Circumstances
Pairing: OC/Rebekah
Summary: As much as everyone thought they knew, Jacqueline always managed to prove them wrong. People claim to know who she is, what she's done, what's she's been through - and yet none of them can see all of it. What happens when she meets a certain Original Vampire who sees every little thing about her. From the way she walks to the way she acts... but will Jacqueline allow her supernatural mate to see her past as if they experienced it themselves. Elena bashing..
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"I love her but she lacks fortune when it comes to love. They come and go for her, but I am the constant. She's my family"
Klaus Mikaelson, The Originals
QUARANTASETTE
Jacqueline knocked on Tara's bedroom door before sticking her head in to check on the girl. She offered a small smile when Tara groaned and sat up in the bed. Jacqueline walked into the room with a new set of clothing she had Davina pick out for Tara to borrow.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Jacqueline asked
Tara nodded sleepily, "Well Jeremy gave me some blood... so, aside from feeling like I haven't slept in a week, I'm good"
Jacqueline hummed as she set the clothing down on the edge of the bed, digesting the information about Jeremy. Of course, Jeremy had mentioned being willing to offer the young BloodWitch some blood but somehow it still struck her as a little odd. Jaqueline didn't say anything about it though - she supposed she might have just been overthinking it. Jeremy was a good boy and it came as no surprise that he would be willing to help a young girl who had almost been killed.
Jacqueline was proud of Jeremy.
Despite the cruelty he had been exposed to, he was still capable of kindness.
"That's good then" Jacqueline nodded, "I spoke to the Coven. You can stay here for a little while to recover and then someone will come and escort you back. We're just gonna make sure nobody else tries to come after you"
Tara nodded, "Thanks for all this"
"It's not a problem" Jacqueline assured with a shrug. "We're family, Tara. We look after our own"
"Yeah... that was always my favourite part of being a BloodWitch" Tara chuckled as she got out of the bed and stretched.
Jacqueline had to agree with Tara on that - it was an amazing feeling to know you have an entire bloodline of people willing to help you if you need it. Jacqueline had never had anyone be there for her before she met Giovanni... but now she was forever grateful that she had. The sense of family, loyalty and community that the Coven provided was something so extraordinary Jacqueline didn't have the words to describe it.
Jacqueline didn't know where she'd be without it.
"Okay, well, get dressed and come down stairs for breakfast" Jacqueline said as she turned back to head to the door. "We'll introduce you to everyone"
Tara nodded.
Jacqueline shut the bedroom door behind her as she left and headed back downstairs. Rebekah was already starting on ice lattes to go along with the casserole and the French toast. Jacqueline smiled and wrapped her arms around her girlfriends waist from behind.
"Was the girl feeling okay?" Rebekah asked
Jacqueline hummed in agreement as she rested her chin on Rebekah's shoulder. "Jeremy gave her some blood yesterday afternoon apparently" she said before pressing a kiss to Rebekah's neck.
Rebekah lent back into the embrace and idly nodded at the information.
"Is it safe to be in the kitchen right now?" Tyler asked with a smirk as he walked into the kitchen with an arm slung over Davina's shoulders. Davina elbowed Tyler in the ribs before shooting a smile at Jacqueline and Rebekah.
"I believe the current term for you, Tyler, is 'whipped', am I right?" Kol taunted, sauntering into the room with that godforsaken smug smirk on his face.
Jacqueline snorted.
Tyler scowled, "I'm not whipped, man!"
Rebekah chuckled and gave a pat to Davina's shoulder as she passed to set the table. "Sure, Tyler, whatever you need to think" Rebekah snarked with a smirk and wink at Davina.
Davina blushed bright pink.
"Apparently Tyler isn't the only one whipped either" Klaus said with a chuckle as he announced his presence in the room. "Jeremy has gone to check on he rescued witch"
Jacqueline's brows raised in surprise at the comment but she didn't say anything in response. Instead she simply exchanged an look with Rebekah before going back to fixing the last of the French Toast. Jacqueline wasn't honestly sure what to make of Jeremy's sudden interest in Tara, but she didn't plan on getting involved. However, the one thing Jacqueline did worry about was Jeremy getting his heart broken by a girl who wouldn't be permanent in his life.
She sighed.
Jacqueline sent a small glare in Klaus' direction for the comment that was now churning in her mind.
Klaus looked more amused than he really should be about the entire thing.
"Good morning" Elijah walked into the kitchen, looking around the room at them all as he fixed his cufflinks. Elijah looked between Jacqueline and Rebekah with a small smile, "Do you need assistance?"
