SKULLS

by Lovely Vero

Vampiro and El Diablo, aka: Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson, heads of the bikers SKULLS are fighting Gabriel Desperaldo, aka: El escorpión - head of the Spanish mafia - and his human trafficking in their city of Los Alamos in New Mexico. Never in a million years, did they imagine that the love of two captured women would change their life forever.

7. We will rock you - part 1

SKULLS

From: Lovely Vero

Fan Fiction – Alternate Universe TVD & the Originals

Main pairings:
Caroline Forbes & Klaus Mikaelson
Katherine Pierce & Elijah Mikaelson

Also starring:
Bonnie Bennett and Kol Mikaelson
Stephan Salvatore and Rebekah Mikaelson

---

CHAPTER 7

"We will rock you"

~ Part 1 ~

---

Los Alamos – Skulls' bar – before sundown …

Big Joe stopped the engine of the BMW (which, obviously belonged to the big boss), before pushing the car keys inside the front pocket of his jeans; only to rush outside to open the back passenger door.

"My ladies, after you." The henchman made a comical reverence with his left hand.

"Wow, you drove us in a real car; count me impressed! I thought for a second that you were going to push the both of us inside a beer van or make us ride one of your motorcycles." Caroline pointed out while stepping outside the car; her sight brushing the exterior view of the valley where he had driven both her and Katherine.

"I'll let you in on a little secret, Blondie: you two were my first passengers considering I got my driving licence last week." Joe responded, winking.

"He's joking, right?" Caroline asked her friend, losing the pinkness of her cheeks; while pointing a finger at the chubby man.

"Of course he's joking, Caroline. Look at his doofus face, he's trying his best not to laugh his ass off at you!" Katherine responded to her friend, after getting out of the car herself.

"Sweetheart, listen," He started answering the blonde bombshell while closing the passenger door. "I drove my first car when I was thirteen years old. I had stolen the keys from my old man pocket while he was snoring on the couch, drunk as usual, after one of his poker games." Big Joe shared his story. "I drove from the small town of Roseland, population of 1 072 lost souls in the middle of nowhere, to the big New Orleans City."

"I don't know if I should be relieved or scared for my life after your story. No offense, Big Joe." Caroline replied, crossing both arms in front of her deep neckline.

"None taken, sweetheart." He replied, smiling and winking. "As for the "scared part", I think you got it cover; you can survive anything, Blondie."

"Did he just pay me a compliment?" Caroline wondered in a low whisper; while shaking her blonde curls in disbelief.

"You're growing on him." Katherine replied to her friend, grinning; before bending her upper body and tilting her head forward to ruffle her long brown curls.

"What are you doing, Katherine?" Caroline questioned her friend, arching both of her eyebrows; with her hands firmly placed on each side of her hips.

"Making myself presentable for the night, with the little I have at my disposition." The brunette responded, raising her head up; before pushing upward the cups of her bra. "I've been cooped up inside that big mansion for days now after almost dying in the hands of that Desperaldo psychopath. I intend to have some fun tonight; as well as getting myself drunk."

"Gee, like I knew nothing about that," Caroline rolled her eyes. "After all, I was almost shot to death!"

"Sorry Carebear!" Katherine presented her deepest apologies; shaking her head after her faux-pas. "I didn't think before opening my big mouth."

"It's fine." Her blonde friend responded with a shrug and a smile. "I know you were dealing with your own crazy stuff, Katherine."

"As for getting yourself drunk; love the way you think, Kit-Kat!" Big Joe teased, with a discreet chuckle.

"What is this place, Big Joe?" Caroline questioned, raising her head at the establishment; while staring at the gravel path, bordered of black lanterns pillars to welcome its visitors.

"It's the Skulls' bar." He responded, proudly; slowly walking on the gravel path leading them to a rustic wood staircase.

"I could have figure that part by myself with the big letters flashing "SKULLS' BAR" in bright red neon light." Katherine teased him, winking. "So it's like your bikers' refuge or something?"

"Nah…It's a real bar that the bosses own, with normal people coming in as the regular ground, but from time to time we close it and make it our own for a night." The henchman explained to them. "It used to be a distillery. Klaus found it one day, it was completely abandoned. And, for him it was love at first sight. He showed it to his brother and they finally decided to turn it to what it is now."

"It's beautiful and truly the perfect spot, just on top of a valley." Caroline commented, admiring the sundown and the city view.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's quite a spectacular view at night time too." Katherine agreed with a nod.

They suddenly held their steps, hearing the noisy engines of Harleys's; before lowering their sights on the outdoor parking to see the bikers arrive in a large group of the most impressive range of expensive machines known to mankind.

"Here are the boys!" Big Joe grinned at the loud noise of engines, announcing the bright and luminous arrival of his group of men.

"How many of you are part of this bikers organization?" Caroline questioned, amazed by the large group gathering in the parking.

"Mm…Roughly? I would say a few hundreds." Big Joe replied. "But they won't be all here tonight. Some are dispatched at the mansion for security purposes, others in Mexico, a few in closed by cities."

"That many, really? Damn, it's like an army." Katherine commented, in shock.

"In many ways, it is." The chubby man responded, smiling.

Two last powerful Harley-Davidson entered the parking lots, in synchronized speed; their escape pipes blowing yellow flames in a mile of distance. It would have been obvious to a blind that those two powerful ones belonged to both heads of the Skulls.

"Well for a city girl who knows nothing about bikers, it's quite impressive to see them gather this way." Caroline evasively commented, biting her bottom lip while watching her protector - Vampiro get off his bike. "But to tell you the truth, I can't see myself riding a Harley one day."

Damn Klaus and his untamed aura and sexiness! That pair of dark jeans was doing wonders to his ass… She thought, lurking at him.

"Oh come on!" Big Joe objected, vehemently. "You just need to try it one day! One single time will make you fell in love with the feeling of freedom it'll give you."

The biker boss must have sensed that his blonde protégé was staring because he slowly raised his sight to smile and wink back at her, while making Caroline blush and turn her head in a rush; being cut in the act of checking him out.

"Tell me something Caroline; what would be so wrong about riding a motorcycle, mm?" Katherine questioned, shrugging nonchalantly, and while crossing both of her arms in front of her chest. She lowered her long dark lashes and sight to glance in direction of El Diablo who was pulling his helmet off his head.

Damn the sexual effect that man had on her soul, mind and body! If alpha male wasn't invented already … Elijah would certainly become its ambassador!

"Are you serious, Katherine? Do you want the list? Oh! Let see: what about the length of my dress?" Her friend responded, eyes widely opened.

"What about the length or your dress?" Big Joe questioned, winking back at her. "I don't see a problem."

"Yeah, I bet you don't, Big Joe…Hah aha." She replied, rolling her eyes at him. "And as for you, Katherine Pierce, what are you not telling me? Do you want to ride a Harley one day?"

Katherine shrugged, a light shade of pink appearing on both of her cheeks. "Maybe." She omitted to tell the truth to her female friend; brushing the gravel with the tips of her boots, while averting her sight.

"Oh my God! You totally did rode one already; spill the truth!" Caroline exclaimed, in shock.

"Didn't you ride with El Diablo the night of your freedom from Desperaldo, Kit-Kat?" The henchman questioned, teaser.

"Thank you, Big Joe for your input on the subject! Who asked you?' Katherine replied, wincing.

"You rode with Elijah?" Caroline exclaimed, in utter surprise, and with big opened eyes.

"Well it was either riding his bike or being killed by all of Desperaldo' men who were shooting at me!" Katherine replied, blushing. "I thought you knew something about that, Caroline?"

"I guess I did." She nodded, before glancing at the chubby man: "So, you've been enrolled to protect us from Desperaldo tonight?"

Rock classic music started escaping the bar, at the moment a few of the bikers started walking on the path leading to the stairs; while nodding their heads in respect, winking at both women, or wishing them a good night.

"You think I've been ordered to protect you from that cockroach? No, no…if that was the case, not a single one of us would be here; sweethearts." Big Joe laughed it off. "The both of you would have stayed locked inside the mansion."

"Ladies!" Two additional bikers passed by, smiling; and while sliding their appreciative sights on the length of both women.

"What are you looking at?" The henchman scolded them. "Move along; go take a beer inside!"

"Tranquilo! What got your underpants into a twist, Big Joe?" One of the bikers questioned, triggering the laughter of the other one.

"Do you understand now? I'm here to protect the both of you from our own men!" The chubby man explained to Caroline; pointing a finger toward his chest.

"No offense, Big Joe, but… We certainly need no protección from your men!" Katherine scolded him, using the Spanish language; while firmly crossing her arms in front of her raising chest. "They are not the first men we have encountered in our life, we can take care of ourselves."

"No offense, Kit-Kat, no offense, Blondie…but, did you take a good look at your reflections in the mirror lately, ladies?" He responded, lowering his face at a near inch of them both. "With those boobs and those asses; it'll be hard for them to stay away. The only thing that will make them do it, is their damn code of honor toward Elijah and Klaus."

"We are big grownup girls. And if the night is bringing some flirting with the men, while sharing a drink or two. Then be it!" She shrugged, playfully.

"Katherine! What are you saying?" Caroline asked, astonished by her friend say. "I have no intention of flirting with …"

The tall brunette placed a finger on her friend's talkative lips, signing her to close her mouth.

"No flirting from your part or theirs, Katerina!" She jumped out of her body over the dry order, recognizing the deep male voice behind her back; before swirling around to come face to face with Elijah. "Not a single one of my men would touch a single hair on your head after being told that you're my property."

"Did you just called Katherine your property?" Caroline questioned, in shock. "In which alternate universe is she your property, Elijah?"

"Figure of speech, love. Do you have any ideas how to phrase it in a better way, brother?" Klaus teased, openly; stepping behind the tall blonde, with the warmth of his manly body piercing the fabric of her dress. "Elijah, you're seriously lacking a tasteful way of wording beautiful sentences for our female guests these days."

"Klaus, just for once: shut the fuck up!" Elijah commented, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Not that I want to agree with your brother in any shape or form, Elijah, but," Katherine commented, chin rose, arms firmly crossed over her deep neckline; the right tip of her army boot hitting the gravel in rhythmic sounds. "Even if you saved my life; you're not the keeper of that said life, you can't tell me who I can flirt with or not!"

"Yes I can, Katerina! Simply, because I took the responsibility of protecting your life since your abduction! I'm running a damn organization, woman; I don't have time to chaperone you with one of my men, who, by the way, is supposed to protect you also." He responded, unwavering; before glancing at Caroline. "Respectfully."

Big Joe was carefully watching the ping-pong exchange between the big boss and the brunette, a large grin spreading on his lips; his back leaning on the staircase' guardrail.

"What about any other man in the city then?" She pushed the issue, shrugging; simply to piss him off.

"Don't you have a boyfriend named Stefan-something-Salvatore back at home?" Elijah spat at her, waving his right arm and hand in the air. "Faithfulness doesn't ring a bell to you?"

"He's not my boyfriend, even if it is none of your damn business! Don't you have a Disney Princess girlfriend who just came back to visit you?" Katherine spat back to his face. "Then, busy yourself with her and let me live my life as it pleases me, Elijah!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk … You pissed off your protégé, Elijah. You're truly breaking her heart now." Klaus teased, chuckling; before wrapping Caroline's shoulders with his left arm.

