Hey guys :) New chapter. Enjoy!
As always, I do not own the characters. All rights are to the CW and creators of TVD and TO.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lacy asked, abandoning her untouched glass of wine as she watched her sister guzzle hers down in one swoop.
Wiping away the residue of the alcohol, Katherine pursed her lips together as she attempted to form a coherent explanation for her actions years before and her decision to reveal the secret she had vowed to keep forever.
"You were just a kid."
"I'm not a kid anymore, Katherine. I'm your sister. You should have told Elijah, at least. He had a right to know that you were pregnant."
"Don't you think I know that?" Katherine countered, pouring herself another glass from the already half-empty bottle of wine. "Besides, Elijah had made his choice and it wasn't me. It was pretty clear where I stood in his life and I refuse to be second-best."
"God, why must you be so stubborn! I might have been a teenager when you left, but I still remember what Elijah was like after you did. The guy was a mess! He's finally getting his life properly on track and now you're back messing it up again."
Ignoring the stab of emotional hurt that pierced her heart as she listened to her sister's words, Katherine simply took another sip of wine and raised an eyebrow at her as she set her glass down on the wooden table. Slowly folding her arms, Katherine leaned back into her seat and heard it creak. Across from her, as she continued to survey Lacy in complete silence, Lacy gave into her weaknesses and took a large gulp of wine; enjoying the dry sweetness as it travelled down her throat.
"Is that what you think of me?" asked Katherine with an eerie calmness to her vocal tones.
"If I'm being honest, Katherine, I don't know what to think."
"Contrary to what you might think or to what people have told you about me, I am not a monster or a heartless bitch. I came back here for you. I have no interest in 'messing up' Elijah's life. I am here to stop you screwing your own up."
A strained laugh escaped Lacy's lips and she drank another mouthful of wine. Despite her argument with Klaus just a short time before, Lacy struggled to completely trust her sister and she found it even more difficult to reconcile her feelings towards her only living biological relative that remained.
"And what has telling me that you got rid of Elijah's baby got to do with this?! Why even tell me in the first place? Do you have any idea the position you've put me in? Now I'm keeping a secret from two of the people I love most in this world!"
"Calm down, will you? Jesus… just listen to me… I don't want to tell you this but I'm going to because you need to know."
"Why? Why do I?"
She did not want to know the story. Not really. Even in spite of the burning curiosity, Lacy knew that if any more of the story was divulged to her she would feel such immense guilt over keeping the secret that she doubted she'd be able to keep it as such.
"I want you to have the best life possible. You have had so much shit already and you don't deserve anymore. You deserve to be happy and have everything you want in life; to be free and able to make your own choices."
"I can do that already."
"Let's be honest, Lacy, every choice you've ever made since you were eight years old has been with Klaus in mind."
"That's not fair." Lacy snapped.
"You don't want to be a mother. You're sacrificing what you want for Klaus. Tell me, is it fair?"
Remaining quiet, Lacy tried desperately to ignore Katherine and her logical arguments. Klaus was her anchor. Her sole saviour when she had been abused and she, his. Their lives were so entangled that she could not fathom a future where he was not a part of it. Still, she could not argue that she had no desire to be a mother. Her own step-mother's cruel words and sadistic actions had sought to that. Any flicker of an idea that she would one day know what it would be like to be a parent had been extinguished many years before.
Choosing to avoid the question and despising the direction the conversation had taken, Lacy fingered the stem of her glass and flicked her hair back.
"We're not here to talk about my life choices. You want to tell me your story, then tell me."
Breathing in through her nostrils, Katherine recalled to the forefront of her mind memories that had long been buried.
"I'd been gone two weeks. I loved my job but I hated being alone. I missed you and I missed Elijah. I never thought I would but I did and I couldn't cope. I had my bags all packed and I was ready to come back when I fainted. I thought it was just stress at first but when I fainted at a gas station as I was driving back, I knew something wasn't right. So… I drove to the nearest clinic I could find. Long story short, I was pregnant. Five weeks."
