TwilightHybrid - Katherine and Elijah are having a disagreement about...something. Stay tuned. ;)
rebbecca1 - Lots of people are gonna be at this party. :D
Aww, you guys! Your reviews are so sweet and make me smile so much whenever I read them. I'm so happy you guys are as endeared by this story and by Henrik as I am. It means the world to have you all here reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following, both here and on tumblr. Love to all you rockstars!
xxx
Hey howdy hey, my beautiful souls! I return from the throes of reality with an update for you!
I made it extra long since this was an extra long wait and because I'm not sure yet when the next update will be.
Happy birthday, Henrik! ;)
PART 14
Saturday April 6th – Mikaelson Mansion, 2:37 p.m.
A few months ago, if you'd asked Caroline what the highlight of her weekend was, she would have an answer that had very much to do with happy hours and late night ice cream binges. Now, the highlight of her last few months was a six-year-old's birthday party.
Admittedly, she'd been looking forward to seeing what Klaus had cooked up. Normally she hated to share credit for her brilliant ideas – and this was one of her top five – but she'd make an exception. Just this once. She was eager to see the set up and curious as to how Henrik would respond to the party atmosphere. It would be his first, and if she knew Klaus, it would be top notch. She just hoped that everything would go off without a hitch. Some fun was exactly what they all needed right now, herself included.
By the time she pulled up to the mansion, she could barely contain her smile. She parked and proceeded to follow the jungle themed arrows planted into the lawn to the backyard shindig. The yard was a magical masterpiece, barren except for the activity attendants and the two eldest Mikaelsons who curtly waved in greeting in the midst of tying balloon bouquets and streamers to the fence rails. She found Klaus standing by idly under the canopy that covered the snack tables.
"Some help you are," she taunted in his ear. His startled jerk made her laugh and he quickly feigned a smirk.
"I wouldn't want to get in the way."
"Is that your story?"
As if on cue, Finn's voice erupted with a mild bark at Elijah as the streamers began to fall. They watched as Elijah took the remainder of the balloons from Finn and gestured him away, his shoulders tense. Finn shook his head and stalked off toward the bouncy house.
"As you can see, Elijah's a bit of a perfectionist." Klaus half frowned in jest.
She rolled her eyes with a grin. "So. Where do the gifts go?"
He directed her to an adjoining tent where a few gifts already sat on the grass skirted table. A large box sat off to one end of it, taking up nearly the width of the table.
"Wow. Is that big one from you?"
"Elijah."
"What is it, a miniature horse?"
Klaus looked back with a brow raise. "I believe it's an entire collection of encyclopedias."
"Seriously?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Actually, he'll probably love that." He chuckled as she looked down at her own small gift self-consciously.
"I'm sure he'll love your gift more."
She smirked. "Well yeah. I mean who doesn't love Shel Silverstein?"
He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "Do you think…could we talk for a moment?"
Her brows raised. "Yeah." She nodded. "Yeah, let me just go and put this down."
Her heart was doing somersaults against her chest. She set her book beside the gifts from his family and braced herself before taking his outstretched hand and letting him lead her inside to the empty kitchen. He turned around and leaned against the island counter with a tiny frown.
"I just wanted to be sure we were still in good standing," he told her.
"What do you mean?"
"Since I told you about my past, with my father, things between us have been…abnormally good. And I've never been one to take anything good for granted."
She began to move towards him, shaking her head. "Neither have I." She reached up to touch his face, stroking his stubble. "What is it that you're afraid of?"
He looked into her eyes, searching. "I don't want to think you may just be overcompensating." Her hand dropped and his eyes closed in regret. "I just meant – "
"I know what you meant."
"Caroline – "
"I, of all people, know what it's like to be in your position." She crossed her arms, almost wanting to hug herself. "And I know how easy it is to push people away when they're trying to help."
"I wasn't – "
"You were."
He shook his head. "I don't want this to be something that alters your perception of me. Or us."
Her brows raised, impressed, and she nodded. "That's fair. And likewise." She poked his chest playfully.
He exhaled softly in relief and took her hand as she was drawing it back, smiling as he raised it to his lips to kiss the back of it. "Never."
