had to carry the mutt into their residence. It took her quite a while to wash off the lingering smell from her body, and her clothes were no good smelling like a dirty werewolf. She had those rags burned and got a new outfit.

"With all the insults and greetings exchanged, can you just tell me your reason being here and leave promptly?"

"Awe, you're actually trying to be serious." Rebekah's mocking tone made Caroline bristle, but she was better than that. Insults aren't going to make Caroline Forbes crumble.

"I am serious."

"Yes, we all heard you." Rebekah replied monotonously before she forced Caroline to meet her light blue eyes. Rebekah's pupils dilated, and her words rang in Caroline's head as they began their work. "Now, sit still and try to look pretty in the mirror like you always try to do every day."

It was official. Caroline HATED compulsion.

Although Caroline's body remained stilled, her mind was buzzing and scheming with ways she could end Rebekah now. Too bad the compulsion had her barred to the chair. Maybe if there was a dagger nearby...her thoughts stopped. Her cheeks turning red, she shook her head of those thoughts. God, she'd been around Klaus for too long. He's way too much of an influence. And she thought she'd been doing a better job in not becoming more like him.

Rebekah had finally let her go from her death-grip, and Caroline could manage to breathe again without the Original hovering over her. Unable to resist the compulsion's demands, she kept staring at herself in the mirror, just like the days she did back in her old life. It was so easy back then. All she worried about were cheerleading, making perfect grades, organizing the next party, her friends, and boys. So naïve to think that juggling all that seemed like such a challenge. In all honesty, it was nothing. Piece of cake. Everything was picture perfect. Perfection. Caroline could handle anything. That was who she was, and it never stopped.

The bigger tests showed up later on and proved to be more than she realized.

Sighing, she decided that upsetting another Original vampire wasn't worth her health being in jeopardy. After all, it was thanks to Rebekah that Caroline's life was intact. And what luck did she have by actually being found by the Original family? She could have been found by some stranger and be sent to the pound or worse. Caroline cringed at the thought of owing Rebekah, and she hated it.

Might as well get it over now.

"Thank you." Caroline said quietly.

"What did you say?" Rebekah asked. "I didn't quite catch that."

For the love of God!

"Thank you for saving my life." Caroline clarified for the selectively deaf psychopathic blonde.

"Okay, now I could hear it." Rebekah grinned, her hands raking through Caroline's hair before she gave a good yank.

"OW! Bitch!"

"That's the Caroline I know. Now, be still as I go through this tangled rat's nests. Don't complain at me either. I am doing you a favor."

"You're not doing me any favors by pulling my hair out with your ridiculous vampire strength. I'm not that indestructible!"

"Will you quit complaining? I only pulled your head back so you can keep your head straight."

"A simple explanation would have sufficed."

"You don't obey, anyway, so I had to take other measures."

An inhuman growl escaped from Caroline's throat before she could stop it. This was getting out of hand. Damn this stupid compulsion. Original vampires have all the great toys while Caroline was stuck with the used stuff compared to them. "How about both of us do our selves a favor, and we can do this in silence on the promise that you will leave once you're done? There's only so much Original I can handle in one day."

"Fine. I'll have to agree with you. And to think, I was actually going to have to force myself to enjoy this 'girl bonding' time." Rebekah said nothing else after that, which Caroline was grateful for at least. Her yearning for silence was sated, and she could finally breathe again. It was surprisingly easy to relax with Rebekah's hands actually being gentle with her and not manhandling her.

With the compulsion still in effect, Caroline watched in the mirror as Rebekah began her work with the hybrid's hair as her test subject. It was a rather bleak way of describing it, but Caroline caring about it was long forgotten. At least she was getting free service.

Caroline's eyelids dropped close as she secretly relished of the gentle pull of the brush untangling the knots and tangles. She had to hold back the urge not to moan at the wonders of Rebekah's treatment to her hair. The female hybrid wasn't going to let the Original have the satisfaction. No way. Caroline was too stubborn to let that happen, and it would just give Rebekah more ammunition to rub in her face. She had enough getting that now.