Examining Katherine's face, Lacy frowned when she saw the way the woman's eyes held no echoes of regret or remorse. Indeed, she had been eternally relieved when she had been able to terminate her own pregnancy, but Katherine's baby was conceived out of love and was half Elijah's; a man that Lacy cared for considerably. The fact that Elijah had had no say infuriated her beyond belief.
"So you got rid of it. Just like that and went back to your perfect little life in New York?" she questioned with spite.
"Don't you dare sit there and judge me, Lacy Elizabeth Pierce. Remember who the hell you're talking to."
"Elijah didn't even know!"
"Shut up and listen!… The second I found out I turned straight back around and yes, I went back to New York. I got home, phoned the family planning clinic and booked an abortion. I knew that if I came back here and had the baby, I would never be free of Elijah's family. Every decision, every part of mine and my child's life, would have been dictated by Esther. I didn't want that. It was selfish, I know, but I put myself first."
Disgusted at her older sister, Lacy stood but found herself unable to leave when Katherine leant over the table and, grasping the front of her dress, pulled her back down into her seat.
"I'm not finished."
"I am."
"Tough. I highly doubt you informed the mystery father of your own abortion."
Katherine's reply having whipped her into submission, Lacy reluctantly stayed seated and allowed the woman to continue on.
"I had to wait a few weeks and when it came to the day, I sat on the table in that highly undignified gown and waited for the doctor that would come and tear out my child. I sat and waited and the longer I waited, the more I thought about Elijah. About how he was a good man and there I was… planning to kill an innocent child whose only mistake was being related to that dysfunctional family. I was ready to get rid of it and return to my life when the doctor came in… and… I changed my mind."
"What?" Lacy said in complete shock.
"I never had the abortion. I thought that I could do it but I couldn't."
Her mind still reeling, Lacy shook her head.
"Wait. I've been to your apartment. You don't have a kid."
Retrieving her purse from her bag, Katherine unzipped it and carefully removed a small photograph and handed it to Lacy. The child within it had Elijah's golden brown hair and had inherited Katherine's coffee coloured eyes. Cheeks red and a toothy smile, the child looked happy and Lacy smiled slightly.
"Her name is Nadia. She's nine now and lives in New Jersey with her parents. She likes unicorns." Katherine added with a genuine but sad smile.
"You gave her away." Lacy stated as she returned the picture to Katherine, who handled it as it were the most precious item in existence.
"Yes."
"Why?
"Because I'm a mother. I did what I thought was best for my daughter. I put her needs and her future before my own. That's what being a mother is, Lacy. It's easy when it's your own flesh and blood but would you really do that for Caroline's child? Giving away Nadia was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I had never, not for a second, thought that it would hurt as much as it did. It tore my heart out but she is better of anyway from everyone here."
"Katherine-"
"Once that baby arrives, Caroline will never be gone. Your entire life will be dictated by a child that was conceived because Klaus was an idiot. I may not have my daughter but I am still a mother. You are not that person. I know you well enough to know that much."
The two women stared at one another for a long moment. Neither one spoke and neither one broke eye contact with the other. Lacy's mind raced with a million inter-locking thoughts. Would she have to tell Elijah? Should she? What must it feel like to willingly give away a child that you cradled inside of you for nine long months? Would she really have to sacrifice her life's ambitions for a child that was not her own? Did she indeed want to?
The thought of life without Klaus was agonizing.
Jumping up, Lacy knocked the table and caused it to wobble slightly. She saw the alarm in Katherine's eyes and held up a hand to stop her from speaking.
"I won't tell anyone. I just… I need some time on my own… to think."
Exiting The Grill, Lacy was so caught up in her whirlwind of thoughts and inner struggles of which course she should take with her life that she did not pay attention to her surroundings. Her feet drove her ever forward until she crashed head on into a hard body; the air from her lungs being stolen away.
Lifting her eyes, a pair of brown orbs met hers and her heart sank with guilt as the eyes she stared into began to fill up with the undeniable expression of betrayal.
"Kol." Lacy breathed.
"This is completely normal, Miss Forbes." the doctor said, smiling reassuringly at Caroline as the pregnant woman covered her exposed abdomen by re-buttoning her shirt and sat on the edge of the hospital bed.
