Disclaimer: The list is endless right now of things I'd of done differently if I had a say!
"A Drop in the Ocean" by Ron Pope - A drop in the ocean, a change in the weather; I was praying that you and me might end up together
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"So?" Caroline questioned, spinning on the spot for the full effect. The long skirt flowed around her effortlessly, the pink contrasting beautifully against her ivory skin, "What d'you think?"
"Hmm?" Elena murmured absent-mindedly. Caroline had insisted she try on a mint green gown, and the Doppelganger had yet to even look in the mirror. She just sat, playing sadly with the beading on her shoulder. Her doe eyes snapped back into focus at the sound of her friends loud question "It's a really pretty dress"
"Not exactly bowled over by your enthusiasm, Lena" Caroline smiled gently, sitting next to her on the ridiculously over-the-top white chaise. Elena hadn't been the same since Bonnie had come back from her Mom's, abandoned once again, this time by a vampire, not a witch, "Bonnie will come round"
"How can she?" Elena smiled bitterly, the tears threatening to fall from her chocolate eyes, "Her Mom is a vampire because of me, and now she has lost her, all over again"
"Turning her wasn't a choice" Caroline argued, gently wiping away a tear from Elena's cheek "As for Abby leaving... that was Abby's choice. It's no one's fault but her own" That night hadn't left anyone with options. They all had to do things they didn't want to, that they felt were wrong. Like using people's newly confessed feelings as leverage. Or turning mother's in to vampires. But it was for Elena. That's what Caroline repeated, to assuage the clawing guilt. They had no choice, they had to save Elena.
"But Bonnie-"
"Bonnie loves you" Caroline cut her off, "That hasn't changed. And it will never change. She will be here, when she's ready"
"So I shouldn't force her?" Elena finished, having been on the receiving end of one of Caroline's infamous pep talks before.
"Exactly. But what you should do" Caroline leapt up with a flourish, allowing her dress to swish dramatically, "Is be excited. We are dress shopping"
"And it is for prom" Elena giggled, standing to join her at the full length mirror.
"Prom! Freaking prom!" Caroline shook Elena with excitement, "How long have we been waiting for this?"
"Too long"
"It'll be fantastic" Caroline pledged, turning to look in the mirror. She needed to concentrate on anything to stop the whirlwind of thoughts - Klaus' feelings, Klaus' compulsion, her feelings... "The best night ever"
"Sounds super" A bored English accent drawled sarcastically behind them. Of course, Rebekah had to be here.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline demanded as she turned to face The Original, subtly placing herself in front of Elena. She knew all about Rebekah's desperate need for revenge.
"Shopping for freaking prom" Rebekah repeated with a false smile, her eyes hard as she glared at Elena.
"Shouldn't you have compelled yourself a designer dress from Paris?" Caroline snipped. Oh, how she desperately wished she could just request herself a dress of the highest calibre. But no, that would be wrong. She would look fantastic, but it would be wrong. Just leave the mind control to the Mikaelsons. God knows they love that.
"Well, I want to fit in with the masses when I win Prom Queen" Rebekah justified as she admired the back of the dress on the mannequin next to her.
"When you win?" Elena questioned.
"You do realise people have to vote for you, right?" Caroline folded her arms, "Little hint, they don't like being called the masses"
"I'm just here to look for inspiration" Rebekah smiled silkily.
Caroline's hand fisted in her skirt protectively. This dress, hell pink, was off limits, "Don't even-"
"Relax Caroline, I'm not completely souless. I do know stealing another girl's dress is a no-no"
"Shame your curtesy doesn't extend to their boyfriends" Caroline muttered. Sue her, she wasn't a big enough person to forget about the weird blood orgy she tried to pull Tyler into.
"Is this about Tyler?" Rebekah grinned, leaning to the side to watch Elena, "Or Damon?"
"Damon isn't my boyfriend" Elena countered, moving from behind Caroline.
"He's just easy" Caroline added.
"Are you quite sure? You seem to have him wrapped around your little finger" Rebekah's eyes sparkled as Elena's discomfort began to show.
"She's quite sure" Caroline answered quickly.
"It's a shame, really, you poor Petrovas. Never knowing which way to turn, which brother to choose" Rebekah said with mock concern as she relaxed on the chaise.
"Elena is not Katherine" Caroline frowned defensively.
"I didn't mean that bitch" Rebekah smiled, "I meant the Original Doppelganger"
"Who?" Caroline turned to Elena.