As Caroline enjoyed the silence, lingering questions came up to the surface in her mind. Did any of the Mikaelsons figure out about how she was always thrown into their path? Do any of them know about the craziness following her everywhere she went?

The last question was enough to make Caroline have a hard time in trying not to shudder.

How would they react, especially after what she told Klaus?

Two days ago...

"You're in Chicago, love. Eleven years have passed since your departure from me. It is 1922." Klaus answered casually.

Caroline ceased all actions with Klaus' words ringing in her head.

Eleven.

Eleven.

Eleven.

Caroline fell silent. She was frozen like a statue with her mouth hanging open and her limbs stuck in their previous position before Klaus spoke. The look of confusion fogged her eyes, her brain failing to wrap around everything.

"Love?" Klaus called out. "Are you alright?"

Wrong question to ask.

"WHAT?!" The hybrid shrieked in a high pitched tone. "You're asking me that question after what YOU just told me?!"

Caroline's extremely loud shout made it directly into Klaus' eardrum, making him react in pain with his vampire hearing becoming the bane of his existence. He staggered back from Caroline, almost falling to the floor, holding his ear in pain as he tried to regain his balance from the sudden blow. He peered back at Caroline in astonishment, but it changed to mild annoyance. Caroline was always known from the beginning to be loud, but for her to make Klaus of all people to jump from a woman's scream? This wasn't going to do well for his reputation as the most feared creature on Earth.

Being almost killed by a woman's scream is pushing logic a bit too far.

"I answered your question in all honesty, Caroline. I see no need in holding back the truth between us. You've seen how lies and deception can tangle us in the web we weave." Klaus explained with his eyes surprisingly clear.

But Klaus' explanation was ignored.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Caroline snapped again. Away from Klaus' arms, Caroline paced back and forth on the wooden floor, her mouth practically rambling a hundred miles a minute with her thoughts running at ten times the speed. "I was really looking forward to going home. I really was, and I don't know how I didn't make that clear enough to everyone who's been hearing. I did what I was supposed to do. I get the whole thing about this 'holy task' that was left up to me. Yeah, I thought it was crazy, but I can handle crazy. I am as crazy as they come, but really?! After all I did, after all I went through, I still don't get to go home! I'mstill stuck being a puppet for people I can't even see or talk to?! Haven't I died enough for everyone? It's not exactly the greatest thing to experience when you have to die in order for some crazy pixie dust. Someone just do me a favor and kill me and be done with it!"

Caroline stopped pacing, trying to regain her breath from the ranting of a lifetime. Her heavy breathing composed of frustration, confusion, and aggravation. She had enough of being controlled by people she couldn't even see.

Hearing a quiet chuckle from Klaus, she bristled. "What is so funny to you? None of this is funny."

Shaking his head at her, Klaus only smirked at her. "I'm not laughing about the matter, love. Call it a case of déjà vu, but I remember a few times when you've...well..." Klaus paused to find the right word. "...exploded."

"I don't explode." Caroline corrected him. "There's a difference between exploding and ranting."

"Whatever helps you, sweetheart."

"How can you be so nonchalant about this?" Caroline asked in confusion. Her mind still spun in circles from the huge rollercoaster ride this day had been. She wondered if every day with Klaus would be like this. Always on the edge of craziness and the unknown. And why was there a part of her that didn't mind it?

Not hearing an answer, Caroline's shoulders deflated from their tense posture, and she turned away from his gaze. With her back towards him, she focused on the mess in front of her. She began with picking up the broken glass from the fallen pictures that dropped from their place on the wall. Ignoring the slight hurt, Caroline threw herself in cleaning the mess that she and Klaus caused. It was the least thing she could do after all the trouble they caused from what happened.

"Love, what on Earth are you doing?"

So he does speak. Shocker.