From the corner of her eye, Caroline could see that Klaus was furious. His face, though holding a polite smile, was strained and his eyes were dark. His shoulders were hunched and a tension flowed off of his physique in unforgiving waves; each one, Caroline knew, was because of her.
The soul-crushing panic she had felt that morning when she had honestly believed something horrific was wrong with her unborn child had died down. Now, she was left feeling foolish and anxious with anticipation once she and Klaus would be left alone.
"You're almost seven months pregnant. It's just your body readying itself for what labour will feel like. It's nothing to be concerned about. Your blood pressure, however, is a little high. Are you getting enough rest?"
"Yes."
"Hmm.. have there been any major changes in your life recently? Anything that could be causing you to stress?"
Glancing towards Klaus, Caroline momentarily made eye contact with the man and felt herself shiver. It was not the good kind of shiver though, where your heart races and your palms sweat because you cannot stand the electricity in the air, but the bad kind of shiver. This was a sensation caused solely by the fact that Caroline knew Klaus resented her and their child.
"No…" Caroline began quietly. "No… I think I'm just tired. I recently moved back here and I guess I just haven't been looking after myself properly."
Seeing that the doctor was not completely satisfied with her answer, Caroline put on her best and brightest smile and sighed with great relief when the doctor finally smiled back.
"Okay then, Miss Forbes. Just remember to look after yourself and your baby. Plenty of rest and fluids."
"Yes. Of course."
With a final, simple smile and a wave goodbye, Caroline sped from the office closely followed by Klaus. The two were barely out of the hospital doors before they broke into a heated argument.
"I can't believe you dragged me all the way here for that." Klaus said; his words coming out much meaner than he had intended.
"Oh, well excuse me for worrying about our baby. I had clearly been wrong when I thought you'd be worried too."
"Caroline, don't start this again."
"Start what? Huh?" She yelled, throwing her hands up in the air and giving passers-by who stared at them death glares that warned them to mind their own business.
"You're being irrational."
"I am not being irrational! Jesus Christ, Klaus! All I want is for you to take an interest in our baby's life. I want you to care!"
"I do."
"No, you don't. All you care about is yourself!"
Blowing stray hairs away from her face, Caroline huffed in anger before closing her eyes and rubbing her temples.
"I've had enough. I can't do this, Klaus."
"What do you want from me?! I'm trying my damn best! You show up like this and expect me to be fine with it. Let's not even get into the fact that you kept this a secret from me for months!"
"That's not fair! You broke up with me!"
"Get over it, Caroline! You want me to be a father and take an interest? Fine… but don't expect bloody miracles from me. Mikael was hardly a model parent and I need time to get my head around this. I need time to-"
"To what? Please, just tell me what you need because I cannot do this on my own!"
Rounding on Caroline, Klaus towered over the young woman with mouth half-open. His fury at the unplanned life event was making him go crazy and it was only upon seeing Caroline's hands placed protectively on her bump, that Klaus backed away from the woman. Running his hands briefly through his blonde curls, Klaus sighed with frustration. Caroline would not be happy about what he needed. Lately, no-one seemed happy with whatever he said or did.
"I need time to make sure Lacy is okay."
The sadness that flitted across Caroline's eyes hurt Klaus. It felt like an eternity ago that he had cared deeply for the woman standing in front of him. However, whatever his feelings had been for her, they had never been a scratch on those he had always harboured for Lacy. He could not give his attention to an unborn child until he had secured his relationship with the one person he loved most in the entire universe.
Swallowing her own pride and unrequited feelings for Klaus, Caroline forced a placated smile. In the short time she had been in Mystic Falls, Caroline had given little thought to Lacy and how the whole situation had been impacting on her life and relationship with Klaus. The woman had always treated her with kindness and Caroline supposed that she owed Lacy the time to adjust.
"Okay… but Klaus… this baby will be here in two months. I need you to be committed to us before then."
Nodding in understanding, Klaus thanked Caroline and said his farewells with a simple kiss to the cheek; one that Caroline brushed over with the tips of her fingers as she watched him walk away from her.
