Places everyone.
Geared up and ready to go, Lizzie and Josie stood in a circle repeating their perfectly handcrafted spell. Walking counter clockwise in unison every few verses, the girls were in sync, practiced, confident, and ready to kick ass.
All components of their plan were in place.
Kaleb and MG both put the candles in their father's office as well as the perimeter of the school. A last-minute adjustment made by Kaleb, after overhearing their father thinking out loud about sending their school's honor tracking team out into the woods to see why their guidance counselor, Emma, Tigs', dark magic detector was ticking at a high frequency. Now no supernatural could leave the school, not just Hope.
The sacrifice was taking place in a different location, hours away, with the members of the Silver Coven keeping watch and helping along the way.
Nora and Mary Lou were each following along the steps of the twins and their spell, standing behind them, forming a circle and walking clockwise to their steps. A perfect rhythm, while they used their own siphoning powers, to give power to the twins, to boost their spell. Their vampire sides giving them plenty of energy to back the twins up, and be a fall back in case anything happens.
A sacrifice. Power.
Power Up.
Two supernatural beings that died around the same time as the Originals. Their essence more settled than Klaus and Elijahs, but still just enough to power up their spell and get their magic pumping for the main event.
The twins and Nora and Mary Lou paced a circle twice. Their two resurrections were laying in front of them.
Still focused and nowhere near finished with their spell, they didn't notice JD come levitate the two bodies away to heal. The young witch came with them to assist where she could.
The twins felt the dark magic rising and spreading through their fingertips, but not in a bad way that they were told they would experience. They felt in control of it, not easily led, but also not terrified that it was consuming them. More in the way that they knew they needed extra power, and they retrieved it from a pit hidden in themselves, and they're sprinkling that extra power into their magic to give more power to their spell.
Five more circle rotations. The witches all chant louder. Finally, the moment arises.
Unlike the last two beings. These two come back standing on their feet. A bit uneasy, but just as strong willed and determined as the day they left this earth.
With grace and fluid power that impressed the older witches and the little one still watching from the side. Mary Lou, Lizzie, and Nora held on to the main spell, while Josie broke out of the circle to stand in the middle. Unsheathing the katana sword like a warrior princess about to slay her enemies, she drew the black magic of the sword and threw both of her hands at the Originals with a warrior cry.
Klaus and Elijah stood with their arms and heads thrown back as a bright blue light shinned out of every orifice on their body. Once the light had left, they righted themselves and looked astonished as the 12-year-old girl held her head high and her arm raised up holding the blue light that seemed to be trying to move. The light yanking each way, looking for its next living host, and the girl not bothered in the least, or looked spooked in the slightest.
Their attention was drawn towards another 12-year-old girl with blonde hair and the circular contraption in her hand. Chanting a spell dissimilar to her sisters in every way, except for one word where they spoke strongly simultaneously. Josette threw the Hollow to her sisters' hand, both their spells mingling together, yet, neither girl slipped off from their own mantra. The device in Lizzie's hand made multiple clicking sounds before silence.
Not just silence in the device, but in the woods too, in their location. The witches stopped chanting. They stopped moving. The Hollow was gone and the device laid at the feet of the girls who vanquished her, both standing still and tall, their breaths coming out in even, if not a tad slower.
A far away howl of a wolf was heard in the distance.
With that sound, it finally it sunk in for everyone.
All components were complete.
A sacrifice. A Power up. Resurrection. The Hollow.
The Silver Coven did come through with multiple people that the Hollow could be put into and then killed. Two traitor witches, one vampire, and even a human. The human didn't do anything wrong; they were dying anyway and didn't mind doing a last favor to the kind coven that became his family throughout his life.
At the end of the day though, the twins didn't want to kill anyone. The witches assured them that they wouldn't trigger their wolf sides by doing this. Technically the presence of the Hollow would kill them, not the twins. The Hollow needs a strong vessel. A human, and a run of the mill vampire and witches wouldn't be able to sustain her. The twins understood, but the wolf bit isn't even what stopped them. They learned by now that no one in the world was an actual nobody. Someone had someone, and those someone's would eventually come and ask questions. Seeking revenge or maybe just answers. Either way, long term, the twins wanted their family to rest, and not worry about handling the next supernatural drama. So, while looking at some of their coven books that the Silver Coven gave them, the twins decided to use something else from their heritage for their problem.
The ascendant.
Prison Worlds are the Gemini Covens thing.
A thing that the Hollow currently resided in, that Lizzie picked up from the ground and walked over to the Originals. She and her sister may have trapped it for them, but it was their mess. Whether they wanted to destroy the ascendant and therefore the Hollow, or keep it in, what Lizzie is sure they own, some old memorabilia vault, was up to them. All she knew was that she was tired.
''I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat and would kill to sit down somewhere.'' Lizzie said exhaustedly.
Ellijah bowed his head and upper half of his body, with his right arm bent in front of him and his left sitting behind his back. Lizzie giggled, seeing the Original bow to her like a fairytale prince.
''Elizabeth and Josette, please do not think myself, or my brother here are joking in the slightest, when we say, your wish is our command. We are eternally in your debt.''
Josie and Lizzie smiled small but genuine at the brothers, both with bashful blushes adorning their cheeks.
''Come brother, let's get these lovely witch's home.'' Klaus stepped forward and picked up Josette, as Elijah grabbed Lizzie.
Nora and Mary Lou giving the brothers a nod, with a glance to the forest, their attentions clear. They would clean up and follow them afterwards.
