Summary: Caroline was building a life for herself, her plans were set and continually derailed by the supernatural world. The next thing to take her off course is the discovery that she is married, to Klaus Mikaelson and a vampire/witch hybrid. With her memories of their life back, she finds herself in New Orleans, ruling beside the big bad himself. Sequel to Sun and Moon, An Immortal Dance.
Chapter Sixteen
Caroline didn't think she would enjoy spending time in the humid bayou, but she had to admit that it was nice. Perhaps it was the magic in the area talking, but the whole place felt more alive than anything else. As if it was teaming with some kind of power. A power that wasn't good or bad, it just was. It was nice. Earlier this morning, she had spoken to Bonnie on the phone about what was going at home and to her relief, not much. It seemed the crazy supernatural in the world had left Mystic Falls alone for the time being.
Part of Caroline wished she was there, close to her mom, at college with her friends, living life like a typical girl. Yet the other and albeit stronger part of her loved being in the fray of the supernatural world. Being a vampire had been the best thing that ever happened to her. She became strong, passionate, fearless. More than what she or anyone thought she could be.
A heavy breath left her as her fingers went over the ring she wore around her neck, the one Niklaus had given her, made her. As she held the ring, she couldn't ignore the breathing of the woman behind her who was having his child. Caroline had come over to speak with the Wolf representatives about getting more moonlight rings, so far it was only Jackson who had one and it was time to discuss when more would come.
Caroline actually had several in her pocket and making them had certainly been the biggest pain in her ass. The spell in it of itself was not hard or complicated, but it might as well have been the hardest thing for her to achieve. But there was very little that would stop Caroline Forbes from achieving her goals.
"That's if, inhale and release," said Eve in a soothing and praiseworthy voice.
Caroline glanced over her shoulder at the two women on the ground. When she had arrived, Eve was getting ready to started preparing Hayley for giving labor, something the brunette was not looking forward to considering she wasn't going to a hospital. Caroline had been prepared to protest the idea of Hayley having her child in the Bayou, but she kept her mouth closed when she arrived and technically it wasn't her place. If she were giving birth, it would most certainly be in a hospital.
But she wasn't. It wasn't her having her husband's child and that sting she feared would never go away. Her throat felt dry and she struggled to swallow. Almost all the people she knew here were running rampant with these conspiracy theories that did hold some weight, but God she really hated to think about it. Witches were brutal in a different way than vampires and she was terrified to know what they had planned, what they had done.
"I did find something interesting from Kieran," Cami said to her, "About the witch they sent to Mystic Falls several months ago. I couldn't find out exactly why, but they sent someone about McLynth's child. I'm assuming you."
"You sure I can't do this thing in, say, a hospital? The place with the doctors and the drugs," Hayley asked Eve bringing Caroline out of her thoughts.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Caroline remarked as she walked over to them, sitting on the ground.
Eve shook her head and climbed to her feet, "Honey, the werewolves have been having babies out here since before you were born. Stop worrying."
Hayley didn't look any more comforted by those words and Caroline couldn't blame her. As Eve left, Caroline thought of something that might make the werewolf feel better.
"I bet I could compel you to not feel any pain when you do give birth," Caroline said with a small grin, "With some magic amplifying my compulsion or even having an Original Vampire do it should work on your werewolf mind."
Hayley waved her hand, "You have my express permission to do so. I want to feel nothing."
Caroline let a small laugh at that, but said nothing more as she watched Hayley's wry smile fade away to worry and fear. Those were emotions that Caroline couldn't blame her for either. It wasn't an easy thing to carry a child let alone give birth to one. Not to mention all the possibilities that it could go wrong, not just for Hayley, but for the baby as well. Caroline didn't want to think of them, but she had researched the hell out of all things pregnancy and birth giving to make sure she knew all that she needed to. So that she could be there and help. Because she was by Klaus's side, she was a Mikaelson too.
"I can't tell whether it's pathetic or noble of you to remain by Klaus' side after what he's done," Genevieve said absently as she stirred some herbs in a pot. "Not even including the countless lives he's taken or ruined, but what he specifically did to you with the werewolf."
Caroline did her best not react, keeping her eyes closed as she focused on the spell she was trying to cast. It didn't really matter that it was killing her on the inside and she was clinging to the sliver of howls that- no, no she wasn't clinging to that. There wasn't anything there. At least, nothing concrete enough for her to really hold onto.
"No comment," Genevieve taunted.
Caroline kept her mouth and eyes closed, no, she had no comment.
