Hello, my lovely readers. It's nomination time. On with the show…

Chapter 37: Seriously!

Caroline Forbes was not worried about being nominated for two reasons. One was that she was now Elijah's sister-in-law. And two was that she was in a secret final two alliance with Elijah. She had made the deal day two of the game and felt that Elijah would not go back on his word. Unlike her husband. She knew that Klaus was a backstabber and she loved anyway. She just didn't trust him.

Slipping into the HoH room, she smiled when she spotted Elijah, lying back and reading a book. Katherine was lounging on the couch, painting her toenails a bright scarlet. The older female vampire in the room quirked an eyebrow at Caroline who forced a smile. To be honest, Caroline felt threatened by Katherine in the game because Katherine would do anything to get ahead, including using her old lovers. Unconsciously, Caroline's eye ticked in Elijah's direction and she stifled a sigh.

"Hey. Can I talk to you, alone?" Caroline asked with a roll her eyes toward Katherine and a wide smile plastered across her face.

"Yes. Of course," Elijah said, closing his book and setting it aside. "Katerina," he began when Katherine capped her bottle of polish and set it aside with a smirk.

Katherine got to her feet, her legs unfolding slowly as she directed a long look at Caroline. "Whatever you want, Elijah," she said. She stopped beside the bed to give Elijah a lingering kiss then turned to smile at Caroline who had her arms folded over her chest. "Later," she murmured.

When Katherine was gone, Caroline hopped onto the bed and smiled at Elijah. "I am so happy that you won the HoH this week. I thought that Rebekah or Kol would and who knows what they would have done to mess everything up."

Elijah seemed amused as he sat with his hands folded in his lap. He knew that Caroline was here because she wanted to know who he was putting up for nomination. "What is on your mind, Caroline?" he asked, watching Caroline's lips purse widely.

"I was wondering who you were thinking about putting up?" Caroline replied slowly.

"I haven't quite made up my mind," Elijah replied. He had some ideas of who he would like to see on the block. However, he also knew that Caroline had a tendency of opening her mouth and spilling her guts.

Caroline sucked her bottom lip before she forced a smile. "You are not going to put up my mom, are you?" she asked her brows knitting.

"No," Elijah replied with a shake of his head. "Elizabeth will be safe this week."

"Good," Caroline said, her expression becoming thoughtful. "Okay. What about Klaus?"

Elijah chuckled. "As much as I would like to place Niklaus on the block because, between him and Kol, I am afraid they are placing a larger target on this family's back."

"I know. They really need to learn to stop with the feuding. At least until it's just the family in the house. Then they can go to," Caroline replied with a light laugh. "So, that leaves. A lot of people."

"And as I said, I have not made up my mind who I will be placing on the block this week," Elijah retorted as gently as he could. He knew by now that Caroline could be persistent but he was not about to give away his game. Besides it was nice to be in his room without the other houseguests coming up and begging for their lives in the game or outside; he had enough of that outside of the Big Brother house.

Looking disappointed by their conversation, Caroline heaved a sigh before she got to her feet. "I guess I'll see you when it's time for the nominations," she said and then left the room.

Going down stairs, Caroline sat down on a couch in the living room beside Rebekah who was playing solitaire. "Hey, Bekah," she addressed the Original sister who peered at her through her lashes with a wary look.

"Caroline, what did you find out?" Rebekah asked as she flipped the Queen of Hearts over and placed it atop the king.

"Nothing. Elijah's playing it cool. I'm not sure that's a good thing," Caroline told Rebekah who nodded.

"You can't trust the men in my family. Or men in general really," Rebekah stated as she continued to flip the cards over and place them in their categories. When Caroline did not respond but only curled her legs beneath her with one of those annoying puppy looks that she must have learned from Nik, Rebekah tossed the remaining cards on the table. "Let me guess. You want me to go upstairs and try to manipulate Elijah into telling me who is going up, yes?"