X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X
''What the hell is going on MG! Why can't I leave this room and where are my daughters?!''
''Dr. Saltzman I respect your position and your right to demand answers, but Lizzie entrusted in me information, and no matter the punishment, I will not break her trust.'' MG said with a straight face, yet sympathetic eyes.
''I don't care what Lizzie wants! I am the head master; I am in charge! We have rules, and those rules in reference to your behavior aren't winning you any points right now!''
''However, you've just won lots in the boyfriend category. Thanks MG.'' Lizzie said softly and in awe from the arms of the newly revived Original Elijah Mikaelson. Lizzie knew how much MG respected her father, and authority in genral. So, to go against that, because of her, and the promise he made to her, meant a lot to the little blonde siphoner.
''What in the world.'' Alaric whispered, looking startled, angry, suspicious, and cautious, at the two Originals who last time he checked were supposed to be dead.
''Dad, we can explain.'' Lizzie stepped forward, after being put down by Elijah, though the Original still had to help her stand steady.
''You will explain, and explain now! What do you two think you're doing with my daughters, what did you drag them into. I should have seen this coming, even from the grave you two-''
''Stop!'' Alaric did stop talking. Not because of the command so much, but because of who it came from. Josie never raised her voice in general, and never at him.
''Josie-'', but Alaric was cut off by the shake of his daughter's head. Josie whispered for Klaus to lift her up to address the student body that had congregated in front of the stairs after they realized they couldn't go outside.
It was mostly the wolves and the witches and a few stray vamps. Before bed, the students have 30 minutes for last minute things before the doors close and are locked. Usually, students go out just for some air, or a smoke break, the sporty kids sometimes put their morning training equipment on the field for a jump start in the morning. That sort of thing. Of course, the students could leave out the front door and campus, but it would be monitored. The headmaster would know what time you left school grounds and when you came back in, since they were technically breaking curfew.
''Hello everyone. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. My sister and I had a family emergency, regarding our mother, Caroline, and it was a bit on the dangerous side, so we made an executive decision to keep all of you inside. The tool used to do this is now inactive and you guys are free to move around. We do ask though that instead, just for tonight, could you use the back and side exits to get to the grounds and gardens. We're about to close the front entrance doors and secure the front room for a talk. Feel free to grab a snack from the kitchen before your off for the night. Again, so sorry, thank you for your patience.''
Klaus smirked at Josie's speech and how she added her mother's name in there to ease tensions. His love was a much beloved teacher here and the students would just about forgive her for anything.
After fielding off questions about if Caroline was okay or not, everyone gathered to one of the long tables in front of the Great Hall. The twins, showered, eating a light dinner, with soda, spiked with some Original blood to take away any residual stress or fatigue they were feeling from the night's events. MG sat next to Lizzie with Josie on her other side and Elijah next to Josie. Klaus sat in front of the twins on the other side of table, eyes trained for the slightest indication that the twins needed to rest, before what he was sure to be the interrogation of the year. A seat was open to the side of him, where his littlest wolf would sit at. The ripper vampire Milton said he shot his brother, Kaleb, a text to go get Hope on his way back from retrieving the other resurrections the twins needed for his own and his brothers, although they were both tight lipped about who those individuals are.
On his other side sat Nora and Mary Louise, both who Klaus knew as friends of Carolines, and he has met once or twice over the decade. They seemed nice enough, always there for Caorline, unlike the Mystic Falls Gang. They both genuinely cared about his love, which already made them okay in his book. When they came in from the sight, they immediately checked on the twins, and sent them off to get refreshed, then set their sights on himself and Elijah seeing if they needed any blood or for them to call anyone. They were very helpful, simply for the fact that he was important to Caroline, therefore important to them.
He was always a tad bit envious, yet equally inspired and admired the way his Caroline can attract this unwavering love, trust, and loyalty in others. He includes himself on that list.
Next to his love's friends, sat the Park girl. Simultaneously checking on Josette and trying to look nonchalant, as if she wasn't curious at all about the events of the night. Klaus couldn't help but internally rolling his eyes. The new fad for teenagers these days were ignorance and blasé attitudes. Well, at least that was the quote that sat bold on the T-shirt of the girl.
It's a new art form, showing people how little, we care.
Hmm. It appears a Lorde said that in their time. He wonders what kingdom that philosophy stemmed from when all of a sudden, a beautiful voice calls his title behind him. Not his name. But title. In a thousand years it was a title that he was honored and blessed to have.
''Daddy?''
''Hope.'' He breathed back
The girl had tears in her eyes and ran to her father, flinging her arms around his neck, blubbering I love yous and wanting explanations. The hybrid raced to the kitchens for a bit of privacy in his emotional reunion with his daughter, Elijah joining after a while, wanting a word with his niece. Almost an hour later, after hearing tears, shouts, laughs, and quiet whispers they came out. Hope surprisingly, or at least to the twins, were not expecting the hug the tribrid squeezed them in, and her soft 'thank you' she whispered in their ear.
Lizzie, ever the ice queen persona, sniffed and turned her head, not letting emotion get to her, though anyone could see her eyes glitter a tad, and the upturn of her lips. ''Well, we didn't do it for you.''
''Regardless, your welcome.'' Josie interrupted her sister and sent a smile Hope's way. ''I'm just happy you have some of your family back.''
Whatever sentiments and emotional talks of friendship were interrupted with Alaric blazing into the room straight for the twins.