Genevieve let out a sigh, "Has love truly blinded you so much so that you cannot see him for the monster he is? You cannot honestly expect me to believe that you do nothing to see the horrors he had committed to others and yourself."
"Stop talking," Caroline said calmly, though she was feeling anything but.
She could feel Genevieve's triumph as she said, "Did I strike a nerve there Mac witch? You would be better off without the Mikealsons holding you down, without them clouding your mind, without the vampirism trapping you."
"I said stop talking," Caroline snapped, her eyes opening and head turning sharply to look at the red head.
Genevieve was not bothered, she stopped her mixing and said, "You are weaker than I thought and do not deserve the power you wield."
Caroline scoffed, "Oh but you do? Give me a break."
"If not me then a true and real witch, unlike yourself who is tainted by vampires. Though it is not too late for you to repent and change your loyalties," Genevieve said plainly.
Caroline felt her anger spike, she steadied her tongue, ignoring the sting of her eyes. "You witches are trying so hard to get me to switch sides, but it will never happen. Nothing you could do will change my mind. Besides, didn't you already try and fail in the past?"
Genevieve's expression gave nothing away, but it was her aura that told Caroline all she needed to know. The spike of fear, the tell tale wisps of a secret that was locked away. Something that was close to being unearthed. And in the senior witch's mind, Caroline could see a different witch lurking around Mystic Falls, in Klaus's home. But the images were snatched away from her before she could learn more.
It was enough ha sparked her curiosity and longing further, but she merely turned her head and pretended to see nothing. Like she hadn't dived into the witch's mind to find something, anything, to see if what Hayley, Elijah and Klaus though had merit, if Cami's lead meant anything.
Caroline tried to shove the memory away, but it kept bugging her the last few nights, since she had fallen unconscious after the party and her mind assaulted by images and memories she didn't completely recognize. While she had brushed it off to Klaus, she couldn't deny that it had been a strange experience and she didn't really know the cause of it. . Not to mention since that nice a few days ago, her dreams consisted of how she died a thousand years ago, sometimes a perfect copy and other times even more disturbing.
It was hard for her to get a good night's rest and she wasn't the only one struggling to sleep. Klaus wasn't sleeping well, the two of them often waking up from bad dreams and pretending like they weren't bad and just holding each other the rest of the night. They didn't talk of their dreams, just, there were too many other things on their minds and bad dreams went away.
The problems in reality didn't. No it wasn't just the two of them having rough nights either. Davina wasn't sleeping well, Elijah and Hayley weren't either. All for their own reasons that they each refused to share, but that was stubbornness of you. Caroline refocused on Hayley who was doing more breathing exercises, her expression filled with unease and fear.
"Are you alright Hayley," Caroline asked softly.
Hayley's gaze flickered over to her and in her eyes, Caroline saw uncertainty. An internal debate happened in the wolf's mind as she considered whether or not to tell Caroline the truth. While the two weren't best friends, Caroline liked to think they were close, well close enough to talk about deeper things.
"It's just," Hayley hesitated and shook her head, "I can't talk about this with you."
Carline frowned, "I promise I won't judge. Maybe I can help."
Hayley groaned and glanced away, "You shouldn't be so ready to help, least of all me. Not when I'm having a child with your husband."
Caroline's frown deepened, "Didn't we already have this discussion? It's over, in the past. I don't hold it against either of you."
"You should," Hayley snapped at her, eyes fierce. "You should hold it against us, or at the very least Klaus."
Caroline swallowed, "And what good would that do anyone, me?"
Hayley scoffed, "Who cares about good? What matters is that you have been pretending like this stuff isn't the worst situation you could be in."
"Well it's not," Caroline said honestly. "It's not my favorite situation, but it certainly isn't the worst thing I've ever experienced, I've been tortured, once by my dad actually, killed multiple times, watched people I love suffer. Yeah this sucks, but, I've survived everything else and will survive this.. Besides, there was and is some merit to what you had mentioned before. About that witch who was in Mystic Falls from here."
Hayley's expression turned almost gentle, contrasting her sharp eyes, "Cami told me about that. It was a secret mission of some kind and obviously Kieran wasn't in the know of all witch affairs, but he knew that it was important and that involved you specifically."
Caroline chuckled, "It doesn't prove anything. Now, that you have successfully changed the subject, I am changing it back to what is bothering you." Caroline wore a reassuring grin. "Please?"
Hayley met her gaze for a moment, then admitted, "I give birth and then what?"
"You have a baby," Caroline said, uncertain and very confused.
Hayley nodded, "Yeah, an actual baby. I don't even know what it's like to have a mother, let alone be one."