Caroline smiled at Rebekah who shook her head when the younger blonde threw her arms around her neck with a cry of happiness. "Thanks, Rebekah. You're my favorite sister-in-law," she cried before getting up.

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I'm your only sister-in-law," she muttered and then got to her feet. Striding up the stairs, she was not surprised to find Elijah with his nose in a book. "Hello, Elijah. Are you busy?" Rebekah asked with her best innocent look. She could tell that Elijah was not convinced as he closed his book and folded his hands with a blank look. Never play poker with this one. Unlike Nik, he rarely showed his emotions.

"Rebekah," Elijah greeted his sister. He was absolutely sure that Caroline had sent her up here to pump him for information which he would not be giving his sister.

"Elijah, who do you plan on placing on the block tonight?" Rebekah asked and Elijah could not help but smile. Leave it to her to get to the point without wasting precious time working up her courage.

"Rebekah, you know I can not tell you that," Elijah sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, you can. You just don't want to which means that you're going to put someone up who upsets me…" Pursing her lips in a scowl, Rebekah shifted from foot to foot before her eyes widened. "It's Jeremy. You're actually going to place Jeremy on the block! Why, Elijah?! You know that he is on our side. What has he ever done to any of us?"

Rebekah's eyes were filling with tears as her eyes gleamed with outrage. Elijah knew that soon she would be in full battle mood, trying to fight for the life of her lover in this game. That was exactly what he wanted because it meant that his true target would be more likely to go home. "Sister, you must understand that this is a game and that I have very little choice about who I place on the block. Their number is few whereas ours is many and there can only be one winner. And you must understand with your previous relationship pattern that I have certain reservations…"

"That is not fair!" Rebekah wailed. "I would not do this to you and you know that I despise Katherine."

"Rebekah," Elijah began to get to his feet when Rebekah moved closer to the door.

"No, Elijah. I will remember this," Rebekah snarled, shaking her head back and forth. "I would have expected this from Nik or even from Kol. But you… I trusted you. Not anymore. You're on your own." With that Rebekah turned, flung the door open and ran down the stairs and straight past a concerned looking Caroline. She looked up to see a brief glance of a remorseful Elijah before the door closed.

Gnawing at her lower lip, Caroline got to her feet. If Rebekah was that upset that meant that Klaus or Jeremy was up for eviction this week. But which one was it? Pacing, she caught sight of Bonnie who was coming in from the backyard with Kol. "Bonnie!" Caroline called with a huge smile.

"Caroline," Bonnie called back with raised eyebrows. She knew that look on Caroline's face. There was something wrong only she was trying to hide it with pep as usual.

Kol did not seem to notice that Caroline was nervous as he swatted Bonnie with a towel which she lifted with a hand and set on fire. "Agh," Kol shouted, batting at the flaming fabric as Bonnie sat down on the couch beside Caroline. "Bloody hell," Kol muttered before he looked at his witch. "I see how it is. You two want to compare notes on my prowess versus Nik's. Well, you could have said so instead of trying to kill me, again." The Original headed off. "Nik! Bekah! Hide all you want. I will find you both because one of you smells like wet dog and the other smells like peanut butter and you can guess which of you is which!"

"How do you put up with him?" Caroline asked, watching Kol disappear toward the bedrooms just as Rebekah screamed and then there was a loud thunking sound.

"How do you put up with Klaus?" Bonnie quipped wirh a grin before she turned to serious subjects. "Okay. Tell me what's going on."

"I think that Elijah is going to put Klaus or Jeremy up for eviction and I want to know which one," Caroline replied quickly as Damon entered the room. He smirked at them.

"Blondie. Witchy," the Salvatore brother greeted them and scooped up the cards. "So, your brother-in-law is sending your husband home?" he asked Caroline, shuffling the cards. "Must suck to be you."

"Go to hell, Damon," Caroline snapped with a look of irritation.

"I think I'll go out to the backyard. It's hot enough out there, you'd think you were in hell," he retorted.

