Chapter 7
After the kiss, things were a little awkward, Klaus didn't quite know what to do. Though after having a normal conversation with her, he eased back into their playful banter. He talked to her a lot more over the next two weeks. Question upon question he asked, all of which she answered honestly.
Where did we meet? In a school, in the science class room.
Were we enemies? At first, yes. But after awhile, no.
Have we ever...? No.
Where were the rest of my family in the future? Kol, Finn, Henrik, Mikael and Esther, all dead.
How could I still be alive after a thousand years? She went into story telling mode, using as little detail as she possible could. He was beyond fascinated by the idea of vampires.
Were you a vampire? Yes.
What happened? Why are you human now? She left out Katharine, cause that would bring up the curse, which she had also left out. Telling how she had woken in the hospital, alone and scared. He looked livid. Then she told him about her mission. To travel back and save Henrik, which led to her 'rebirth'.
He was still thinking up questions after another week of revealing the truth. Rebekah also caught onto their long conversations in the clearing. She teased Caroline about their secret meetings, seeming giddy about Klaus and her getting along better then ever. Caroline spent most days with him at his stall to watch him work, where the village people now looked for her to request a dress made. In some rare cases, men came to her with an order of leather work for gauntlets and vests, which Klaus found amazing that she knew how to craft. Smiling after she told him it was he who taught her most of what she knew.
Another day passed, Rebekah decided Caroline was going to spend it with her. Talking about Edmund and their growing relationship, before asking about Caroline and Klaus's. She told Bekah what she wanted to know, ignoring her when she squealed and tugged at Carolines arm, demanding to be told more.
Caroline looked through the less expensive fabrics while Rebekah spoke to the sales woman about a particular elegant, blood red material. Looking around the ever busy market, she spotted Klaus, hunched over one of his work, and judging by the collection of small bowls around him, a new painting. She watched him for a moment longer before she noticed the man approaching him.
Carolines interest was peaked once she recognized the strut. The easy, laid back set of his shoulders and walk of a prideful, arrogant man. She had seen such a walk many times back in her time. The mystery man, though Caroline had an idea of who he was, stood as tall as Mikael and just as broad. His hair hung a little past his shoulders in dirty blond waves, braids hidden with in the mane. From the profile she could see of his characteristics, a button nose, strong cheekbones, narrow chin, defined brow, puckered lips. All traits, she had memorized from another.
Her gaze snapped to gauge Klaus's reaction to the man, though Caroline doubted it would be much different from his interaction with any other customer of his. But she had a bad feeling about this, a very bad feeling. "Bekah, I'll be right back." she called out without looking to the other girl, who protested loudly, as she made her way towards Klaus's stall.
The man spoke to Klaus, talking about his work, asking questions about his skill. Then to the annoyance of both Nik and Caroline, he started asking about other things that did not concern him. He asked of Klaus's home life and his family. Klaus remained tight lipped.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked as she stood by Klaus's side, looking up into the strangers dark blue eyes. Her arm went protectively around his waist, the side of her hip brushing his.
Klaus's arm draped over her shoulders, glancing down at her, she could see he was glad she was there. "No, no problem at all." he looked back to the man. "He was just leaving."
The stranger watched Klaus for a moment longer before nodding slowly, smirking at them, a mocking look Caroline had seen many time before. "Was I? I was just asking how your mother was."
A feeling of dread filled her. He was starting a fight, the truth would come out and she didn't know what his reaction would be. She didn't know what Mikael would do or how the others would react. She hadn't anticipated this. "I think you should leave, now." she spoke after a moment of silents, her tone implying he hadn't a choice in the matter.
The stranger looked her over, from her trousers to her sharp, unwelcoming gaze. "Do you mind? I am trying to have a conversation with Niklaus."
"I do mind. Very much so, in fact." all three of them turned to look at Esther, who stood beside Mikael, her hands clasped in front of her. Her gaze was hard and unyielding, her lips pressed into a tight scowl. "Get away from my son."
Mikael watched the strange man, his eyes held a brutal cruelty she had not seen in them after she compelled him. "I believe, my wife told you to get away from our son, mutt." Mikael crossed his arms as he flexed them, lifting his chin and puffing out his chest. Appearing more intimidating then ever before.
Caroline soon joined him, moving away from Klaus to stand closer to the tall stranger, almost blocking his view of the stall and its owner. The stranger looked between the two of them before scoffing. "Your son?"