Caroline carefully picked up the pieces of glass and placed them into a special pile for trash. The pictures from the wall were set down in a separate pile. At least she managed to get that part of the mess cleaned. Now, onto the coffin of a bed she'd been sleeping in for the past...hell she didn't even know. It felt like a week. Way too long.

"Someone's got to clean up the mess. Might as well make myself useful." She answered him curtly as she began the process of taking the sheets off. However, the warm grip around Caroline's wrist showed her Klaus had other plans. Shooting him a sour look, Caroline tore her wrist away from his grip, and went back to work. "Klaus, I'm busy."

"I beg to differ." Klaus whispered quietly in her ear, his warm breath tickling the skin of her neck. His calloused hands trailed down her hips, settling there, and snaking around her body. Caroline strained to suppress the pleasure of his touch igniting through her. No, she couldn't give in. He'll win, and she will regret it. Dammit, what was he up to now?

"Klaus, stop." She tried to keep her voice firm, but that proved difficult.

His lips were pressed against the nape of her neck, leaving a warm spot just like always. Why did he always do this to her? How did he even manage to get to that spot without her knowing? "Never."

"Are you always going to do this to try to avoid my questions?" Caroline questioned him as her body tried to stay rigid, but Klaus always managed to unglue her every time.

"Is it working?" He smirked against her skin.

"Almost." That was the only answer she could give him. "Why are you so calm about this?"

The physical contact from Klaus halted, and Caroline couldn't help but wonder. Her back was still against his chest, but his hold around her slackened. Before doubt began to seep in, his fingers peeled their way into Caroline's hands, waiting for Caroline's permission. Caroline gave him permission and their hands weaved together, eradicating any doubt that her old demons would conjure. She closed her eyes in relief and released the breath she'd been holding in. Klaus craned his head over her shoulder and settled there. "Because it would not make sense for both of us to be emotionally destructive. One of us has to have to bring the other person back to shore. Although it may be rare, I volunteered for the job."

But that didn't help Caroline at all. Klaus taking up the role as an anchor for her didn't make sense. Maybe it did looking at it the other way around, but Klaus was always reacted more than she did. It only took a match to light up Klaus' fuse. She would admit that both of them were emotionally destructive, but he outcompeted her in that category. There should more yelling and things being broken after him practically figuring everything out.

Then it hit her.

Did he know?

"Klaus," Caroline began, "you said something about not holding back the truth. You hold your word to that, right?"

He nodded against her shoulder. "I am a man of my word, love."

Caroline sighed as she mustered up the courage to speak. She turned around and looked up into Klaus' eyes. Those stormy grayish-blues always held her there. They always attracted her. Klaus always had that effect over her. This allure to the darkness that always made her wonder of what could be lingering if she searched long enough. Even Caroline couldn't deny that she was drawn to it.

It scared her, but at the same time it didn't. As time passed, she found herself slowly accustomed to this. The darkness wasn't always full of monsters and demons like she had grown to believe. She could thrive in it. It was a part of her as much as the light was.

However, she could only do one thing at a time.

"You may want to sit down for this one. This is going to sound crazier than you think."

Klaus arched an eyebrow and gave her a doubtful chuckle. "Caroline, I have lived more years than you can count. I have had my fair share of madness in my time. I'm sure of what you're going to tell me now is not going to surprise me."

All Caroline could do was roll her eyes.

Klaus asked for it.

Caroline blinked several times before she was able to bring her mind back to reality. She looked back up to the mirror, seeing Rebekah trimming her hair with a silver pair of scissors. "Almost there," she heard Rebekah say. "...and voila! The rat's nest is officially obliterated!"

"That was fast." Caroline couldn't help, but comment.

Rebekah held a knowing smirk. "All the perks of an Original vampire, love. No need to be jealous."