"Then why don't you take off your daylight ring and then you can really feel the heat," Caroline snarled at Damon who shrugged.

"See ya," he waggled his fingers on his way out the door.

"You know that he's going to tell everyone, right?" Bonnie asked and Caroline placed her head in her hands. Seconds later Klaus came inside and slammed the door shut, causing it to shatter. Before Caroline could utter a word, he was up the steps and entering the HoH room.

Elijah looked up to find Klaus entering his room with a look of fury. "Rumor has it that you intend on placing me on the block this week, brother. Surely you would not be that stupid," Klaus ground out between his teeth as Elijah set his book down, yet again. He would never find out if Bella chose Edward or Jacob at this rate.

"Niklaus, you must understand that it is a game and that anyone could be placed on the block any week. If I did choose to place you on the block it would only influence the other guests to believe that our bond is not as strong as it seems." Elijah tried to reason with Klaus but Klaus picked up a lamp and threw it through the shower door, shattering it. "Now, was that entirely necessary?"

"No, and neither was this," Klaus growled as he took the gift basket that Elijah's fans had made him and opened the HoH room door. "Who wants Elijah's crap?" he shouted and Damon appeared below the stairs, his arms outstretched.

"Catch," Klaus said, dropping a basket. Elijah was not pleased. Someone had been kind enough to send him Belgium chocolates which were his favorites and he had been saving them for a bad day.

"Chocolates. Hey, Bonnie you're still human and prone to weight gain," Damon commented, tossing the box at the witch who rolled her eyes and grabbed them anyway.

"It's that time of the month," Bonnie snapped grumpily as she tore the packaging off and began to eat.

Elijah was angry now. "Niklaus. Get out of my room," he demanded of his younger brother.

"As you wish, brother," Klaus replied with a smirk as he headed toward the door. Stopping on the way out, he placed his finger to his lips, tapping them before speaking. "Oh, and Bella dies in book four," he added and then walked out.

Elijah followed after Klaus. "But I only have books one through three that Caroline let me borrow," he wailed.

"That's because I have the last copy," Klaus countered with a smile as he came to rest on the couch beside Caroline. "And if you agree to keep me safe then I will give it to you."

Elijah sighed. He had not planned on placing Klaus on the block but now that he was trying to out him as a Twihard and he had the last precious book, Elijah was having his hand forced and he did not like it. "Fine. I grant you immunity," he cried before re-entering the HoH room.

For the next hour no one bothered Elijah but Katherine who had collected the keys from the memory wall for him and had stood guard outside his room, going so far as to toss Kol over the railing when he tried to go in uninvited. "Here you go, Elijah. You know, you should have some of that tea that your fans sent you. It does wonders for the nerves."

"Niklaus took my basket," Elijah wailed and Katherine's face reddened. She had never heard Elijah make that noise before and she hoped she never had to hear his grief stricken tone again. It was unnerving.

"Right. I'll leave you alone," Katherine said, flashing downstairs to allow Elijah to do what was necessary and to enjoy the aftermath.

It took Elijah a solid hour to set a chess board and to decide which player's going home would benefit his game the most. When he was done, he placed three keys in the little bag and the rest in the box. Picking it up easily, he headed out the door. "Everyone, it is time for the nomination ceremony to begin," he shouted and then he noticed that they were all sitting, waiting for him.

"Thanks for the candy," Kol called, his fingers and mouth coated in chocolate and Elijah felt like changing his nominations.

Frowning, Elijah did not bother to reply to his brother's comment. Instead, he stood at the front of the table, adjusting his tie and then looking around him. Some of the guests looked hostile, like Rebekah, who was squeezing Jeremy's hand, who was surprisingly relaxed. Klaus looked smug, Damon looked bored and everyone else seemed to not be too concerned. "Hello, everyone. This is the nomination ceremony. As you all know I had to choose three people to nominate. I hope that all of you understand that these nominations do not reflect how I feel about you outside of the house. However, this is a game and I have a duty I must perform. With that being said…" Elijah withdrew a key. "Niklaus, you are safe," he announced.