"Have some faith in yourself," Caroline said, not liking how those words seemed familiar to her. Like deja vu, but she shook it away. "You can do this, for sure. Even if you didn't have a great example growing up, you know what not to do and, you already have an idea of what kind of mom you would be."
Hayley raised an eyebrow, "How so?"
"You already have the idea in mind of what you wanted in a mom, right? So you'll use that with your kid. Plus you're tough as nails so you'd for sure have your kid be strong and would likely encourage them to be themselves and speak their minds," Caroline said with a kind smile. "I think you'll do a good job."
Hayley was quiet for a few moments, processing those words before she chanced these words, "You'd be a good mom to you know."
Caroline blinked in surprise, not expecting those words to come out of the werewolf's mouth.
"Don't look so surprised, it's true," Hayley continued. "You'd be one of those moms who was always at her kids soccer practices, who was the class parent, who supported them in everything they did and pushed them to succeed." Hayley's cheeks took a pink hue as she looked at the floor. "Overbearing as I'm sure you'd be, I'd have wanted a parent like that."
The biggest smile grew on Caroline's face at those words, she didn't know what to say to them. Being a mom was something she wanted, even before she became a vampire and the possibility was lost. Though she often feared she wouldn't be a good mom and sometimes, only sometimes, thought maybe it was for the best that she couldn't have kids. Despite how it hurt, the thought did reach her mind. Not always though. There were certainly times where she thought she woulda good job of it, but to hear it from someone else, from someone who used to hate to her, from someone she used to hate, it was… interesting.
Words tumbled in Caroline's mind as she considered a response to such a confession, but she struggled between saying something sincere back or teasing. And even though she had some fun jabs in her mind, she decided it was likely hard enough for Hayley to admit such a thing so she wouldn't tease her for it.
"Thanks," Caroline replied gently as Hayley looked up at her.
Before any other words could be exchanged, Caroline's phone started ringing. Quickly, she pulled it out to see it was a message from Cami, delivering bad news. Father Kieran was dead.
As far as Genevieve was concerned, it was a lovely day to walk in the park and give a lecture on magic to the harvest girls and the one day Regent of witches. The subject of the day was on the dead, on the ancestors, all those who had passed on. Given the recent death of the human liaison Father Kieran, it seemed an appropriate time to discuss the matter.
Not to mention, the ancestors had been quite…. restless as of late do to the slow going progress of their current project which was only fair. Genevieve had been doing her part to push Caroline against the Mikaelsons, but the more she tried, the worse it made things. Which wasn't unexpected. What was unexpected was Caroline's recent dive into her mind that nearly revealed something she didn't need to know.
Looking out at the flora, she refocused on the lessons and said, "New Orleans is full of ghosts. Our dead are always here, hovering. When supernatural creatures die, they're doomed to spend eternity alone, watching the world go on without them. Of course, that's not the case with the ancestral witches. We linger in a different way: consecrated in the earth, replenishing its power."
Genevieve glanced at Caroline to see she was visibly uncomfortable with those words, though at which part, she wasn't completely sure. It didn't really matter though. The afterlife was a tricky place for supernatural regardless of anything else.
"What about humans," Davina asked, some hope in her eyes.
Genevieve hesitated, but after a brief moment she said, "Some find peace and some don't."
"What about a vampire witch hybrid," Monique asked with a meaningful look at Caroline.
"As there hasn't been one before Caroline, it's hard to say," Genevieve answered honestly. "But it is likely that since she is a witch and was a witch first, she will join the ancestral plains of the witches. French Quarter or McLynth's."
Caroline made an expression that Genevieve couldn't read as she muttered, "Great." Louder and with a slight flick of her hair, she said, "Not that this isn't enlightening, but I need to get to Kieran's wake soon."
Genevieve nodded her head, "Of course. I will be making an appearance there as well, it would be wise for us to arrive there together."
Caroline didn't look pleased by that, but didn't protest.
Genevieve looked to the harvest girls, "You three should return to Le Sais, take some time to think about those spirits who might still be walking alongside you."
Davina and Abigail nod to her before walking away, whispering a bit excitedly about something Genevieve couldn't hear. Though she was certain she heard the word seance. But that wasn't important right now, seances were harmless to witches so they would be fine. What was important in this moment was that she and Caroline needed to go to the wake and Monique was still here, wanting to speak on sensitive matters.
Genevieve had an excuse ready to give Caroline on why this conversation between her and the harvest girl be quiet, but the blonde was already walking away from them. In recent days the hybrid's mood had been less than pleasant and it wasn't surprising given all that was happening. With Caroline out of ear shot, she focused on the 'leader' of the harvest girls.
