I spent all day writing this, because, well, it was a little difficult to write, and yet in the end it seemed worth it. Anyway, I want to apologize for the grammar mistakes. I tried to catch them, but...
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Note: The italic bit is a dream sequence. It'll be explained as you read.
The fragrance was overwhelming. She smiled as she laid down in the meadow, and moved felt the flowers fold over her. She closed her eyes, and sighed at the peace she felt.
The sun beat down on her face, and she felt so warm and at home. She shivered as a shadow covered her body, and blocked the sun.
The flowers straightened, and her eyes opened. She smiled as the sun's rays encircled the body. She lifted her right hand, towards him, and felt shivers run through her body at his touch.
"I missed you." She whispered, as he lay down in the grass, next to her.
He smiled and touched her face. "Not as much as I missed you." He whispered his accent rich and thick.
She laughed and touched his face with her left hand. "You really should trim your beard, but not much." She said, stroking his scruffy beard.
He smiled sadly. "I haven't been keeping up with everything since you left." He replied, gazing into her eyes.
Her smile faded to a frown. "My light is going out, Klaus." She whispered, biting her lip.
He frowned. "Caroline." He began, shaking his head.
She turned her head. "It's been two days, and my light is fading because I miss you…so…much." She cried out, not looking at him.
He sighed, and gathered her in his arms. "I miss you too, love." He whispered, holding her tightly, as he rolled gently on his back with her on his chest.
Caroline grasped his shirt, and cried into his chest. She cried until the tears would no longer come. After a few moments, she turned her head on his chest, and sighed.
"I'm ruining this moment, aren't I?" She asked with a shaky laugh.
He shook his head. "No, love, you're not." He whispered, stroking her blonde hair.
She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent, if only for the moment. "Thank you for sending the painting." She whispered, running her fingers over his chest.
Klaus sighed as he rubbed her back gently. "It was for you to remember." He whispered, softly.
She lifted her head. "Remember what?" She asked, searching his eyes. "You?" She asked, propping herself on her left arm. "Klaus, I will never forget you. I love you, and nothing or no one will ever get me to forget that." She stated, her eyes flashing.
Klaus smiled. "I know that, love." He whispered, lifting his right hand to stroke her face. "I just thought, you would have me there." He whispered, moving his eyes over her face.
Caroline smiled and shook her head. "You are here." She said, softly. "You are always with me. You're in my heart." She whispered, tears threatening her eyes once more.
Klaus ran his thumb under her eyes. "And you are always with me." He whispered, bringing her head down.
Caroline smiled. Lowering her face, she waited for the familiar touch of his lips.
She sat straight up in bed, and covered her mouth. "Klaus?" She called out, searching the room. She felt he tears burn her eyes when she didn't see him.
She lowered her head, and brought her knees up to her chest, placing her forehead on top. "Why must the Bennetts punish me?" She whispered, lifting her head, her eyes catching the painting hanging on the wall across from her.
It had been two days. Two days without him. Two days missing him, yearning for him. She was in hell, and she couldn't escape.
"I will never see him again, will I?" She asked the darkness. She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair, and sighed as she leaned against her headboard. "Why are you keeping me away from him, when I love him so?" She called out, tears breaking through the barriers of her eyes.
She turned her head, and looked out the window. She smiled as the sun began to show in the distance. The darkness had been pushed back, but only slightly. She knew it was only a matter of time, before it returned.
Lowering her gaze, she sighed. How could she think about herself, when everyone in Mystic Falls needed her? How could she even believe that she could live an eternity in the Underworld with Klaus and be eternally happy?
Because she could.
She could be eternally happy with him, if the Bennetts would allow it.
The Bennetts.
The ones who gave her, her immortality. The ones who took her away from the only man who truly loved her.
She laid her head against the headboard, and let out a sigh. God, she missed him. The dream had been a relief and yet torture at the same time. She smiled at the thought of him having the same dream.
Placing her hand on her chest over her heart, she gently rubbed it. She felt the emptiness begin to encase her soul.
"How am I going to get through this?" She whispered, closing her eyes.
"Would you give up your life above to be with the Lord of the Underworld?"
Caroline lifted her head and opened her eyes. "What?"
Sheila Bennett stepped out of the shadows, and smiled, sweetly. "How much would you sacrifice to be with him?" She asked in a different wording.
Caroline sat up and looked down at her hands. "Everything." She whispered, with a soft sigh.
Sheila smiled. "Then why have you not come to us?" She asked, stepping forward, and taking a seat on the bed in front of Caroline.
Caroline turned her head. "Because I felt that I was betraying everything for the love I could never have." She whispered, tears falling from her eyes.
Sheila leaned forward. "Loving someone is never a betrayal, little one. Only to you can it be." She whispered, softly.
Caroline tilted her head, and sniffed softly. "How?" She asked, with a curious tone.
"By stop denying yourself that love." Sheila answered, with a smile.
"I'm not denying it." Caroline remarked, shaking her head. "I accept the fact that I love Niklaus." She stated, firmly.
Sheila nodded. "And yet, you have not returned." She whispered, standing up from the bed.
