Notes: First Rebekah POV! I thought it was time. Thanks so much for the reviews and notifications last chapter! It was great to hear your thoughts after I've been feeling kind of iffy about this one. And especially thanks to the anons who pop up in my Tumblr inbox (lalainajanes) to ask about fics from time to time. It's very motivating. I promise the return of Klaroline is coming very soon!

DECEMBER – THURSDAY

REBEKAH:

The second she hears the keys jangling in the lock Rebekah is on her feet, arms crossed, waiting for Nik to enter his apartment. With the way he's been dodging her calls these last two weeks it wouldn't be a surprise if he were to turn tail and run once he noticed her coat and boots in his entryway. Better not to give him the opportunity.

She'd taken slightly drastic measures to arrange this confrontation. Rebekah had stopped by Elijah's for a visit with some questions about an invented investment, and lifted Nik's set of emergency keys. Elijah has spares to each of their apartments, plus all the vacation homes. She'd have to talk to him about securing them better. There was a very good reason she didn't trust either Nik or especially Kol with the ability to let themselves into her home unsupervised. Elijah, being the responsible sibling, was the only one she trusted. But her trust was somewhat misplaced when he kept the keys in a kitchen drawer. He even labelled them because he was just that anal retentive. It had been simple enough to lift the correct set while Elijah was occupied with making proper tea, aided by Elijah's top of the line, whisper quiet, non-slamming cabinetry.

But what was a little breaking and entering between siblings?

Really, she's surprised Kol's not done the same, for more mischievous and/or destructive purposes. He'd been more than happy to aid her with setting up some surprises around Nik's apartment. Rebekah had personally been against the cream cheese deodorant set up but Kol had insisted. And she had warned Nik that there would be consequences to using her personal life in his comics. He'd put Caroline in there and once Rebekah had caved and read the whole thing (because she couldn't be the only one in the dark, could she?) she recognized Stefan as well. Nik should be glad that silly, admittedly juvenile, pranks were the only punishments she was intending to dole out.

Along with a lengthy conversation to let him know how displeased she was, of course. Likely why he'd been avoiding her, the cowardly wanker. Klaus had been a virtual hermit lately but with a few texts to Marcel and she'd known he'd had a meeting at his publishers this afternoon. Leaving her ample opportunity to plan and execute an ambush.

Nik stops short when he sees her and Rebekah is very satisfied by the brief look of deer in the headlights panic that crosses his face before he masks it with mild annoyance, "How did you get in here?"

Rebekah cocks her head and narrows her eyes, "Nice to see you too, Nik. How have you been? I've been near frantic with worry since I've been unable to get ahold of you in ages."

Her brothers are unfortunately some of the very few people who won't cave easily under the force of her ire, as they're rather used to it, so he merely toes off his boots and brushes past her, "Yes, you're increasingly vitriolic and profanity laced messages really conveyed your concern, sister."

"So you did get them? Good to know."

Nik heads into the kitchen without a backwards glance at her.

"I don't like to be ignored," Rebekah sniffs, following him, "as you very well know. And I knew you weren't actually dead as neither Elijah nor Kol received the silent treatment. Just me." Nik has busied himself with putting away the contents of the bags he's carted in and completely misses the hurt eyes and quivering lip she employs. They sometimes work where anger does not. But he's not looking at her so she drops the expression and lets out an irritated huff before taking a seat at the kitchen island. She begins to drum her nails on the marble surface as Nik continues to act as though she's invisible. It's fruitless, because she's not going anywhere, but she might as well let him be petulant for a bit. Let him get it out of his system.

It was highly annoying being surrounded by men who insisted that she was a moody, dramatic brat. Had they not met themselves? Honestly. No one was a moodier brat than Nik, or a more dramatic brat than Kol.

Finally, having meticulously stowed his purchases (and Rebekah hadn't been able to help the eyebrow raise at the number of bottles of liquor though from what she'd heard he and Kol had gotten impressively drunk over the weekend) Nik turns to look at her with an expectant expression, "Well?" he demands, "out with it."

"Not even offering your guest a drink? What would Elijah say?"

"Since you're technically an intruder, and not a guest, I imagine he'd refrain from lecturing me. And I do believe I'll need to speak to him about the precise definition of an emergency that would warrant the use of his spare key."

"He has no idea I took it. And I'll be speaking to him myself. Kol was kicking himself that he'd not thought up this plan first."

"Kol was here?"

"You just missed him." Rebekah allows herself a slightly evil smirk. Kol had advocated not letting Klaus know what they'd been up to, but Rebekah thought giving a couple hints was the way to go. Let Nik stew in the anticipation a bit.

"Why was he here?" Nik asks suspiciously.

"I required his expertise."

"With what, exactly?"

"Do you use Pinterest?"

"No," he replies, seemingly mystified.

"Too bad," Rebekah remarks lightly, "I've a board that you might find interesting. Tricks and pranks and things that people play on roommates and friends. Kol was, of course, more than happy to lend a hand."

Nik's jaw clenches, "What did you two do?"

