Hello, my lovely readers. Caroline returns home to a few surprises and Elijah deals with internal family drama. On with the show…
Chapter 20: The Calm Before the Storm
Poised to ring the doorbell, Caroline felt nervous. Why? She had no reason to be nervous. She'd passed her test, with flying colors, and now it was time to celebrate. Rolling her eyes at herself, Caroline placed her index finger over the bell. About to push it, she found the door opening. Then a pair of arms pulled her up, and through the open doorway. Sighing in relief, she buried her face in his neck. Half of her had been afraid he would be angry, but she had been wrong. So, wonderfully wrong.
"Welcome home, love!" Klaus eased back to kiss Caroline on the lips.
"Very welcome to me!" Caroline giggled as Klaus carried her down the hallway.
Klaus set Caroline on her feet. She grinned as he began to undress her. Yup. This was the way she always wanted to be welcomed home, after a frightening encounter with The Council. And she could not get her own clothes off fast enough.
~0~
Lying beside Klaus, Caroline ran a finger along the tattoo of flying birds across his chest. Her nose moved to nuzzle his ink before her head rose to find his lips. "I missed you most of all, you know." She eased back to look into his eyes. His answering smirk made her laugh, laying her face back down on his chest.
"I am aware." Klaus ran his hands through her hair, pulling her head back to kiss her, holding her tight. His hand stroked her back. "However, I suspected you would pass." Caroline propped herself up on an elbow and stared down at him, tracing a circle along his chest. He looked thoughtful and not entirely with her as he spoke. Made her wonder what he'd been up to while she was gone. However, she could not read his emotions in that moment. Well, not all of them anyway…
Klaus ran a hand along her bare arm. "What, exactly, did they do to you, Caroline?" Now, this she could read. His concern was palpable. His hand moved down to her wrist. He flipped it over to take a look at her wrist, his eyes moved to meet hers with a questioning look.
"Oh... You know... The usual..." Caroline moved to straddle Klaus. She ran her hands down to his hips. "They hung me upside down and tickled my feet, until I gave up all my deep, dark secrets." With a grin, she leaned down to press a kiss above his navel. She hoped to distract him. And she felt pretty certain she did. For all of a minute.
Suddenly sitting up, Klaus took her by the wrists, holding her still, and stared into her eyes. "Caroline, do not play games! Tell me... Did they hurt you?" His dark eyes bored hers and Caroline relaxed. His worry for her came off him in waves.
Easing her face closer to his, and rocking her hips; Caroline smiled at Klaus. "Nope. I'm as good as new. Better even. I have a Guardian, who will kick the ass of anyone who tries to touch me." She bent her head, to lick the side of Klaus' neck. "Now, I think we were celebrating my homecoming, weren't we?"
In answer, Klaus turned them, and Caroline fell on her back before he dove under the sheet. She closed her eyes, enjoying being home...
~0~
"You should probably go; let your friends know you've returned. Wouldn't want them to worry. Now, would we?" Klaus ran a hand over Caroline's bare back as she sat on the side of his bed.
Caroline had to admit to herself that she could not spend the whole day in bed with Klaus. She needed to see Bonnie, let her know that Caroline got the note magical note. Tyler. Hayley. They must have worried, too. And Ric. He must be so angry with her, after she promised him she would not go to The Council.
"Yeah..." Caroline offered Klaus a quick smile. She got up and gathered her clothes. "I'm sure they've been worried, too. I'll go and call them." If only he'd give her an excuse to delay the inevitable. But Klaus seemed to be lost to his own thoughts as he got up to find his clothing.
Carrying her clothes into Klaus' bathroom, Caroline closed the door and moved to lean against the sink. She stared in the mirror. What would she say to Ric: "Sorry, I lied to you. Sorry, I could have been killed. But, hey, look at me! No death! Well, you know, other than the vamp-y part!" Yes, lots of cheer, that would distract from all the "Why did you do that thing?" fun.
Head falling forward, Caroline decided it would be best to concentrate on the dressing part. She should go home before heading to any of her friends' places. Take a shower. Find some clothes that said: I'm alive! Again, she rolled her eyes at herself.
Phone call. Yes! Stop being a chicken and get with the calling your people, Caroline, she chided herself. Running a hand through her hair, Caroline decided to go with the friend she hoped would be the most understanding. Pressing the contact, she waited, examining her nails as the line rang. Then: "You've reached Bonnie Bennett. Sorry, I'm probably studying right now. Please, leave your name, and number. I will call you back as soon as I can. Thank you!"