"You can take this dish to the table" Jacqueline nodded and gestured to the large dish of French toast that she had been keeping warm and fresh.
"Very well" Elijah nodded and took the dish to the table before moving to make himself a coffee.
Jacqueline hummed as she grabbed her own ice latte and took it to her usual seat at the table. Her brows furrowing when neither Jeremy or Tara had joined them yet. Jeremy was usually one of the first out of bed alongside Tyler and Davina. Jacqueline looked around the table to see a shit-eating smirk on Klaus and Kol's face as they realised the same thing.
"Jeremy!" Jacqueline yelled knowing he would head her from upstairs. "Get your ass down here for breakfast!"
Kol chuckled, "What's the matter, darling? You don't want Jeremy spending time in the little Witches bedroom?"
Jacqueline grit her teeth and forced herself not to react to the taunting comment. She did not want Jeremy up in Tara's sound proof bedroom. She wanted Kol to know her opinion on that even less though. Jacqueline looked at Rebekah who was rolling her eyes at Kol and telling him to shut up.
Jeremy sped into the kitchen then and took his usual seat at the table. "Morning" he said before eyeing the casserole. "Cool there's Casserole!"
Hayley snorted.
"Uh, morning everyone" Tara awkwardly walked towards the table before taking the spare seat with the plate and silverware set. "I'm Tara Manicinelli" Tara introduced herself
Elijah adjusted his cufflinks again as he nodded, "My names Elijah Mikaelson. My brothers Kol and Niklaus...our sister Rebekah" he gestured before looking at Hayley. "This is Hayley"
"Hey" Hayley gave a small wave to Tara
Tara smiled and nodded in greeting, "Nice to meet you"
"I assume you've already met Davina and Tyler?" Elijah asked
Tara nodded, "Yeah. They were here last night... I'm really sorry about intruding on your family meal-"
"Nonsense" Elijah waved off the apology with a shake of his head. "You're very much welcome here"
"Can we eat now, brother?" Kol whined
Elijah gave Kol a look of exasperation but nodded nonetheless and that was all anyone needed before digging into the food. The Jug of coffee was passed around the table right alongside the jug of freshly heated blood and the Orange Juice. The hashbrown casserole was plated in large portions by everyone who knew just how good the dish was. The French Toast was demolished just as quickly. While conversation and banter flicked around the table.
Tara took to watching the interaction like an amusing tennis match.
Hayley had only recently started participating in the conversation when not directly asked. Though Hayley unsurprisingly proved to have just as much wit and snark as anyone else.
"Wow. You're an idiot" Hayley rolled her eyes at whatever Kol had said.
REBEKAH POV:
Rebekah sighed contently as she rested her head on Jacqueline's shoulder. Her arm was around Jacqueline's waist. Jacqueline's arm around Rebekah's shoulders. They were sitting comfortably on the couch together watching a movie.
Kol had purchased a Tv for the entertainment room last week.
Rebekah was enjoying simply lounging around for the day. There wasn't much to be done today anyway. They'd all been busy since they made the move. It wasn't exactly what Rebekah had imagined when moving here, but it was close enough to still be perfect.
Despite recent events.
And the need for plots.
Elijah was reading in his office as he always enjoyed to do. Kol was off at a rave or something of the sorts. Nik was off doing something that he refused to tell any of them about - probably plotting some revenge on Marcel again. Hayley was researching more baby facts for her upcoming motherly duties. Tyler and Davina were in Tyler's room doing whatever it was those two usually do. Jeremy was now busy looking after Tara.
Cause the poor boy has it bad for the witch.
Jacqueline looked up at her with a small smile. "What are you thinking about?" Jacqueline asked
Rebekah shrugged, "Nothing"
Jacqueline just smirked as she leaned in for a kiss. Rebekah smiled as her girlfriends lips met hers.
Then a phone rang.
"Ignore it" Rebekah said as she cupped her girlfriends cheek.
The phone rang again.
Jacqueline huffed, "Maybe It's important?" She took the phone and frowned when Elena's name popped up on the screen. "It's Elena" Jacqueline muttered in surprise
Rebekah rose a brow and listened carefully when Jacqueline answered.
"Hello?" Jacqueline accepted the call
"Jacqueline" Elena greeted, "It's good to hear your voice again. I missed you and Jeremy"
Jacqueline's brows furrowed, "What do you want Elena?"
Elena sighed, "To see my family again. I made everything one big mess and I'm sorry. I just want to see my siblings again..."