"What are you doing?" The tall blonde whispered; turning her head to glance into his grayish sparkling eyes.

He was way too close for her own comfort and sanity! The mix scent of leather and musk were rising her heartbeats in a dangerous pace.

"Well, assuring myself that you won't flirt with any of our men like your friend here, love." He teased in a low whisper into her ear. "This heated moment between my brother and Katherine is making my gentle side emerge."

"Oh! You're a pain!" Caroline growl, before pushing him at arm length with both of her hands.

"And like Caroline was saying: I am certainly not your property!" Katherine lashed out more to the face of the Skulls' leader.

"Are you done? Because I perfectly know that you have no intention of flirting with one of my men. But, in the small chance that you would, only to piss me off; I've said no flirting with my men! Let's walk upstairs." He ordered, climbing the first stairs to the entrance of the bar; with Katherine close on his biker' heels.

"And?" The brunette kept pushing. "That's all you'll say, while turning your back at me?"

"No... I'm presenting my deepest apologies to both you and Caroline; I should have chosen better words and simply say that the both of you are: under our protection." He rectified his say; hurrying his steps upstairs. "Happy now, Katerina?"

"Ka-the-rine!" She detached each syllables under clenched teeth. "You seem to forget that my name is Katherine!"

"OK, Katherine; or perhaps I can simply call you: pain in my ass?" Elijah teased; holding his pace in front of the entrance door; before turning on himself to face her; both hands placed on each side of his waist.

"Only if I can reciprocate the feeling by calling you the same." She pulled her tongue at him, before letting a small laugh escape her red lips.

"You're laughing at me now, woman?" He shook his head, chuckling himself: "You're truly the most infuriating woman I have ever set my eyes on in my entire life."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Elijah." She replied to him, still grinning.

"Damn! I was truly getting entertained with your joust exchange right now." Big Joe commented; following his boss' steps in front of the bar entrance.

"Let's go, Pippi!" Klaus slapped Caroline's butt; before leading his own path to the staircase.

"Hey! Watch your manners, Klaus!" She lashed out, rubbing her butt cheek. "And keep your wandering hands to yourself!"

"What manners?" He turned on himself, smiling. "Oh! Are you mistaking me with your preppy lawyer boyfriend?"

"Oh, believe me," She reached his standing position on one of the stairs; poking a finger into his muscular chest. "There is not a chance in hell of that ever happening!" She added, before rushing her steps climbing the stairs. "You're seriously lacking of savoir-faire with women!"

"First thing tomorrow I'll enroll myself in a "savoir-faire" academy." He replied, grinning. "Hey, Caroline?"

"What?" She questioned, turning on herself to take a look at him.

"I like the view of your pink tong underwear!" He teased her, winking.

"Oh go to hell!" She lashed out, rolling her eyes; before pulling the back of her dress over her butt to climb the last stairs.

"Already there but with you it is way more fun!" He replied, with a loud burst of laughter escaping his parted lips, only to die into the dark night sky. He finally climbed the last stairs leading him to the others and to the entrance of the large bar.

"Ready for a night of fun with the boys, ladies?" Big Joe questioned, smiling; before pushing the entrance door open.

---

The mere second they entered the bar, clapping of hands and loud cheering filled the space, before each of the bikers would start hitting the heels of their boots on the wood floor, in synchronized rhythmic sounds; making the ground shake under the impact.

"Big Joe, take a table for the girls, OK?" Elijah ordered his right hand man, pointing toward a round one; before undressing of his biker' leather vest and walking toward the bar.

"Talk later, Pippi." Klaus shouted, winking at his protégé; while slowly following the long strides of the eldest of the clan. "And don't drink alcohol, you're still on meds! Do you hear me?"

"Yes daddy!" She replied, grimacing at him. "Anything you say, daddy!"

"You know love; it does "things" to my body when you call me daddy!" He shouted, chuckling.

"Grr…I can't wait for the day he'll stop calling me that stupid name!" She growled with rage, unhappy.

"For fuck sake, Caroline; tell me why he started calling you that stupid nickname to start with?" Katherine questioned her friend; before starting hitting her own heels on the wood floor in the same rhythm than the bikers.

"It's entirely my fault, Katherine; I hate myself for it! I didn't know who Klaus truly was when I woke up after being shot, and I gave him that stupid name to not tell him my real one and… mostly to piss him off! And now he is pissing me back each time he is calling me Pippi Longstocking!" Caroline replied to her friend, arms crossed over her chest; a loud sigh escaping her parted lips.

"Let me tell you something, Blondie; when Klaus tease or use humor with someone, it means that person has earned its respect back, in a big way." The chubby man commented, smiling.

"Whatever…What are they doing with their boots hitting the floor repeatedly, Big Joe?" Caroline questioned the henchman; before taking a sitting position on the right side of her friend.

"Listen to the rhythm, Caroline." Katherine suggested to her friend; continuing to hit her own heels.

"Oh come one, Blondie; you certainly can do better than this?" Joe replied, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's karaoke night after all!"

"I'm not entirely sure that I know what the two of you are talking about." She responded, with a regretful shrug.

"Seriously? It's such a classic piece. I guess I'll need to spill it out for you then." He commented, promptly raising on his legs, only to walk through the tables where all the men were sited, before reaching the small stage (where a microphone stood on its stand) a few seconds later.

"What is he doing?" Caroline questioned her friend, smiling.

"Wait…Give it time," Katherine asked her friend, smiling. "You'll hear him sing."

---

"It seems Big Joe will start this karaoke night with a bang!" Elijah teased, handing his Skulls leather jacket to one of the waitresses, before addressing another: "Anita, Whiskey, straight up! Klaus?"

"Same darling!" His brother addressed the waitress, before handing his own leather jacket and questioning his brother: "When was the last time Joe did not start karaoke night with a bang?"

"You got a good point." Elijah shrugged, smiling; before hitting his own heels on the wood floor, following the rhythm of his men while subtly glancing at the table where both women were sitting, to exchange a discreet smile with Katherine.

Since his faux-pas toward his protégé, the past night of his drunken venture, it had been hard to get the brunette out of his mind; and he perfectly knew that his present feelings toward her were another faux-pas from his part and a very bad, bad idea, considering she was under his protection against Desperaldo.

"Coming right up, sweethearts." The said Anita replied to both men, with a wink.

"You're a doll!" Klaus complimented, turning his head to glance at his brother before paying him a warning. "Don't go there, Elijah; think of your code of honor. She's off limit to you."

"You want me to reciprocate the feeling by telling you the same about Caroline, Nicklaus?" Elijah questioned his brother, unwavering. "Don't think I did not pick-up the seduction game between the two of you."

Klaus lowered his upper body on the counter, before whispering: "Yes, Elijah, that is exactly what I want you to do. I want you to hit my jaw with your right closed fist and kick my damn ass if ever I'm tempted to do a stupid thing with Caroline."

Anita grabbed a bottle of Whiskey, before sliding two full glasses on the counter, in front of them.

"So, you're tempted?" His brother replied, grabbing the glass to drink it in one gulp.

"Yeah … I'm tempted." Klaus admitted, openly.

The henchman finally jumped on the stage to grab the microphone perched on a stand, before starting singing: "Ready boys? Hit the music! Buddy you're a boy make a big noise playing in the street gonna be a big man someday, you got mud on yo' face, you big disgrace, kickin' your can all over the place…Singing:"

"We will, we will rock you!" The large group of bikers responded, shouting the lyrics. "We will, we will rock you!"

"Oh my God, of course!" Caroline let a loud cry of excitement escape her lips; her own heels hitting the wood floor.

"Buddy you're a young man hard man, shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day; you got blood on yo'face, you big disgrace, wavin' your banner all over the place."

"We will, we will rock you!" The bikers repeated the lyrics, singing (with the help of Katherine and Caroline this time around). "We will, we will rock you!"

"Buddy you're an old man, poor man, pleadin' with your eyes gonna' make you some peace some day; you got mud on your face, you big disgrace, somebody better put your back into your place."

"We will, we will rock you!" They repeated.

"Singing!" Big Joe repeated.

"We will, we will rock you!" They all shouted one last time.

"Thank you, thank you very much, assholes!" Big Joe saluted the bikers. "As always I'm the King of the Karaoke night!"

"Whohoo… Big Joe!" Caroline and Katherine rose on her legs from their sitting positions at the table, clapping in their hands and whistling. "You're the best!"

"This one was for you, Blondie!" The henchman dedicated the song to Caroline in his microphone; with a formal reverence.

"You never disappoint Big Joe!" Klaus shouted from his standing position at the bar; raising his glass of Whiskey in the air to honor his right hand man.

"I shall please you, my boss." The henchman made another reverence, before being hit by a few peanuts thrown at him by the bikers. "Hey, hey … This is physical abuse!"

"Go sit your butt down on a chair, ass kisser!" One of the boys shouted, under the burst of laughter and cheering of others. "The night is still young; you're no King of anything…yet!"

"Yeah, yeah …Whatever! Go sing your lullaby so we can all go to sleep!" Big Joe teased back, jumping off the stage to walk back to his table.

"It's time to talk to them." Klaus informed his brother, nodding toward the crowd.

"Boys!" El Diablo shouted to get their men attention; before inserting two fingers between his lips to let an acute whistle sound escape his throat.

In a matter of a few seconds the entire dining area of the bar fell into a dead silence, only filled by a few coughing sounds.

When all eyes were finally turned toward the leader of the Skulls; he pulled a chair to raise his right biker boot on it, lowering both of his forearms over his knee: "Most of you were present at the old textile warehouse when a large convoy of trafficked Mexican women and children trespassed my territory, in the sole purpose to sell them to the foreign highest bidders. For the others who weren't present, you have heard about Desperaldo' lack of respect toward my organization, my brother and all of you. By disrespecting my orders, El escorpión has unmistakably declared war to all of us. "

"Yeah, yeah!" A few of the bikers responded in synchronized shouting and nods of their heads.

Caroline who kept her sight glued to El Diablo, could feel the tears suddenly burning her eyes, at the mere memory of that traumatic night. She promptly grabbed Katherine's right hand; only to squeeze it hard to give herself courage.

"I'm here, Caroline." Katherine squeezed it back; a promise escaping her lips: "We'll never get separated like that night, ever again."

Vampiro, the second in command, continued his brother's speech, after glancing in direction of Caroline for a few seconds: "During that night three American women were meant to be sold as slaves as well as all the other Mexican women and children present in the convoy. They all died, after Desperaldo' men started open fire on them. One of the American one died as well, the two others are already known by a few or you, and are now under our protection."

"If we, my brother and I, are incapacitated in any forms or shape, and can't protect them against El escorpión, we ask you to do it for us." Elijah concluded, nodding.

"We'll do!" A few of their men responded, as a solemn promise; while others agreed with a nod.

"By the way Big Joe, you started the karaoke night with a bang!" El Diablo addressed his henchman, pointing in his direction with a smile.

"What can I say boss, I'm the champion!" The henchman replied, teasingly.

"Oh shut up!" A few bikers shouted, team playing him.

"Keep in mind the night is still young, my friend!" Klaus added, winking at him.

"Enjoy the night, boys!" The leader of the Skulls addressed them one last time; before glancing at Katherine, who addressed him a smile and mouthed two silent words on her lips to him….

Thank you.