She smiled too, leaning in to whisper against his lips, "Good."
"You know it's a crime to hide my handsome face beneath a mask like this."
The moment shattered as Kol waltzed into the kitchen bearing his monstrous prosthetics.
"More like an improvement," Rebekah's voice followed as she entered behind him texting furiously on her phone.
Klaus and Caroline drew back and moved to stand beside each other, still holding hands. Kol stepped back so he was beside Rebekah who had begun to check her hair in the front-facing camera feature of her phone. He quickly grabbed her wrist to make her hold her phone outward.
"Hashtag twinning."
The shutter went off and she yanked her arm back and shoved him as he laughed. He pulled his mask off and took a big breath, his cheeks red from heat and his hair mussed. He ran a hand through it, huffing out another breath.
"Do I really have to wear this thing all day?"
"You knew the consequences when you volunteered," Klaus told him.
"I think it's cute," Caroline assured him with a sweet smile. It lit up his face and Klaus rolled his eyes.
"Miss Caroline!" a tiny shout filled the room, pattering feet following soon after as Henrik ran in from the hall.
"There he is." Kol snatched him up and hoisted him upwards to turned him upside down. Henrik laughed, letting himself hang loosely. "The birthday monster."
"No, you."
"Six years old and that's the best comeback you've got?"
"Hi Miss Caroline," he waved.
She laughed and turned her head sideways. "Hey there."
"Let him down," Klaus told him. "He'll get a head rush."
"Such a worrywart." But he did. No sooner did Henrik run over and hug his brother's leg. Klaus ran a hand over his hair, smiling down at him.
"How does it feel to be six?" Caroline asked.
He shrugged. "Where's Finn and Lijah?"
"Outside finishing setting up your party." Klaus smiled secretively. "Would you like to go see it?"
Henrik beamed with big eyes, nodding. He took Klaus' offered hand and seized Caroline's, walking in a line between them as Klaus led the way.
The massive backyard had been transformed into a whimsical jungle with potted palm trees, an inflatable jungle bounce house, and grass skirts and tassels for all the tables. Upon them sat goodies all decorated to match the Where the Wild Things Are theme – monster claw cookies, cupcakes with crowns, a punch bowl shaped like a giant sail boat, popcorn with caramel, carrots and broccoli for dipping, paper goodie bags with yellow ribbons, and a three tiered cake with Max and his wild friends dancing around it. A giant customized banner hung above. There were even cardboard cutouts of the monsters near the table for photo op purposes.
In another corner of the yard was a jungle gym right beside the swing set they already owned, and across was a climbing wall where two attendants were securing the harness ropes. The last embellishment was right beside the gift table – a golden throne as tall as Elijah who was consequently placing the wooden staff and paper maché crown that Caroline had secretly made the night before on the cushioned seat.
Henrik gaped at everything in awe, his jaw dropped and eyes wider than wide. He dropped their hands and took a single step forward, unsure where to run first.
"Do you like it?" Henrik looked up at his brother with such wonder it made Klaus laugh. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."
"How did you get me a king's chair?"
Klaus crouched down beside him looking across the yard at the golden throne with him. "I had to travel to a kingdom far away and ask for an audience with its king. When I saw him, I told him I was throwing my favorite brother's very first birthday party and I'd very much like to borrow his throne."
Henrik turned to him, stunned. "He said yes?"
"It's here isn't it?"
"And I'm your favorite brother?"
Klaus grinned. "Always and forever."
Henrik's smile was a thing of glory before he leapt into his brother's arms with the biggest hug he had ever given. Klaus hugged him back tightly. "Happy birthday, monkey."
The six-year-old pushed back to look at him with a curious frown. "Is that how come you were so late to pick me up last week? You had to go talk to the king?"
"Yes." Klaus nodded, feigning seriousness. "It was a very long discussion to get you that throne."
He hugged him again. "Thank you, Nik."
"Looks like Katherine came in the back way," Rebekah noted, spying her lingering near Elijah and the throne. "Guess they're talking again."
"You call that talking? She's practically barking at him," he gestured. "Suitable for a bi - "
"Kol!" Klaus warned.