Caroline caught the look of terror on Esther's face, and before her mind could comprehend, her protective instincts kicked in. The side of her hand made contact with his throat, hard enough to keep him silent, yet light enough he could still breath. He coughed and sputtered, Mikael was smiling broadly, though it was menacing.
He stepped towards the hunched over, gasping man. "If I ever see you anywhere near my family again..." he leaned closer, talking in a whisper to quiet for even Caroline to hear, though judging by the way his face paled, it was a threat. A terrifying threat, which Caroline had known he would follow through with, if he had to.
The man stood, stumbling over his own feet to get away from them. As Caroline looked around, several people looked away from them, trying to appear as if they had not been listening in the whole time. Mikael wrapped an arm around Esther shoulders, guiding her away from the market and towards their home. Rebekah, whom Caroline had just noticed joined them, followed after them, dress fabric in hand.
Klaus looked around them, as if unbelieving of had just transpired in front of him. He looked into Carolines eyes with a furrowed brow and confused gaze. "What just happened?"
Caroline shrugged, looking to the disappearing mans back. "It was nothing, Klaus. Just ignore him." her thoughts swirled, incredulous that she had just met Klaus's biological father.
"That was not nothing. Caroline, what is going on? Do you know him?" he was already pulling his supplies away, closing up his stall before she could stop him. He waited for her to speak, though after a few more moments of silents, he huffed. "Fine, I'll ask my mother."
He started walking away from her, heading home. "Klaus!" she called as her ran after him, catching up to him easily. "Klaus, please, don't ask. Just ignore him."
He glanced at her. "You're afraid." he realized. "Of what? What are you afraid of, Caroline? Please, just tell me."
Shaking her head she gripped his shoulders. "I am begging you, Klaus. Leave it alone." they stared into each others eyes for a long moment before he shook his head and turned to start walking back. Caroline could feel the weight of dread once again hit her. "If you pursue this, nothing will ever be the same. You, will never be the same."
Klaus hesitated in his steps, before he pushed himself to continue. Caroline shook her head, annoyed that he would ignore her warnings. Kicking at the ground, her eyes narrowed before she tucked her hands into the pockets she made into her trousers. Her shoulder slumped as she stalked off into the woods, finding the path and following it to the falls.
She knew Klaus well enough to know he was going to corner his mother, asking question after question like he had done with her. She knew Esther would cave under the pressure, she knew Klaus would feel betrayed and unclean. He would feel as if the members of his family, his siblings weren't his siblings at all, he would go through a minor identity crisis and brood for awhile, but she also knew he would bounce back, like he has always done. Life throws some of the worst thing at him, but he never stayed down for long, he got up, dusted himself off and continued, stronger then before. He would be hurt, but he would come to terms with it. In a week, maybe two, but he would be fine.
Caroline was not, however, looking forward to his accusing stare. He knew, that she knew about his bio-dad. He would demand to know why she hadn't said anything, why she hadn't told him the truth like she told him everything else. She sighed, plopping down on the sandy beach as she unlaced her boots and pulled them off. Letting her feet rest in the sun warmed water. She let her shoulders drop back, head following, she faced the sky. The warmth surrounding her reminded her that it was mid August. Soon it would be her birthday in October, then the harvest, not long after that winter would be upon them.
Her first winter without her mother. Or Stefan. Or a heater. Caroline dropped back, her head resting on her hands behind her head. Eyes closed as she let her worries wash away from her with the sound of the falls.
She didn't know how long she lay there, letting her worries roll off of her. Sooner then she would have liked, the crunch of broken twigs and leaves reached her. She didn't open her eyes, nor did she give any indication she heard his approach.
"You knew." the hurt in his words hit her, hard.
Caroline deflated as she opened her eyes to look up at him, her hands moving to rest on her stomach. She could see the pain he had tried to hide away from her. She sat up slowly as Klaus stiffly sat on the beach, staring blankly in front of him. "Yes."
"You tried to warn me. You told me to leave it alone, I didn't listen, and now I wish I had." he buried his head in his hands.
Caroline scooted herself until she was sitting beside him, she ran her fingers through his long hair. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Klaus was quiet for awhile longer, running through the event in his head. He sniffed and nodded, it was almost child like in the way he moved, he turned and situated himself as he leaned down and rested his head on her lap. Caroline didn't stop combing through his hair. "He was a shifter, a wolf. Does that mean I am going to be a wolf?"