---

"I have beaten Big Joe at the pool table!" Caroline walked back to the table; stepping into her happy victory dance.

"Did you now?" Katherine raised a suspicious eyebrow at her friend; a grin raising the right corner of her red lips. "I didn't knew you could play pool?"

"My father thought me how to play at a young age." The blonde informed, shrugging. "I guess, New York and my life style there weren't the right elements to bring it back to my life."

"Nah … She's delusional, she did not beat me!" The chubby man rectified, shaking his head; before taking his sitting position back. "But she is not bad at playing."

"I did so!" She protested, crossing both arms in front of her chest; before glancing in direction of her friend. "What are you drinking?"

"I don't know, Anita, she's one the waitresses – very nice by the way - brought it to me, it's a beer called: Snake bite, I think?" Katherine replied, with a shrug. "It's actually not bad, strong alcohol and a bit sweet."

"Yap! That's the name. An old recipe from Ireland." Big Joe informed the brunette. "We have one of the boys who's from Ireland and he gave the recipe to the girls to offer that beer to the regular crowd."

"Really? He's from Ireland?" Katherine nodded. "That's so interesting how you are all coming from different parts of the USA and all around the world."

"Yap! It's like enrolling into the Harvard University." He teased, winking. "Except, you're enrolling as bikers for the Skulls."

"Yeah … I guess in a weird way the parallel works." Katherine replied, with a small laugh.

"You're not a fan of that Irish beer, Big Joe?" Caroline questioned the henchman.

"To tell you the truth, Blondie, I prefer a more manly drink you know, like a strong Whiskey." He responded, raising his glass in the air. "But, Kit Kat seems to hold her beer like a true biker' lady; and she got quite the look also."

"Wow! I take that as the highest compliment coming from you." Katherine winked back; lowering her nose in her drink to hide a smile triggered by how furious Caroline had become.

"What are you saying Big Joe? That I can't hold my drinks and I don't look like one of your ladies?" Caroline narrowed her sight on the henchman; both arms firmly crossed over her raising chest.

"She can't hold her drinks." The brunette confirmed, shaking her head. "I can confirm that fact."

"I can hold my drinks just fine, Katherine; thank you very much!" She snapped back, unhappy. "And I could certainly look like a biker' lady if I wanted to look like one."

Her female friend lowered her upper body on the back of her chair, a small laugh escaping her parted lips: "Big Joe is playing with you, Caroline." Katherine pointed toward the henchman.

"That is not funny, Big Joe!" Caroline slapped his left upper arm; while hearing him chuckle. "You always do that!"

"I needed to take my revenge on you, Blondie; you made me look like a looser at the pool table, in front of the boys." He confirmed her win.

"Told you Katherine that I had won!" Caroline swung her butt on her chair, a large smile spreading on her pink lips.

"Never saw a woman holding her pool stick like you, sweetheart. You could fit right in with the boys if you wanted to." The henchman conceded, truthfully.

"Thank you, Big Joe." Caroline replied, blushing. "See, Katherine?"

"I see, but… you still can't hold your drinks." She replied, grinning.

"Tsk…Let me have a sip?" Caroline tried to grab Katherine' glass; before the chubby man could pulled it away from her. "Oh come on, I just want to taste it!"

"You can't drink alcohol, Blondie. The boss said something about your meds." Big Joe scolded her. "You should listen to him, he's looking after you right now."

"OK, Caroline … We laughed about it, but I'm with Big Joe on this." Katherine intervened. "You and I, we'll drink an entire bottle of wine when you'll be done recuperating from your gun wounds and taking your meds."

"Well, Big Joe…Klaus is your boss, not mine!" Caroline proclaimed, unhappy; before finally grabbing the said glass. "He won't scold me about it, especially if he doesn't see it or know about it!"

"Klaus doesn't want to carry you over his shoulder to the mansion, love!" She felt a chill hitting her spine, at the sound of his voice; hearing the warning from the boss himself; before feeling both of his warm hands on her shoulders. "Now, be a good girl, and give the glass back to Katherine."

"Whatever!" She replied to his order; pushing the glass in front of her female friend. "Happy?"

"Ecstatically so!" He replied, before nodding to Elijah who was approaching the table. "Ready to give up the karaoke title of King to me and my brother, Big Joe?"

"Ladies!" Elijah saluted, politely; before raising his left biker boot on the empty chair beside Katherine. "Is our first hand man treating you right?"

"Oh come on! Is it really necessary that the both of you participate tonight?" Big Joe begged them to reconsider.

"He's cool." Katherine responded, glancing at Elijah; before nodding in direction of the chubby man. "And don't worry; he is treating us good."

"Happy to hear you're having fun, Katherine." Elijah responded with a smile to her. "As for you, Big Joe…Well, it's not necessary, but…" He added, wrinkling his nose in a comical way.

"We just love to beat you at your own game." Klaus finished his brother' sentence, with a laughter.

"You both can sing?" Katherine raised her head and sight from her glass, to address Elijah.

"We can hold a tune." He confirmed to her, with a humble smile and a nod.

"They have quite a collection of guitars." Caroline informed her friend.

"You've seen their collection?" Big Joe inquired, surprised.

"I've seen Klaus's play room." She confirmed, nodding. "Yes."

"Well, said like that, love. You're giving a bad name to my spotless reputation." Klaus commented, grinning; triggering the general laughter (as well as Katherine's) from his small auditory.

"It's very rare my brother brings a new person into that room, Caroline." Elijah commented, still smiling. "You must be special."

"Spotless reputation? Whatever, Klaus!" Caroline rolled her eyes to the called one; before rectifying: "I meant his pool' room."

Like she could ever forget the day or the fact they had kissed in that room!

"Oh, she wasn't invited! She barged inside of that room like a bull into a rodeo." Klaus commented, winking.

"So, it is in that room that you saw their collection of guitars then?" Katherine tried to lower the blow on her friend, by handing her a helpful perch.

"Yes. And just so you know, Mister big shot biker: You told me that I could wander anywhere in your side of the mansion." Caroline clarified.

"Big shot biker? Mm…It has a nice ring to it; I like it!" He teased back. "Where would the fun be, Pippi, if I couldn't tease you about it?" Vampiro replied, grinning; taking his first steps away from the table. "Guitars, Big Joe?"

"I placed them behind the small stage wall." The henchman replied. "And no need for the both of you to give me competition."

"Oh, but…" Klaus responded, half-teaser. "There is a strong need!"

"Have a nice evening, ladies." Elijah wished them, nodding.

"He treats me like I'm either a brainless bimbo or a child he needs to reprehend!" Caroline complained, sighing. "I'm a grownup woman for God sake!"

"You got Klaus completely wrong, Blondie!" Big Joe commented, with a shake of his head; throwing a few peanuts in his mouth. "Completely wrong."

"Well, explain to her then?" Katherine shrugged.

"The night we found you under a pile of dead bodies, you should have seen his face, damn it!" Big Joe remembered, shaking his head. "It's like he had found an injured puppy hit by a car on the side of the road." He continued his tale. "I've seen that man put as much determination into bringing you back to life, than killing our enemies!"

"So …He truly cared?" Caroline concluded, more as a matter of facts; tears filling her eyes.

"Yeah… He truly did. And that even after I told him my disapproval of saving your ass, for the good of the Skulls. I'd even suggested to him to throw a few roses on top of your injured body to give our respects!"

"Hey!" Caroline exclaimed, outraged by the thought. "Thank you very much!"

"Could you be more sensible if you tried, Big Joe? No need for you to say it with white gloves, is there?" Katherine scolded him, in shock.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, ladies; let me finish!" Big Joe demanded of them. "Since then, I revised my opinion. Yeah … You brought a load of shitty problems on us, but … I would give my life for the both of you in a heartbeat if needed be. You two are fucking courageous women!"

"Well, now what are we supposed to respond to that?" Caroline commented, emotively.

"You're not so bad yourself." Katherine nodded, winking in his direction.

"Did Klaus…Did he experienced something as traumatic as me? Is that the reason for the scar on his face?" Caroline questioned, curiously.

"Sweetheart," Big Joe started answering her. "It's not my place to say nor my story to tell."

She nodded, understandably so … Perhaps it wasn't her place to know either.

---

The loud brouhaha inside the bar abruptly stopped when both leaders started walking through the tables to reach the stage. A silence suddenly set its power in the large room filled with bikers. Vampiro grabbed a chair, taking his sitting position with his guitar on his lap, the microphone placed at the right level of his head.

El Diablo jumped on the stage himself, pulling his own chair and grabbing his own guitar, before pulling the microphone near his lips to address the group of men sitting in front of both of their sights.

"Well, we had quite a range of singers tonight from Queen, AC/DC, Scorpion to Lady Gaga?" Elijah questioned the last one mentioned, with a raise eyebrow and a crooked smile.

"What can I say boss it's my alter-ego who wanted to sing one of her songs!" Leonardo (the biker who had given that vocal performance) shout out back at him; triggering the general burst of laughter.

"Let just say it was quite unique, alright." Klaus replied into his microphone, grinning.

"But if we look at the applause chart, it seems Big Joe is still winning." Elijah commented, playfully.

"Thank you very much!" Big Joe (who had rose into a standing position) shouted back, from the back of the room. "I'll be my pleasure to accept the title of King of the microphone, once more." He added, raising on his legs to make a quick reverence.

"And that is why, El Diablo and I, we've decided to spice things up a little bit, for you my friend." Klaus teased, triggering another general laughter.

"Oh come one! It wasn't necessary nor needed!" Big Joe protested, vehemently; waving his right hand in a dismissive gesture.

"But it's our utmost pleasure." Klaus shouted back, chuckling.

"You're toast, Big Joe!" One for the boys yelled from his standing position at the bar.

"Yeah, yeah … OK! Whatever." The chubby man conceded, sitting back on his chair.

"Did you ever hear Klaus sing?" Katherine questioned her friend, leaning her upper body near her to whisper.

"No." Caroline shook head in negation. "You…Elijah?"

"Well, does screaming at me counts as singing?" Katherine questioned, mockingly; shrugging.

"That's funny!" Big Joe chuckled at her say; winking at the brunette.

"We have all chosen this outlaw life, swore our allegiance to the Skulls organization for the reasons that are personal to each one of us," Elijah expressed himself in the microphone. "Maybe one song explains the reasons why Klaus and I took that path."

Hitting the first notes on their guitars, it's in a sweet and warm male tone the first leader started to sing: "I've cheated and I've lied, I've broke down, and I've cried, I've got nothing to hide no more…"

Soon followed by Klaus: "I've loved and I've hurt, I've broken people down with words, more grace than I deserve, for sure…"

Elijah: "Known to be crazy, known to be wild, mama had herself a little devilish child, ain't no stranger to the troubles at my door (at my door)…"

"Damn, they can sing!" Caroline whispered; goosebumps hitting her entire body.

"Yap … They certainly can." Katherine agreed, nodding; biting into her bottom lip to stop the loud beats of her heart.

Klaus: "I've been at the wrong place at the wrong time, chasing all the wrong thing most of my life, been every kind of lost that you can't find, but I got one thing right…"

In duo: "Been the kind of guy girl's momma don't like, running with the wrong crowd on the wrong nights, Cause' I've been wrong about a million times…"

Both leaders of the Skulls slowly rose their heads to glance at both women sited at the back of the room, before holding the music a few seconds to add:

"But I got one thing right …. You!"

