Chapter 39
"Are you telling me that the key to breaking the spell to freeing our brother is in the hands of Elena fucking Gilbert?" Klaus grit out. He stood up and began pacing in front of the fireplace. "Will I never be rid of the damned doppelgangers?"
To everyone's surprise, Katherine didn't make any smart or sassy comments. Everyone was silent, not knowing what to say about the situation.
Caroline got up and went over to Klaus, slipping her hand into his. "We'll talk to Elena, Nik. Make her understand how important this is."
Klaus was shaking his head, but it was Rebekah who spoke next. "Truce or no truce, I'll rip the necklace off of her bloody neck if I have to!"
"I'm not letting anyone stand in the way of getting my brother back, Caroline." Klaus said.
Caroline nodded and squeezed their joined hands. "I know, Nik, and I'm not asking you to. We'll get the necklace no matter what Elena says, but at least let me try to talk with her first." Klaus gazed into her eyes for several seconds without saying anything. "I know how important this is to all of you; we're going to get Henrik back. I promise."
Klaus continued staring at her for a few more seconds before nodding his head once. "Talk to her; see if she's available right now, but if she says no, Sweetheart, I'm going to get that necklace myself."
Caroline met his eyes and said, "Thank you." She immediately pulled out her phone and pushed the call button on Elena's name.
"We're coming with you, Care." Matt said, gesturing to himself and Bonnie, who nodded.
Caroline nodded to them as Elena answered the phone.
"Caroline?"
"Hey, Elena. Bonnie, Matt and I need to talk to you. Now, if possible; it's kind of an emergency." Caroline explained.
"Are you guys okay?" Elena asked, concerned. "Did Klaus do something to you?"
Caroline heard shattering behind her and turned to see Klaus standing over the shards of a glass he just broke. His eyes were rimmed with yellow.
"No, Elena, of course not." Caroline sighed. "We just really need to talk to you. I'll explain everything in person."
"Okay, I'm at Damon's house right now." Elena said.
Everyone noticed the fact that she called the Boarding House 'Damon's' instead of 'Stefan's.'
Caroline pursed her lips. "Alright, we'll be right there."
She hung up before Elena could ask anymore questions. She looked at Matt and Bonnie, "Let's go."
She turned to Klaus and walked towards him, reaching out for his hurt hand. "You should let Rebekah help you with that. If you don't get all of the glass out, it won't heal right."
"I will, Love." He looked at her, his eyes full of emotion. "Be careful, Caroline. Do you want me to come with you?"
She hesitated. "I do… but I don't think that would help matters. She's going to be defensive enough as it is; having you or one of your siblings there would probably just escalate things."
"I understand, Love." He whispered.
"I'm going to do my best to bring back the necklace for you, Nik." She took a deep breath. "If she doesn't agree, then I… think we have to do whatever we need to in order to get it to save Henrik. I would really love it if no one needed to die though…"
Klaus sighed. "I know, Love, I know. I will do everything in my power to not kill anyone. You have my word. I love you."
"Thank you." She whispered. "I love you too."
She leaned up to brush his lips with hers before she turned and met Bonnie and Matt in the foyer. "Let's go."
The drive to the Boarding House was silent, none of them really felt like talking. They knew how important this talk with Elena was. They all exited the car, and Caroline knocked on the front door.
Elena answered it, looking nervous. "Hey, you guys never knock..." She stepped aside to let them in, and they all made their way to the living room, where both Stefan and Damon were already waiting.
"What's up with the mysterious late night meeting, Barbie? " Damon widened his eyes at her. "Finally come to your senses about the Original dick?"
Caroline glared at him, and he seemed taken aback at the pure hatred he saw in her eyes. "Don't talk to me." She looked back at Elena before taking a deep breath. "Listen, Elena, I know that we aren't on the best of terms right now, but we need you to hear us out."
Elena nodded. "What's going on, Caroline?"
"We've learned that Ester is hiding the Mikaelsons' youngest brother, Henrik, on the Other Side." She began to explain. "Bonnie contacted her Grams, who found an area over there that is warded, and no one there can get through it."
She looked to Bonnie, who immediately picked up the story. "Grams explained that I'm not strong enough to break it on my own because Ester used really powerful, dark magic. She said the only way I would be able to break the ward was if we were able to trap some of Ester's magic in a talisman and use it against her. The talisman has to be something that belonged to Ester."
"Your necklace, Elena." Matt said, gesturing to the piece of jewelry currently around Elena's neck. "We need your necklace."
"You expect us to help the Mikaelsons?" Damon asked, his voice dripping with disgust.