"I'll think about it" Jacqueline said warily. "Bye" and then hung up the phone. Jacqueline sighed and moved to sit back down on the couch beside Rebekah. The mood between them very much killed by the phone call.
Rebekah's brows remained pulled together in a frown as they sat in silence.
What was the 180 Elena seemed to have done?
"Are you alright?" She asked Jacqueline, feeling the swirl of conflicting emotions through their bond.
Jacqueline shrugged, "I'm not sure yet. I guess I'll worry about Elena later"
Rebekah frowned, "Babe?"
"I honestly don't know what to think, Beka. Part of me hopes Elena finally realised what she's done. I want her to realise the situation she created. I want her to finally understand the damage she's done" Jacqueline admitted, "...but I don't know what any of that means for us. Tyler won't want anything to do with Elena but Jeremy might"
That was true.
Out for the two boys Jeremy was the most forgiving.
Tyler had made it clear even back in Mystic Falls that he was done with Elena. Rebekah was certain that time apart had made no difference for Tyler.
Jeremy was different though...
While the most pain and hurt had been done to Jeremy - he still remembered the Elena he had grown up with. If it sounded like Elena had gone back to that then Jeremy might forgive Elena for everything.
Rebekah didn't know how to feel.
One part of her - the part that had experienced the doppelgänger curse 3 times already - knew it would end the same way as it had before. Rebekah knew Elena was no different than Katherine or Tatia. It seemed to be these similar traits that went right along with the doppelgänger appearance. Rebekah had seen it hurt her family three times already and wasn't keen on a repeat.
However she now possessed the memories of a baby Elena.
Rebekah could recall watching the hours and hours Jacqueline spent caring for the little girl. Rebekah also could understand why that care might be hard to simply forget.
Even after all that happened.
Especially if Elena was claiming to have changed and realised her mistakes.
Jacqueline had spend weeks, upon her return to Mystic Falls, waiting for those exact words from Elena. Jacqueline hoped not that long ago, for Elena to realise the truth of the situation.
"I guess I'll have to talk to Jeremy about it" Jacqueline sighed
Rebekah placed a kiss on her girlfriends lips before giving a small smile in response. Rebekah wasn't entirely sure what to make of the situation yet. She supposed there wasn't much they could do if Jeremy really did want to be in contact with Elena. However, Rebekah didn't like the idea of allowing her family to be hurt again.
She knew that's what would happen in the end... It always did with the doppelgängers.
Rebekah didn't trust Elena.
Not even for a second.
So Rebekah stayed quiet as she watched Jacqueline go and get Tara. The Coven asked for Tara to stay with them for a week or so... meaning Tara was in need of some clothing of her own. Jacqueline had agreed to take the young witch this morning. Rebekah was going to use this time to figure out if Elena was serious or not.
If this was a trap Rebekah would kill Elena herself.
Waiting until Jacqueline and Tara left the house - Rebekah searched for Nik in his art room. Rebekah knocked on the door with a small sigh. "Nik? May we speak, brother?"
Nik nodded and paused in his painting.
"I know you still have a Hybrid or two in Mystic Falls monitoring the doppelgänger" Rebekah announced
"Re-" Nik started with narrowed eyes but she cut him off with a scoff.
"I'm not an idiot, Nik" Rebekah pursed her lips. "I need a favour"
Nik rose a brow, "What do you want then?" He sighed, assuming she mentioned the fact for blackmail. Knowing Elijah had explicitly told Nik to get leave Mystic Falls alone... he didn't have a choice but to comply.
"I want you to inform me of Elena Gilbert's current events" Rebekah stated firmly, refusing to react to his blatant look of surprise and suspicion.
Rebekah knew she was probably doing this the wrong way.
She knew that.
She should be going to Jacqueline and voicing her concerns instead.
"Why do you want to know?" Nik demanded as his eyes narrowed on her again. Nik set down his brushes and faced her with a stern look.
Rebekah scowled, "That's not of your concern. Just tell me what Elena has been up to lately, Nik!"
They glared at each other.
Then Nik sighed and shrugged, "Don't bring me into whatever mess your about to make though"
"I won't" Rebekah promised
"Fine then" Nik grumbled and waved a dismissive hand in her direction. "I'll have someone look into it by the end of the day" he agreed
Rebekah nodded.
She walked back out of the room and bit her lip in worry. Rebekah knew she would likely be upsetting Jeremy and Jacqueline by going behind the right backs. However, if it spared them the pain of finding out for themselves she didn't mind.
It would be worth it.
Right?
Rebekah would do anything to protect her family. Sometimes that might have to mean upsetting them in the process.