"Damn!" Caroline repeated, heartbeats raising inside her chest at the intense silent exchange she had experienced with Klaus for a few seconds.

"Yap!" Katherine agreed, while meeting the dark sight of El Diablo. "They can hold a tune, alright!"

"Is it me or they are serenading the both of you, girls?" Big Joe questioned, waving his fingers at them. "That is a low blow to win this contest!"

"What? No, no … It's just a song, Big Joe." Caroline objected, while lying through her teeth; redness filling both of her cheeks.

"Stop lying, Caroline; they are totally serenading us." Katherine agreed, nodding.

"Thank you, Kit Kat!" Big Joe appreciated her honesty.

---

Under loud cheering and clapping of hands of the audience, the impeccable vocal and musical performance of both Skulls leaders deserved them the first place on the wood board placed on the right side of the stage.

From the corners of her eyes, Caroline spotted "her" in matter of seconds, walking toward Klaus and Elijah (who were putting away their guitars) , with both of her hands buried in the back pockets of her tight pair of dark jeans.

She (whomever she was) was a tall girl, classic beauty, no makeup, and shoulder length straight brown hair.

"Who is the girl who just entered the bar, Big Joe?" Caroline questioned the henchman.

"Mm?" Big Joe raised his head to scatter the room.

"The brunette approaching the stage?" She questioned furthermore; making Katherine glance at the woman as well. "She just greeted a few of the boys on her way."

"Oh! That's Hayley Marshall … Klaus's girl!" Big Joe informed, smiling. "Quite a beauty, would you say?"

"Well, I don't know I'm not into girls!" Caroline replied; strangely disturbed by the thought.

"Her father is Ronald Growl. He's the leader of an ally bikers' group named: Victorious." He informed, furthermore.

"Of course she is!" Katherine rolled her eyes at the obvious. "Well, at least her style fits way more the boys than the Disney Princess I saw in Elijah' office."

Big Joe leaned his head toward the back to let a laugh escape his parted lips: "Kit Kat, you're one of the kind." He complimented, adding: "Elijah' girl is Camille O'Connell. She's the Mayor' daughter!"

"The Mayor' daughter!" Caroline exclaimed in shock; placing both palms on the table. "What part of outlaws versus law reinforcement, Elijah doesn't understand?"

"Hey, I'm with you on that one!" Big Joe shrugged, helpless. "Not my place to tell one of my bosses who to put in his bed, though."

"Wouldn't she blur to her daddy the Mayor that we are under their protection against Desperaldo retaliation?" Katherine questioned, with concerns; glancing at Caroline.

"Your answer is as good as mine on that one, Kit Kat." Big Joe replied, shaking his head.

---

"Hey!" Hayley saluted Klaus; raising both of her opened palms over his bulged chest; before placing a kiss on his parted lips. "Missed me?"

"Hey yourself! That's a surprise?" He greeted her, smiling; before lowering both of his hands on the small of her back. "I thought you would be back tomorrow?"

"Yeah … Well, I heard the boys would have their Karaoke night tonight, so I thought I would come early and surprise you." She explained herself, turning her head toward his brother. "Hi Elijah!"

"Hayley!" Elijah nodded, respectfully. "How's your father?"

"Good, good." She replied, nodding herself. "I've heard about Desperaldo's latest carnage and disrespect of your territory." She told them both. "Father is offering his help if ever the Skulls needs it."

"I have a lot of respect for your father and the Victorious." Elijah replied, truthfully. "But, we'll manage. There is too much in stake this time around." He added, glancing at Klaus.

"Yeah, I've heard about the abduction of the American women." She informed them both, glancing toward the back table. "So you took the blonde and the brunette who are sitting with Big Joe under your wings?"

"It's a complicated situation." Klaus commented, narrowing his sight on her. "Maybe for the time being you should stay under your father protection."

"Is it?" She shrugged, her chin rose. "How is it different from the other times the both of you and Desperaldo wanted each other dead?"

"It just is, Hayley!" Elijah replied, unwavering. "Klaus is right. You should stay put for the time being."

"I see." She replied, unhappy; her sight narrowed on the back table. "Well, I'm not one to be told what to do, Elijah."

---

"It looks like Klaus's girl is coming your way, Carebear." Katherine commented; a grin raising the right corner of her red lips. "She probably wants to size the competition."

"What are you talking about? What competition?" Caroline exclaimed, shaking her head and blonde curls. "That's simply ridiculous! I'm certainly not "competition" to her!"

"Well, she looks like a lioness who wants to shred you into pieces." Katherine narrowed her sight on the tall brunette that were approaching their way in a slower pace.

"There's really no need for that!" Caroline stated, strongly. "There isn't a need for her to even talk to me."

"Mm, except there are: (A) She probably wants to know if you have already slept with her man or would sleep with him in a foreseeable future." Katherine started enumerating on her fingers.

"She's right!" Big Joe nodded in agreement.

"You too?" Caroline questioned the chubby man in shock. "Oh my God! This is not a Soap Opera, for God sake!"

"Well, sorry, Blondie." He shrugged, apologetically. "But, women are very territorial."

"I'm not!" She replied, outraged. "And that is very sexist of your part, Big Joe!"

"Perhaps, but it is still the truth!" He responded, set on his ground.

"(B), she wants to see what makes you so special, as well as what she could do to push the competition away...Which in this present case is "you", Caroline." The brunette added, shrugging.

"Yap!" The henchman agreed. "You got it, Kit Kat."

"Well, there is no "B", therefore there is no "A" to start with!" Caroline spat back, unhappy; arms now firmly crossed over her raising chest. "This is ridiculous! I have a boyfriend in New York."

"Which she doesn't know about that!" Her female friend pointed out.

"You still think about your dandy boyfriend while being with a group of sexy bikers?" Big Joe asked, teasingly.

"Don't worry I got you cover!" Katherine added, winking at the chubby man. "You're my favorite sexy one!"

"Well, thank you Kit Kat, and now, as for me… I do believe it's time to bow out!" Big Joe informed both women, his sight glued to Haley (who was slowly approaching, while saluting a few of the boys sited at nearby tables); before promptly raising from his sitting position. "I'll be at the bar counter."

"Big Joe!" Caroline let a muffled cry escape her lips. "Where are you going...? This is so cowardly of you!"

"It's OK; we are big girls, we can handle that "wannabe" biker girl without him." Katherine shrugged, unaffected by his departure. "It'll be fun, you'll see."

"I highly doubt it!" Caroline replied, with a long sigh.

"Hey Hayley!" The henchman saluted the young woman, while rapidly passing by the brunette' side; his sight dropped to the floor.

"Hey Big Joe!" Hayley replied, narrowing her sight on his back. "Talk later, OK?"

"Sure thing, sweetheart." Big Joe replied, rushing his steps to the bar counter; before nodding at both Elijah and Klaus.

"Did you ran away like a girl on high heels?" Klaus questioned, chuckling.

"Oh shut the fuck up, Klaus! What do you think?" The chubby man responded, shrugging. "You think I want to die in the hands of three amazons in fury?"

"You are highly exaggerating." Elijah replied, smiling. "I'm sure the ladies can exchange a few pleasantry words and behave."

"Pleasantry words?" Big Joe repeated; before pointing a finger at both men. "You two are brainless, helpless men, who know nothing about women."

"Well, lucky for you that we are both your brainless bosses then!" Klaus responded, smiling; raising his right hand over the left shoulder of his right arm man.

"You two foolish men are in over your heads and in so much more trouble than you think you are!" The chubby man concluded, waving at one of the waitress. "Double whiskey, sweetheart!"

---

"Hey!" The brunette who had finally reached the girls' table saluted, unceremoniously; both hands buried in the back pockets of her skinny pair of dark jeans. "I've heard about the abduction of three American women, one died and you are the two others that are now under the boys' protection. I wanted to say that I'm sorry about it. It sucks…Desperaldo is no good!"

"And who may you might be?" Caroline questioned, her sight narrowed and chin rose.

"I'm Hayley … Hayley Marshall. I'm Klaus's girl." She responded, sliding her sight on the length (visible to her sight) of Caroline.

Damn it! Katherine was right! That girl was on a mission…

"And you must be a girl who knows nothing about Desperaldo or you wouldn't use "no good" to describe his men and that low life rat." Katherine commented, smiling; while tilting her head to the right. "And yet, here we all are!"

"Oh I know plenty about the man," Hayley replied, with a sour smile. "I just thought that as city girls, you would be more sensible to the real life of outlaw's men, you get my drift? I bet the both of you were living the brush your hair, slide your feet in high heels and put red lipstick on your lips – kind of life in New York City, no? Well, it's not so much that care free lifestyle here, darling." She added, perniciously. "So let me guess, you must be Katherine?"

"No need for you to know my name, sweet pea; I doubt we'll ever be friends." She responded, with a spotless smile; raising both of her biker' boots on the table. "But a good "A" score for effort at the bitch academy. As you can see the "boys" are treating us good. We are already wearing biker' boots and sexy clothes. But, please … Don't get obfuscated by the way they are taking care of us."

Hayley shook her head, a sour smile spreading on her lips; before pulling a piece of her chewing gum out of her mouth to give herself a false sense of convenience: "I never said I wanted to be your friend, Katherine; I was just, let say … Expressing female bounding over what you had experienced in the hands of Desperaldo."

"Aren't you kind? But it's really not necessary." She added, with a shake of her head and the same spotless smile.

"So you must be…" Hayley finally turned her attention to her primary prey…Caroline!

"Pippi Longstocking!" Caroline cut her short in her sentence; while Katherine lowered her head to hide a sudden chuckle. "I know it's silly, but Klaus keeps calling me that sweet little nickname. He says he likes it." She added, all teeth out. "It's our way of bounding I guess. We have been through so much together, you know… Ashley?"

Hayley' complexion whitened over the subtle imply, before she would slowly place both of her palms on the table while lowering her upper body over it: "It's Hayley! Now, listen to me Caroline, and listen to me very carefully! I feel for how badly Desperaldo's men have treated the both of you, but … Don't even think for a split second of stealing Klaus from me, or … You'll have a worse enemy on your hands to handle than him." She concluded, strengthening her body into a standing position; before swirling on the heels of her boots to leave them both.

"Wow! I'm shaking in my tight leather pants at the moment." Katherine teased, openly.

"Bitch!" Caroline busted, angrily, between her clenched teeth.

"Yap! I could have smelled her a mile away." Her brunette friend commented, nodding. "Damn Caroline! I was this close to burst into laughter when you called her Ashley." She added, with a small laugh.

"Yeah … That was a good one!" She agreed, unexpectedly grabbing Big Joe's filled glass of whiskey (left on the table) to gulp it entirely, with a wince.

"Caroline! What did you just do? You can't drink while taking your meds!" Her friend scolded her; in shock.

"Well," She shrugged, lowering the glass down on the table; before wiping her lips clean. "It's too late now!"

---

As one of the Skulls' boys gave his own twist of Paradise City from Guns N'Roses with a singing performance on the small stage; Katherine had walked through the tables, to reach the bar counter to get a refill. Caroline's head had literally fell on the table, after ingesting the glass of alcohol over her meds. A splitting headache making her snap at her and Big Joe, before asking them both to leave her alone.