"We're not asking you anything." Caroline snapped at him. "We're asking our friend, Elena, to help us out." Caroline returned her eyes to her friend. "Please, Elena. This is really important to all of us."
Elena's face scrunched up in confusion. "It's not helping you guys out, Caroline; it's helping them. You all know that I would help any of you in a heartbeat, but this isn't for you. I can't help them, I won't."
Caroline shook her head sadly. "You don't get it, Elena. There is no us versus them anymore. We're all on the same side now; the truce made that happen."
"That truce means nothing!" Elena yelled. "They haven't done anything to prove it."
Bonnie looked at the other brunette in shock. "Really, Elena? Did any of the Originals come after you, Stefan or Damon for attacking Kol? Has Klaus been knocking the door down to take your blood? Has Rebekah even taken over anything of ours at school?"
Elena was silent.
"Elena," Caroline tried. "If any of the Mikaelsons would have found out about your necklace being the key to get their little brother back before the truce, they wouldn't have let us come talk to you about it first. The fact that none of them are here right now demanding the necklace is proof that they are following the truce."
When Elena still said nothing, Caroline continued. "If you want the truth, the truce doesn't even matter anymore! We're all friends with them; hell they've treated us like part of their family for the past month; and I see them as part of mine. I'm asking you, as your friend that you have known since pre-k, to give me the necklace so I can help them."
"I'm not doing anything that will help them. Not after everything they have done to me." Elena shook her head stubbornly.
"What about Henrik, Elena?" Matt asked, his voice low, his eyes fixed on her. "What has he done to you? He's a little ten year old boy. What has he done against you that you're so willing to let him be trapped over there by his awful mother? Grams told us that he wasn't meant to be there. He had found peace after he died, and Ester dragged him there."
Everyone looked at Matt in shock; none of them had ever heard him talk like that to Elena. He continued, "The Elena I know would never let another person go through something like that, let alone an innocent child. I'm done here." He looked at Bonnie and Caroline. "I'll be waiting at the car."
He walked out as everyone watched him in stunned silence.
Bonnie was the first to break the silence. "You've really changed." She looked straight at Elena coldly. "Matt's right; the Elena that has been my friend for 18 years would never be acting like this. I told you forever ago to think about the choices you were making, but you didn't listen. You've known all of us your whole life, and we've never had a fight like this. Your three best friends are all trying to tell you something, but you keep saying that we're the ones in the wrong. I think you need to reevaluate that thought." She turned her back and squeezed Caroline's shoulder before following Matt outside.
Caroline's eyes pleaded with her friend. "Elena, please reconsider this. They just want their family back together and happy." At Elena's continued silence, Caroline sighed. "I can't do this anymore Elena; I can't be in the middle. I've tried to make peace with you, but you just won't hear me. Nik has never once asked me to choose between you and him, but you have practically demanded that I stay away from him and his family. I've done everything in my power to try to be your friend and keep the peace. I can't promise that your decision right now won't break that peace. We all just want to be happy."
Caroline sent one last disappointed look to her friend before leaving. She managed to keep her tears in until she was outside with Bonnie and Matt. Bonnie reached forward and pulled her into a hug as Caroline mumbled. "I think I just ended our friendship, and let Nik down."
Bonnie rubbed her back as Matt put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Care," he said. "Let's get you back to him. I'll drive us."
She handed Matt her keys as she climbed into the backseat with Bonnie.
As they pulled into the Mikaelsons' driveway, she tried her best to get her tears under control. She knew that everyone would be able to tell that she had been crying, but at least she wouldn't be sobbing in front of them.
As they exited the car, Klaus opened the front door and looked out at them.
"I'll be there in just a second; I want to talk to him alone first." She told Bonnie and Matt. They both nodded to her and made their way towards the front door. Caroline saw Bonnie shake her head at Klaus to let him know that they didn't get the necklace. She felt her heart sink as she saw the sliver of hope leave his eyes. She slumped against the car as he stepped out of the house.
Klaus walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She felt herself break at his touch as her tears flowed again. "I'm so sorry." She whispered to him. "I'm so sorry I let you down. I wanted so badly to bring you the necklace, and I failed."
"Shh, Caroline," He whispered into her hair. "You did not let me down or fail. You have to know that I don't blame you at all."
"But... I just wanted to help you." She cried harder. "You're always saving me and helping me. You're always there for me. I wanted to be able to do the same for you, and I couldn't."
Klaus cupped her face in his hands, tilting it so their eyes met. "Caroline, you saved me the moment you agreed to get to know the real me. You showed me that I could feel love for someone else. You have helped me more than anyone else in my entire life."