Caroline frowned. She'd been hoping to be able to talk to Bonnie. "Hey! I'm back! Call me!" Hanging up, Caroline shook her head. Where was Bonnie?
Choosing the next number, Caroline waited. Again, she got voicemail: "Hey! You reached Tyler's phone. He's busy having a life, so leave your number and I might call you back. Bye!" "Tyler, answer your phone!" Caroline told the voicemail.
Next. Voicemail. Did they all decide they did not want to talk to her. "Hayley, you have better be busy with work." Caroline ran a hand through her hair. Klaus would have told Caroline if Hayley had been eaten by a vamp. Right?
Sighing, Caroline turned her back to the mirror. "Anyway, I passed my test. So, it is time to celebrate. Call me when you're ready to do that..."
Last, but not least... Deep inhale... And voicemail. "Hello, you've reached the voicemail of Alaric Saltzman. I am cannot answer the phone, right now. Please leave you name, number, and a brief message…" Beeeeeep.
"Hi...um...It's me… I thought… I wanted let you know I'm home. Safe and sound. I hope you're okay. And if you know why Bon, Ty, and Hales, aren't picking up... Yeah. Okay. Give me a ring..."
Closing her eyes, Caroline rubbed her temples. Where were her friends?
A soft tapping at the door made Caroline look up. "Yes?"
The door opened and Klaus came in. "You weren't able to get through?" He came over to rub her shoulders. Pressing her face into his chest, Caroline shook her head.
Arms going around Klaus' neck, Caroline leaned her check into his jacket. "Big, fat nope."
Klaus ran his hands down to her lower back. "They'll come 'round. They love you. Trust me, sweetheart. In the meantime, I would like to ask you something."
"Oh?" Leaning back, Caroline peered up at Klaus. He looked slightly nervous, which made her nervous. She could also feel a wave of his anxiety and hopefulness which left her with mixed signals.
Taking her left hand in his, Klaus stroked her fingers with his own. "Would you have dinner with me? Tonight?" He offered her a big smile, complete with puppy dog eyes. Now, Caroline wondered why he would ever feel nervous about asking her that?
Caroline laughed, her nose wrinkling up. "Yes! Wow! You had such a serious look on your face! I thought you were about to ask me to..." Marry you, she finished silently. "Do something serious..." Lame. So, very lame...
That serious look returned and Caroline stopped laughing, inhaling sharply. She could feel Klaus reading himself to say something important.
"I am, love." Klaus continued to rub her fingers. He inhaled. "This would be a family dinner. A family-only dinner. Because you are one of us, now. You are my..." Klaus continued to look nervous, "my..."
"Lover? Consort? Sometimes mortal enemy?"
"Wife." Klaus stared into Caroline's eyes. "You are a Mikaelson. In my heart. If not in the human mind's conception of marriage. You are the one being that I intend of having by my side, for the rest of eternity." Now, that the words were out; Caroline felt Klaus relaxing. He even smiled at her while her mind began to whirl through what marriage meant to a thousand-year-old vampire. So many questions? Like what to get for their first anniversary? Bet it wasn't paper.
"Oh?" Caroline nodded. "Okay. So, we're, um, married. And this is your family dinner…where you announce that we are...married, even though I'm still in high school?"
Klaus sighed and started to move away. All of the happiness that Caroline could feel building inside him had begun to turn to glum resolve and detachment "I should have waited a decade, or so, to discuss my feelings on the subject. Excuse me." He moved to leave when Caroline hooked her legs around him and pulled him back.
"Hey! You don't get to drop the whole vampire marriage thing on me, and then run away! We're together, forever! And what are we having for dinner?" Caroline saw a slow smile appear on Klaus' face. He leaned down to kiss her on the lips. Yes. She thought she could get behind this marriage thing. It felt pretty damned good.
~0~
With a deep inhale, Caroline punched the doorbell in front of her. She really had no idea what to expect. Bonnie may not even be home. She hadn't called, or texted Caroline back.
Then Caroline heard movement inside of Bonnie's house. Someone coming to the door. Could be Shelia Bennett.
The door opened, and Caroline felt happy to see it was Bonnie who opened the door. "Hey!" About to add, "I called," Caroline became aware that Bonnie was not alone. The sound of multiple of people's hushed breathing made Caroline hesitate. Did Bonnie have company over? Is that why she didn't call Caroline back?