"Hi!" She saluted the waitress who had brought the Irish "special recipe" beer to her table; lowering her upper body on the bar counter. "Anita, right?"

"Hey yourself!" The said blonde one replied, smiling; pointing a finger at the brunette. "Katherine, right?"

She nodded in return, with a smile: "Yes. I was wondering if I could get a refill of that beer."

"Sure thing, sweetheart!" Anita replied, grabbing her glass; before busying herself at the preparation. "I'm truly sorry about what happened to both you and your female friend … You know?" She added, with a shy smile and a shrug. "Not a single woman on this earth should pass through such ordeal."

"Yeah…So are we. Thanks!" Katherine thanked her with a smile and a nod.

"Here's your beer!" The waitress placed the glass in front of her on the counter. "I'll go busying myself serving others; you'll be good?"

"Sure thing, thanks!" She replied, placing the glass on her bottom lip to taste it for the second time.

"So, you're a fan now?" Katherine heard El Diablo's deep tone of voice ask of her.

She glanced at her right, only to see him approach her own standing position, leaning his upper body, with the help of his right elbow, on the counter. She cleared her throat, wiping the foam of the beer off her red lips with the back of her right hand.

"It's not bad." She responded to him, shrugging. "Wait, was it you earlier who asked Anita to brought that particular beer to me at the table?"

"Yes, I did." Elijah nodded, smiling; before waving a sign at Anita." The appellation "snake bite" reminded me of you, somehow, Katherine." He winked back at her, teasingly.

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling, before grabbing a few peanuts on a nearby bowl to throw it at his chest: "Ass!"

"You asked for it, woman!" He replied, chuckling; wiping the peanuts off his fitted black t-shirt.

"Yeah, I guess I did." She agreed, with a shy smile; hitting the tip of her right boot on the wood floor, before taking a gulp of her beer to give herself time to collect her thoughts. "Elijah?"

"Mm?" He turned his head to narrow his sight on her.

"I …I was teasing you before, I mean when we arrived outside the bar. I wouldn't flirt with one of your men." She stammered through her explanation and apology; shaking her head. "I… I have too much respect for you, the boys, and most of all what you and your brother did, saving both my life and Caroline's."

He stared at her for a few additional seconds, nodding and letting a long sigh escape his parted lips; before saying: "I know."

"Here's your beer, darling!" Anita placed an opened bottle on the counter.

"Thanks, Anita!" He thanked the waitress, grabbing the bottle by the neck to take a few gulps; before slowly sliding his sight on the length of Katherine: from her red, deep neckline, cashmere sweater, to her leather pants and pair of biker boots.

She grabbed a few peanuts in the bowl, throwing them in her mouth; a light shade of pink coloring both of her cheeks, while noticing from the corners of her eyes that he was obviously checking her out.

"You like what you see, Elijah?" She questioned the leader, wiping her hands of the salt. "Tell me is it my round ass tucked in those leather pants or my biker boots that seem to be so fascinating to you?"

He let a small laugh escape his throat, before raising his right hand to slowly and sensually brush his bottom lip with the tip of his thumb. "Well, tell me something woman: can't a man appreciate both, or does he need to choose?" He questioned her, teasingly. "By the way, you're killing those boots!"

Damn him and the erotic way he was caressing his lip right now…

He was channeling his damn sex-biker-God on purpose; wasn't he?

Before meeting the leader of the Skulls, she couldn't understand what burning for a man meant... But since then, she could understand way better the girls who were throwing their panties to Rock singers for no other reasons than the urge to jump their bones!

"I guess," Katherine shrugged it off. "So it's the ass then?" She counterattacked, winking.

He shook his head, smirking; before rubbing his eyelids: "You're certainly not a woman who should need reassurance from my part on how beautiful and sexy you look." He commented; locking his sight on his bottle: "If there's a God, I think he granted us, men, eyes to look at pretty girls like you." He added, gulping some more of the amber alcohol.

She shrugged, blushing: "Maybe I do need reassurance, from time to time."

"I'm not sure that either of us is ready for what I could say to you, Katherine." He added, turning his head to stare at her. "Don't push it, for both of our sakes."

She held her breath, swallowing; with her sight buried in his dark eyes, the intensity of their exchange making her lower her head down, in matter of seconds, to inhale air inside her lungs.

"Right, so..." She tried to divert the conversation; before bursting into flame by his side.

"So …" He glanced at their able; frowning his forehead and narrowing his sight. "Why is Caroline lying on the table?"

Katherine winced, shrugging uncomfortably: "I'm not entirely sure you need or want to know."

"She drank?" He questioned her, in utter shock.

"Just one glass…One!" She rose one finger in the air; in an attempt to help her female friend to not get crucified.

"Damn it!" He growled unhappy, while shaking his head; before passing a hand through his tick dark hair. "Klaus is going to be livid!"

"Where is your brother anyway?" Katherine demanded, biting her bottom lip.

"In the back. He's playing at one of the pool tables." He replied, signing with his right hand.

"Well, no need to disturb him, right?" She prayed that he would listen to her. "She's sleeping it off, anyway."

Elijah rolled his eyes, shaking his head; before letting a small laugh escape his parted lips: "You two are something else!"

"Well, it's not like someone gave us a manual how to carefully proceed when entering a bikers' organization, Elijah?" She complained, out loud.

"Like you would have follow one word of the said manual to start with, Katherine." He responded, smirking; before finishing the last gulps of his bottle to lower it down on the counter.

"Probably not." She agreed, chuckling.

"That's what I thought." El Diablo concluded, grinning and shaking his head; while spinning the empty bottle in his hands.

"So ... God grant you two eyes to look at pretty girls, Mm? Is … Is Chamomile one of those pretty girls?" She questioned; nervously hitting the tips of her boots on the bottom part of the counter.

"Who?" He glanced at her in surprise, tilting his head to the right; while questioning her sanity. "Oh!" He tilted his head toward the back, bursting into laughing. "You!" He pointed a finger at the tall brunette; before unexpectedly slapping her bottom. "You're getting on my last nerves!"

"Hey!" Katherine complained, rubbing her butt cheek vigorously. "Isn't it her name?"

"It's Camille! And you perfectly know it by now!" He replied, shaking his head. "And that is without mentioning that you eavesdropped on my private conversation with her earlier."

"Tomato…Tomahto!" She shrugged; trying to keep a straight face for the sake of appearance. "How am I supposed to know what her name is? It's not like I'm the one sharing my bed with that Disney Princess!"

"Let me remind you, woman, that at the moment you're the one in my bed, no her!" He commented; pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well, if you want to be technical about it, Elijah; it's you who put me there!" She responded, as matter of facts; with a grinning smile.

"The temptation of spanking your ass from now to tomorrow is very tempting at the moment, Katherine." He commented, closing his eyes; before letting a long and loud sigh escape his parted lips.

He couldn't say what was the hardest to admit to himself at the moment: admitting he would mostly prefer to have Katherine in his bed than Camille (or) admitting that he wanted to be in that said bed with her!

"Well, we wouldn't want that; would we?" She replied, lowering her head down. "Thanks for the talk, Elijah; and for inviting me and Caroline to share this night with the boys."

When he reopened his eyes, a minute later; she had disappeared from his side and view.

"Anita!" He called the waitress with a snap of his fingers. "Did you see where Katherine went?"

"Mm… I couldn't say for sure, darling; but I believe I saw her walk outside." She informed him, with a smile.

"Thanks!" He nodded, before asking: "Could you bring me my leather jacket?"

Ready or not it was time to lay his cards on the table with his protégé!

---

Katherine started walking around the lounge bar, following the wood deck; her arms wrapped around her shivering self. The Night had fallen and the ambient air was cooler. She reached the back of the establishment, before grabbing the guardrail with both hands to let her sight brush the magnificent view of the valley.

For her, there was something unreal and fundamentally peaceful in being able to enjoy such a quiet moment underneath the night stars after having almost lost her life. She closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh air inside her lungs; before startling at the weight of a leather jacket being dropped on her shoulders.

"It's colder at this time of the night." She felt the warm of his breath and heard the whisper of his voice brush her right hear; before being gently wrapped in the warmth and comfort of his jacket, and the strong mix of odors that made him…El Diablo!

She turned her head to the right, only to see him walk away and take a sitting position on top of a picnic table, at a few feet of distance of her standing position.

"I thought you would have had enough of me already." She teased.

"It's like drugs… At one point you get addicted." He replied, teasingly and with a wink.

Well, that was something they could agree on!

She thought to herself, while feeling lightheaded, being wrapped in all that was him!

"Did you ever?" She questioned, curious.

"Use drugs?" He glanced at her, shaking his head. "I never trafficked any drugs inside my organization. As well as I never used them." He replied, truthfully. "I like to be in control of myself."

She averted her sight, redness filling her cheeks; remembrance of the night in his garage (when he had lost the battle against his own legendary control of himself), filling her mind with vivid images.

"Except for that night." He commented, reading her mind, vividly. "I'm sorry, Katherine."

She shook her head, keeping her sight lock on the valley; the beats of her picking up inside her chest: "There's not need to be."

A silence filled the air for a few minutes, before she could hear him raise and move from his sitting position to approach her; the heels of his biker boots hitting the deck.

She felt the heat of his body on her back and the warm of his hands on her shoulders, through the tick leather fabric; while his bearded chin rested on the top of her head. Without a pair of her high heels on her feet, Elijah felt larger than life, and way taller than her, with his impressive stature.

"I…I can't …" The leader of the Skulls started expressing himself; once again, slowly losing his legendary control of himself. "I can't stop thinking about that night...The softness of your skin… My hands caressing every inch of your body." He admitted, openly; before slowly lowering his hands down on the lengths of her arms.

"I … I thought you felt that way too, but…but I wasn't sure." She responded, biting into her bottom lip to refrain the trembling effect he had on her entire body. "I can't stop thinking about it, either." She admitted, firstly to herself; and then…him.

"I want you woman… I want you so you bad!" He growled, before grabbing both of her wrists into a grip of steel with the help of both of his hands; feeling the fast pulsations of her heart inside her blood and her veins. "But, we can't go there or we'll both bitterly regret it, Katherine." He explained. "One day, hopefully … I'll find a way to grant you the chance to get your life back; and all of this will be a distant memory for you. You'll be able to start new."

"I know…" She agreed, nodding her head; tears filling her eyes. "I … I want you too." She admitted, unashamedly. "And … I understand what you're saying."

What was the point to lie to him anyway?

Than man was like a tidal wave crushing her last resistance on the shore.

He released his firm grip on her, softly kissing the top of her head, before she could interlaced her fingers with his.

Holding hands was OK, right?

"So it was definitely my ass, then?" She teased, sniffling her pain away.

He leaned his head towards the back before laughing: "Most definitely your ass!" He responded to her, before adding: "And everything that makes you…you, Katherine."

She closed her eyes, nodding slightly; giving both of his hands a last squeeze; before slowly turning on herself to meet his burning gaze, only to let his jacket drop off her shoulders to give it back to him: "Thank you for keeping me warm with your jacket and thank you for everything, Elijah."

He nodded, silently, lowering his sight down after taking his jacket back from her hands; noticing she had taken a swirl on herself to take her first steps to get away from him to regain the inside of the bar.

She came to an abrupt halt, lowering her head down, before closing both of her hands into fists: "Fuck it!" She lashed out (mostly to herself), before retracing her steps to reach his standing position, only to raise her trembling body on the tips of her boots to kiss his lips.