''What did you two do to your mother!?'' Alaric shouted at the twins; his face redder than an inferno.
The twins held their head high, not letting him intimidate them or make them feel scolded. They accomplished an outstanding task today, and they weren't going to let anyone, even their father, take that away. Lizzie especially didn't like implication that his tone said, like the girls went out of their way to harm their mother purposefully, and the glare she gave back showed it.
For Hope that sentence brought back bad memories. Those were the words Klaus himself yelled at her, when he found out that Hayleys disappearance had something to do with Hope. Hope looked at the twins, her mind into overdrive. Hopefully, the twins didn't do the same with Caroline. She didn't want the twins to deal with that pain, from a plan hatched in the heat of the moment. She didn't want her father to go through that pain. She's known for a while that her father and headmistress had history. While it surprised her at first, it didn't take long to get used to. Caroline was so bright, and open, and honestly lovely in Hope's opinion. From the moment they met, Caorline has always been there for Hope. She was the only person, who didn't have her father, her family, painted as the villain in their story. Hope adored Caroline. She didn't want to lose her either.
No one would replace Haley to Hope, but Caroline was pretty close. She was the one that was here with Hope all these years. The one who drove Hope back home, or flew with her, when her Mom couldn't tear herself away from the pack to make the trip to see her daughter. No one could replace the woman who gave birth and protected her, but no one could replace Caorline either. The woman who helped raise her, who loved her Dad, and cared about her family. Her Aunt Bex once said, Caroline was the only genuine friend the MIkaelson family had.
No, Caroline wasn't ultra-powerful, she didn't have centuries under her belt, she had something better. Something priceless. She was loyal. She cared about them. Loyalty that her family earned, that was genuine and not bought or forced. That made her top priority for her family. It was a known fact, that if Caroline needed help with anything, one of the Mikaelsons needed to answer the call. Always and Forever.
''Moms fine.'' Lizzie said and then reached for her spiked soda nonchalantly, further frustrating her father.
''We left her in good care and she'll be well within days and reunited with Klaus. Everything's good.'' Josie said with a nod of her head and a smile at the Original, who smiled back at the soft-spoken brunette.
Alaric looked shocked, having put the pieces together after what Josie said. ''What is this?! The Parent Trap?!''
That got a chuckle at the otherwise quiet Originals at the table. ''I can't believe you brought them back to begin with! Why-,'' Alaric cut himself off at Hopes sharp look with astonishment. ''I know they're your family Hope, but-''
''Whatever.'' Hope rolled her eyes and settled against her father's side more, his hands soothingly running into her hair.
Alaric sighed and breathed in to regain his control. He looked to his daughters, not believing they did this. Especially Josie, who he couldn't believe was giving Klaus excited smiles and seemed so comfortable sitting with the Mikaelsons, after everything he has ever told them about the family.
''Explain now.''
X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x
''How reckless could you two get.'' Alaric looked stunned at the plan. Hope, Nora and Mary Lou looking impressed. MG looking at the twins with a mixture awe and pride, and Penelope looking on jealous. At being excluded, from the plan, and Josie speaking to her about it in general, as well as the fact that the twins learned real stuff and not the baby classes everyone else was getting at school.
''Out of all the things that could have gone wrong! You're not ready for that kind of magic! You shouldn't have-. You couldn't have-'', Alaric was up pacing and running his hands through his hair.
''We were strong enough. We had very experienced witches help in this, and we had so many back-up plans, Katherine Pierce herself would be proud. We did this. We're proud of what we did. This is something every witch wishes they could pull off, what they should be practicing. Or at least more serious stuff than an odor smell''-, Lizzie's rant was cut off by her father.
''Uh-uh! No! You two will be punished for this. You doing this, is one thing, now you want this school to teach this!''
''You're not the only one who can decide that. You didn't build this school by yourself. Its Mom's too.'' Josie shot back, voice soft, but strong undertones, leaving no room for argument.
''It's Mom's period. She built this; she just gave you the captains hat. It's time for Mom to make the big decisions around here. Your human. What could you possibly know-'',
''I've been in this world longer than you have Elizabeth!'' Alaric cut off upset and embarrassed that his 12-year-old daughters were giving him a dressing down. In front of Klaus Mikaelson of all people!
''Yea, as a vampire hunter, not an actually supernatural yourself. Considering the vampires make up a big population of this school, I wouldn't lead with that on our tours.'' Lizzie rolled her eyes.
''Perhaps when Ms. Forbes is able, we can address the next steps for the twins. She is their other parent; I'm assuming she gets a say so in the girl's life.'' Elijah jumped in, trying to take some heat off the girls.
Nora scoffed, ''yes, you would think so.''
Klaus's head swiveled to the heretic witch, questions in his eyes and a message ringing loud a clear: We'll talk about that comment later.
''Stay out of this, and out of my family!'' Alaric glared at the Original.
''Considering I'm their aunt, therefore family, I'll jump in for him.'' A voice called from behind the group.
Bonnie Bennett stood in skinny jeans a white tank top and high hilled black boots on, hair in a pony tail with her bangs out and gold jewelry as accents. Not looking a day over 20.
''Bonnie-'', Alaric rolled his eyes upward. He couldn't yell at Bonnie. She's saved their asses on more than one occasion, as the schools go-to powerful witch, and she was Caroline and his surrogate daughter, Elena's, best friend. While Caroline and the Salvatore family were barely speaking, Bonnie still had withstanding lunch dates with Elena, and the witch never minded spreading his business to the doppelgangers ear.