"Hey, why don't we go look over here?" Caroline suggested, gently touching Henrik's back as she pointed toward the food table. He followed her lead, oblivious to the conversation.
Klaus' glare was fierce enough to make Kol swallow in shame. "I was just being funny."
"Henrik doesn't need to expand his vocabulary from the likes of you."
Kol's eyes rolled with a scowl. "Oh come on, Nik. It was a bloody slip."
"Don't let it happen again."
As he spared one last look of warning, Klaus took off in the direction of the climbing wall attendants to see to the safety hazards. Kol frowned after him, mocking him in a voice under his breath, "Don't let it happen again."
A short distance away, Henrik and Caroline were admiring all of the snacks on the food tables, and more importantly, the three layers of decorated fondant. His head tilted as he studied the little sugary figures molded onto it.
"Looks like you're officially initiated," a voice said from behind them.
Caroline turned to see Kathrine's wry grin. "Into what?"
"Family dinners? After school specials? Birthday parties?" She crossed her arms. "Someone's sunk their claws into you."
Caroline mimicked her, crossing her own arms, her eyes narrowing. "Is that supposed to be a warning or congratulatory?"
"To be determined." She crouched down beside Henrik with a smile. "Hey, happy birthday, kiddo."
"Is this really a cake?"
"All three tiers of it. And it's your favorite flavor. Chocolate with chocolate cream."
"How do you know?"
"Because I got it." She winked and left them to go inside the mansion.
Caroline watched her curiously until she disappeared then remembered the child at her side. He was looking up at the banner now. She glanced sideways with a coy smile.
"Do you know what it says?"
He sucked in his lower lip and bit down, glancing over the words carefully. "Let. The. W..wiii…llll…duh, wild…rrr-uh-mmm-p-uh-sss...rumpus…" He paused and grinned. "Let the wild rumpus start!"
She laughed. "That's right. What about underneath that?"
"Happy Birthday?"
"Yep."
"I didn't read it," he confessed. "I just guessed."
She laughed again. "Good guess." The doorbell rang through the house and Henrik suddenly stiffened. "That must be your first guest. Want to go say hi?" She held her hand out to him and offered him a kind smile when he hesitated. "We can do it together."
The party was an instant hit and within an hour the mansion was crawling with the kids of Miss Caroline's kindergarten class, along with their parents. Somewhere amidst the single mothers was Kol, attempting to woo them in his monstrous form by delighting their kids with roars. Poor Ms. Bennett was having a hard time escaping him since he'd learned of her separation from her fiancé. The kids, however, were charmed.
Katherine and Elijah kept disappearing in and out of the house. The third time they returned she looked displeased. Finn was overseeing the snacks while chatting with the Salvatores whom Caroline was avoiding with all her might. In doing so, she had forgotten all about an even bigger foe.
"Caroline?"
Her voice sent a raging chill down her spine and her stomach knotted before she bolstered the courage to turn around to face Tyler's wife. She smiled her most winning smile, clenching the paper cup in her hand, desperately wishing it was something stronger than fruit punch.
"Hi, Hayley. Enjoying the party?"
"Yeah, it's great. They did a really good job."
"They did." She made no effort to hide her discomfort.
"Listen." She moved closer than Caroline would have preferred, tucking a curl of her chestnut hair behind her ear nervously. "Tyler told me what happened."
Caroline turned her cheek slightly, surprised by the amount of concern in her voice. Maybe it wasn't such a happily ever after, after all. Maybe old habits died hard and Hayley needed a kindred spirit.
"I think it's probably best if you just stay away from him from now on. For all our sakes."
Maybe not.
Caroline couldn't hide her appall but she'd be damned if she would start a scene, especially over Tyler. "I'm going to stop you right there. I'm not going to let you or Tyler ruin Henrik's day with your constant need for melodrama." She shook her head with a scoff. "I am so beyond over it."
With that she excused herself and made a beeline to the food tent where Katherine had, unbeknownst to her, been watching.
"Masterful," she said over her shoulder as Caroline brushed past.
"She's not even worth the calories I just wasted talking to her," she snipped, refilling her cup.
"At least you got the upper hand."