She could live with that.
Of course, it struck her as ironic though. Rebekah had been on the receiving end of Nik's many attempts to protect her heart. Logically she'd known why Nik did what he did but Rebekah had never understood until now.
Rebekah sighed.
It was going to be a long day and she doubted tomorrow would be any better.
Jacqueline sighed as she walked into Jeremys room, smiling a little when she got a look at the landscape he was sketching. It was the view from outside his window of the plantation. The view was just as beautiful as his sketch. Jacqueline felt the worry that had been settled on her chest ease a little.
"I wanted to talk to you about something, Jer" Jacqueline admitted as she took a seat on the edge of his bed.
She wasn't sure what to say though...
Jacqueline admittedly hadn't thought that she would ever be hearing from Elena again. In fact, she had tried to put Elena and Mystic Falls out of her mind since they moved. Jacqueline had witnessed the instant improvement in Jeremy since they left that dead-end town and she had seen no benefits of remembering Mystic Falls.
There was nothing for them in Mystic Falls anymore.
A fact that Jacqueline was perfectly content with until she had received a call from Elena...
Honestly, Jacqueline wasn't even sure what to make of the call. A part of her - the part that had helped raise little Lena Gilbert - was glad that Elena might finally be getting her act together. However, the larger part of Jacqueline didn't really care to have anything more to do with Elena.
Jacqueline didn't have much faith Elena had changed.
It seemed like another ploy or plot and Jacqueline wouldn't let Elena harm her family again. Not when they've all come this far to establish new norms for their growing and mismatched family.
Everyone is happy.
Elena's out of the blue phone call full of apologies and 'realisations' seemed like something they didn't need. The past isn't so easily forgotten as Elena seemed to hope it would be. There are just some betrayals that people can't come back from.
Jeremy rose a brow, "Is everything okay?"
Jaqueline hummed with a shrug, "Elena called. Apparently she's sorry and want's to see you... says she knows she was partially to blame"
Jeremy scoffed
That wasn't the reaction Jacqueline had been preparing herself for and it caught her off guard. She had thought that maybe Jeremy might want to see Elena again even after everything that had happened. Elena had gotten to be a sister and a kid - it was fair to say Jeremy and Elena had grown up together. Jacqueline, while she took role as provide and caregiver, had never fit into the 'sister' role in their family.
Jacqueline had grown up quickly.
Her 'childhood' had ended rather abruptly when Jeremy was born. Not that she'd had much of a childhood before then anyway...
When Elena had been born Miranda was a functional alcoholic who had been a few years sober from drugs. Of course, there were some days or weeks that Miranda had been too out of it to care for Elena. Jacqueline had stepped up then but Miranda had always retaken the role of mom sooner or later. During that time Jacqueline could recall the 2 months long bender had been Miranda's longest before Jeremy was born.
Things hadn't gotten too bad until Miranda was forced to remain sober during her pregnancy with Jeremy.
Miranda had gone down hill after that though.
By then Jacqueline had been old enough to have no hope for Miranda's ability to parent. She had been taking care of stuff at that point and continued to do so. Jacqueline had remained the primary caregiver for Elena then but she had still been viewed as a sister. They were too close in age and Elena had too many memories of bonding with Miranda for that to be any different.
Jeremy never bonded with Miranda though.
That had been Jacqueline's role with Jeremy and she had been old enough to appreciate it then.
Jacqueline never really fit as Jeremy's sister like Elena did and she had thought that might factor into his decision now. Jacqueline had thought that Jeremy might have held onto that little bit of sibling loyalty despite everything that had happened.
Apparently she was wrong.
The thoughts must have shown on her face because Jeremy sighed and shrugged. "I don't want anything to do with Elena anymore" Jeremy said firmly, "There's only so much damage someone can do before the relationship is gone"
That was true.
"I don't care either way - this is your decision" Jacqueline told him carefully. "However, I don't want a relationship with Elena to hurt you or our family. I won't allow Elena to barge back into our lives and ruin it again"
Jeremy nodded, "Good. Cause I don't want anything to do with Elena ever again. Me and Elena aren't family... people don't do what she did to family"
"Okay" Jacqueline agreed
To be honest she was relieved by his answer and felt herself relaxing with the decision. She hadn't wanted anything to do with Elena again either but she had been willing to set that aside if Jeremy did. Now that she knew Jeremy didn't want to see Elena again Jacqueline was filled with relief.
She stood and smiled as she pressed a kiss to his forehead, silently leaving the room again.
Now she had to talk to Rebekah.