''Caroline is fine. I've spoken to her. Weak and drained, but fine. Should the girls have done it, no, at least not by themselves. Ah!'', Bonnie held up her hand, when she saw Alaric about to retort, ''The girls have out done themselves. I spoke to the Silver Coven; they were impressed with how far they got in their plan. The girls did everything right. Right now, Rik, you're wasting breathe, the four of them are here, they aren't going anywhere. They will be in your life for a long time. Klaus will most likely marry Caroline, blended families are still very much a big thing nowadays, I don't know what else to tell you except get over it.''
With that, Bonnie plopped down beside Mary Lou, after going around the table and giving hugs to everyone. MIkaelsons included.
''We'll see about that. There's no way you're blending with my girls.'' Alaric sneered at Klaus.
''My relationship with the girl's mother is none of your concern history teacher, and you'd do well to stay out of that.'' Klaus sneered back with golden eyes. The hybrid has been quiet up until this point. There was no reason for him to voice his thoughts or make things worse. However, words against Hope, or threats against his relationship with Caroline were not going to be tolerated. He's waited a decade and then some to be with this woman, no one, especially not this insignificant human was going to keep him away from his love.
Klaus rant was going on a loop in his mind, as well as some torture techniques when a smaller hand sat on top of his on the table. It wasn't Hope's. He's memorized his little girl by heart. He looked up; it was Elizabeth. Her hand, not there as a warning for him to back away from her father, but as a comfort to him, her thumb swiping back and forth in a comfortable gesture, her eyes telling him that her father's words shouldn't be taken to heart.
Klaus melted.
With a small smile back to Lizzie, and a squeeze to her hand, Klaus' wolf lessened, with the comfort from one of his pups was giving to him.
Alaric looked on with contempt and anger at the scene. No way was Klaus Mikaelson going to steal his family away from him.
''The moment you step out of line Mikaelson, I will-'', Alaric got ready to threaten, but was interrupted, by Lizzie.
''You'll what. He's a thousand-year-old hybrid. Your human. If he truly wanted to, you'd be dust. Unless of course, you have something that you think we'll give you an upper hand.'' Lizzie challenged her father with a look and crossed her arms.
Elijah and Klaus exchanged looks, both cautious of what this human possessed that they would need to worry about.
Alaric schooled his features quick. ''I don't know what your-'',
''Lies!'' Lizzie threw her arms up and rolled her eyes.
''Elizabeth!''
''Of course, that's not your only lie.'' Lizzie muttered bitterly.
''Lizzie.'' Josie interrupted her sister this time, but of course, Lizzie ignored all warnings
''Oh, like how Josie and I will kill each other at 22. That's going to be a fun birthday.'' Lizzie said sarcastically.
''WHAT!?'' The whole table shouted.
Alaric was shocked. Going white, before red replaced his features, his eyes sympathetic to his little girls, but then going to the only other people who knew about the Merge. Nora and Mary Lou.
Alaric opened his mouth, ready to unleash his anger at the two siphoners.
''Stop!'' Josie yelled, stopping everyone's voices at once. She took a breather and explained where the information came from, and she told the Originals about the White Oak Stake their father possessed.
''Josette!'' Alaric looked utterly betrayed.
''We did this for Mom, Dad. I'm sorry, but I won't let you get in the way of her happiness, over a grudge that everyone dropped except for you, over actions that weren't even done to you. I'm not stupid. Your grudge is for Damon and Elena Salvatore, and while that shows great loyalty to them from you, they're your family, not mine or Lizzies. Or Moms. We don't have to carry their grudge. I'm not belittling yours either. Yes, using you as a meat suit was horrible, but...you tortured Mom-''
''I was turned into a horrible killing machine by his mother!'' Alaric defended himself from the accusation Josie threw at him. What he did to Caroline, unintentional or not, still plagued his mind. He would never be able to fully express how sorry he was over what happened in that classroom. Even though Caroline had forgiven him ages ago, Alaric would never forgive himself.
''So was Klaus, by his own mother. And he hadn't met Mom yet. Everyone has a reason Dad. Unlike you, everyone has moved on.'' Josie sighed, seeing the betrayed look on her father's face. She understood, she honestly did. In a room like this, it seemed like it was everyone against him. She didn't want him to feel like this, but this wasn't about him.
''It's all irrelevant anyway. We did this for Mom. As long as she's happy. Truly, genuinely, for the first time, in a long time'', Josie stopped and took a breather and stood tall with her back straight, ''I don't care about the consequences.'' Josie stated. The looks of awe and pride from everyone at the table helped. Good girl Josie Saltzman stood up against her father. Wow.
''Your mother is happy.'' Alaric genuinely looked confused.
''No Dad'', Josie looked at him shaking her head and giving him a pitying look that he detested, ''she really wasn't.''
''All the objects we used for our spell are put back where we got them, except the sword, stake, and necklace. The sword was destroyed after I purged the Hollow.'' Lizzie reached into her pocket and pulled out Rebekah's locket, getting up from the table and walking past her father and giving it back to Rebekah Mikaelson, herself.
''It's beautiful.'' Lizzie smiled at the blonde female Original. ''Here's your necklace back. It should have been given to you a long time ago.''