It didn't occur to Caroline until that moment, that when the raiders came, he must not have killed anyone, or he would have shifted with the moon. It didn't occur to her until then, that she was lucky he didn't kill any of them, injured probably, but not kill. He had to be extra careful now that he knew. "No, Klaus. You won't turn into a wolf, I promise."
"How do you know? How can you be so sure?" his voice was muffled as he turned his face into her legs, blocking the light from reaching his eyes.
She sighed, feeling more and more sorry that he had to find out about his parentage. "Because I knew a wolf shifter back in my time." Klaus turned so he could look up at her. "You can't activate you wolf gene, until you kill someone." his eyes widened as he, most likely, thought of all the times he had come close to activating his gene.
"But, you said mother turned us into vampires?" Klaus settled onto his back, looking up at her, waiting for the story that was bound to follow. Which it did, with a reluctance a lot stronger then when she told him the vague story.
Klaus listened in complete silents, he was both shocked and horrified. "So, not only was I a monster, but I was a monster that had no equal?"
Caroline sighed, looking down into his eyes, unknowingly giving him the most tender gaze he had ever received. She worked her finger nails into into his hair and down his scalp. "You are no monster. I have seen monsters before, I have fought with monsters. You are nothing of the sort." she leaned down an placed a tender kiss to his forehead, like she had before she left future Klaus in New Orleans.
He hummed, eyes falling closed as he relaxed against her. He took a deep breath, his senses filling with the soap Caroline uses, which she called homemade honeysuckle. Rebekah loved the scent and used it quite often. "Mikael didn't hit me." Caroline pulled back to look down at him, finding his eyes still sealed. "I though for sure he was going to get angry, maybe even kill me. But he just stood there, letting mother tell me about how the shifter was drunk and forced himself on her. By the look on his face, I thought he was going to hurt me, or mother. But he did neither, he held her. He even told me not to fret, that I was his son no matter what."
Caroline watched as his lids opened, showing his glistening gaze. "Klaus," his eyes focused on her and the softness of her tone. "do not fret. Everything will work out the way it was supposed to."
He was quiet for a moment longer, before his hand raised. Brushing passed her cheekbone, tucking her hair behind her ear, his fingers weaved into her hair and tugged. Pulling her closer, he pushed him self onto his opposite elbow. His lips captured hers in a firm lock. Caroline was surprised by the feelings he put into such a simple action, the gratitude, the feelings she had never felt in a kiss before.
She took a breath when his lips released hers, though she didn't move any further then she was. Her eyes met his, not leaving them as she leaned forward to recapture his dry lips. Caroline cradled his head in her hands, her thumbs ran over his ears as she took his bottom lip gently.
Klaus responded eagerly, his grip on her hair tightened as he allowed the peace of the moment wash over him. Minutes passed in nothing but a blur, pulling away only when air was absolutely needed. "Let me court you." he whispered.
Caroline pulled back, looking into his eyes as she smiled brightly. Nodding in agreement. "It wold be my honor."
"No, the honor would be mine." He caught her lips once more before returning his head to her lap, relaxing into her. "When do you want to tell Rebekah?"
Caroline smiled down at him, returning to smoothing his hair down from its rumpled form, which she was sure her hair looked similar to. "Sooner rather then later. You'll know when I do."
OoOoOoO
Caroline was correct in assuming Rebekah would be ecstatic. She was helping the Mikaelson women make supped, which was stakes made by Esther, vegetables prepared by Rebekah, and Caroline made mashed potatoes. Which reserved raised brows, but Rebekah and Esther rolled with, despite their questioning looks, they trusted her.
Caroline waiting until Rebekah was no longer holding the knife before speaking, bluntly."Klaus and I are courting now."
Rebekah and Esther both looked at her, trying to determine if she was joking, though once they caught her small, shy smile they paused. It took Rebekah longer then expected before a sharp, high pitched scream filled the room. She jumped around the room, ignoring Kol as he ran into the room, looking around more frantically and worried then she had ever seen. Rebekah lunged at Caroline pulling her into a tight embrace.
Pulling away, she laughed loudly as she shook Carolines shoulders. "I can't believe it!" she squealed again, releasing Caroline, she launched herself at Kol, who looked more confused then ever before. "Caroline and Klaus are courting!" she didn't wait for a reply as she ran from the room and up the stairs, screaming as she went.