"You told me that I had to leave him!" She shouted, throwing the covers off her body and standing up to face the Bennett.
Sheila smiled. "Yes, we did, but you have the option to return to him, if your love is whole." She whispered, lifting her right pointer finger.
Caroline's eyes widened. "When my love is…" She trailed off, trying to make sense of the words.
"When you accept the fact that you can have both, and when your love is whole, come to us, and you will have your answer." She stated, slowly fading out of sight, leaving Caroline standing alone in the room, once more.
Caroline whirled her head around, with eyes searching the room. Her eyes lowered to the floor, and thoughts ran through her mind.
What did she mean about love being whole? Caroline folded her arms over her chest, and turned towards the window. Her brow furrowed as she continued to think about Sheila's words, and Esther's a few days before.
She sighed as she felt the loneliness, surround her. "Oh, Klaus, what do I do?" She asked, searching the night. "What do I do?"
~X~
Klaus screamed as he threw the chair across the room. He panted as the chair broke into four pieces with a loud crash resounding in the room.
He blamed the dream. He couldn't believe he had dreamed of her. He told her before she left that he would see her in their dreams, but to wake up before finishing…he couldn't stand it.
He ran his fingers through his short curly hair, down his face, and closed his eyes. How could the dreams be so cruel?
His heart hurt from the pain. He couldn't handle it. He missed her. He wanted her, in more ways than one. He needed her.
"Why did you do this to me?!" He shouted in the empty room of his study. He threw his arms outward, and fell to his knees.
"Niklaus."
Klaus lifted his head, and frowned as his brother appeared in the room, dressed in his usual leather. "Leave me alone, Elijah. I'm not in the mood." He stated, turning his head away.
Elijah sighed as he approached his kneeling brother. "Niklaus, why don't you get her back?" He asked, squatting down to eye level.
Klaus scoffed. "Because the Bennetts have decreed that she has to return of her own free will." He stated, standing up, and walking away. "I can't force her, Elijah." He added, with eyes flashing.
Elijah nodded, and watched him carefully. "Have you pleaded with them to reconsider?" He asked, softly, but with a hint of authority.
Klaus shook his head. "I have not." He whispered, glancing at Elijah.
"Why have you not?" Elijah asked, stepping closer.
Klaus threw his head back. "Because…!" He shouted, turning away from his brother.
Elijah smirked. "Because why?" He asked, watching Klaus' back tense.
Klaus sighed. "Because I want her to choose." He whispered, in a defeated tone.
Elijah smiled and bowed his head. "You truly love her, don't you?" He asked.
"More than I ever dreamed I could." He whispered, moving his head around, avoiding his brother's gaze.
Elijah nodded, and felt a sense of peace run through his soul. "Does she return your love?" He asked, watching Klaus smile, slightly.
"She does." Klaus answered, softly.
Elijah nodded in understanding. "What are you planning to do, Niklaus?" He asked, after a moment.
Klaus turned to face him, and frowned. "Let her be." He stated, brushing past his brother towards the door.
Elijah shook his head. "Niklaus…" He began, watching Klaus stop and turn to face him.
"No, Elijah, I should never have brought her down here. It's my own fault that I'm alone. Isn't that right?" He stated in a mocking tone, with a small sneer on his lips. "This has only proven one thing." He stated, lifting his hand.
Elijah sighed. "And what is that?" He asked, sternly.
"Love is a weakness. It destroys everything." He stated, dropping his arm.
"You don't believe that." Elijah returned, taking a step towards him.
Klaus shook his head. "I do believe it, because it destroyed me." He stated in a low tone.
"Niklaus, love is strength. You must see that." He replied, in a strong tone.
Again, Klaus shook his head. "No, I don't because I am in agony without her. I dream about her at night, and wake up every morning wishing she would be here to light up my day, but then it dawns on me." He stated, lifting his finger, and then dropping it as he spoke. "She's not here, because I allowed myself to care for her, so I let her go. I listened to the Bennetts, and let her go." He stated, throwing his arms outward. "Love has made me weak, and I don't need it." He replied, at last, his eyes growing cold. "I don't need it, and I don't need her." He added in a dark tone, before he turned on his heel and left the room with Elijah sighing with his eyes closed.
"You're wrong, Niklaus." He whispered in the silence. "You do need her." He added, as he slowly left the room.
~X~
Elijah walked to the door of the cottage, and smiled at his surroundings. It was a quaint little cottage, but he found it charming. He smiled at the logs lining the outside with ivy vines crawling up the walls, and flowers lining the ground in front of the cottage.
He lifted his right hand and softly knocked on the door. He placed his hand behind his back as the door opened to reveal an older woman with short blonde hair, wearing a simple green dress, which seemed to bring out her eyes.
"Miss Forbes, my name is Elijah." He replied in a respectful tone. "I was wondering if your daughter was home." He replied, politely, after a moment.
Liz smiled faintly and nodded. "She's in her room. It's straight to the back." She replied, stepping aside.
Elijah nodded, and stepped through the threshold. "Thank you." He replied with a bow of his head.