Rebekah took the necklace from Caroline's little girl, already enamored by her blonde hair, blue eyes, and the sass she witnessed moments ago. ''Thank you lovely, after all of this is settled, let's see about getting you one. A little girl simply must have at least one sentimental locket in remembrance of childhood.'' Rebekah brushed Lizzie's hair behind her ear with a smile and watched as she returned to her seat.
''When did you lot get here?!'' Klaus, Hope and Elijah stood up to greet their family.
''Around the time Saltzman was doling out threats to our family and murmuring about no doubt all the ways he could put us down with one stake.'' Kol strolled in and casually, while his eyes held a promise of pain.
''I'm protecting my family.'' Alaric glared at Kol.
''We don't need protection.'' Lizzie interjected. ''If Mom says she feels safest with him, then I do too.'' Lizzie crossed her arms.
''Ditto.'' Josie said. ''And I'm not giving you the stake Dad, and don't bother looking for it. I'm giving it back to Klaus.''
Alaric's face was the color of a peaceful sunset compared to how he looked now. Josie waited with bated breathes to see what her father would say or do next. When it seemed, he had calmed down enough, the girls we're surprised anger wasn't his go to emotion, instead it was stoicism and coldness. He looked at the girls. ''I am very disappointed in you two. ''
He focused on Josie more so next.
''I am deeply disappointed in you Josette.''
The Mikaelsons and Bonnie, Nora, and Mary Lou saw how the kid's eyes widen and they turned to look at Josie, while Lizzie just had a blank face, their assuming, she has been used to having her father's disappointment, so it wasn't so dramatic for her. Lizzie's eyes were actually on Josies. Concern all over her face for her sister, who she knew could potentially take their fathers disappointment to their heart. Which would hurt her more than any dark magic their father thought it could do.
Josie however, from what they garnered, was the Disney Princess daughter. Everything Lizzie wasn't. The perfect daughter, the good student, the reminder of his late wife. Josie always tried to live up to all these titles. The looks the little family was getting now, was like waiting on the cliffhanger of the sentence, seeing what Josie would do next, now that clear as day, her father, was telling her, she wasn't behaving as he wanted. One of Josie's big fears.
Josie's face took on her fathers to the T. Stoicism, but not the coldness. More direct in nature, with a graceful confidence, that left no arguments, which seemed to be the theme for Josie this evening and her interactions with her father.
''My name is Josie. I am not Josette. And I can live with the disappointment.''
Everyone noticed the weight of those words. The adults more than the kids. That little sentence, holding much more meaning than just their conversation now, it being a final notice to how she's been treated her whole life.
Josie gave a tiny shrug, walking away, not noticing the astonished look on Alaric's face. The look of a person whose plan didn't go the way they thought it would. Josie sat back in her chair next to Lizzie. Who whispered so quietly, that only the supernatural and her twin could hear. ''I'm so proud of you.'' In which, the brunette twins whispered back with a little smirk and pride for herself in her eyes. ''It's Mom.''
The twins were serious when they said it was time to put their mother first.
The phone interrupted the tense silence everyone got in.
Bonnie went to answer and after a few mumbled words, she hung up and came back to the table.
''Caroline is fine, she's being brought back here. We still have some things to talk about. Alaric you can stay or go. I can text you the address of the-'',
''Please do, I got to get out of here.'' Putting on his jacket, he was out the door before she could finish her sentence.
Sometime in the middle of the Saltzman family showdown, places shifted. Hope sat next to Lizzie and was showing her silent support. Klaus and Elijah stood behind Josie, giving her room, but could step in if need be. MG, Penelope, Kol, Freya, and Rebekah all stood on the other side of the table, having fully come into the room and was witnessing everything around them.
''Okay everyone, how about a break and then some questions answered. I know most of the events that happened tonight. thanks to a little mini movie spell, sort of, but I'm wondering about the others you resurrected. While I'm happy to see Nik isn't going to go crazy without his mate with him for eternity, I do want to know what ailed the lovely Caroline in the first place.'' Kol said addressing everyone, trying to take the tension out the room.
''We can do that.'' Josie answered. Kol gave the brave little witch a smile and wink. As first impressions go, the twins blew him away. With their magic, with their loyalty, and with their kindness. It was one thing for Caroline to show it to them, and even then, it still surprised him. After all, Caroline received front row tickets to their family's mess and house of horrors, and yet she still cared for them. These little ones, had no other connection besides their mother, and yet, that was enough.
Kols smile grew. ''All you little urchins, how about a cuppa on this lovely magical night.''
5 hands shot up in the air.
X
''Well before explanations, I think our first two resurrections are rested well enough to come join the party.'' Josie smiled towards the side door Kaleb was coming in from, leading their guests.
Freya rushed out of her chair into her brother's arms.
''Finn!''
''Hello sister.'' Finn greeted her back warmly, pulling back to introduce his sister to the love of his existence. ''Freya, sister, this is Sage. Sage this is my older sister, Freya.''
The red-headed vampire stepped forward warmly and greeted the new Mikaelson. ''Finn talked so much about you.''
''Brothers.'' Finn greeted, after getting an enthusiastic hug from his little sister afterwards.
''Well, well, well, look who decided to join back in the family chaos.'' Kol smirked.
Finn shrugged. ''What can I say, our brothers' daughters weren't leaving much to discuss.'' Finn finished with a pointed look directed towards the twins, who blushed and smiled cheekily.
Klaus turned to the twins. ''You brought back Finn and Sage? Why?''