Caroline looked apologetic to Kol. "Sorry for that."
Esther was smiling gently, touching her shoulder. "I am happy for you and Niklaus." before returning to the meat, which was almost done.
Kol leaned against the door frame. "Is it true? You and Nik?" Caroline glanced at him from under her lashes, her hands clasped in front of her, shrugging. Kol hummed, nodding as he looked like he was thinking deeply on something. "I approve. And, you know," she waited for him to finish, catching the way he looked like he was preparing to run. "Kol is a good, strong name for a baby boy." he ran.
Carolines face turned red. "Kol!" she shouted after him, his laugh echoed back to her.
Esther hid her giggle behind her hand, she watched on with a soft, amused smile. She turned her back as she finished with the food. "I didn't get to thank you."
Caroline looked over to her, eyebrow raise. "For what?"
"For several things," Esther leaned back against the island in the middle of the kitchen. "for stopping him from speaking in the market. For being there for Niklaus. For becoming a member of this family. Thank you, for all of it."
Caroline nodded. "Of course. Always."
They were silent for a moment longer, finishing with supper. "How did you know?" glancing over her shoulder, Esther caught the confused look. "How did you know I wanted him to stop talking? To not say anything to Niklaus. How did you know who he was?"
Caroline thought of her answer, eyes darting between two different floor boards. "I could see the similarities. They looked so much alike. And then there was the look in your eyes, the terror. So I made he stop speaking, at least for a little while."
Esther nodded, smiling at her. "Thank you for that."
Caroline smiled as she took the platters from the kitchen to the dining room. Esther followed behind her with the meat platter in one hand, a stack of plates balancing on the other. They made quick work of setting the table, Esther retrieving the others, Caroline sitting in her own designated spot. Beside both Rebekah and Henrik, across from Klaus.
Everyone was sitting in minutes. Elijah smiled from Klaus to her, she recognized the gentle, approving shimmer from years in the future. Kol looked more mischievous then normal, Finn seemed at peace. Rebekah and Henrik couldn't keep the smiles off their faces. They talked excited about what it would be like to have Caroline as a real sister.
Kol quickly cut into their conversation. "Caroline is already our sister, we should be talking about something more important." everyone quieted and listened to him. "We should talk about what they are going to names their children. I vote for Kol, for the boy."
Carolines face flushed scarlet, Klaus sputter and coughed around the piece of meat he had in his mouth. Rebekah's smile widened. "A boy? No, their first child is going to be a girl, and she shall be named after the wisest, most beautiful woman here."
Kol smirked at his baby sister. "Esther is a good name, Bekah, but their first baby will be a boy. Mothers first child was a boy, and the blood of a Mikaelson is stronger then any other. Caroline is going to have a boy."
Rebekah scoffed, shaking her head. "You are completely out of your mind! No! It will be a girl, and that is the end of that."
"Bekah, Kol, that is enough. Caroline and I haven't even started courting yet, you can't start a discussion about children. Now stop."
Everyone was silent for a moment longer before Elijah spoke, a small smirk on his face. "Though Kol has a point," he looked from Caroline to Klaus. "it is likely to be a boy."
A mad cackle bust from Kol, Henrik joined him. Elijah laughed silently, while Rebekah let her head fall back a giggle like mad. Even Finn couldn't fight off a smirk. Caroline smiled when she caught the look on Klaus's face, the murderous glare he sent their way, his face had turned a flattering shade of red.
Caroline nudged the toe of his boot with her foot with under the table. She smiled once she caught his gaze. "I disagree. I think it will be a girl, and we shall name her Elizabeth."
The table fell silent once more, Klaus looked amazed and embarrassed. He didn't meet her gaze the rest of supper. After she finished the dishes, Caroline and Rebekah retired to their shared room. Caroline relaxed onto her bed, closing her eyes as Rebekah changed into a nightgown.
"Caroline?" she opened her eyes, finding Bekah moving towards her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why the name Elizabeth?"
She shrugged. "It was my mothers name."
"What if you have a boy?" Rebekah nudged her over until they were both reclined on the bed.
"Then I am sure we would come up with a strong name for him."
Bekah turned on her side, lifting herself onto her elbow to look down at her. "You're not even fighting it. You speak as if you are going to have children with my brother. Why?"