"Why should I be jealous over you? I'm fine just being me." The female hybrid ran her hand through her hair, astonished at how much lighter and weightless it felt. Her eyes followed to the tips of her blonde hair, and she noticed the shorter length, which secretly pleased her inside. As shocking as it sounded, Rebekah did a good job in not butchering her hair to death. Caroline was happy with the result.

"That's great news because there can only be one of me. Nothing good comes from an imitation." Rebekah mused aloud, relieved at least she and Caroline could be on the same page. Just when she was going to finish brushing Caroline's hair one more time, Rebekah's hearing picked up steps coming to towards the front door. She recognized those heavy steps anywhere.

"Guess who's back..." Rebekah sang.

"It's a dead ringer pretty much." Caroline said. "We all know about his royal highness walking in like he owns the place."

"He does own this place, love."

"I know that. No need to point out the obvious."

Before she could respond again she heard Kol yell from the other side of the house. "Has anyone seen my clean shirt?"

'Not this again,'Rebekah thought as she rolled her eyes. Hearing Klaus' growling from downstairs really didn't help things either.

"Bekah! Will you tell our brother for the last time that it's not our responsibility to look after his wardrobe?"

"Why is always left up to me? It's not my bloody problem!" Rebekah yelled at Klaus, but not finishing before she addressed her brother. "And how am I supposed to know where your shirts are?! You're always coming home caked with blood and dead girls hanging off your arm!"

Caroline tried to stifle the small surge of laughter bubbling to the surface.

"Shut up, Caroline!" The female Original growled.

"I didn't say anything." Caroline pleaded her innocence with a manufactured smile.

"Yeah, right." Bekah grumbled under her breath.

"A little help from the family would be nice once in a while! Today is a special occasion after all, and I want to look handsome tonight."

"Kol, have you even tried looking for the damn thing?!"

"Do me and my idiotic brothers have to keep up with all the shouting?!"

"YES!"

"Oh God." Rebekah exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. Why do her brothers always have to drive her this crazy? Hearing giggling from the annoying hybrid, the Original whipped her head around, a murderous glare aimed towards the mutt. "Do you value your life or are you so reckless about it that you want to die by laughter and me tearing out your throat?"

Caroline shrugged. "Sorta, but I know that Klaus would be pissed off if you try to hurt one hair on my head. We can see how that goes if you want to."

"I've had enough of this." Caroline heard Rebekah growl. She watched with amused eyes as the female Original slammed the brush onto the vanity and stormed off towards the door.

"Nik! At least let me borrow one of your shirts, will you?!"

"And for the last time, Kol, no!"

"For the love of God, Nik!" Rebekah's yell reverberated throughout the house. "Just do it before he drives us bonkers!"

"I heard that, sister!"

"Good! Then maybe you will shut up for once."

"How about this house can have silence before I dagger both of you?!"

"There goes our brother again with the dagger threats. When will he ever learn that it goes so old?"

"Caroline, I have some family matters to attend to. I think you can handle yourself just fine, am I right?" Rebekah hoped to take care of the situation soon. This is just too ridiculous.

Caroline nodded eagerly, not having to be told twice. "Do what you gotta do. I'll be just fine right here."

"Good." Rebekah said in momentary relief. "Go about like you normally would so I can take care of the two madmen downstairs."She released Caroline from the compulsion in a hurry, and before she left, she laid a folded piece of paper on the vanity. Caroline would have to find out on her own. "By the way, you'll have to clean up the mess I made. It's unfortunate, but I just don't have the time at the moment."

Caroline didn't care at this point. If it's what she needed to do to get Rebekah out the door faster, she'd clean the damn house if it were required. "Go on right ahead."

Jumping from one situation to another, Rebekah dove in. "Klaus! Kol! You have three seconds to stop yelling or one of you is going to be my shopping slave for the next month!" Slamming the door behind her, Caroline laughed one last time before she drowned out the ruckus from downstairs.