''We needed a power up to our spell, to give more power to you and Elijah's resurrection. Sure, we could have picked different people to resurrect, lord knows, Mystic Falls took a lot of lives, but since we were dealing with your family, we decided to keep it in the family.'' Lizzie shrugged with her explanation.
Klaus and Freya came over and wrapped their arms around the girls. ''Thank you. Thank you.''
After everyone was settled, Hope beaming at her family mostly complete, and her aunts and uncles happy, they moved on. Introductions were made throughout the room and everyone was sat down again.
''The spell required a sacrifice.'' Josie explained. ''Lizzie and I weren't comfortable with using a person, not just for the sacrifice, but for any of the things we needed for the spell. So, we went the other direction.''
''A sacrifice didn't have to be a person, the Silver Coven, explained it could be of the same worth. An equal trade of power or energy. Something big enough to equal two lives being brought back.''
Lizzie took over the explanation. ''We found something that equaled that. A life never given, and an eternity, as one was supposed to live.''
''What, uhm, what does that mean?'' Hope questioned. ''You made someone into something and forced them to stay that way through eternity.''
''We didn't curse anyone Hope.'' Lizzie said exasperated. ''It wasn't like that.'' Hope raised both hands up, in a sign of no offense. ''The person, while we didn't talk to them about it before hand, we knew they would agree to it. They will have plenty of help acclimating to their new status as well. As you can see, we covered our bases.'' Lizzie finished.
''You didn't ask!'' Kaleb questioned astonished at the twin's gall.
''She would have agreed.'' Josie reassured him.
''How do you know?'' Elijah questioned.
''She would do anything for you.'' Lizzie stated looking directly at Klaus.
Klaus understood right away. ''What exact sacrifice is your mother making for me, little love?''
''The Forbes line is known for their dealings with vampire hunting. If someone bothered to look further, they would notice that the line also-'',
''Is a werewolf line.'' Klaus finished, piecing the girls plan together.
''You unlocked your mothers wolf side? She's a vampire though, she changed before she transformed. It's impossible.'' MG said.
''Not impossible, just not done.'' Josie countered.
''The Silver Coven and Valerie Tulle, another heretic, were with Mom. They siphoned her vampiric side, and they called to the wolf inside her. With no supernatural occupying her soul, the most natural instinct came over, and the creature it is attached to. A wolf and its basic instincts. Shelter, food, and mate. Mom's survival kicked in. The howl you heard was her.''
''So, your Mom's a werewolf now?'' Hope questioned.
''No, she's a hybrid. A natural hybrid. She didn't drink anyone's blood to get this way and she didn't have to kill anyone. Her wolf came to her naturally, and Valerie quit siphoning her vampiric side, it came back slowly after the wolf was fully sheathed in her. Mom is a hybrid.'' Josie explained.
''A life never given, and an eternity, as one was supposed to live.'' Klaus whispered.
''Caroline was supposed to be a wolf all along. Becoming a vampire was never part of the plan.'' Rebekah spoke.
''And this is for eternity.'' Kol finished the realization. ''No changing back.''
''Wow, Lizzie.'' Penelope deadpanned. ''So, you switched your mother's whole identity, something she has been for decades, just to fit into your plan. Do you know how mentally and psychological damaging this could get for her? Another hit from Ms. Selfish.''
''Shut up Park!'' Kaleb and Hope yelled simultaneously, before Lizzie could comment back.
''Lizzie agreed with me Penelope.'' Josie shot at the witch; shocking Penelope's mouth shut. ''I thought of it and believe it or not Lizzie voted against it, before we decided that Mom, no matter what, wouldn't want us to use other people, for selfish agenda. And this was selfish, Lizzie and I aren't saying it isn't. We wanted something for our family, so we made it happen, despite the consequences.'' Penelope's cheeks redden, from the attention on her and the dressing down Josie was giving her in defense to her sister. Which wasn't anything new, except for in this instance, Penelope was wrong. Lizzie hadn't done anything this time.
''Now if Satan would let us finish.'' Lizzie rolled her eyes at the witch before looking around the table, but mostly at Klaus.
''This isn't your fault. And regardless of what the occupants at this table think, Josie and I argued hard about this. Vampirism and our mother. It was the hardest decision, we've had to make, believe me.'' Lizzie said imploringly.
''We do, Lizzie.'' Hope said softly.
''Mom loves being a vampire. She always said her life was ironic that way. It never truly started, until her heart stopped beating. She loves everything about this life. Yea, Josie and I were a surprise and she's thankful for us, but even before then, with the knowledge of never having kids, she was okay with that.''
''So, turning my mother into a whole new identity, risking her mental and psychological foundation, I believe that's how you worded it Park, wasn't on the agenda to get this done, believe it or not.'' Lizzie shot at the witch who had the good sense to feel some type of regret at her words. Although it did make Lizzie a tad bit insecure about what their mother's reaction will be, and if it would be bad.
''At the time the worst thing we thought to come of this was us having a literal red-headed step child in the family.'' Muttered Lizzie out loud, before she shut her mouth, wide eyed. Oops, that was my inside voice.
''Oh, and having Cinderella's step-sisters is the highlight of mine?'' Hope retorted back, the girls settling into the old return of banter and tit for tats they were used to. Except now, their words were left without the sting and bite that their previous arguments held, fortunately for the Mikaelsons sake.
''Enough girls.'' Klaus broke in, before it escalated.
''So, there's more heretics than you?'' Kaleb asked Nora and Mary Lou at the end of the table.