Caroline smiled as she shrugged. "Why not? It is not as if considering it will make it real. Klaus and I haven't courted yet, we don't know if that is a possibility."
Rebekah scoffed. "Courting? You and Klaus have been courting since you saved Henrik, everyone saw it. It just took the two of you longer to realize."
Caroline smiled up at her, nudging her in the side, slowly pushing her from the bed. "Go to sleep, Bekah."
Rebekah laughed as she stumbled away from Caroline. "Goodnight, Caroline. I hope to have a niece or nephew soon."
Caroline threw her a dirty look. "The same goes for you, Rebekah." even in the dark, she could still see the dark blush that took over the original blondes face. "Goodnight, Bekah." she sang sweetly.
OoOoOoO
Another week past without issue. Edmund came to the house more frequently, staying in the sitting room with Rebekah most of the day, they no longer needed a constant babysitter, as long as someone else was in the house with them they were left alone.
Elijah was spending more and more time away from his family. When he wasn't working with his father, he was with Laura, whom had also started to come around the house, though much more briefly then Edmund. Laura was a sweet girl, though very shy, much different from the women he was usually drawn to. The first time she came to the house for supper, she almost passed out when Kol flirted with her. She was a picture of innocence with her long, ginger hair that was always in a tight bun atop her head, her gray eyes seemed to always carry a warm glow. Caroline was protective of her, though that could be because the girl was barely over five feet tall. Such a delicate young woman.
Klaus was sharing his stall with her. If she wasn't with him at the stall, which she was most of the time, Klaus took down measurements, color, style, everything she could possibility need to make a dress with. When she did come, he would hand it to her with the name of the villager and when they wanted it by. Most of the time she was with him, watching him work while he talked about life before her, then she would tell him something that had happened before he came into hers. Their days were spent together, almost every hour they stayed side by side.
On morning, an older woman had purchased both a carving and a gown she ordered a week before. She took one look at them, working around each other to complete their tasks. She smiled gently at them. "You two are so good together." she paid them, still smiling as she walked away.
Caroline laughed gently, noticing the faint color in his cheeks. He smiled back at her, though it was a tender and shy twist of the lip. They went about their day, talking and laughing. Few of their conversations were serious, though it they were, it was because they were talking about the far future and the future of the Mikaelson family.
"Don't you want that for her?" Caroline questioned with a small laugh as they made their way home.
"Well, yes." Klaus said with a grimace. "but that doesn't mean I have to like that Rebekah will someday be married and with children. I want Bekah to have everything she wants, but I hate thinking of the man, Edmund, being anywhere near my baby sister with such intentions."
Caroline smiled as she looped her arm through his, tugging him along as he drug his feet. "Come on, Klaus. Don't think of it that way. Think of it more like, he is the one giving her everything she has ever wanted. And if he steps out of line, even once, you can take care of it."
He sighed, glancing at her as they entered the house. "Alright," his shoulders dropped. "fine. But, one toe out of line, and I end him."
Caroline nodded, looking both pleased and endeared. "I would even help you." she left him there, as she turned and walked into the kitchen.
Rebekah was on her as soon as she could breathe. "Well? What did he say? Will he be pleasant to Edmund? Will he give him a chance?"
"Rebekah, let her breath." Esther scolded from near the over, the gentle smile never leaving her face. "What did Niklaus say, Caroline?"
She smiled at the both of them. "He said he would give him a chance, but if Edmund steps out of line even once, bad things will happen."
Rebekah smiled from Esther to Caroline. "Everything is going perfectly." she squealed, she bounced on her toes before sighing and leaning against the wall, her head tilted to look at the ceiling, a goofy smile on her face. "They will like Edmund, I just know it."
Caroline smiled at the hopeful youth. Never had she seen this side of Bekah in the future, she was to broken and reserved to contain such innocence as she did in that moment. It made Caroline glad she came to back to keep vampires from happening, to see the hope and happiness inside the family was the best reward she could imagine.
Everyone gathered around the table, Edmund took Carolines usual seat, forcing her to sit between Kol and Klaus, not that she minded to much. Supper was quiet as Mikael served himself, giving everyone free reign of the food after he sat back. The silents was tense, bordering on awkward as it stretched on. Caroline grew tired of it quickly. With a sigh she elbowed Klaus in the side, he turned to her, eyebrows raised in question. She furrowed her brow and tilted her head in Edmund's direction. Klaus faintly shook his head. She elbowed him again, though harder, subtly jerking her head in the other mans direction. Klaus glared at her, their eyes locked in a heated battle of wills.