Eyeing the pieces of her hair on the floor, Caroline sighed and rolled her eyes.'Hey, if it got her out the door,'Caroline reminded herself. The female hybrid stood up from her seat about to search for some sort of broom and dustpan around here when her eyes caught the sight of a folded piece of paper set on the vanity. Curious, she picked it up and unfolded the edges, reading the content inside.

Caroline,

As much as you drive me crazy to no end, I will be forthcoming in what I am saying to you now. Somehow in some impossible way I cannot even begin to fathom, you make my brother happy. I don't need lecture you on the agony he carried after you had died. And after almost twelve years, you come crawling back to my feet on all fours as if it were nothing. You were supposed to be dead. The dead is supposed to be dead, but look how that turned out. After you came back and had your exchange with Klaus, he told us what happened despite how maddening it sounded. I will tell you that although you may have not lied, I have a feeling you're holding something back. I am usually right about these things, but I'm not going to push it. I already have enough on my plate as it is.

There's a dress in the closet for you as a courtesy of my brother. Wear it tonight and get yourself ready. Make my time invested in you worth it.

Rebekah

Finishing reading Rebekah's note, she flashed over to the closet, opening the doors to reveal a dress set in front of her. Caroline stared at the beautiful dress in awe. She brought her hands up slowly, touching the dress gingerly as if she were touching porcelain. Her fingertips brushed against the sequins embellished in the dress and coming down to the tassels hanging from the bottom of the dress. Caroline imagined the tassels swishing to the movement of the dress while she walked. As soon as she finished the thought, she paused.

Did she really want to wear this? Was she really going through with it?

Releasing a sigh, she carefully picked up the dress from the closet, inspecting the dress all over again for a second time. It was an exquisite dress in its own right. Then again, this was of Klaus' doing. Of course, he would only buy the best for those he cared about.

It was a bold thought. Usually, Caroline would never voice that. She wouldn't have dared to because of her past, but things were different now. She'd seen in person how Klaus reacted, and that was enough as evidence.

And now, after everything, she began seeing herself reciprocating those feelings despite how crazy it sounded. No matter how hard she tried, Klaus managed to scrap more and more from her, and she would always lose the fight in the end.

She shook her head at those thoughts. "Now is not the time to brood over that. You need to look fabulous, and you're definitely not going to let Rebekah outdo you."

Using her Miss Mystic Falls skills, she threw herself back into the old routine of makeup, hair, and clothes. Caroline was going to look beautiful tonight, and no one was going to say anything different otherwise.

{Louder Than Thunder}

Hours passed since the crazy morning, and Rebekah was able to finally breathe.

Kol and Klaus had already left to deal with some business and would meet them over at Gloria's bar later that night. After finally handling that ridiculous argument over Kol's clothing dilemma, she somehow managed to convince Kol to just compel one of the tailor's in town to give him a damn shirt. She got Klaus to actually back off from using his dagger threats by cleverly using the little blonde distraction as an incentive. And no, Rebekah didn't threat to kill Caroline. She just convince Klaus the sooner he stopped the ridiculousness, the sooner he'd get to see Caroline tonight. It really didn't take much.

She was relieved to finally be able to let off some steam tonight, and she definitely deserved it. It's about time got to have some fun of her own. The mess with Caroline threw her off schedule and trying to regroup proved more difficult than she planned. Anyway, this was going to be the perfect night. Alcohol, blood, and music: best combination ever in the eyes of a vampire.

Putting her last string of pearls around her neck, Rebekah added the last final touch to her outfit for tonight. She was a vision of white and glam and she looked like a million dollars. Definitely felt the part.

She and Caroline were the only ones left in the house at the moment, it was getting close for it to be time to leave. Rebekah definitely would like to get some blood before diving into the never-ending party. Sometimes, that one snack before heading into that curbed her bloodlust and not let her mind dwell upon it all night.

Heading out of her room and into the hall, she strode over to Caroline's room, knocking on the door. "Come on, blondie! We don't have all day!"