''Yes, there is. Well, only one more now, but there used to be a 4 of us. We paid our Mystic Falls survivors dues a couple years after this family's departure, and months before the twin's arrival.'' Mary Lousie answered the young vampire.
''Wait a second. You knew us as babies?'' Josie asked surprised.
A soft look too the heretics face, each of them going back to a place of early childhood and baby days with the twins.
''We did actually. We had known your mother beforehand, we went to college together, attended your baby shower, and even helped her give birth to you.''
''So, you stood in the delivery room with Ms. C?'' MG cooed at the image of his favorite twins as babies.
''Not quite.'' Nora gave a dry chuckle. ''Your friends' birth was a tricky one, but their mother is strong, and pulled through towards the end.''
''Mom was hurt?'' Lizzie asked confused. Nora sat up and her chair and faced herself towards the twins, giving them her full attention. She isn't surprised in the slightest that they hadn't heard about their birth. It was after all a bloody one, but it was a part of their story and they had a right to know.
''Your mother was a young vampire carrying siphoning twins. When it was time for you to be born, you both had reached maximum growth, and Caroline's stomach wasn't big enough to hold you anymore. For a human, the child would send the mom a signal, to let them know that. A mum's water breaking. You two sent a different, much more urgent memo.''
''You started siphoning from your mother. You were using her magic to keep breathing and living until we could get you out.''
''We were C-sectioned, right? I know that much.'' Josie questioned. The twins were ensnarled in the tales of their early lives, their Dad not telling them much from Mystic Falls days, and their mother probably banned from saying much either. So, they were soaking up the information as it came.
''Yes, you were, that's actually the tricky part. Your mother was healing herself so fast that we couldn't cut you out, so we had to split up. Two of us started siphoning your mothers' vampiric side, so she wouldn't heal back up before we got you two out, while the other two performed the surgery. The problem was we had to siphon so much of her vampire side, that when the time came to heal herself, so she wouldn't bleed out, things got very messy.''
Lizzie and Josie looked at the two vampires with wide eyes, and waited with baited breathes to hear how their mom made it out.
''Your mothers strong. We started healing her the human way. Stopping blood flow, stitching her back up with sew and needles, when not even halfway there, she started healing herself. She was sore, bloody, and exhausted, but, oh so very happy to meet you two.'' Nora reached for her purse on the back of her chair and brought it to the table. ''In fact, ha! Here it is. Aren't these the cutest faces, you've ever seen.'' The twins grabbed the picture taken from the heretics' wallet and awed.
There in color, was a photograph of Caroline with baby Lizzie and Josie. Their mother did in fact look exhausted, yet, still beautiful. Her clothes changed into soft blue robe, so she wasn't bloody, and you couldn't see on her face if she was sore or not, because all you could tell was that she loved the two little beings in her arms. One twin was laying in her arm on their back, looking up at her. ''That's you, Josie.'' Mary Lou pointed out. Another twin up on Caroline's shoulder, their little head resting in their mothers' neck, their little hands clutching Carolines hair. ''That's you Lizzie.'' Nora said.
''Awwww.'' The twins whispered softly. They passed it around. To their friends and the Mikaelsons. Klaus pulling out his new phone, curtesy of his sister, and taking a picture of it, before handing it back.
''If you and Mom are such good friends, why haven't we heard of you, or come to visit?'' Lizzie questioned them. ''Klaus has never come to visit, and yet, we have always known him as a friend of Mom's and who he was.''
''That's a good question sweetie, and well, we don't really have the reputation that your darling step-father does. Your father, no matter how cross, can't really do much if Klaus decided to waltz in here and have brunch with you mother or playdate.''
''So, Dad kept you away.'' Lizzie surmised. ''Of course, he did.'' She said with a scoff. ''What's the difference between you and Aunt Bonnie?''
''Well, we don't think the sun shines out of the doppelgangers arse, and if you didn't catch the sarcasm, can you tell she's not our favorite person?''
The Mikaelsons all voiced their agreements.
''Hey!'' Bonnie shot out.
''Finally! Someone doesn't think she's the queen of Sheeba.'' Lizzie exhaled.
''Watch it young lady.'' Bonnie urged the blonde.
''I'm liking these twins more, by the minute.'' Kol snickered.
''We sent presents and cards. Caroline always was sure to send videos of you opening them for us to see.'' Mary Louise said to the twins.
'''We got them.'' Josie said softly. ''We loved every present. Mom used to tell us they were gifts from our fairy god mothers.'' Everyone snickered.
''Your welcome loves. Glad you liked them. Now though, we are expecting shopping trips with our little nieces.'' Nora waggled her eyes playfully, while everyone laughed at the excitement dancing on Elizabeths face.
''I second that.'' Rebekah piped in. Eyes going to the heretics, and soon phone numbers and dates were being thrown around and plans made. This was going to be the start of a good life for the family, and the members couldn't wait.
X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X
Multiple changes happened in the next three months at school, as well as in the lives of the Forbes/Saltzman's and Mikaelson families.
Hope, ecstatic at this second chance with her family, wanted to tell them anything and everything about her life. Understandably. The only problem with that was, well, she didn't have one. Mind you, her family was understanding about it. They all knew exactly why Hope hadn't given her all at school. So-so grades, enough to get by as a 'good student', not enough to be on the honor roll or receive any awards. No friendships. No close connections of any sorts. The only evidence of life, was the paintings she did in her spare time, that hung around the school. Like Hope said, what little she did have to show, they, especially her artistic father, were proud at her ever-evolving art techniques.