Bonnie leaned back. "She's here!" The witch called out: "Come in, Care! We've been waiting for you!" She held out a hand and Caroline took it.
Inside the house Tyler, Hayley, Ric, and Ric's girlfriend, Jo, were waiting. "Hi, everybody!" Caroline waved as she walked further into the living room.
"Hey!" Tyler crossed the floor first. "Look! We have cute, little party hats for all!" He placed one on Caroline's head who grinned, feeling like she was at her tenth birthday party; only this party was fraught with a hell of a lot more tension. "Thanks, Tyler."
Tyler nodded his head. "Music. If this is party; there should be music! I'm the music man!" He bounced over to an outlet and plugged his iPod in. Caroline watched him with raised eyebrows as his head bobbed up and down and he scrolled over the small device.
"Don't mind him, he's been a little hyper lately. Don't know why..." Bonnie's eyes went to Hayley. Before Caroline could reply, Hayley waved at the coffee table as she came to stand with them. "We have chips, and dip. Nothing says: We're happy The Council did not find out that you are one of the undead like nachos and salsa!" She smiled and nodded. "I should see if Ty needs help with the music selection." She moved to join Tyler, who jumped at her presence.
Yup, these two were being weird, but Caroline had someone she really needed to talk to. So, she would have to work out what was going on in Teen Drama Land, later.
Eyes scanning the people in the room, Caroline's focus returned to her mentor, Alaric Saltzman. He stood next to the couch, not quite looking at Caroline. He'd seemed to have found a super-interesting spot; somewhere above his charge's head.
"I'll be back in a minute. I have to," Caroline inclined her head in Ric's direction.
Bonnie nodded. But then she grabbed Caroline, hugging her tight. "We missed you. I missed you!"
Squeezing her eyelids shut, Caroline hugged Bonnie back. "Me, too." This is exactly the greeting she had hoped for, but did not expect.
"Okay." Pulling back, Bonnie waved Caroline off. "Go make peace with Ric. He's been a mess since you took off."
"Yeah?" Turning to face Alaric, Caroline tried to find clues to his messiness. Not that she didn't believe Bonnie. Bonnie didn't lie to her, or most people. Maybe the occasional vamp, who Bon was not involved with...
Snapping out of her inner thoughts, Caroline forced herself to stop being all avoid-y, and to get on with the talking part of the day.
"Ric," Caroline called as she headed over to stand before her silent friend.
Jo looked from her boyfriend to Caroline. Her wide blue eyes stopped on Caroline. "I am going to go get some more punch. So delicious! You guys want some?"
Caroline shook her head. Alaric glanced at Jo. "Sure. Thanks." He shot Jo a quick smile before not looking at Caroline, again.
When they were alone, Caroline found her feet had grown quite interesting in the last seconds. "So, I was tested. Good news: I passed! You have an A-plus Slayer on your hands, buddy!" She joked. Alaric did not look at her. Her arms went around her middle. "Yup. So, I'm alive. Happiness! Party hats for all!" Trying to think of something else to say, Caroline felt tears brewing. "I know. Okay? I did a stupid thing! I risked my life. And you can be mad at me, but I was trying to save you... And can you: Please, please, please, just look at me-"
Before Caroline could say anything else, arms went around her. She sighed, and her arms moved to wrap around Alaric's middle while he crushed her to him. "So, you're not mad anymore?" She asked, her face smushed into his shirt.
Alaric leaned back, hand still on the back of her head. "Of course, I'm still mad, Caroline! You lied to my face! But you made it out of there. And you're home. And Jo has punch. Tyler, did you spike this!"
"Nuh-uh!" Tyler said around the rim of a cup. Letting his cup-holding-arm droop, he added, "I could; if you want."
"Nope! We're good!" Jo called out, quickly. A little too quickly. She sent Ric look over the rim of her cup. Caroline did not know what to make of that, either. How much had happened since she left?
Well, Caroline told herself, I have plenty of time to find out. She moved out of Alaric's grip and held out her arms. "Who's in the mood for a party?" She waved her arms over her head and shook her hips, grinning at her friends.
"Me!" Tyler, Bonnie, and Hayley called out.
Still grinning, Caroline held up her arms, and moved to the middle of the floor, to dance with her friends. It really was good to be home.