"Beauty can't be rushed, Rebekah. Besides, I'm almost done so you can hold your horses for one second!"

"Well, you're being escorted by yours truly so that gives me some leverage. And now, I'm going to use that leverage to get you out of here so I will not turn into a raging vampire tonight because of not properly taking care of myself."

"Cool it, will you?" Caroline snapped in an annoyed tone at Rebekah's impatience.

Losing her patience, she decided to hell with waiting. "Sorry, love. That's not going to be possible. I'm coming in."

The Original vampire unlocked the door with a fraction of her strength, and the knob broke under her strength. Rebekah sighed knowing Klaus wouldn't be too happy to replace something again. Not that it made Rebekah fret, most of anything can be replaced with a bit of money behind it.

Stepping inside the room, her eyes landed on Caroline. "Tick tock, blondie! We don't have all day."

"Seriously? Are the jokes really necessary?" Caroline replied flustered. Is Rebekah really starting this now?

"Does it look like I am joshing you? Time isn't a luxury we have tonight. And frankly, I would rather just leave without you, but I don't want to deal with Nik and his short temper if he ever found out I left you alone in Chicago."

"Well, you're just in luck because I finished putting on the finishing touches." Caroline applied the last bit of lipstick, satisfied with the final results of her work. She wasn't Miss Mystic Falls for nothing. Turning to Rebekah across the room, Caroline twirled in her dress to show all around. "So, what do you think?"

Rebekah took Caroline in and couldn't deny that she had a beauty that would draw men to her like a moth to a flame. Then again, that could just be a coincidence with the irresistible allure that vampires possessed. Immortality enhances everything that is part of you and makes that shine like a fiery beacon. Rebekah had nothing to be jealous over with Caroline, but she saw why her brother was so drawn to the blonde hybrid. It was impossible to overlook her.

With an impassive mask, she answered. "You're adequate for the most part; at least to be seen in public with me."

Crossing her arms, Caroline's mouth shifted into a thin line. Well, so much for asking for Rebekah's opinion. Not letting her words deter her, Caroline grabbed her clutch from the bed, and headed into the female Original's direction.

"Well, aren't we going?" Caroline asked. "What happened to your sudden haste? As I recall you were like this, 'Come on, blondie! We don't have all day!'"

It was unfortunate that Caroline failed miserably in creating a British accent, or otherwise Rebekah would have laughed. They didn't have the time.

"Hey, I was waiting on you and you asked me for your opinion. I was just using my manners." Rebekah answered with a sly smile as she turned around and walked to exit out of the front door.

"I swear, Rebekah Mikaelson, if you pull anything, your brother isn't going to be the only one who will be severely pissed off!"

Later that night...

As soon as Caroline stepped outside, she felt the weight of the summer heat against her back. Following Rebekah, the hybrid struggled maneuvering through the crowds of people. Not only was that hard enough, but her senses were almost overwhelming her. Everything was so bright and loud. There were so many sounds around her. So much life and wonder around her that she couldn't help, but look in awe. One constant sound she kept hearing was of many human heartbeats...fluttering like a million hummingbirds everywhere she went. She was thankful that Rebekah decided to get a quick bite of blood before they made their way to the bar. Caroline didn't know how thirsty she was until Rebekah had caught the life of a young man into her web.

"Come on, love. You are part vampire, are you not?" Rebekah taunted after she compelled the handsome lad. "Just take a quick bite, it won't kill him...unless you're willing to go for the full course."

Caroline didn't say a word, but the determination and thirst in her eyes made up for it. In an alley just a few blocks away from the bar, Rebekah and Caroline let their instincts take control. One beautiful woman with red eyes while another with blackish golden satisfied their inner bloodlust by sinking their fangs into his neck. Both vampire and hybrid were enveloped in a blood-induced high that came from feeding.

When their thirst was sated, Rebekah was the first to release her fangs from his neck. She licked the last few drops of blood off his neck, cleaning off the evidence for reassurance. Rebekah looked at Caroline with concern as she still hung onto him with her fangs deep into skin.