Liz smiled. "How is your brother?" She asked, as she closed the door.
Elijah frowned. "In pain." He answered, sadly.
Liz nodded. "So is she." She whispered, moving away from the door.
Elijah nodded, and turned towards the door at the back of the house, where Caroline's room was located, and gently knocked.
"I'm fine, mom." A broken voice replied on the other side of the door.
Elijah sighed. "I bring news, Caroline." He replied, after a moment.
The door opened a few seconds later, and the sight of the young goddess broke Elijah's heart.
Her hair wasn't combed, nor did it shine as it once did. Her clothes were wrinkled and unkempt, and her face was the worst. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She had bags under eyes, and her face was ashen white. She looked so different than from when he last saw her.
"What news?" She asked, directly.
Elijah motioned to the room, and Caroline stepped aside to allow him to enter. "I have just been to see Niklaus." He stated, as Caroline moved in front of him.
"How is he?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest, her voice broken.
He shook his head. "Not well, Caroline. I fear for him and for others." He replied, in earnest.
Caroline bit her bottom lip, and nodded. She didn't say a word as she turned away from him, towards the painting on her wall.
"He misses you terribly, Caroline. I have never seen him so upset." He replied, glancing at the painting. "He says he's given up on love." He added in a whisper.
Caroline whirled around her eyes flashed for a moment. "He what?" She asked, as her eyes widened.
"With you out of his life, he has given up on love. He claims that love is a weakness, and that he doesn't need it." He stated, with a shake of his head.
Caroline's heart broke. Why would he say such a thing? "Surely he knows that I love him, and that I have not given up." She stated in her pain.
Elijah stepped towards her. "He is in pain, Caroline, and someone in pain does not think as clearly as they should." He explained in a tender tone.
Caroline shook her head. "Well, what about me?!" She shouted after a moment. "I'm in just the same amount of pain as he is, but I haven't given up." She stated, throwing her arms outward.
Elijah smiled faintly. "I'm afraid, Caroline, that Niklaus does not think about that." He replied, watching her.
She scoffed. "Of course, he's probably thinking about himself." She stated, folding her arms over her chest.
"That's what he does, Caroline." Elijah returned, sternly.
She nodded, and lowered her head. "Yeah, but he also thinks about my needs." She whispered, shaking her head. "That damn stupid pig head of a god!" She shouted, lifting her hands to her head, and ran her fingers through her blonde tresses. "How dare he give up on us?!" She shouted, stomping away from Elijah.
"Caroline…" Elijah began, but Caroline shook her head, and held up her hand.
"No, I know what he's doing. He says he has given up, but I know him better than that." She replied, shaking her finger at Elijah. "He's putting up a front." She added, turning away from Elijah.
He studied her, when she approached the window, began to calm down.
"He still loves you, Caroline." He replied, stepping forward.
Caroline nodded. "I know, and I love him." She whispered, staring out the window. "Do you think it's possible for two people to love each other, and yet still remain faithful to their duties?" She asked; when the silence began surround them.
Elijah smiled. "I believe anything is possible, especially when love is involved." He answered, softly.
She smiled. "Did anyone ever tell you that you could be a true romantic?" She asked in a teasing tone.
Elijah smiled and shook his head. "I have never been told that, though I always considered myself one." He stated, looking out the window. "However, being the God of Wisdom, have its disadvantages." He replied, softly.
She nodded. "You mean because they expect you to be more logical than romantic." She remarked in understanding.
Elijah nodded. "Exactly."
"Well, I happen to like the romantic side, and I'm sure any girl would be very happy with that." She replied, softly.
Elijah smiled, and yet a distant look appeared in his eyes. "You are truly an amazing woman, Caroline." He replied, softly.
Caroline smiled at the compliment. "Thank you." She whispered, looking back out the window.
Elijah nodded, and turned on his heel to leave the room. He paused when he reached the door. "You know the question you asked me." He began, glancing back at her, watching her turn around. "I think you have finally figured out the answer to your dilemma." He replied, with a soft smile. "Have a good afternoon, Caroline." He added, leaving her alone in the room.
As the door closed behind him, Caroline thought about his words. All at once, her eyes lit up with the light that had once seemed to diminish.
Her solution was simple. She turned towards the window, and closed her eyes. Her mind ran over the thoughts.
She could have both. She could. That's what Esther and Sheila were talking about wasn't it? She could love Klaus, and still be faithful to her flowers. She could have both.
She smiled, and let out a small laugh.
She could have both. She opened her eyes, and gazed out into the meadow. She felt the flowers approval, and her hands covered her mouth, as tears filled her eyes.
She could have both, and she was going to have both.
Turning away from the window, she started to the bedroom door.
She needed to prepare.
She was returning to Klaus, to her love, and she was going to change his mind forever about love.
Love was not a weakness; it was strength.
What did you think? PLEASE NO HARSH COMMENTS!
I want to thank you all for your kind inputs in your reviews. I have decided that for either the next chapter or the one after, that the rating of this story will change to M. I promise, it will not be the, what many call, smut form of M. I don't think I could write that kind. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know.
Until Next Time...