Caroline folded one of her arms under the other, glaring at her ex's wife from afar. "For now." She turned her sights away, trying not to laugh at Katherine's dismay with her miniature plate of raw vegetables. "Looks like Elijah's got the upper hand right now, between you two."
Katherine's eyes snapped to hers. "And why on earth would you think that?"
"If he didn't, you'd be drinking wine right now."
Caroline smiled to herself as Katherine's face drained of color. She gave her a little wink before walking off in search of Klaus.
Across the yard, Klaus was monitoring Henrik near the climbing wall, but his attention was fixated on his sister. She was in the farthest corner from him, leaning against one of the fence rails, smiling too much and talking with a dark haired man who was too close for Klaus' comfort. He hadn't noticed when Henrik had run off, or that Kol was now next to him, mask-less and following his line of sight.
"What's wrong, Nik? Your spidey senses tingling?" Klaus ignored him. "I don't blame you. As far as boyfriends go, this has to be her worst choice yet."
His eyes widened and he turned his whole body toward Kol, giving him a look. "Our sister has a boyfriend?"
Kol winced a smile. "Term of endearment." Klaus was not endeared. "He's just some bloody wanker she hangs around with in detention."
"Right. I'll see to that." He turned to make a beeline for the pair when Caroline was suddenly in his path.
"I swear, I should get an award for all the times I've kept myself from wringing that woman's bony little neck."
"Who's neck?"
"Nobody. Hayley's. She's Tyler's wife, but you know what? It doesn't matter. Because she is not getting to me today. Or ever." She frowned when she noticed him looking past her with a pale look of fury on his face. "Are…you okay?"
"Fine. I was just on my way to see about an unwanted party guest haranguing my sister."
She turned to look, squinting before the shock of recognition registered. "You invited Enzo?"
"You know him?" the two brothers echoed.
"He's a teaching assistant at the high school, but I know him from college. We met my senior year. He was a sophomore."
"Ooh," Kol crooned. "Naughty college days. Do tell." Klaus shot him a death glare and he raised his hands – and mask – in surrender. "Fine. But you owe me an explanation later, darling." She rolled her eyes as he disappeared back into the crowd of children.
Klaus' jaw clenched. "He's older?"
"I'm sure it's nothing," she assured him. They glanced back at Rebekah who was all smiles as Enzo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Klaus tensed and started to step forward but for Caroline's hand on his chest. "Hey, no. This is a birthday party. There will be no scene making."
"But – "
"No." She held her finger up where he could see it. "You owe it to Henrik." He exhaled heavily through his nose and eased down. "I've got this."
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and stalked over to where Enzo and Rebekah were talking. Klaus peered after her through narrowed eyes, watching carefully.
"Enzo?" Caroline grinned winningly when he looked up almost doing a double take. "Hey!"
His smile was less certain. "Caroline. Fancy meeting you here."
"I had no idea you were coming." She threw her arms around him in a hug that caused both on looking Mikaelsons to frown.
"Gorgeous," Enzo murmured quietly as he hugged her back, "what are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same question," she hissed.
"You two know each other?" Rebekah asked when they parted, unable to repress her worry.
"Oh, we go way back," Caroline answered just as Enzo had opened his mouth. "Crazy college days."
Rebekah blinked furiously. "College…"
Enzo glanced to Caroline with an annoyed huff of breath. She sassed him with a grin. "Mind if I steal him away from you for a minute?"
He set his jaw. "Actually - "
"Great!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him away with her, ignoring his agitated glare. "I've got someone I want you to meet."
"That's lovely, but can we do it some other time when you aren't being completely insane?"
"You are so one to talk," she shot back as she dragged him back towards Klaus who was no happier than he was to be face to face with his newest nemesis. "Enzo, this is Klaus. Rebekah's brother."
For a brief and shining moment Enzo was flabbergasted and wordless, but with a blink he recovered with a curt smile. "Nice to meet you, mate."
Klaus face was taut. He glanced to Caroline who was giving him "be nice" eyes. "Caroline tells me you were college friends."
"You could say that." He began to smile wryly. "We had our jollies a few times, she was highly experimental, but ultimately we worked best as friends. With the occasional benefits."