As if time as stopped right there, as if every breaths he had managed to take had smelled of her; he had brought her frail figure into full contact with his muscular body his left arm wrapped around her waist, before raising his right hand to grab the nap of her neck to deepen the soft caress of her lips into a claiming and hungry kiss that he couldn't deny himself of anymore.

His lips were both hard and soft against her own, and his tongue tasted of alcohol, a sweet aroma of cigar and everything that was El Diablo.

He placed both of his hands on each side of her hips, pushing her body and back to hit the wall; before lowering his head down the right side of her neck to kiss and lick her skin, before biting his teeth into it.

He would probably never admit it to himself, but she knew in her heart that he had marked her as his!

He finally got a grip on himself, raising his head up, breathless; both of his hands raising from her hips to her shoulders.

"You should not have done that, woman!" He mouthed the words on top of her bruised and swallowed lips; cupping her face in his hands, before blessing her forehead of a soft kiss.

"I know." She agreed, with a nod.

But who the hell cared?

---

Caroline had no idea where her friend Katherine was at the moment. She had brushed her sight on the length of the long bar counter and everywhere inside the bar; while even keeping her sight glued to the restroom door without truly being able to retrace her; which was as well! After gulping that glass of alcohol, she had felt too light headed and nauseous to even stay cooked up inside the noisy establishment.

It's not like she hadn't been warn to not drink a single sip of alcohol while taking her med. Klaus for starter, has been very clear about it to the point of almost making her pull her foot out of one of her biker boots to throw it at his head. But … That pretentious – look at me I'm the best – Hayley Marshall had pushed her buttons in a very unique and annoying way, and it is without thinking that she had grabbed Big Joe's glass to drink it in one singe gulp.

Now the only think that she wanted was to breathe some fresh hair; she kept thinking in silence inside her mind; while stumbling her way out toward the exit door of the bar, a splitting headache hitting both of her temples.

She finally managed to pass through the large group of bikers that was throwing darts on a board, before pushing the exit door to head directly toward the small grass land behind the establishment she had spotted at their arrival which was almost overhanging the large valley.

"Oh bless this heaven!" Caroline thought out loud, before getting rid of her socks and boots to lie on her back, legs rose, bare feet on the grass. She narrowed her blurry vision on the moving stars in the night sky. "Oh? I didn't know the stars could move around in circles so fast?" She questioned herself; raising her right arm in the air to try to touch it.

She slowly turned her spinning head to the right only to notice a pair of biker boots approaching her lying position: "Ugh! Why can't you leave me alone?" She questioned, mostly herself; placing her right forearm over her eyes.

Klaus squatted by her side, before gently grabbing her wrist to pull her arm off her eyes: "Stars can't move around in circles in the sky, Pippi. What did you drink and how many glasses?"

"Ten bottles of beer on the wall, then bottles of beer…" She started singing, followed by an uncontrollable chuckle. "What? You'll spank me like a child if I say that it was more than one glass?"

"It's a very tempting suggestion at the present moment, Caroline." He responded, narrowing his sight on her. "How many of me do you see?"

"Oh please! One "Klaus" is enough for me to handle for a life time!" She replied, pulling her wrist away from his grip; before replacing her forearm in front of her eyes.

"Did you throw up?" He continued to question her; before repeating it, more menacing, when she kept quiet: "Did-you-throw-up? Because, if you threw up that means you don't have meds inside your body anymore. "

"Oh for God sake, I drank one glass, Klaus; one single drink!" She lashed out, lowering her arm to stare at the blurry vision of him. "It was Big Joe's; I saw it on the table and grabbed it, and, and… I don't remember what it was!"

"It's whiskey. Big Joe only drinks whiskey." Klaus cut her in her rambling; while coming to the obvious and single conclusion. "As crazy as it sounds it's less damaging that you've ingested a single glass of strong alcohol with you meds, than a few cocktails."

"Well, yippy for choosing the right drink then!" She responded, rolling her eyes. "Now can you just close your mouth or better, simply leave me alone? My head is spinning at the moment."

"What is the single thing that I've asked from you, love?" He questioned, unhappy. "The meds that you are swallowing since the night you were almost shut to death, can't be mixed with alcohol! Those meds are increasing the effect and the amount of the alcohol in your blood."

"No joke, Sherlock Holmes!" She responded, wincing. "And thank you for reminding me of that night by the way! It is always nice to be reminded that I almost died, it makes "this exchange between us" so much fun!"

Klaus shook his head, biting his bottom lip to forbid himself to shut her talkative lips with his own! She had probably no idea how fucking sexy she looked at the present moment, her blonde hair spread on the grass, her cheeks and lips reddening over the alcohol and the chilliness of the night, her long legs exposed to his appreciative sight with her dress rose over the high point of her thighs: "You know, now that I thought long and hard about it, love…" He replied, rubbing his five o'clock shadow chin. "The thought of putting you on my lap and spanking you hard is more alluring!"

"I'm sorry, Klaus, OK? I've made one mistake, I was upset and I saw the glass on the table and the rest is history." She begged for his forgiveness. "I'm feeling a bit better now, lying on the grass. The fresh air is doing me some good."

He let a long and loud sigh escape his parted lips, lowering himself into a sitting position on the grass beside her own; before pulling a pack of cigarettes from the back pocket of his jeans.

"What are you doing?" She questioned him with a raised eyebrow.

"Grilling a cigarette while keeping both of my eyes on the drunk version of you, Pippi," He responded, placing the said cigarette on the right corners of lips. "In case you start believing that you're a bat and have the uncontrollable need to fly over the valley." He added with a chuckle.

"Oh that is hilarious, Klaus!" She spat back, frowning; suddenly strengthening her lying position into a sitting one. "And for the love of God, why are you still calling me Pippi when you perfectly know my name is Caroline?"

He slowly lit a match, placing the burning tip near his cigarette, before inhaling it to expel a few white clouds of smoke into the night. He let a grin appear on his full lips, replying to her question: "Well foremost, out respect for you, love; because the first time we exchanged words – you and I, you told me your name was Pippi longstocking. Who am I to doubt it or to deny you this fantasy?"

"Ugh ...It's like you are seeing a little girl when you look at me!" She spat back; before wrapping her arms around her rose knees.

"Anything but," He replied; while slowly enjoying his cigarette. "I see a grownup ass woman, with long silky legs, perky round breasts and an ass that would damn a saint!"

Caroline gasped at his admission, a fire spreading down her core and on her cheeks before she could spin her head to the left to glance at him: "You can't say things like that … Klaus…it's…"

"Why not? Says who?" He shrugged, grinning. "And it's what?"

"It's … Inappropriate!" She stipulated, as a matter of facts.

Klaus let a loud laugh escape his throat to fill the space between them. "Fine, Caroline… It's inappropriate! But, one thing you should know about me, by now, is that I give a flying fuck about what is appropriate or not."

"I haven't noticed that about you!" She replied, rolling her eyes. "Why are you always pushing my boundaries this way?"

He shook his head, letting a loud sigh escape his parted lips: "Because it triggers something inside of me that I can't quite explain to myself yet, to get you riled up, to set you on fire like this cigarette." He replied, more seriously; raising his hand to play with a loose strand of her blonde curls. "The way you crumple your nose when you're mad, the redness on your cheeks, the sparkling of fury in your eyes. You're as real as you can get, Caroline Forbes…There isn't much of that here."

She slowly turned her head in surprise, before they could exchange a long glance at each other: "Well… Thanks! I guess?" She replied, with a shiver; her breathing and heartbeats picking up in a dangerous pace inside her chest.

"You're cold." He noticed; before tugging his cigarette on the right corner of his lips to grab his leather jacket (that he was holding in his hand when he had arrived) to place it over her shoulders.

"Oh … Thanks!" She thanked him with a shy smile.

Damn it! That had been a bad idea to let him do that, because it was certainly not the alcohol nor the meds that was making her dangerously delirious and lightheaded at the present moment, but more so the sweet aroma of everything that was Klaus, and which came from his leather jacket wrapped around her shoulders!

"So …" Caroline started; while trying her damn best to make her mind think of something else than the uncontrollable urge to kiss him and jump his bones! "I've met your girlfriend, Ashley!"

He pulled his cigarette, leaning his head towards the back before bursting out laughing: "You know," He replied, pointing a straight finger at her. "I was set on not calling you "Pippi' anymore, Pippy."

She pulled her tongue at him, shrugging: "What? Isn't it her name?"

"No, it's Hayley and you perfectly know it, because I saw from a distance that you have exchanged a few words with her." He replied, before adding: "And she is not my girlfriend, because I don't have one; and never will."

"Really? Does she know you think that way? Because, she seemed very territorial toward you." She commented, shrugging nonchalantly; while trying to make him believe that she was uninterested by the present subject.

"Let's just say that we are friends with some benefits." He informed her; shrugging himself. "It's not against the law is it?"

"Wow! How romantic of you." She replied, avoiding his insistent stare. "No wonder she is trying so hard to mark her territory. You have managed to make me feel bad for the girl."

"With my brother, I'm one of the heads of an organization of bikers, Caroline. I don't have time for a serious relationship, nor do I need it in my life." He explained himself; in all seriousness. "It would make anyone who is sharing my life a sure target for our enemies."

"I know." She nodded, in agreement of his say.

If there was one thing she could understand of his way of thinking, it was that! Especially after her abduction!

"But … Elijah has a girlfriend?" She, also, couldn't let it go so easily.

"It's his choice. Let just say Hayley perfectly knows my terms." He added. "I gathered the two of you did not exchange over fashion trends, but more so over me." He came to the conclusion, teasingly. "Were you jealous?"

"What?" She exclaimed, in shock; a bright redness filling both of her cheeks. "Of course not! I'm not jealous of your … Of Hayley!"

"Was I part of the reason you drank that glass of Whiskey?" He pushed the issue, to make her react; while narrowing his sight on her.

She let a loud sigh escape her lips, deciding to remain stoic and silent over the fact that he was spot on, on the reason.

"I have… I have no idea what you're talking about, Klaus." She stammered a response; before pushing his leather jacket off her shoulders to let it fall on the grass. "Thanks for this!"

She rose on her two shaking legs; stumbling with her bare feet, only to come to a halt (in front of a guardrail with a view over the valley) to inhale fresh air inside her lungs.

He grabbed the butt of his cigarette, crushing it on the back of his right biker boot; before promptly jumping on his feet: "I'm talking about … "us"!"

She let a nervous laugh escape her parted lips; before shaking her head: "I still don't know what you're talking about, Klaus…Because, there is no "us"!"

He slowly approached her standing position, leaning his back on the guardrail, both arms crossed over his bulged chest; while silently staring at her.

"What?" She lashed out, glancing at him. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"You're not a woman who doesn't face the truth or her fears, Caroline." He replied. "We need to talk about it or we'll hit the wall and go straight "there"!"

"I'm not … I'm not scared of you, Klaus; if that is what you mean by "fears"." She shook her head, dismissively.

"You're not scared of me, but you're scared of the simple mention of "us"." He commented; focused. "You're scared of talking about "it", because it will make "it" real."

"OK, I don't know what brought this but, the fact is…" She started explaining, pointing a finger at him.