"Really?" She asked, looking up at him through her tear-filled eyes.
"I promise, Love." He said seriously. "You have brought so much light to my life, and I love you more than I thought was possible to love another person. You saved me."
"I love you too." She said. "I just wish I could have done this for you; for your family. I wanted so badly to get the necklace for you."
"I know you did, Sweetheart." He brushed a kiss against her forehead. "And you wanting to do that and understanding how important it is to me means everything to me."
They stayed wrapped in each others' embrace for what felt like an eternity. Neither wanted to leave their blissful bubble of calm, but knew that they had to.
Klaus was the first to speak. "Let's go inside, Love. Figure out the next step."
She nodded against his chest before pulling back and accepting the hand that he held out to her. They started walking towards the still open front door, but stopped as they heard a car approaching. Turning to see who was pulling into the driveway, Caroline gasped.
"Kol! Elijah! Rebekah!" Klaus yelled out as he caught sight of the driver. The Original siblings and Katherine appeared next to him immediately, and Caroline could hear Bonnie and Matt running out the front door. Klaus pushed Caroline slightly behind him as Stefan, Elena and Damon got out of the car.
"What are you doing here?" Klaus asked them coldly.
"Perhaps we should move this inside…" Elijah suggested.
"No." Rebekah said flatly. "Here is just perfect."
"Will I be needing my bat?" Kol flashed a mischievous smile at Damon. Bonnie nudged him slightly from behind, causing him to scowl.
"We're here to talk." Stefan answered Klaus' original question.
"So talk." Rebekah bit out, her eyes fixed on Elena's necklace.
"Can we speak to Caroline, Bonnie and Matt alone?" Elena finally asked.
"No." Caroline spoke up. "You've had plenty of chances to do that. Whatever you want to say to us, you can say to them as well." Matt and Bonnie nodded in agreement.
Damon scoffed. "Let's just leave, Elena. They're not even worth this."
Stefan shot his brother a glare as Elena merely shook her head. "No," she said. "I want to do this." She took a few steps forward and undid her necklace, holding it out for Klaus to take.
All of the Originals eyed the necklace suspiciously. No one moved for a few seconds before Caroline stepped out from behind Klaus and reached for the necklace. Elena dropped it into her hand.
"Why are you doing this?" Caroline asked.
Elena sighed. "I'm never going to be okay with you guys being with them." Her eyes flicked between Caroline, Matt, and Bonnie. "I'm never going to trust them. But Matt was right. Henrik has never done anything to me; he doesn't deserve what is happening to him. We're not going to help you bring him back, but we're also not going to stand in your way."
Damon scoffed behind her, drawing everyone's attention to him. Elijah glared at him as he addressed Elena. "All three of you have agreed to that decision?"
Elena looked pointedly at Damon, who rolled his eyes, but nodded. She turned back to look at Elijah. "Yes, none of us will interfere."
"Does this mean that you accept the truce too?" Bonnie asked her friend.
Elena looked at her hesitantly. "As long as none of them come after us or try to take my blood, we won't make a move to hurt them."
"That would be exactly what the truce is." Rebekah rolled her eyes at the brunette.
"She just likes hearing the sound of her own voice, Sister." Kol said, eyeing Elena. "Don't know why, it's rather whiney in pitch."
"Kol." Elijah warned before turning back to look at Elena. "We agree to all that you said, Elena. You have our word." All of the Originals nodded, although Rebekah and Kol barely moved their heads. "Thank you for giving my family the necklace."
"I didn't do it for your family." Elena said with a bit of a bite to her voice. She met eyes with her friends again.
"So where does this leave us?" Caroline asked.
Elena hesitated. "I already told you that I can't accept them being a part of your lives. I don't want to be around them."
"But you know that we all want them in our lives?" Bonnie asked, although it came out as more of a statement.
Elena nodded slowly. They all stood in silence for a minute before Elena sighed. "I'll see you guys around." She turned around and got into her car, with Damon right behind her.
Stefan looked at Klaus. "If you need any help with getting your brother back, let me know. I'll also help with Meredith if you need me."
Klaus nodded to him. "Thank you, Stefan. We'll let you know."
Stefan sent Caroline a half smile before getting into the car with his brother and Elena.
Everyone watched the car pull away until they couldn't see the tail lights anymore.
Silently, Caroline held out the necklace to Klaus, who took it from her and examined it before passing it to Rebekah. Rebekah clipped the necklace around her neck.
"Let's go," Kol said with a glint in his eye. "We have a newbie Original to kill."