"I don't know why we're supposed to care about Kieran O'Connell," Monique remarked plainly.
Genevieve answered her, "We care, because when a pillar of our community passes, Monique, you call a cease-fire and pay your respects."
Monique tilted her head, "I'm not convinced that's your reason for going. Your plans to get Caroline to further integrate with witches doesn't seem to be going well."
"As I already explained to the ancestors, it will take time," Genevieve said, annoyed and frustrated.
"Time we don't have," Monique said coldly. "She has to be the one to kill that baby after all."
Genevieve stiffened, she kept her tone even, "And things will fall into place when they are meant to. It is not time and we cannot rush this."
Monique's expression didn't twitch. "The ancestors will likely change their ruling and demand her blood along with Klaus' in place of the baby's if a certain... rumor is true."
Genevieve forced her own expression not to react, "A rumor that has only flittered in your mind. You are speaking on matters above you. Go home, Monique."
To say Klaus had been feeling a sense of unease and dread the past few days would have been an understatement. It wasn't so much to do with the death of the priest, sad as it was, but more so to do with the sleepless nights he had endured and his worry over his wife and child. Caroline had claimed to recover from whatever magic ailment struck her at that party and that her nightmares were nothing to be worried over. It was the same lie that he was telling her about his own dreams.
The ones where his father, where Mikael, haunted him, taunted him, said he would be nothing and would never be a good father. That he was worthless and that his child would do better without him, that he would be better off dead or worst of all taunting him over how he was just like his mother and having a child with someone else the way she had. It all hurt, it was all so real and painful.
Currently Klaus was sitting alone at table in Rousseau's, sipping at his drink. Irish music played overhead, people chatted away, laughing, drinking too much. It seemed too upbeat and lively to be a wake for a dead man, but what did he know of such funerals. While most people were in groups, sharing stories of the man's life, he chose to be alone at this table and was trying drown out his father's words, his fears of failing his child, fears of losing his wife.
So much fear are him inside and it was beginning to be suffocating. Nothing would take them from him, he would not let any ghost take his loves away, no enemy would get through him. A flash of blonde hair appeared and a person sat beside him. His first instinct told him it was Caroline, he wished it was her, but he wasn't too disappointed to see Camille instead.
"My condolences again for your loss," he said a bit absently as he took another sip, he noticed a wound on her face. "Your face?"
"Doesn't matter," Cami said plainly, "It will heal. I came over to ask what's wrong with your face."
Klaus scowled at her, "No injuries exist on my face."
"That scowl says otherwise. What's wrong," Cami asked him, her gaze concerned.
Klaus swallowed more of his drink, "Just some sleepless nights."
Cami nodded, "Caroline mentioned you weren't sleeping well. Nightmares and all."
Klaus's gaze flickered to where Caroline was standing off to the side, "Did my lovely wife mention her own bad dreams?"
"Good attempt in trying to throw her under the bus, but yes, she did mention it," Cami remarked a bit dry. "Mind sharing what those dreams of yours are? If not, I can guess."
Klaus raised an eyebrow, both in question and challenge.
Cami took it up, "Hayley is due soon with a child. You're going to be a father and that scares you. I imagine your bad dreams are either failing that child or your own less than desirable father. It's normal to have such fears of fatherhood."
"So I've been told," Klaus whispered softly, his eyes looked to the newest arrival, "but I know of the trials of fatherhood."
Cami followed his gaze and after a moment, she turned back to him, "It didn't work out too well the first time. Why change a thing then? Go talk to him. Don't make the same mistakes."
Not sharing anything else or waiting for his response, Camille rose from her seat and greeted Marcel. Klaus didn't appreciate those words, but that didn't mean he didn't need to hear them. In some of his nightmares, Marcellus appeared before him as a boy again, as his son. To say those hurt would have been an understatement. Marcel had been his first trial of fatherhood and he had failed it, miserably. In the beginning he didn't think it was so bad, but perhaps he had been deluding himself. Maybe he was destined to be as terrible of a father as his own.
Klaus felt his throat tighten, his mouth dry and no more alcohol to sooth it as he met Marcel's gaze. What did he do wrong last time? How could he fix it this time around? Loathe to admit he was wrong, he knew it was possibly the only way to avoid doing something wrong with his future child. He needed to make thing right, to ensure things went right for his daughter. He'd made enough mistakes when it came to his family, it was time to not make anymore.
Gathering whatever courage he could, he rose from his seat and nodded to Marcel, in greeting as well as in summoning. Not waiting to see if Marcel would accept the call, he turned away and headed outside to the back. It only took a minute before Klaus found himself outside with his once son. And he had no idea what to say.