"The fact is that we baldly want to fuck each other, love" He threw the truth at her face, unwavering; burying his greyish eyes in her soul. "Quicker you'll agree to my say, quicker we'll be able to fix it without hitting the sheets!"

She shook her head, her chest raising rapidly over the increase of pace of her heartbeats; before responding in a shaking voice: "The fact is that you have Hayley, and … I have a life in New York, and a job, and a boyfriend!"

"We are not talking about Hayley, we are not talking about New York, your job, nor… Tristan." He replied, teaser.

"It's Tyler!" She rectified, with a roll of her eyes; before wrapping her arms around her body.

"I know; I studied your file by heart." He winked back. "We are not talking about your past, we are talking about here, now, "us'."

"Why are you doing this? Don't do this, Klaus; Please." She shook her head; begging him. "You have Hayley, put her in your bed!"

"I can't because you're in my bed!" He reminded her; winking.

"Then … I'll ask Lucinda to find me another bedroom in the mansion; and then you'll be able to have her in your bed, and I'll be able to sleep in another room!" She spat back; redness filling her cheeks.

"I don't want you in another bedroom, I want you in my bedroom, in my bed…" He stated the truth.

"Oh for God sake!" She stomped her left foot on the grass, angrily. "I know it's easier for security purposes, but…"

"…With me in it!" He added, unwavering. "And I know for a fact that you want the same thing, Caroline."

She buried her sight in his burning gaze, her chest raising under the rapid intake of air inside her lungs, and her heart pounding in her chest.

There was no reason to lie anymore, no reason to deny herself the truth; especially when the only thing her mind was able to focus on, at the present moment, was his full lips that he kept moistening with the tip of his tongue. Damn it … Damn him!

"Even if that was in fact the truth," She replied, breathless; swirling on herself to face the view of the alley. We … We are very different you and I; and we … We come from two different worlds, and… I don't have the savior syndrome of wanting to sleep with you because you saved my life… And…It's a bad idea!"

"You're probably right with everything you're saying, and …I don't say we should fuck." He agreed with her say; shrugging. "I'm saying that if we don't address the "sexual tension" between us; we'll screw each other in no time!"

"That is ridiculous!" She lashed out, turning on herself, once more, to face him. "You … You have an enormous ego, mister big shot biker!" She shook her head, silencing the devil voice in her head that was telling her to give into it, to give herself to him. "I am a grownup woman who can control herself, and …Maybe, it's you the problem, Klaus; did you think about that? Maybe you are the one who should control your urges for a change!"

"Really … Mm…" He commented, nodding. He slowly walked to reach Caroline's standing position; while making her roll back of a few steps, her back hitting the guardrail. "So, I'm the problem and you're not lying to yourself right now? So this morning, when you were trying to seduce me while I was on my cellphone, with the sliding of your panties on your legs, it was all in my head?"

FUCK! Damn it….

"What … What are you doing?" She stammered, nervously; narrowing her sight on his lips.

"Me?" He pointed a finger toward his own chest, shrugging; before tilting his head to the left. "I thought I would test your theory of the one side route of sexual urges. You know, just to prove your point?"

"I …I did not say it was one sided." Caroline mumbled, shaking her head; her front teeth biting into her bottom lip. "I said … Klaus!"

She let a load cry of his name as well as a loud moan escape her lips, the moment she saw him tilting his head toward the left side of her neck; both of his hands sliding down on each side of her hips to bring her in full contact with his muscular chest and body. He encircled her waist into a tight embrace; his hands now placed on the small of her back. His lips leaving a trail of fire up her neck, before he could softly bite into her jaw line and her left earlobe.

He then rose her hands and arms over his shoulders; her fingers having a mind of their own while finding the nape of his neck to caress his soft hair.

"Please, Klaus…" She begged some more, in a whisper; while his lips were kissing the round curves of her right cheek. "You won…" She conceded, turning her head to meet his burning gaze.

"That's the thing Caroline; in this battle, no one wins, we both loose." He responded, shaking his head; before grabbing her chin to press his full lips on her closed ones.

She whimpered when he tightened his embrace with one hand around her waist and the other raising from her left hip to the roundness of her breast.

"Open those pretty lips for me, love; I desperately need to taste you." He mouthed the erotic request, before gently sliding the tip of his tongue on the length of her bottom one.

Caroline strong will of denying this man of what they both wanted (as well as her knees) got weaker, and in matter of a few seconds she granted him the chance to deepen his kiss by partying her own lips.

A loud cough make them both startled and rapidly push each other at arm length from their embrace; only to turn around, and come face to face with… Big Joe!

The henchman narrowed his sight on them both; before firmly crossing both of his arms in front of his chest.

"Are we good?" Klaus asked Caroline, in a whisper; glancing from the corners of his eyes at his protégé. "Are we on the same page?"

"Yes!" She conceded, nodding; intense redness filling the skin of her cheeks.

"Bring her back inside to the table, would you?" Klaus addressed his right arm man, wiping the remaining of their kiss on his lips, with the tip of his right thumb; before taking a few steps to reach the spot where his leather jacket had been dropped on the grass; only to grab it and walk away.

Both Caroline and Big Joe watched Klaus disappear from their sights before she would rush her steps to grab her socks and her biker boots left on the grass.

She remained silent, rapidly pushing her feet in her boots, allowing herself a quick glance at the henchman, who kept his sight narrowed on her like a hawk!

"Don't!" She lashed out, a finger pointed at him.

"I did not say a thing, Blondie." He shrugged, still stoic and imperceptible.

"Maybe … But, it's all written on your face!" She commented, sighing loudly; before taking her first walking steps toward the bar.

---

Caroline couldn't say per certain if it was the fresh air or the unexpected arrival of Big Joe outside the bar (that had abruptly cut short her making out session with Klaus); but the effect of alcohol mixed with her meds had miraculously disappeared.

She reached their table, before dropping herself back into a sitting position, the chubby man close on her heels. He took his own sitting position, before narrowing his sight on her.

"What?" She busted at him. "Spill it out, Big Joe?"

"Do you have any idea what you're doing, Blondie? Do you, in top of being shot, rescued by a group of bikers, being under their protection – for the time being, that is – have the uncontrollable need to get your heart broken?"

"You're exaggerating!" She rolled her eyes to the beamed ceiling. "It was just a kiss …And, he kissed me! Why aren't you addressing your concerns to your boss?"

"Just a kiss, mm? It looked more than that to me. Oh, oh, oh… And, believe me he's going to hear an ear full of my remonstrance!" The chubby man replied; pointing a finger at Klaus's standing position at the counter. "You two, together … It's a bad idea!"

"Why are you screaming your heads off, you two?" Katherine asked, reaching the table herself; both hands placed on the back of her chair. "And Big Joe I didn't know you could say word such as "remonstrance"?" She teased, winking at him. "What did your boss do that he would need to hear an ear full?"

"Very funny Kit Kat!" He rolled his eyes, himself. "And just so you know, I wasn't born a biker; I grew into one by choice; therefore, I know how to use the English language."

"OK, OK, chill … I was just making a joke!" She responded, remorsefully.

"Where were you?" Caroline asked her friend, dryly.

"Well, mummy; I was outside, taking a breath of fresh air. Is it OK with you?" Katherine replied, pulling the chair to sit by her side.

"Fine! It's just … I was searching for you or Big Joe and I couldn't' find neither of you." Caroline explained herself. "And …What do you have on your neck?"

Katherine startled, before promptly raising her left hand over the red mark left by her certain someone on her skin; before mumbling an incoherent answer. "Nothing! I was taking some fresh air, and … it's probably an insect bite."

"An insect bite, really?" Big Joe narrowed her sight on the brunette; shaking his head in disbelief. "More like a love bite if you're asking me; you two are unbelievable!"

"What is he talking about?" Caroline asked her female friend; pointing toward the chubby man.

"Nothing! He's making fun of me; aren't you, Big Joe?" Katherine suggested, with big opened eyes.

"Sure… Whatever!" He shrugged it off.

"As for you, Miss-I-know-everything, we weren't there before because… after gulping Big Joe's drink your head fell on the table and you kept asking us to leave you alone; because, and I quote: you had this greater than life, headache." She snapped back at Caroline.

"What she is saying!" The henchman agreed with a nod.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...to the both of you; alright?" Caroline expressed her apologies. "I couldn't remember!"

"Oh, I'm sure there are other "events" of the night that you'll keep in your memory just fine, Blondie!" He commented, frowning; while hitting his fingers on the table.

"What is he talking about?" Katherine questioned her friend; pointing at him. "What were you two arguing about before I came back?"

"Nothing! We were talking about nothing!" Caroline emphasized, redness filling her cheeks.

No way in hell was she ready to share her contradictory feelings for Klaus with Katherine. Even if she perfectly knew her female friend was lying through her teeth, because an insect bite of this size was called a hickey! And who was she to judge Katherine? If she wanted to have an affair with Elijah (and she would bet all her bank account that it was in fact the leader), it was her business! In the meantime, it would grant her the chance to have the general focus on them and not on her and Klaus!

"I doubt it's nothing. Don't tell me you're mad, Big Joe, because we ruffled Ashley's feathers earlier?" Her friend asked the henchman.

"It's Hayley." He rectified, shaking his head. "And I couldn't care less if the three of you would pull your hair off your scalps while fighting in a mud bath!"

"Interesting idea; we'll keep it in our minds. Won't we Caroline?" Katherine replied, grinning. "And we kind of know her name is Hayley, but we love to call her Ashley."

"You two are a serious pain in my ass!" The chubby man responded, chuckling.

"We know…But don't forget that you would die for us." Katherine replied, winking at him.

"Don't remind me, Kit Kat." He rolled his eyes.

"Can we sing?" Caroline unexpectedly and very suddenly asked. "I mean, can Katherine and I sing?"

"What?" Both Katherine and Big Joe exclaimed, while staring at her in utter shock.

"I mean, the Karaoke night is not over, right?" She questioned, once more; shrugging. "Many of you sang, why can't we?"

"Let me get this straight, Blondie," Big Joe lowered his chest on the table, whispering: "You want for the both of you to sing in front of the boys and participate in the Karaoke contest?"

"Yes; that's exactly what I've said, no?" Caroline turned her head to glance into the man's eyes; before promptly raising on her legs. "I want to prove that we can beat your bosses' little performance."

"Hey? Wait just a second, Caroline. I did not say I was singing!" Katherine rose to grab her friend's left forearm.

"Oh come on, Katherine," Caroline buried her sight in her friend's; begging her in a silent prayer to reconsider. "Don't you have this uncontrollable need to show those men that we are more than City girls?" She questioned, before glancing at both Klaus and Elijah; who were sipping their drinks at the bar counter.

"Oh! Don't you think for a second that I'm not game to do it; because you know me, I'm game! It's just you who surprises me the most at the moment." Katherine agreed, with a shake of her head, a grin and a smile. "What song?"

Caroline clapped her hands together in joy, before whispering in her friend' ear the title.

"Badass, Carebear!" Katherine commented, with a small laugh.

"So you'll sing with me?" Caroline asked; biting her bottom lip to forbid herself to smile.

"That song? Hell yes, I will!" Her friend responded, winking. "Big Joe, tell them that we want to sing!"

"Why do I have this bad feeling inside my guts that I'll regret this?" He shook his head, before whistling and yelling above the general brouhaha: "Eduardo! The girls want to sing!"