"A few things. Six, to be precise. I'm sure you'll discover them, sooner or later. I did warn you what would happen should you use my personal life as inspiration for your work, didn't I? I think you're getting off rather easy."

"Stefan was just your friend when I drew him in as the doppelganger's suitor. And I was just testing you, to see if you'd actually stopped reading."

Rebekah rolls her eyes, "I figured the dates out myself, thanks. And you did a reasonably good job of disguising him. But you used him, nonetheless, after I expressly told you not to. And then there's Caroline."

Nik stiffens at the name but his expression remains carefully neutral, "Caroline and I have already discussed my use of her likeness. I'd thank you to stay out of it, Rebekah."

His tone does not invite further discussion but Rebekah ignores it, "I would, if you weren't being a tremendous moron."

"I am not…"

Rebekah interrupts his offended denial, "Do not even try to deny it. Start to finish you've mucked this whole thing up. You've spent years acting like a pimply teen and I'm honestly a bit embarrassed for you."

Nik's gaze darkens, but unluckily for him she's equally immune to his less than stellar moods, to she merely returns the hard look, "This is none of your business," he states warningly.

"It is absolutely my business. Caroline is my friend and I'm not happy about the way you've treated her." Rebekah was also ashamed that she'd never noted anything odd in Klaus' treatment of Caroline, or how it had made her best friend feel. Caroline herself had glossed over any lingering bruised feelings when they'd discussed it last week. But both Stefan and Kol had insisted it had affected Caroline more deeply than she wanted Rebekah to know. That was not acceptable to Rebekah, not at all. Caroline had taken it upon herself to deliver a variation of the classic 'You break her heart, I'll break your face' speech to Stefan when he and Rebekah had started dating, despite the fact that Caroline and Stefan had been friends long before Rebekah had entered the picture. There's no way Rebekah wouldn't return the favor when Caroline's pursuer was her own brother.

Guilt enters Nik's eyes and his body relaxes, "I know," he says quietly, "and I apologized. I didn't mean…"

"To be an insensitive dunce? Men rarely do." His lips press together mulishly and he shifts but he doesn't lash out in reply. It's a good indicator that he is genuinely contrite, so Rebekah softens infinitesimally, "Look, you're my brother, and I love you, even if you lack a single iota of emotional intelligence. But Caroline's my best friend. If you're planning on hurting her I suggest you don't. I'll be forced to act far more harshly. I'll make you long for the days of childish pranks."

Nik nods once in agreement.

"Glad we understand each other. You might be my favorite brother but I do have more. I'm quite certain you could be demoted, if I was so inclined. Both Elijah and Kol would be far more fun to shop with than you are, anyway. Now, pour me a drink and we'll plan out how you're going to untangle this mess."

"You want to help me?" he asks skeptically.

"Of course. You've shown an astounding lack of skill in picking tolerable women to be interested in. I actually like Caroline. Why wouldn't I want to help you?"

Nik doesn't look entirely convinced but Rebekah supposed she can't really blame him. She does have a tendency to be a bit territorial. But really, it would work to her advantage, should he and Caroline manage a happily ever after. Rebekah's not especially fond of expanding her social circle, first of all, so she'll not have to deal with either of them selecting a significant other that she doesn't enjoy. And second, she could spend more time with both of them. Instead of splitting her time, going to dinner with Nik and a random woman, then going to brunch with Caroline and a random man, she'd just go to dinner and brunch with Nik and Caroline. Win win.

"Besides, Stefan and I our hosting Christmas dinner together for the first time. I'll not have you two ruining it for everyone with your awkwardness."

Nik seems to accept that and gets up, pouring the drinks she'd requested, "I'm not entirely certain I need your help," he tells her once he's seated again.

Rebekah shoots him a pitying look, "Oh you definitely do. Now, apologizing and explaining was a good first step."

"Why thank you," Nik mutters sarcastically.

"But then proceeding to ignore her for two weeks?" Rebekah continues, plowing over his interruption, "not so smart."

"She asked me to."

"She asked for space, not radio silence. You don't tell a girl you fancy her and then ignore her! Especially after she's confessed that your previous treatment made her feel insecure."

"She told you that?"

"Let's just say you're not the only one whose lips get loose when alcohol is applied. I suggest a brief, casual conversation to start with. You've not officially invited her to the party on Saturday, have you?"

"No. But Marcel did."

Rebekah barely restrains herself from reaching across to deliver a smack to his head, "Oh? Did he? Well than I should perhaps make my way to him with my matchmaking endeavors. Lord knows he'd probably be less dense than you."

"That won't be necessary," Nik says tightly, "I'll stop by her office tomorrow."

Rebekah nods in satisfaction, "Good. Keep it casual, not too flirty. You'll not make any progress if she thinks you're not trustworthy. And Nik?" He looks up at her, probably noting how firm a tone she'd used. Rebekah holds his eyes, showing her resolve and hopes that reiterating how serious she is about protecting Caroline will make him understand that she's not to be trifled with, "Be trustworthy. Or else."