"I have news on that witch who went to Mystic Falls all those months ago," Marcel said after a moment of silence. "When you were building your first hybrid army."
Klaus nodded stiffly, "And what have you found?"
Marcel reached into his pocket and handed Klaus a piece of paper, "A name and address. You can ask them all the questions you want about their time there. Solve the conspiracy Hayley started."
Klaus took the slip of paper a bit hesitantly. With it between his fingers, it felt heavier than what it was, the weight of what it meant or could mean. The chance it held, the possibilities behind it. There were nightmares that included Caroline abandoning him for his mistake and in all honesty, he wouldn't blame her if she did decide to leave him. After all, didn't everyone leave him behind eventually? She had been willing to be by his side through all his horrors, but this was too far, too personal, too close to home. He had failed her, he had failed his family, would he fail this child next.
Marcel was beginning to walk away, but Klaus reached out and grabbed his arm before he could stop himself. When Marcel stopped walking, Klaus dropped his arm and visibly hesitated, not having any words to say.
"Yes," Marcel asked, a little curious, but otherwise unsure.
Klaus swallowed, his grip around the paper tightening, "Be honest with me Marcellus. Was I, was I truly that terrible?" Surprise colored Marcel's face at the question. "We go back a very long way. You were and still are in many respects like a son to me. In light of all that's happening, in what's to come, I wish to know the truth of, of how I was then. If I was always so terrible."
Marcel seemed at loss for words for a few short moments, though they seemed to stretch on for Klaus. Was Marcel thinking of all the times he had failed as father? Was he preparing a list of grievances against him? To tell him how his future child would be better off without him?
"You weren't terrible Klaus," Marcel said with a thoughtful look, "Not in the beginning anyway. You were good, not perfect but no one ever is. Least of all with kids."
Klaus inhaled deeply, "Indeed. Parents try their best, but inevitably go wrong at one point or another. It was only right, nay, it was fate that I be wrong with you as well."
Klaus felt his chest constrict at those words, he felt that suffocating feeling of his fears once more. Would he fail his daughter as he failed his son? He'd never been religious, but he prayed he wouldn't fail her. He'd already failed too many people in his long life, he hoped that she could be the one spared.
"You know what your problem is Klaus," Marcel asked, but gave him no time to answer. "You hold on too tight. People need some freedom and breathing room. The tighter you grip them, the more likely they will slip away."
That wasn't surprising to Klaus, loathe as he was to admit it, he knew that his grip on people was often… overbearing and suffocating. Rebekah and Elijah had suffered the brunt of it, had Caroline survived that night a thousand years ago, she would have suffered from it as well.
"I suppose so," Klaus admitted, though his expression looked every bit as agitated by his words.
Marcel didn't fight a laugh from leaving him at the expression, but he said nothing in response.
"Will you do me a favor," Klaus asked him next, his gaze almost almost and some longing there.
Marcel raised his brow slightly, "Sure."
Klaus inhaled, looking away then back at him, "I know our relationship is not as it once was and that it will never be the same again... I failed you before. And I don't want to fail again. I would like you to help me with my daughter, to not make the same mistakes… to be a part of the Mikaelson household again. She could use an older brother." Klaus straightened himself, his next words coming out a bit quicker. "I understand of course if you would rather not. But know that I will not be your enemy again."
Marcel didn't answer right away, in all honesty, he hadn't been expecting Klaus to say any of these things. It was a surprise to be sure, not an unpleasant one either. He had his gripes about Klaus taking over the city, changing things around and having the power, but he never hated him. Not really. Angry with him, of course, but never hate. For Klaus to admit any of this to him, to ask for him to be back in the family, was nothing short of a miracle. A miracle he wasn't sure he wanted. Perhaps he underestimated the influence his wife and child would have on the hybrid.
"I think we can work something out," Marcel replied after a few moments.
Though Klaus's overall expression remained the same, his eyes lit up and second after, he wore a genuine smile on his face. It was a smile Marcel hadn't seen since he was a child himself. Their relationship would never be the same as it was in the past. But that didn't mean it couldn't grow into something better.
A/N: Note/ question for you guys. I've never been a huge shipper of Marcel and Rebekah cause she's technically his adopted aunt and I can't get past it. Even if he and Klaus don't have that relationship in the show anymore, in this they're moving towards having it again which makes me hesitant on Marcel and Rebekah being a thing. However, if you guys want them to still be together, then I'll be sure to include it. If not, then Marcel will end up with Cami. So tell me who you want him to be with :)