"Lacy." Kol replied simply.
He had not wished for it. In fact, he had been actively avoiding the woman who had unintentionally broken his heart. Crashing into her at the place where he had come once again to drown his sorrows was a stroke of bad luck… or good luck… he could not decide.
"I-" began Lacy.
Side-stepping around Lacy and breaking all physical contact with her, Kol stared ahead of him; his eyes set firmly on the bar where he intended to sit away the next few hours until he was too drunk to continue. He could not bear to look into Lacy's magical eyes, nor could he stand to hear her sweet voice speak words he did not desire to listen to.
Clutching at Kol's arm so as to prevent him from running away from her, Lacy shifted her body so she was once again right in front of the youngest Mikaelson boy. Her love for Klaus was true but that did not prevent her from being wracked with guilt each time her mind wondered to Kol. He was a casualty in the unfolding dramatic love story that was her and Klaus. She needed to make her apologies.
"Kol, listen to me…"
"No thanks, sweetheart." he snapped; smirking when he saw Lacy jolt back at his use of Klaus's most common term.
Attempting another time to get away from Lacy, Kol bit his lip in sheer frustration when she yet again thwarted him. The passion in her eyes told him that she would not be allowing him to leave until she had had her way; it was the same passion that attracted Kol and stirred up his unwanted emotions of love and resentment.
"Are you just naturally thick or are you being dumb on purpose?" Kol barked.
Shoving Kol backwards, Lacy leaned in close and glared fiercely at her past-lover. It was the final straw. All the emotions she had been suppressing - the confusion, shock, anxiety, irritation - they resurfaced with a vengeance and began to bubble up inside of her chest and throat. Converting the fury into words, Lacy slapped Kol across the cheek with exquisite force.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that."
The metallic taste of blood reached the tip of his tongue and lit his senses on fire. Gently placing his fingers to his bottom lip, they came away stained red and he laughed slightly as he realised Lacy's slap had split his lip.
"Back off, darling. You don't want to fight with me."
"You're right, I don't. I want you to grow your ass up and listen to me."
"I don't want to hear your piss-poor apology."
"Tough. Because I am sorry, Kol."
"For what, exactly? Choosing Nik? Using me? Not having the damn decency to tell me you'd chosen him?"
Falling silent for just a moment, Lacy contemplated the venom of Kol's speech.
"I'm sorry for everything." she said meaningfully with complete honesty.
Having unleashed his own feelings of injustice and hatred, Kol found that the apology meant very little to his bleeding heart.
"I do not accept your apology. I want you to feel guilty for the rest of your life because it's the very least you deserve for lying to me and making me feel like a fool."
"Kol."
"I wonder what Nik would say if he found out about us."
"Don't you dare!"
"Relax. I might be pissed at you but I'm not a complete dick. It can be just another thing you feel guilty about as you pretend to play happy families with my brother."
"I've already said I'm sorry."
"I know. Now how about you go be sorry somewhere else? I know… you can go be sorry while you sleep with Nik. After all, opening your legs for Mikaelson men is what you're good at."
Bracing himself for another physical hit, Kol was surprised when, instead of coming to harm, he came face to face with his former sister-in-law.
"Well, if it isn't little Kol Mikaelson. My, haven't you grown." Katherine spoke, not even glancing at her sister. Instead, focusing herself entirely on the man who had so angered her family.
"Katherine. Does Elijah know you're here?"
"Mystic Falls, yes. I imagine he's holed up somewhere avoiding the wicked bitch who ruined his life."
"Can't say I blame him." Kol quipped, smiling hatefully at the elder Pierce sister.
"Well, here's the thing about this 'bitch'… I don't like the way you spoke to my sister. We may open our legs for Mikaelson men, but you men will never be good enough for us. Enjoy the fact that we take pity enough to fuck you and be grateful for it."
Finally catching Lacy's eye, Katherine grasped her sister by the hand and stormed out of the building. As the cold day air hit their faces, Katherine reminded herself that she would do whatever it took to protect her sister. No matter what the cost.
I'm trying to decide whether or not to include the possibility of a new Lacy pregnancy story line. Yes? No?