---

"Where's Hayley?" Elijah questioned his brother, scattering the large room; while signing Anita to bring him a bottle of beer.

"Coming right up, sweetheart." She nodded in his direction.

"I don't know, she probably left." Klaus responded, shrugging; raising his own bottle to his lips. "We are not each other' keeper, Elijah. We've never been and never will."

El Diablo shook his head, dumbfounded: "That is how you will handle Caroline, by pushing Hayley away, Klaus?"

"I don't know, Elijah? How will you handle Katherine? By kissing her under the full moon perhaps?" Klaus questioned, teasingly. "I saw the both of you coming back from outside, I doubt the mark on her neck was an insect bite or that you went for a walk with the dog…. Oh wait! You don't have a dog!"

"Here's your beer, darling!" Anita placed the bottle in front Elijah. "Enjoy!"

"Thanks Anita!" Elijah thanked the waitress, smiling. "Sometimes the need of throwing my closed fist into your face is all I think about for days, Nicklaus!" He added, narrowing his sight on his brother; before raising his bottle in the air to take his first gulp.

"But…Mostly when I say the truth." Klaus pointed out, teasingly.

"You and Caroline left for a long time yourselves." Elijah shrugged; gulping more of the amber alcohol. "Care to share where you were?" He questioned, nonchalantly; munching on a few peanuts.

"Not particularly." Klaus responded, evasively. "Let just say Caroline and I discussed the issue and we have put our cards on the table. We won't go "there".

Elijah leaned his head towards the back before letting a loud laugh escape his parted lips: "Ah Nicklaus! You see that is the difference between you and me. I perfectly know that sooner or hopefully much later, I won't be able to say "no", but until that time, I'll try my fucking damn best to make it way later for both Katherine's sake and mine. While praying that God will make it "never"! If that's not the case, it'll hurt like hell when she'll leave. As oppose to you who is blind to the truth and will probably make it happen way sooner."

"Yap" Klaus replied, shaking his head. "Sometimes the need of throwing my closed fist into your face is all I think about for days too, Elijah!" He added, smirking.

"That need will pass!" The eldest replied, winking; before narrowing his sight on both Katherine and Caroline that were walking to reach the stage. "What are they up to now?"

Klaus swirled on himself, arching an eyebrow: "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Didn't you hear?" Anita barged in the middle of their conversation; lowering her keep neckline on the counter. "The girls want to sing!"

"They want to what?" El Diablo questioned his own sanity.

"Oh… God help us all!" Klaus exclaimed, stroking his eyelids; before letting a small laugh escape his lips.

They noticed Big Joe making his way through the tables toward their standing positions: "Anita, bottle of champagne!"

"Coming right up my darling!" Anita replied, with a nod.

"What are we celebrating?" Klaus questioned, grinning.

"The girls," Big Joe started his explanation, jumping uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "They…They asked me to bring them a bottle for their performance."

"Please tell me you're joking?" Elijah questioned, his sight narrowed on their henchman; arms crossed over his bulged chest.

Klaus lowered his upper body near the chubby man to whisper: "Will they give us a wet t-shirts contest? Please tell they will?"

"No!" Big Joe shook his head. "Well, I don't think so!"

"Elijah you should see your face right now!" Klaus commented, before chuckling loudly.

"Why do you need a bottle of champagne?" The leader rose his head to yell at Katherine through the loud noise in the room.

"Give us the damn bottle, Elijah!" She shout back to him, stumping her foot on the stage.

"No wet t-shirts contest, Katherine!" He shouted some more to her.

"Why? It's kind of good idea!" She tilted her head, winking back at him.

"Oh! That woman is driving me nuts!" Elijah swore between his clenched teeth; passing a hand through his tick hair.

"Here's the bottle, Big Joe!" Anita passed it to him.

"Thank you, darling!" The henchman replied, grabbing the bottle. "Is it OK, boss?"

"Do I have a choice?" Elijah shrugged, wincing.

"Later Elijah … Much later than me, you'll give to temptation!" Klaus teased his brother with his own words; before bursting into laughter.

"Oh shut the fuck up, Nicklaus!" Elijah replied, rolling his eyes.

---

"Boys!" Big Joe shouted to them through the microphone. "Can I have your attention?"

"What do you want, Big Joe; you lost the competition already, go sit your big ass on a chair!" One of the bikers shouted; triggering the general laughter.

"Yeah, whatever!" The henchman waved a dismissive hand to his say; before adding: "Contest is not done yet, the girls … Well, they want to participate."

In matters of seconds, bikers had regained their sitting positions from the pools, the bar counter or the darts board spot, to their tables.

"Wow! I'm not so sure it's a good idea anymore." Caroline whispered to Katherine.

"A little late to change your mind, Caroline." Her friend responded, rolling her eyes at her.

"We are more than ready for you, ladies!" One of them yelled, under the muffled chuckle of others.

"Hey…Respect boys!" Elijah yelled to the crowd from his standing position at the bar counter; while calming their ardours.

"Sure thing, boss!" Another agreed to his boss' main condition; before the calm could regain its ground.

"We added a microphone; have fun!" Big Joe addressed both of the girls, jumping off the stage to walk toward the counter.

"One day, I'll make you pay for this, Caroline!" Katherine whispered, approaching her own microphone. "But tonight ... I'll have fun; teaching a lesson at those two at the bar!"

"Right with you on that one." Her friend agreed with a grin.

"Hi guys!" Katherine greeted the boys, with a smile, into her microphone.

"Hi gorgeous!" One of them replied.

"Hey!" Elijah shouted once more in a loud warning.

"No offense but she is; boss." The biker replied, dumbfounded.

"But she is, Elijah?" Klaus repeated, shrugging; lowering his head down to laugh.

"Shut up, Klaus!" Elijah warned his brother, between clenched teeth. "How in hell did you allow this to happen?" He addressed Big Joe who had walked back to the counter.

"What? You want me to tie them to a chair?" The chubby man questioned. "How do you want me to stop them from singing?"

"Don't ask that question about tying them to a chair, if you don't want to hear the answer." Klaus commented, grinning.

"No need to get all riled up, Elijah; it's just a song." Caroline replied to him in the microphone, triggering the general laughter of the assembly.

"Tell him, Blondie!" One, who had rose from his sitting position, shouted.

"Hey!" Klaus rose a finger at the tall blonde guy, as a warning.

"Sorry boss! We'll listen to the song now… quietly!" The guy bowed gracefully; sitting on his chair.

"Somehow I doubt it!" Klaus added, before meeting Caroline's glance. "Do your thing!"

"Now that the table is turned; it's fun!" Elijah told his brother, grinning.

"I hate you!" Klaus winced at his brother; before waving at the waitress. "Anita, give me something strong; I'll need it!"

---

"OK boys, so, mm… We changed the lyrics a little bit to make it our own." Caroline explained, raising her microphone to the right level for her height. "But, it's still a rock classic that you'll recognized."

"So bear with us, OK?" Katherine asked for their indulgence.

"Ready for the music?" Eduardo (in charge of the instrumental) asked them.

"As ready as we can ever be." Caroline responded to the biker, hearing the first notes; grabbing her microphone before hitting the first lyrics after a solo of electric guitars: "Love is like a bomb, baby, c'mon get it on. Livin' like a lover with a radar phone, lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp; demolition man, can I be your woman?"

Katherine grabbed her own, taking in charge the following lyrics: "Razzle 'n' a dazzle 'n' a flash a little light, television lover, baby go all night. Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet … Little mister innocent sugar me, Yeah….Yeah…"

In matter of seconds, the boys were on their feet, hitting their fists in the air, shouting the lyrics with both of the girls, or expressing their appreciation by jumping on chairs, or pushing a few of them on the floor.

The girls exchanged a wink, before Caroline would grab the bottle of champagne and start shaking it to make its cork pop and the alcohol burst, both singing in duo this time around: "So c'mon, take a bottle, shake it up, break the bubble, break it up!"

"Please tell me I'm dreaming, Elijah? They're not singing: Pour some sugar on me from Def Leppard in a room full of drunken men?" Klaus questioned his brother, pacing back and forth in front of the bar counter. "It's like …."

"You seem distressed, Nicklaus? Problem?" Elijah teased, grinning.

"With those lyrics; it's like undressing themselves completely naked in front of them!" Klaus shouted, unhappy; before drinking in an entire gulp his double dose of Whiskey. "Big Joe, say something?"

"The only thing I know for sure as of now is that they will win the damn night contest!" Big Joe shook his head, in disbelief. "These two are a force of nature to not reckon with!"

"They're good!" Anita commented, smiling; lowering her upper body on the counter. "They could easily fit right in with the boys!"

"You'll stand there and do nothing?" Klaus questioned his brother, shaking his head.

"What do you want me to do now? I've told you this would happen, and now they've set the damn place on fire!" Elijah replied, waving both arms in the air; helpless.

Katherine shouted: "Sing boys!" before raising her microphone in the air.

"Pour some sugar on me!" They all sang.

Caroline sang: "ohhh in the name of love."

Katherine: "Sing boys!"

"Pour some sugar on me!" They all repeated in tune.

"C'mon fire me up!" They both sang in their microphones. "Pour some sugar on me, I can't get enough!"

"Hey you two … They are looking at you!" Big Joe warned both of his leaders, grinning.

They both shook their heads, glancing at the girls; arms firmly crossed over their chests.

"I'm hot, sticky sweet, from my head to my feet, yeah…" They both sang their lyrics, winking at them both.

"They are taking their revenge on us, you do realize that?" Elijah whispered to his brother; while shaking his head.

"Yap, I do." Klaus replied, nodding; before feeling the vibration of his cellphone. "Excuse-me." He addressed both Elijah and Big Joe, taking a few steps toward the corridor leading to the restrooms to answer to his caller ….

Kol!

---

Elijah narrowed his sight on his brother who rushed his steps back to reach him; lowering his head to whisper near his left ear: "Both Kol and Rebekah were attacked by Desperaldo's men a few hours ago. They opened fire inside a lounge bar in New York."

Elijah slowly raised his head to glance into his brother' eyes, the features of his bearded face transforming into full closure.

"Big Joe grabbed the girls, drive back to the mansion, full speed!" He ordered his henchman, toneless and unwavering.

"He attacked; hasn't he?" The chubby man came to the only conclusion; before nodding and agreeing to his order. "Right away boss!"

"Anita! Gather your team." He then yelled to the waitress. "Close the place in record time!"

"OK, boss," The waitress agreed, shakily; before nodding in respect. "We will."

Klaus took a few steps to reach the tables, before entering two fingers inside his mouth to let a shrill hiss rise above the loud cheering in the room. In a matter of seconds, a total silence had set its ground, once again, in the large room.

"We are under attack … Leave now!" Elijah ordered his men.

In matter of seconds, the men have grabbed their leather jackets, rushing outside.

Big Joe jumped on the stage, throwing both microphones on the floor, from the girls' hands before forcefully grabbing them both by the upper arms to push them out.

"Hey!" Katherine shouted to him. "Watch your manners, Big Joe! What's the matter? What is happening?"

"Ouch! You're hurting us!" Caroline scolded him.

"We leave now!" He ordered them both, dryly. "Walk!"

---

Songs listing:

"We will rock you" from: Queen

"One thing right" from: Marshmello and Kane Brown

"Pour some sugar on me" from: Def Leppard