Klaus sighed, eyes narrowed as he looked over to the big, silent man sitting beside his sister, who looked lost. Edmund's hand found Rebekah's under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze as the silents stretched on. "So, Edmund," all eyes shot to Klaus, no one had though he would be the one to break the empty air. "tell us, how is business coming along. Rumor has it that you now own the smithies?" Klaus glanced up at the couple opposite of him, before returning to his food. Caroline smiled as she watch him, pleased that she had won their silent argument.
Edmund looked relieved to have permission to speak. "Business is doing great. And yes, it is true, my father has stepped down from ownership. The forges now belong to me."
Klaus nodded. "That is pleasing to hear. You understand, I need to make sure my sister is being provided for." he looked up from his plate, into the aquamarine gaze of the smithy.
Edmund nodded, looking more serious then Caroline expected. "Yes, I understand that, and she will be taken care of, I swear that to you."
"That is good to hear." Caroline spoke, smiling at Rebekah, who was smiling widely at Klaus. "But, tell me, when did you know you wanted to court Rebekah? What made her special? What about her caught you eye?"
Rebekah's face flushed red, her eyes too drifted towards Edmund, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "She was playing with Henrik, in the market. The sun had been setting and the light set behind her, illuminating her like a goddess. My goddess. She was laughing and smiling, she turned and looked right at me." Edmund looked down at the young woman of his dreams, staring up at him with a look akin to awe. "From that moment on, I have wanted for her attention."
Rebekah looked as if she was going to cry, while Caroline smiled at the two of them. "How long ago was this?"
His face turned even darker, embarrassment clear of his face. "Two years past."
Rebekah gaped at him, her own face an fine shade of pink. "Two years? You waited two years before asking father for permission?"
Esther smiled then. "He has patients, I shall give him that. Mikael did not wait nearly as long." she laughed quietly then.
Mikael joined her, his deep chuckle filled the room. "What can I say, my love. You bewitched me, body and soul, the moment I laid eyes on you. I had to make you mine."
Rebekah looked between her parents, an eager smile on her face, her hands in her lap cradling one of Edmund's. "What happened, mother?"
Esther looked to her husband, smiling when he shook his head. "Mikael caught sight of me when I was fifteen, he was twenty. I was doing my chores in the old world, fetching water from the river in two buckets that weighed more then Henrik does." everyone looked from a smiling Henrik back to Esther. "I had made it most of the way home, when suddenly, the buckets were taken from me."
Mikael laughed loudly. "It was such a sight. A small woman such as yourself carrying such heavy items. Such a strong, lovely woman. I wanted you in that moment."
Esther smiled at him, barely noticing that they were surrounded by people. "He took the water buckets from me, smiling as he told me how beautiful I was. I didn't believe a word he said. Not until he asked my father for permission to court me a few days later."
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. That is the truth then, it is the truth now, and it will remain the truth, forever." Mikael sat forward, elbows on the table, chin resting in his hands, his eyes fixed firmly on his wife.
Caroline had to look away from the moment they shared, she could see everyone doing the same, even little Henrik knew they were sharing a private thing, though he still spoke after an long moment. "Did you accept the courting, mama?"
Rebekah snorted. "Of course she did, Henrik. Or else, we wouldn't be here." Caroline smiled when she caught the look that passed between the original parents.
Esther smiled gently at her youngest son, her baby. "Actually, no. At first I did not accept. My father did, which gave Mikael permission to be around me, but I did not want him."
Kol leaned forward in his seat. "Then what happened? If you didn't want anything to do with father, how is it that the two of you wed?" he leaned, to get closer to Esther, which put him almost leaning over Caroline, who kept brushing his shoulder length, curly, dark hair from her face, where it kept falling.
"Well, it took him a week of following me around before I even spoke to him. Though it was to demand he leave me be, he considered it a win in his book. He followed me everywhere after that." she laughed as she gazed at him from across the table. "Once, another man started talking to me about all his achievements in his life, about how much he could support me and our future children. As I walked away, he grabbed my arm." everyone listened intently, entrapped by what was being said. "I had never seen a man look more angry then when Mikael saw his hand on my arm."
Mikael scowled. "He had no right to touch you. He should have known better then to touch another mans woman."