"Caroline, enough." Rebekah pried Caroline off the man and set him free. "Go back to whatever you were doing and forget about this."

The man walked off, and Rebekah watched as she brought Caroline back to reality. Her hybrid features went back from whence it came. "Let's hurry," she said as she handed Caroline a handkerchief from her clutch. "We're almost late, and it's best we don't look like we just came from a murder scene."

Caroline blinked in confusion for a moment, but she shook her head. She wiped her face of the blood. "How far are we from the bar?"

"Not far. Just a few more blocks to go." Rebekah answered looking back to normal with the blood away from her face.

"That's good." Caroline tried to hide the goose bumps that rose from her skin at just the thought of seeing Klaus again.

Rebekah's eyebrows furrowed. "By the way, Caroline, beware of your bloodlust. It can be addicting, especially dangerous for you since we don't know much about what you are. Still, a newborn vampire is about just as dangerous as you if not controlled."

Caroline's face changed into confusion, throw off by Rebekah's concern. Should she call this concern? No, better not comment on that. "I'll be fine, I can handle it."

"You better." Rebekah said before she resumed going towards the bar.

Both of the blondes headed to Gloria's bar just in time before it got too overcrowded. Caroline's eyes widened from seeing the bright lights from above with the sign. Rebekah rolled her eyes at Caroline's astonishment. Grabbing her arm, the female Original marched into through the double doors. "Keep on standing there, and I'm sure there will be flies flying into your mouth. Wouldn't want that to happen."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Rebekah?" Caroline said in an annoyed tone, tired of being treated like a child. "I can handle myself. I don't need you to be my hybrid babysitter."

It was then she saw Rebekah's eyes darkened dangerously. "Let me tell you something, missy. I didn't volunteer for playing nanny to the dog while the family is away so before you start mouthing off to me, it may actually benefit you to be remember that I was the one who saved your life."

"Trust me, Bekah. I can't forget it, and I highly doubt you would let me forget."

"Then good, we've come to a mutual understanding. Now, let's go before I decide my tolerance level runs short."

They entered the bar before the spat between them intensified. Caroline was glad it was over because she was frankly tired of playing the same game with Rebekah. Heading inside, Caroline had just dove into a party that would have knocked out the night she planned the junior prom right out of the park.

It was utterly...indescribable.

Meanwhile...

"Tell me something, Klaus."

"What about?"

"How much does it take to make an Original vampire drunk?"

"A lot more than you think, my friend."

Klaus could hear his brother's laughter as he drank his scotch. He could never abandon the addicting taste so easily. Besides drinking blood for so long, scotch or any kind of alcohol became a part of his daily intake. The scotch sometimes curbed his ravenous thirst for bloodlust, but for the most part, the monster's craving for the natural way of doing things won in the end. Klaus would admit it is easier just being who you are and not living in a lie. He was an Original...with a bit of something mixed in; it was a gift and a curse that isolated him from others.

However, that wasn't the case anymore.

Caroline. Her name flitted around in his mind. Throughout today, Klaus never voiced his thoughts that mostly dwelled around the female hybrid; almost an equivalent of himself. Unfortunately, he was the one who found himself as the one lacking. That source of frustration reigned an ugly terror years ago when he had first met her, and he still wondered how he found himself still fascinated with her. Though he will admit, fascination wasn't the right word to fit their situation.

Pouring himself another glass, Klaus downed it in one gulp, the alcohol not helping much in pushing away these unnecessary emotions.

"You're very quiet tonight." Klaus heard him comment and made no move in denying it.

"Appears to be so, but sometimes that silence is needed despite how rare it may be." There had to be a balance between the loud noises of the world and the silence of solitude. Balancing between his family affairs, Caroline, and his own needs, Klaus was thankful for a moment of silence to himself.

"Family driving you crazy?"