Caroline's eyes bulged, her jaw dropping. "What?!" She turned to Klaus whose expression was the epitome of rage and shook her head vehemently. "No."
"If you'll excuse me, I should be getting back."
"Hey!" Caroline stomped after him, stopping after a few steps. "Enzo! This is not a singles mixer! She's not even legal!" Her voice carried and he froze, the party halting briefly as everyone's eyes fell on Caroline. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and, after a pause, Enzo continued walking. The party resumed.
Klaus sauntered up to her side. "What was that about a scene?"
"Shut up."
After a few games, it was time for one of Henrik's favorite past times. The kids were all amassed around Kol who had been in the midst of a retelling of Henrik's favorite story. The adults were all scattered in groups, conversing over food and the adult adjusted punch. No one had even noticed that the birthday boy had slipped away until Henrik walked up to Klaus and Caroline, pouting. Klaus was worried instantly.
"What's wrong, monkey?"
"Kol doesn't do the monster sounds right."
"I'm sure he's doing the best that he can. Cut him a little slack."
Henrik looked down sadly. Klaus sighed, stealing a glance at Caroline who smiled apologetically.
"All right." He started to get up and suddenly hoisted the birthday boy up onto his shoulders, Henrik fumbling to grab his head for support. "All hail Henrik, king of the wild things!"
Kol stopped mid-sentence and all of the children's heads turns.
"Bow to your king and...ROAR!"
The yard echoed with laughter and cheering and Henrik beamed as the air filled with the thunderous sound of Klaus' growling roars. The now six-year-old giggled maniacally and began waving his arms, outstretched in front of him.
"Rawwwr!" he growled along, and soon Klaus was stomping through the mounds of children all roaring in unison.
Caroline laughed, endeared, clasping her hands, tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.
"He seems pretty happy," Katherine said joining her in watching them stomp around.
Her giggles trailed into a smile. "He does, doesn't he?"
Klaus had set Henrik down and he and the kids swarmed him as he dropped to his knees for his imminent defeat. Beyond them Rebekah was laughing with Enzo across the yard, and nearby Kol was the center of attention in a circle of young mothers. Elijah and Finn were conversing by the cake as they prepared it, seemingly amicable. The day was remarkably normal and happier than most others.
Katherine glanced at Caroline with a smirk. "This was all your doing, wasn't it?"
"What?"
"Don't play coy." Katherine grinned. "I can see right through your pretty little school teacher facade."
"I may have planted the seed," she confessed with a smug grin. "Sometimes all they need is a little push."
"How did you know it would work?"
Caroline shrugged. "I didn't. But I hoped it would."
Katherine hummed, her hand resting over her stomach as she watched Henrik stomping away, leading the rest of his classmates in a march. Caroline glanced sideways at her, smiling a little.
"You might be surprised by what comes naturally," she told her.
Her gaze raised to hers cautiously, but Katherine smiled, almost appreciatively. Past her she saw Elijah standing in the back doorway of the mansion, watching her thoughtfully.
"I think I'm being summoned."
Caroline turned her head to see and gave Kathrine a playful smile. "Play nice."
She grinned full-fledged and dangerous. "I never do."
Caroline laughed as she watched her practically stalk to her future husband, shaking her head before reverting her attention back to her own significant other. Somehow the kids had tackled him on the ground and all she could see were his curls and his arms flailing.
Soon enough it was time for cake and everyone was gathered around. Henrik sat proudly in his throne, bearing his crown, the rest of the family spread around him and the cake perched on a small table in front of him as all of the guests sang.
"Happy birthday dear Henrik, happy birthday to you!"
"Make a wish!" Rebekah encouraged him, hurrying around to the front of the cake so she could get a perfect picture.
"Wait!" Henrik jumped out of his seat and held his arms out to stop them. He pulled Klaus forward and then Caroline, holding both of their hands as he looked up smiling. "Together."
They shared a glance and Klaus nodded to lean in with him. "On three."
Caroline leaned in too. "Ready?"
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three!"
And in three huffs the candles blew out, perfectly in sync with the camera flash.
"Let the wild rumpus start!" Henrik shouted victoriously then grabbed a fistful of cake and stuffed it in his mouth.