Esther's smile widened as she laughed again. "Anyway, Mikael walked right up to him, pulled me behind him and struck the man, whose name I can't seem to recall. He fell back into the ground and it took him a few tries before he could get to his feet and stagger away. No one looked my way again."
Caroline smiled at her play on words. "So, in a way, you had no other choice in suitor? Mikael scared all the others away?"
"Hey!" Mikael said with a great guffaw, his tone held fake offense.
Esther join him in a joyous laugh. "In a sense. Yes, Caroline, I hadn't wanted any other suitor." she stood from the table, Mikael turned in his seat and took her extended hands within both of his, fingers intertwined. "He is all I need, always and forever."
Caroline smiled at them, watching as Esther pulled Mikael from his seat, leading them away from the dining room. "Goodnight, children. It was a pleasure, Edmund." Mikael nodded to him as he was led away by his wife, whom looked back at him with a gentle smile.
Shaking her head, Caroline turn to the remaining people around the table. "Rebekah, Klaus, escort Edmund back home. Henrik, get ready for bed. Kol, help me with the dishes." she watched as they did what they were told, Klaus placing a kiss to her temple as he past her to get to the front door.
Kol grumbled under his breath the whole way into the kitchen with his arms full of plates. "Why do I have to help? Why couldn't Klaus stay and I go with Bekah?"
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Stop complaining, Kol, or I shall have you assist me the rest of the week." he quieted.
They stayed in silents until they were halfway done with the dishes. "What do you see in Klaus?" he was quick to continue. "Not that I'm not happy for the both of you, because I am. But, what do you see in Klaus, that no one else does? I have seen girls around him through the years, yet none of them have the effect you have on him."
"What effect? What do you mean?" Caroline didn't look away from the chore as she felt his blue eyes assessing her reaction.
"He is different around you. He acts more like a brother now, then he did before you. He smiles more, he expressed his feelings. Like back in the dining room," Kol turned to lean his hip against the counter, watching her. His gaze questioning, confused and amazed. "he kissed you before he left. I have never seen him do such a tender act before, never. You're changing him, though for the better, it still baffles me that he is willingly changing for you."
They finished with the dishes in record time, Caroline thinking over his words. Kol turned to leave before she spoke. "Do you want me to stop? Changing him?"
Kol stopped in the doorway, looking as if he was thinking for a moment before his eyes met hers. "No. I like this brother more then the other, cranky one. I am happy you came into our lives, Caroline. I really am." he left the room, almost in a hurry.
Caroline could only assume such a statement was embarrassing for him to speak aloud. Shaking her head, she smiled. Turning, she whipped down the counters and dried her hands. "He is right you know," Caroline jumped and turned to face Elijah, who stood just outside the frame. "you have changed my little brother, Klaus. And I, too, am pleased that you are here with us." he walked toward her, placing a soft kiss to her brow, he walked away.
Caroline sat in the living room, enjoying the warmth of the roaring fire in the brick place. The door opened behind her, she watched from the corner of her eye as Rebekah past her and up the stairs, turning she smiled down at her. "Goodnight, Caroline."
Caroline smiled in return. "Goodnight." Bekah disappeared into their room, leaving her alone with Klaus, who looked worn. She smiled and patted the spot next to her, watching as he obliged and sat beside her, throwing an arm over her shoulders.
He sighed, his chest deflating. "Well, that was exhausting."
Caroline drew her legs up, resting them opposite of her, as she leaned against his side. His arms wrapped around her. "I think it went as well as expected." she looked up at him, finding him watching her. "I am proud of you." she caught his raised brow. "You kept calm with Edmund, you stayed pleasant with him. I am glad you did."
He rolled his eyes. "Well, maybe it was because I knew you would be cross if I said or did something wrong."
"Either way, I am pleased." she stretched up, placing a lingering kiss at the corner of his lips, enjoying the way his eyes slid closed, leaning into her. "Goodnight, Klaus." she whispered into the junction where his neck and shoulder met.
"Goodnight, sweet Caroline." he whispered back, just as quietly, his head turning to brush his lips against her forehead in a loving stroke.
She forced herself up, looking down at him before she turning and walking up the stairs slowly, looking over her shoulder at Klaus, who watched her go. She smiled as she entered her room, ignoring the sly smirk Rebekah sent her way. Caroline changed clothes and climbed into bed, all with a soft smile still on her face.
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