Jacqueline had felt the worry and anxiety in Rebekah when she first got off the phone with Elena this morning. Jacqueline hadn't addressed it though, cause she felt the same way and didn't know what to think either. It was the pang of guilt that Rebekah had been feeling not long after though that had Jacqueline a little hesitant about the conversation now.
Maybe it has nothing to do with Elena?
Jacqueline sighed.
She found Rebekah in their bedroom on her phone and smiled as she shut the door behind her. Jacqueline watched Rebekah smiled at her before growing a little tense. Taking a seat on the bed beside her girlfriend, she searched Rebekah's face for answers.
Jacqueline rose a brow, "What's wrong, Beka?" she asked
Rebekah sighed, "You're going to be mad. I'm sorry I went behind your back but I was worried about you getting hurt again..."
"What did you do?" Jacqueline frowned
Rebekah cringed at the words, "I had someone look into the happenings in Mystic Falls" Rebekah admitted
Oh.
Jacqueline knew the guilty look on Rebekah's face meant that she found out something that would explain the call in a not-so-innocent way. Logically, Jacqueline knew she likely would have done the same check-in's if Jeremy had wanted to see Elena. However, Jacqueline bristled a little at the fact Rebekah had gone behind her back when there had been no need to do so.
She didn't understand that.
There had been no need to be so secretive about it all. Jacqueline wouldn't have been mad if she'd been asked first.
Now though...
Well, now, finding out after hand was an entirely different story to being asked.
Jacqueline pursed her lips, "What did you find out?"
"Elena is in a magically induced coma for a month now. It was probably Katherine who had called you for Damon. Damon and Elena are together now. They were at a wedding when some witches tied Elena's life force to Bonnies. When Bonnie dies, Elena wakes up from her coma" Rebekah hesitantly explained, "However, a BloodWitch is stronger than a regular witch like Bonnie..."
Shit!
"And I could break the spell and wake Elena up" Jacqueline nodded knowingly
She sighed.
That was a huge mess Jaqueline had no intention of getting mixed up in, not even for Elena. Though it was odd at how similar Katherine and Elena sounded - their looks were one thing but their voices were freakishly similar. Aside from that, Jacqueline didn't particularly feel anything about what she had been told.
Mystic Falls drama was in her past.
Jacqueline expected nothing more from the group than for them to find a new mess to make.
She sure as shit wasn't going to clean it up for them.
"Why didn't you just ask me?" Jacqueline asked with a shake of her head in annoyance. "It's not like I would have argued with you, Rebekah. I had the exact same concerns about the phone call... you should have just been upfront"
Rebekah looked down in shame
"I know" Rebekah said eventually, "I really am sorry. I was worried that you had hope it might be a turning point for Elena - I was worried you would be hurt by the truth if you had to find it out later"
It was true.
If Jacqueline had been blindsided then she would have been hurt... but Jacqueline didn't do second chances.
Rebekah knows that.
"Maybe that would have been true if I was someone who would take Elena's words at face value" Jacqueline scoffed, "But you know more than anyone why I'd never be able to trust someone who betrayed me"
"I- I never thought about that" Rebekah whispered, "I'm sorry. I didn't even think about that, I should have... I should have just spoken to you about it"
"Yeah" Jacqueline hummed, "You should have"
"Are you angry with me?" Rebekah carefully ventured to ask
Jacqueline sighed, she could feel how sorry Rebekah was for having lied and gone behind her back. She could also feel how worried and fearful Rebekah was over her being pissed about it. Honestly, Jacqueline was a little annoyed but she wasn't mad.
"Next time can you just tell me?" Jacqueline asked, "I wouldn't have been mad. I get you were worried but I wasn't ever going to put our family at risk like that"
Rebekah nodded quickly, "I felt awful about it all day. I promise, next time something happens, we can discuss it. I'll never go behind your back again, Jacqueline" Rebekah assured
"Then I'm not mad" Jacqueline sighed
Rebekah smiled in relief and clutched Jacqueline's hand tightly, as if worried asking for more than holding hands would made Jacqueline change her mind. Jacqueline sometimes forgot that Rebekah had her own insecurities and issues to work though - sometimes she forgot she wasn't the only one who had some things to overcome.
This was one of Rebekah's insecurities.
Jacqueline smiled and moved to lay on the bed beside Rebekah, pulling her girlfriend into her arms as she closed her eyes. Today had been a long day and Jacqueline figured they could both use some time to just be held tightly.
"I love you" Jacqueline hummed contently
Rebekah's grip tightened, "I love you too, Jacqueline"
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