Laughter and cheering rang out into the evening, and all around were five astonished Mikaelsons and a hysterical kindergarten teacher.
Henrik's Room 8:43 p.m.
By seven, the party had come to a close and the cleaning crew began their descent. The sugar rush sent Henrik running around the house and tearing through gifts until he came crashing down hard well after his bed time. Klaus carried his passed out brother in his arms up to his bedroom, Caroline following to help tuck him in.
"I don't think I've ever seen him so animated," he commented, pulling the covers over his baby brother.
"I know, right? The cake thing was totally badass."
"And unlike him."
"I think it's more like him than you realize." His brows twitched in confusion and she looked down at Henrik. "He's a kid, acting the way a kid should. With all the drama surrounding your family, I think it's easy to forget that."
"You're right." He looked back at the sleeping child in question. "Not to mention he's brilliant beyond his years. It's hard to treat him like a child."
He turned out the light and ushered her out before pulling the door closed. They began the descent back down the hall.
"You know," she started, "he wasn't the only one who looked like they were having a good time today." He smirked to himself. "It was a nice change. To see you all happy and behaving like a family."
"I think even Kol enjoyed himself. Perhaps a little too much."
She shot him a wry grin. "Kol is a hormonal teenager. He can't help it."
He stopped and pulled her close to him, smiling mischievously. "So what's my excuse?"
She pressed her hands against his chest with a hum. "You're weak for blondes?"
"Singular," he corrected, reinforcing the point with a loving kiss.
She locked her arms around his neck and let her body lean into his as she kissed him back with affection.
"Verrrry nice," Kol's voice crooned, ushering him into the hall. He smirked cheekily as he approached. "Good show. Solid ten out of ten."
Caroline's face reddened and Klaus held her protectively with a frown. "Shouldn't you be out terrorizing the town by now?"
"But terrorizing you is so much more fun."
"To your room, Kol," he commanded with a small shove.
Kol stumbled dramatically with a scoff. "Scandal in our own house!" He spared one last wink at Caroline before disappearing around the corner.
Klaus hung his head with a defeated sigh and Caroline's head went to his shoulder.
"Maybe we should take this somewhere more private," she suggested, looking up questioningly.
His lips twisted into a dangerous grin and he suddenly lifted her up. She shrieked once her feet left the ground, giggling as he carried her down the hall. His used his foot to push his door open and set her down once they were inside. It took all of two seconds for her to back him up against the door, effectively closing it, locking him in a passionate kiss. His hands found her waist and then swiftly, but softly, started inching her shirt upwards, his fingers touching the skin of her stomach. She drew back and pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it carelessly aside with a grin.
"Someone's eager."
She locked her fingers behind his neck and let out a breathless laugh, looking down with a shy pause. "You know, watching you with him today…" She shrugged and looked up with a flirtatious smile. "I felt like I was falling for you all over again."
He smiled smugly. "So this is your way of showing that?"
"You've got a better idea?"
He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, pelvis to pelvis. "A few."
With that he pulled a switch, turning them so she was the one against the door, and raised her arms above her head. He warned her with her eyes and she kept them in place as his fingertips slid down her skin tantalizingly slow, a sharp contrast to his hungry kisses that dragged down her neck and into her cleavage. His hands cupped the padded mounds with a squeeze as he rose to heatedly kiss her lips again, his hips thrusting into hers. She moaned into his mouth as the wet tingling between her legs grew and she dug her nails into her palms, making fists, fighting not to lower her arms so she could touch him.
He quickly unfastened her jeans and tugged them down off her hips. She kicked them the rest of the way off as he hurried to undo his own jeans. She pulled his shirt over his head and pulled him back to her, her hands over his shoulders, exploring all the new plethora of skin. He held her hips and kissed her fervently, his tongue running along hers as their lips caressed. Her panties went down her legs and suddenly he'd lifted her, and her legs instinctively tightened around him. He was throbbing against his boxer-briefs but he used his fingers as a preemptive, her pleading whimpers like music to his ears.
"Klaus..." Her voice was breathless, his name only air on her lips.