"Tatia" Elena answered.
"So you know your history" Rebekah congratulated.
"Only what Stefan's told me" Elena shrugged.
"She was more like you than Katherine" Rebekah mused thoughtfully, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.
"Who's Tatia?" Caroline burst, completely lost. She had no idea what they were talking about, but it seemed to be another Petrova. Not as if they didn't have enough bother with two. Great.
"She's-"
"Another Elena-clone" Rebekah cut Elena off with a grin, "Who was - shockingly - in the middle of two brothers"
Caroline snorted, because, really? Another one? "Damon and Stefan fought over another girl? Seriously?"
"Not the Salvatores" Rebekah dismissed, "My brothers"
Caroline narrowed her eyes. Her brothers? Huh. She could understand, they were both very similar looking, but their tempraments opposite. Maybe that was why she was attracted to both of them. Two opposing versions of the same man, "Elijah and Kol fought over the same girl?"
Elena shook her head, "Elijah and Klaus"
Rebekah nodded, an eyebrow arched at Caroline's confusion, "Tatia had both Nik and Elijah wrapped around her little finger"
"That's not what I'm doing" Elena objected.
"Wait." Caroline raised her hands to silence the pair. It was so hard to concentrate. Klaus loved Tatia. He was in love... with someone? He's an emotionless killer, he couldn't be in love with anyone. At all. He just couldn't, "Klaus was in love with Tatia?"
"Yes"
"So was Elijah?" Caroline added slowly.
Rebekah watched her closely, "It's not that hard a concept sweets"
"I just... find it hard to believe, that's all" Caroline replied quietly. Klaus was in love with a Doppelganger. He was in love with a girl who looked exactly like Elena. She tried to ignore the inexplicable sadness that bubbled inside.
"You lot live off love triangles" Rebekah rolled her eyes dismissively.
"No we don't" Elena replied angrily.
Don't ask, don't ask "So, what was she like?" Caroline interrupted curiously.
"Who?" Elena frowned.
"Tatia?" Caroline turned to Rebekah.
"The usual type of Petrova" The blonde drawled lazily, "Shallow, inane, gormless"
Caroline couldn't help but snort at the comment. Elena's eyes widened, "Caroline!"
"What?" Caroline shrugged defensively, "I meant that snort for Katherine, not you"
"I meant you" Rebekah volunteered.
Caroline pinched the bridge of her nose in exsasperation, "Will you shoosh?"
"Why do you even care?" Elena sighed, turning to Caroline with narrowed eyes.
"I don't" Caroline mumbled, because she didn't. Not at all. Why should she care? She didn't care. She didn't. Nope. Not one bit, "It's just, you know, Katherine's such a bitch, I wanted to know where she got it from"
"It doesn't really matter though, does it?" Elena announced, clasping her hands as a signal to end the conversation.
Rebekah tilted her head as she surveyed the Doppelganger, "Are you disconcerted that Nik was once in love with your face? Or is it that Elijah was? No, I'm sure your pleased about Elijah"
Caroline felt her stomach drop at Rebekah's words, "So, she was pretty?"
"She was Elena's double" Rebekah clarified in an unamused voice.
"Don't make it sound like a bad thing" Elena replied, clearly offended.
Klaus was in love with Elena's face. Caroline turned to her friend, "Elena, how are you okay with this?"
"Care, it wasn't me"
"But still... he was in love with an image of you" Caroline replied slowly, and ever so slightly sadly. It was stupid, it was petty, but there was yet another man in Caroline's life who loved Elena first. Not that Klaus was in her life. He was just sort of there.
"You mean they were in love with an image of her" Rebekah corrected.
"That's what I said" Caroline snapped.
"And it bothers you?" Rebekah summarised, smiling slightly.
"No... I just... I just should have assumed, that's all" Caroline admitted, before she could even realise what she was saying.
"What? That everyone loves Elena first?" Rebekah continued.
"Yeah"
"Care" Elena whispered softly, squeezing her hand gently.
"Stefan didn't" Rebekah added gleefully, her eyes sparkling in Elena's direction.
"What happened to her?" Caroline asked quickly, hoping to move the topic off of Elena's love life as hurt clearly flashed across her face.
Rebekah leaned forward excitedly, "What do you think?"
"She's dead?" Caroline guessed.
"We sort of drained her of all her blood. Unwittingly, of course"
"Of course" Elena agreed weakly.
"Rebekah, what are you doing here?" Caroline asked suddenly, tired of Rebekah's games, tired of hearing about the Petrova's, tired of feeling everything she didn't want to.