~0~
The Original family sat in awkward silence. Elijah could feel the tension beneath the seemingly calm waves of silence. He picked up his empty glass, and stared inside it. "Kol, be a dear, and fetch us another bottle, will you?" Eyes flicking up to meet his brother's, Elijah noted Kol was staring at his phone as if it contained the secrets to all of his problems.
Kol looked up from his phone. "Why not ask someone who has barely made family status? Hmm? Freya, you don't look busy." He grinned at Freya who sat at Elijah's left side.
Freya looked up from her empty plate. "Yes?" She looked tired. "I'm sorry, Kol, did you ask me for something?"
"Blasted hell!" Rebekah got to her feet. "At this rate, we'll never be served!" She strode out of the dining room, passing by Klaus who sat at the end of the table. He glanced at his watch, with an air of impatience.
"Caroline will be here, Niklaus." Elijah found himself smiling. He could tell Niklaus was nervous. His younger brother had been scowling for the better part of the last ten minutes and staring at his watch for longer. And Elijah knew the reason why Klaus was so nervous. Caroline had dined with them before, but never in such an official capacity. This meant a momentous occasion. Finally, some good news. And if Caroline had The Prophecy on her, even better.
As if someone heard his thoughts; the doorbell chimed. Klaus smirked, and got to his feet, "Excuse me." He smoothed his tie and sped out of the room
Rebekah returned with a bottle of red wine. Her brows rose. "What was that about?"
Kol jumped in. "Nik is expecting Caroline. Why else would he act as if someone set one of his paintings of fire?" Laughing, he held up his glass, for Rebekah to fill it.
Sneering, Rebekah shook her head. "I'm not your bloody servant. Freya, would you like some?"
"Bloodless?" Freya inquired.
Rebekah looked at the bottle. She frowned, and then held it out to Elijah. He took it. "Yes." Uncorking it, he poured Freya and Rebekah glasses.
"I asked first!" Kol complained, waving his glass at Elijah.
Elijah's mouth twisted upward in the corner. "Do it politely."
Eyes narrowing, Kol was about to retort when Klaus and Caroline appeared. "Hi!" Caroline called to them.
Freya got up and crossed the room to hug Caroline.
"You had safe travels?" Freya inquired. Obviously, their sister had bonded with the Slayer on their little road trip. Another piece to make their family whole.
"I did. Thanks for asking. Oh, and I have that scroll Elijah wanted." Caroline unzipped her bag, digging inside it.
Elijah was half-aware of Kol leaning over to the table, to snag the bottle of wine when Freya said: "Good. Then you got Bonnie's message—" Oh, Freya, Elijah silently chided his older sister, taking a sip of his wine.
"What message?" Now, Kol fell back into his seat, to stare at Freya.
It was Caroline who answered. "Bonnie sent me a message that Elijah hoped The Council had an original copy of The Prophecy?" looking confused, Caroline's eyes shifted from Kol to Freya, her lips pursing as she, too, tried to untwist the ever-growing knot between Kol, Bonnie, and Freya.
"You mean The Prophecy that states you, and the other one, are going to kill us all?" Rebekah inquired, a sharp reprimand in her tone. "Elijah, refill!" She held out her glass, eyes on the Slayer.
Before Caroline could answer; Kol jumped back in: "Excuse me! Back to my point, Freya! When, exactly, were you with Bonnie, sending this message?"
"Bonnie sent the message." Freya looked calm, but Elijah could see her body tensing. This would not end well.
"Oh, well. Excuse me. When were you with my girl as she performed a spell for our darling brother, who also did not bother to inform me about asking my witch to do magic for him!" shooting Elijah a dark look; Kol waited for an answer.
"Wait a moment!" Caroline moved between the siblings. "Kol, stop with the "My witch!" stuff! If Bonnie were here, she would kick your ass—"
"She isn't here. No, her little...what would you call yourself, in respect to my girlfriend? Hmm, sister?" Getting to his feet, Kol continued to glare at Freya. "Friend? Part of a two-part coven? Takes a bit more in most circles, doesn't it? I know what a great many people would call what your carrying on is—"
"Kol, do not say something you will wish you had not later!" Elijah warned his brother. He tapped the rim of his glass, sitting back in his seat and stared at Kol was just barely in control of himself.
"Oh, but I do wish! I wish SHE," KOL pointed at Freya, "had never appeared in our lives in the first place!"
"Kol!" Klaus sped over and took Kol the lapels of his jacket. "Would you like to see the inside of a box, for another century?"