Hearing that question, Klaus rolled his eyes at his friend with a knowing look. "You don't know the half of it."

The alcohol just kept coming, and that was a relief. The more, the merrier. That was always a good phrase that vampires loved to hear, and sometimes it was pure heaven. It gave relief to when you wanted to just forget the struggles of your day, even if you're craving just for a moment. It's not hard to take every moment you can get.

"Let me tell you something I've learned over the years about family." The last word was laced with sarcasm mixed with a bit of disdain. "A loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. Family is barely worth anything."

Klaus would have to disagree with him there. "But what if family is the only thing you have left? What would you do then, Stefan?"

"Come on, Klaus. Your family is jealous. Your family wants you dead because they can never be what you are."

"What? An abomination?"

Stefan leaned in close, grabbing Klaus' shoulder in a firm grip. "A king."

King. That word made his mouth twitch into a smirk as it wrapped around his brain. It ran through his head knocking everything else down like a bunch of dominoes. It was befitting, especially for the strongest creature on the planet. Looking back to Stefan, both vampires broke out with smiles and laughter following not too far behind as it lifted Klaus from his...vulnerable moment.

"Look at us," he said as he turned around in his chair, leaning back against the bar. "Two sad orphans."

Stefan chuckled at that statement as he took one more drink of his glass. He was anything, but sad. This was the best that he had felt in his life. He felt free and alive; unchained to the mediocrity of having morals. No rules. Just blood, booze, and sex. And, the party that never ends.

Klaus watched his sister near the entrance mingling among the patrons of the bar, having them flock to her like sheep. "My sister fancies you, you know."

Stefan hummed in agreement, glancing at said sister from a distance, returning her happy look with a small smirk of his own.

"But, I should warn you." Klaus whispered carefully. "Rebekah doesn't do anything half speed, and that includes falling in love so just be careful. She's totally mad."

That was the damn truth no matter which way you look at it. That brought out some laughs from both vampires. "I appreciate the advice," Stefan said aloud, although he would admit Klaus was a little over the top with telling it.

"And when the point comes when she inevitably leaves you, she can't help it. That's who she is. Don't let your heart do anything do anything stupid." He advised Stefan with a rare sincerity that never really appeared with Klaus. Despite the rough beginnings, Klaus had come to know Stefan more than a friend. That kind of loyalty that's genuine and real rarely existed.

Stefan regarded him for a silent moment before nodding. "You know, you're a good friend, Nik. I'm glad I met you." He raised his small glass of scotch in a toast.

"To friends."

Klaus met his glass with his own.

"No, to brothers."

Their glasses clinked in their toast, and both vampire and Original vampire downed the shots. They put their glasses down and let the scotch run through their system. After reeling from the alcohol, Klaus glanced at Stefan, noting the small surprise in his face.

"Who's being silent now?"

"You didn't tell me that Rebekah would bring company."

That's when Klaus saw her. She stepped within Klaus' sight, unaware of his eyes gazing right at her. Like his very breath had been stolen away, the Original could not help but drink her in. He had been deprived from her presence, and it left him starving for her and craving her more than he could fathom.

She walked through the entrance wearing the dress he had bought for her. The dress fitted her perfectly accentuating her curves for everyone to see. The dress shined with the sequins in a nice shade of pink champagne, and the tassels swished to and fro as she walked. As she looked out to see the crowd, her hands held onto the edge of the railing. His eyes followed the white gloves that covered her arms up until the edge of her elbows, leading him to see her other...assets up until he made it to her face. Her mass of blonde curls were pinned behind her, highlighting her face and making her more visible to see.

She was exquisite.

In that moment, he knew. He knew that he was done for.

I feel it every day it's all the same
It brings me down but I'm the one to blame
I've tried everything to get away
So here I go again
Chasing you down again
Why do I do this?
Over and over, over and over
I fall for you
Over and over, over and over
I try not to

- "Over and Over," by Three Days Grace