"Thank you brother," Klaus replied, taking the key and grinning widely until he removed the next key. "Damon… you're safe," he said with a roll of his eyes and spun the box toward the other vampire.

Damon took his key with a smile. "Thanks." Pulling out the next key, his smile widened. "Liz, you're safe," he announced, hugging his friend and placing the key around her neck.

Liz pulled the next key, "Katherine, you're safe," she said, her smile slipping.

Katherine smirked. "Thanks, baby," she whispered with a grin as she leaned over, showing off her cleavage.

Katherine removed the next key. "Rebekah, you're safe," she announced with a resigned sigh as she twirled the box around to the Original.

Rebekah did not bother to thank Elijah, as with tears in her eyes, she removed the next key. "Bonnie, you are safe," Rebekah said as tears streamed down her cheeks. Bonnie had to move the box toward herself because Rebekah had collapsed into her chair and Jeremy was trying to comfort her as she muttered incoherently.

"Caroline, you are safe," Bonnie announced with a smile directed at her friend who was grinning from ear to ear.

Caroline withdrew the next to last key. "Jenna, you're safe," she said breathlessly and Jenna looked slightly shocked.

"Thank, Elijah," Jenna said with a smile as she took her key and pulled out the last one. Everyone was waiting with varying looks of shock or worry. "Kol, you're safe."

"Thank you, brother," Kol said with a loud laugh. He climbed atop the table and walked across it. Dropping down in front of Elijah, he kissed his brother on both cheeks and then jumped on the table again and began to dance happily.

"Jeremy, Alaric and Matt, I have chosen to nominate the three of you. One of you has slid through his game because other players have kept you safe. One of you has yet to show that you should survive in this game. And one of you has been trying to not make waves in order to keep yourself safe. Each of you knows who you are. If I am wrong, then prove me wrong and win the veto to take yourselves off or sway the house to keep you. Your game is not over until the door shuts behind you. This meeting is adjourned."

Rebekah was still sobbing when Elijah had disappeared into the HoH room. Klaus disappeared and reappeared with a look of confusion. "Has anyone seen the last Twilight book?" he asked and Kol looked up.

"I might have seen it. Why?" Kol inquired with a grin.

"Elijah wanted it," Klaus said and then Rebekah flashed to her feet. In seconds, she appeared with a well-worn book in hand.

"Bekah, don't," Klaus uttered as his sister sped out to the backyard. The house followed the angry blonde who had lit a match and set it to a corner of the book. With a wrathful smile, she tossed it over the wall and Kol let out a whoop of pleasure. He couldn't help it. He loved it when things got thrown over the wall. He had thrown Damon over it just the other day. Unfortunately, the younger vampire had been brought back in. On the bright side, Kol had made a game of throwing houseguests over the wall. Picking up Caroline, Kol tossed her after the flaming Twilight book. "Maybe she can find the last page for Elijah," he said just as Klaus grabbed him by the shirt collar and tossed him over the wall.

"Good riddance to the rubbish in the house," Rebekah had said before she stomped back inside, brushing away her tears. Now if only we could toss Elijah over and barricade the doors."

If you have time leave reviews on who you would like to see win the veto, who, if anyone, they should use it on and who should be sent to the Big Jury House by Thursday, August 20, 2015.

Thank you for reading, faving, following and for reviewing.

Answers to reviews:

vonpringle: Thank you. I wanted to have a really fun chapter where some of the guests cut their losses and were just really, really crazy.

Polkadot-Tigers: Thank you. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story. And thank you for voting.

Rune Saint: I do, too. It would be so cool to see Kol. I know there were mentions of Nate coming back to be in what's being termed "flashback heavy" episodes but I have no idea what that means or if it's just a tease to draw viewers. :/

ObsessWithElijah: Thank you. I think I should have named that chapter #Chaos but I wasn't feeling well when I posted it so I didn't notice that I hadn't bothered. :/

Peace,

Jessica