"See what you're joining, Caroline?" Kol called, sneering at Klaus. "Devoting yourself to a mad man, who will toss you in a box, whenever you displease him. And siblings who go about lying to you!" Jerking free of Klaus; Kol moved away. "Do not worry! I know the way out!" He grabbed the bottle of wine and stormed around Caroline. "Welcome home, love." He waved the bottle at her before the sound of the front door slammed shut in his wake.
"Bloody wonderful!" Klaus muttered. He rubbed his temples with the tips of his fingers. "Caroline, I do apologize for that." He waved a hand in the general direction of where Kol exited the scene.
Caroline shrugged. "It could have been worse. There's no blood on the carpet. So, that's a plus. And no one got staked, stabbed, or lost an appendage. Could be a looot worse!" She chuckled, looking at the remaining siblings.
For a moment, no one replied, and then Elijah began to chuckle, too. "Thank you, Caroline, for adding some levity to this moment in our family's history. And I feel remiss." Getting to his feet, he crossed the floor, and leaned over to give Caroline a brief hug. "We are all very happy to see your home and well."
"Thanks, Elijah. I'm happy to be home. With all of you." The Slayer looked around the room. Elijah found Rebekah was serving herself another drink.
"Right then. Enough of the sentimental drivel. Let us see this scroll; the one that forecasts the doom of our species, shall we?" Cocking one eyebrow, Rebekah looked to Caroline.
"Rebekah!" Klaus snarled.
Rebekah scoffed. "As if we're not all thinking the same thing!" With a slow look around the table, she nodded to herself and reached for the bottle. "Exactly."
"Niklaus..." Elijah waved his fingers and Klaus sped over to Rebekah's side. "It seems you've had enough, Rebekah," Elijah intoned as Caroline came over to offer Elijah the scroll in her hand.
Removing the bottle from Rebekah's grip—which only resulted in a minor struggle—Klaus filled a glass before handing it off to Caroline.
"Thank you," Caroline said to Klaus. She moved to place a hand on the back of Elijah's chair. "So, what does it say?" she inquired.
With a pause, Elijah frowned. He could feel the eyes of his siblings on him. "To be honest," he looked up to meet Rebekah's gaze. "I do not know."
No one spoke. Then Rebekah let out a low scoff. "Bloody hell!" She slammed her hands on the tabletop and got to her feet. "The Head of That Blasted Council wants our heads, over a scroll in a language that our most intelligent sibling cannot decipher?" Snorting, she shook her head. "What? It is written in Aramaic?"
Brows rising, Elijah glanced back down at the scroll. "Perhaps..."
Klaus leaned into Caroline. "No. It's not." He seemed sure of this fact.
"Oh, and, pray tell, since when did you become an expert in dead languages?" Narrowing her eyes, Rebekah sat forward, steepeling her fingers, and gave Klaus a quizzical look.
Klaus smirked back at her. "Oh, dear little sister, I have done more than you know."
Again, Rebekah snorted and rolled her eyes. "Ah. Yes. That must have been during one of my lying-daggered-in-a-box for years. Or decades. But who is counting." Waving an airy hand, she got to her feet. "I'm off to somewhere in which they will not cut me off. Do not wait up." She sauntered to the doorway. "Oh, and do, be a dear, and let me know if anything useful comes up." Then, Rebekah, too, was gone.
Klaus gave Elijah a long look. "Two down."
Sighing, Elijah returned to his studying of the work before him. "Isn't an Egyptian hierologic?" Caroline's index finger went down, to hover over the symbol.
"Yes! I believe it! Good catch, Caroline!" Elijah glanced up at Caroline, who shot Klaus a gleeful grin.
"See, actually showing up to class for world history helps!" Caroline said.
Now, Freya took a look. "And Sumerian."
"Thank you, sister." Now, the scroll made more sense. It was not one language: It was three. And it might take time, to take each symbol, translate it's meaning, and place it in context of the overall work, but Elijah felt they were on the right track. "Yes. I believe I can translate this work."
"Good." Klaus moved around the table. "Then, perhaps we can salvage dinner." He held out a hand, and Caroline came to stand side by his side.
Elijah was hoping they could salvage much more than dinner, and this a scroll gave him that hope of achieving his ends. Of course, he also felt a prick of disquiet, because the translation might lead to a reading in which Caroline could still be an enemy to his family. Getting up, Elijah decided to find a new bottle of wine. He needed a moment, or a month, to think...
Thank you for reading, faving, following, and reviewing. :)
Be safe,
-J