He freed himself at last and guided himself into her, thrusting one hard time to draw that initial cry of relief and then it was love-making in its rawest form. It started against the door, escalated to the bed, and eventually wound up inexplicably on the floor. Time and space had been ignored, lost in the midst of ecstasy. His back was riddled with deep scratches, just shy of being bled. Her hair was a nest of strands and sweat, and their bodies were melded in a mess of sheen, but they lay together at the foot of the bed, in a mound of sheets, on the floor, basking in nothing else but each other.
"Do you think Kol heard us?" she asked, tracing shapes around the tattooed birds flying across his left shoulder.
He hummed lazily. "I think the whole house heard us, love."
She sighed and nestled against his chest. "Oops."
They were quiet for a while. He was absently stroking her back and every so often he would feel her shiver under his touch. It wasn't temperate, rather a bodily reflex, like a tickle. He'd been resting there peacefully, unable to open his eyes but not able to sleep either. He finally peeked one eye open to look down at her.
"Caroline?" he whispered.
She inhaled deeply, mumbling, "Hmmwhat?"
He swallowed, hard. "I think it's very possible that I'm in love with you."
Her eyes opened slowly and she began to smile. She lifted herself halfway and he looked down at her, nervous as all hell. "I love you too," she said softly, leaning up to kiss him. Her fingers played amongst his curls and he slid his hand against her cheek, kissing her sweetly.
A knock on the door jarred them out of their bliss.
"Niklaus?"
It was Elijah's voice. Klaus and Caroline exchanged a glance and she shrugged in response to the question in his eyes. He begrudgingly got up and searched for his boxer-briefs before padding to the door. Caroline pulled all the sheets around herself in a little burrow so she was covered. The door opened and Elijah's demeanor went from stoic to abashed. His eyes went to his brother's lack of clothing, to Caroline's deer-in-headlights, back to Klaus.
"My apologies." He ducked his head. "I didn't realize you were indisposed."
"Yes, well, it's a good thing you knocked then."
Regaining his composure, Elijah looked up now weary with impatience. "When you're decent, Finn and I will be down in the study."
"Good for you and Finn." He began to shut the door but Elijah's hand caught it.
"Niklaus. I wouldn't be playing messenger boy if it weren't an urgent matter."
He sighed exasperatedly. "Fine. We'll be down shortly." He shut the door before Elijah could protest further. He sat on his bed running a hand through his hair. "Leave it to my brothers, Doom and Gloom, to ruin a perfectly good night."
Caroline stood up, still clutching the sheets, and went over to sit with him. "It still is a good night. And it was a great day. Whatever is going on downstairs doesn't change that."
He smiled grimly and cupped her chin then his eyes went wicked. "This isn't over." She laughed, shaking her head as he began to redress. "You may want to put on something more than a bedsheet, love."
"You think? I thought I'd just go like this."
He walked back and leaned in, one palm on either side of her on the bed. "As much as I'd enjoy seeing you like this, I'd rather I was the only one."
With a playful huff, she raised her hands in surrender and the sheets dropped to her waist. Klaus let out a little growl and nipped at her neck teasingly before relenting so she could get dressed. In a few minutes, they were hand in hand walking into the study. As promised, Elijah and Finn were waiting.
"Forgive me, Caroline, but this is a family matter," Finn started.
She blinked wide eyes, about to step back when Klaus clutched her hand tighter. "She's more than welcome," he declared.
"Sharing our business is not for you alone to decide," he objected.
"Caroline has been an integral part of Henrik's life and has already borne witness to some of our ordeals," Elijah argued. "Instead of wasting our time arguing, why don't you tell us why you called this meeting?"
Reluctantly, Finn retreated to the desk at the back of the room. He thumbed through a short stack of papers and pulled an envelope out, hesitating with it in his hands before turning back to them.
Klaus swallowed. The frown on his brother's face was telling and it told him something dreadful was coming. Finn handed him the envelope and Klaus' heart beat faster. He withdrew his hand from Caroline's to open it and read the letter. Elijah and Caroline watched his eyes race through each line, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper. His hands shook as he read it, the paper starting to crumple between his fingers.
"What is it?" Elijah finally inquired.
"It's a summons," Finn told him.
Klaus looked up, fire in his eyes. "She wants to go to trial."