"I'm going to buy a prom dress" Rebekah answered as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"From here?" Caroline sighed sceptically.
"Nik promised to buy me one. Seeing as you lot essentially ran my family out of town. A little treat, you understand" Rebekah leapt back to the clothing rail, sorting through the dresses once more.
"That was Esther" Elena objected.
"Klaus is coming here?" Caroline blurted, panic seizing her chest. She hadn't seen him since that night, since they had their first, real, honest conversation that ended in rage and gold circling his eyes. It was as though her ears immediately began to pick up every noise in anticipation. And she could hear him. That unusual way he would walk - quickly, but at the same time his strides were casual, relaxed - a distinct swagger. But it was him, it was most definitely him.
"I need to change" Caroline announced, grabbing Elena's hand and pulling her behind the curtain of the changing room.
"Unzip me?"
"Are you okay?" Elena asked as she pulled down the zipper, "You seem nervous"
Caroline paused, "One Original who isn't you're biggest fan? I can handle. Two in a confined space? Not so much"
The bell above the door signalled someone had entered the shop. Caroline was moments from laughing at the delicate tinkling that heralded the Hybrid's entrance, until she realised this wasn't funny. He was angry with her. Scratch that, he was furious.
"Sister" His deep voice greeted suspiciously. She could feel his burning gaze flicker to the curtain and back again, "What are you doing?"
"Dress shopping" Rebekah answered innocently.
"I'll buy you a dress from a proper boutique" Klaus replied quickly, "Let's just go"
"No, I want to look around" Rebekah whined like a child.
Elena shook Caroline's arm, and mouthed "We'll just head straight for the door"
Caroline nodded, slipping her hand round Elena's. With a deep breath, she drew back the curtain, her eyes on the floor. She was ignoring him, ignoring them both. She wasn't noticing his dark jeans or boots, she was looking at the carpet and its ugly pattern. But not at him, she wasn't looking in his direction, despite feeling his gaze burning her back. She was so close to the door when Rebekah called out,
"Caroline, are you not buying your dress?"
She turned, her eyes trained on Rebekah, "Not today. I've just reserved it"
"Elena?" Rebekah questioned.
"I've not decided on my dress yet" Elena answered slowly.
"I don't think this shop will satisfy. Nik will help me. He's ever so good at choosing dresses, isn't he Caroline?"
Her azure eyes flickered to him for a moment. It was all she could stand. His scorching gaze locked with her for a fraction of a second before it was turned fully on his sister, who was grinning silkily. Caroline could practically hear the wheels in Elena's brain turning, trying to understand the situation.
Deciding Caroline's silence was confirmation, Rebekah continued, "Caroline's gone for a pink dress. I think she suits blue better - what do you think?"
"I think you were blessed with a brother, sweetheat" Klaus narrowed his eyes, "And therefore you should treat me accordingly"
"I think he prefers you in blue" Rebekah decided to translate.
"Well, thanks for the advice, but we're going now" Caroline announced. Elena stayed rooted to the spot, confusion clouding her features until Caroline wrapped an arm around her and pulled her from the shop.
"What was that about?" Elena whispered.
"Trying to freak us out? Rebekah's lonely? I just want to forget about it" Caroline dismissed, praying Elena would drop the subject.
"It was weird"
"I just want to forget about it"
She wanted to forget it all. To forget Rebekah's little mind games, the former Petrova, the way she felt jealous of Elena again, the shame she felt at betraying him. She needed to forget it all, and return to being angry with him.
She desperately needed to forget the pain she felt as Klaus looked at her like that. Like she didn't matter.
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Okay, I suck! I am so, so bad and I'm so so sorry! Honestly, I completely lost my way after 4x20. This story is supposed to be pretty canon compliant, so after the Originals aired, I was lost. Really, really lost. Completely screwed over (like most of us). But I've done a reshuffle, got remotivated, and I promise I'm not abandoning this! Thanks to anyone who's sticking with me and my terrible updating!
And I do apologise that this is a bit fillery, but significant things are happening, I promise! [Sorry for any mistakes with spelling/grammar - I am SO tired right now, but I wanted to get this out to you!]
Nat (and whoever else wants to know) I'm on Tumblr at adorbes-vorbes, so you can chat to me there anytime if you want :)
As always, thank you so much to everyone for the favourites, alerts, especially the reviews - I LOVE hearing from everyone!
LoveYouBye!x