Even with their support however, it didn't stop Hope from getting the green eye when the expanded family dinners and lunches, including the twins and Caroline, were chalk full with information and stories. None of which came from her.
Hope never really paid much attention to anyone, the twins included. Not done maliciously, but in the tune of her being the school hermit. She didn't realize all that the twins did in everyday life, and when visiting their mother. All she knew was the surface level. Lizzie was trying to be in the running for head cheerleader by the time she was old enough, that meant having enough dance and music credentials, which the blonde was successfully building up. Hope also recalls Lizzie's name being called upon for her grades through class and everyone's roaring applause.
Josie was quiet in everything she had to do. Her accomplishments weren't spread all over the school, but people knew what she was good at. Hope knew that Josie was good at languages and had a penchant for fire spells. Everyone knew she was very good at fire spells, and some of the witches swear she was part pyromancer.
Basically, all Hope knew, aside from the less than stellar qualities the twins distributed to her, were everything the rest of the school knew. So, imagine Hope's surprise when the twins came over and blew everyone away with their knowledge, activities, and skills set, that surpassed even her. Hence, the green-eyed monster, from the looks of appreciation and interest her family was giving them.
The twins were very smart. Mind you, Hope didn't think they were stupid, but she didn't think they were advanced either.
Caroline apparently put a lot of emphasis on the girl's education. With no job, no need to actual make money of their own, at least for now, school was their job, and she expected them to be one of the best. Caroline herself, despite all the craziness around her high school years, never let her schoolwork wane, and always managed to stay on top. For two girls who wanted to be just like their Mom, the twins had no problem following her lead.
Lizzie and Josie both had straight A's. Lizzie somehow having a GPA of 4.2, which Hope didn't realize was possible. Both were involved in three clubs each. Two extra-curricular, one academic. Lizzie was in drill-team, track and field, and language. The language changing after she excelled at each one. Josie was in photography, ballet, and language also. Her language further than Lizzie's because of her future profession.
Josie wanted to be a translator/mediator. Whether in the human world or supernatural, she wasn't sure yet. She had many languages under her belt. More than Lizzie. If she wanted to change the world, she needed to be able to communicate with all kinds of people. Hope thought that the profession made sense for the brunette twin. Josie was always great at breaking up disputes and rivalries. Her uncles, Finn and Elijah, were very much interested in Josie. They wanted to help expand her profession and see where it could take her. Offering contacts and their knowledge of classes in universities when the time was right. Giving her scenarios and asking her to solve it the best way so each faction came out winning. Traitorous thoughts swarmed in Hope's head.
They didn't offer Hope any advice for college. Then again, Hope didn't know where she wanted to go, or what she wanted to do.
Lizzie liked to fight. Which wasn't surprising to the tribrid in the least. What surprised her were the kinds of fighting she did. Lizzie apparently was good at archery, swords, and physical combat. Having had compete in fights and tournaments since she was 7. Hope always did fighting with Alaric, and was confused why Lizzie didn't just join in with her Dad while she attended school.
The reason, explained by her father, no less, explaining about mixing material and teachings can have the opposite effect, especially on one so young and advanced as Elizabeth. Plus, her specialized advisors, he was sure, was better than any old human provided by the school.
Which was backed up by her older pseudo brother Marcel, who added his two cents about her knowledge and awards being impressive, especially since, Lizzie battled on a supernatural standard. She fought other supernatural's, her teachers included. While Hope, only spared with Alaric, his company the only kind she would allow herself.
They both offered Lizzie access to their battle gear and shields, and wanted an invite to her next tournament and fight. As well, as setting up a date for when the three could spar each other and they could see what the little warrior princess was capable of.
They didn't offer to spar with Hope in her physical combat. Or give her access to their battle gear. Then again, Hope has never physical fought other supernatural's, only humans. Plus, if she were being honest, she did bemoan to her Aunt Freya all the time how sparring was a drag, and Alaric always lost to her anyway. Yet, she always went back for her lessons. Secretly, she liked the attention from an older, father-figure, since she couldn't have her own with her. Alaric always came back, even with her crappy attitude and negativity towards him.
Aunt Freya and Uncle Kol were both pulled in by Josie's stellar work with dark magic the night of the resurrection, and how she was still standing afterwards with no side effects. They then got on a long spiel about the Silver Coven and the short teachings they gave the girls about them and their own coven, and how much Josie studied to accomplish it.
They didn't ask her about her dabbling in dark magic and offer her help. Even as Hope said it, she knew it was a petty lie. Mikaelson witches, just like the Gemini Coven, had a whole other textbook to go over that was catered to just their own practices, including dark magic. Hope just had a lot of power, and because of it, instead of meditating and practicing like Josie, she just went for it, and most times it worked. She knew her aunt wanted her to be more studious in her magic though, and Hope was trying.
The twins were much more girly than Hope herself. Lizzie especially liked all things shiny and was more of a pink and purple girl than Hope. Josie, while not as bright and shiny as Lizzie, had a subtle touch of things. She liked her delicate jewelry. The girl having at least 4 piercings each on her ear. The jewelry was subtle, delicate, little studs, and pearls, with a simple dangle coming out of her first. She didn't wear as much pink as Lizzie, but still light colors. Yellow, light green, light blue, and such. All of which was why Hope wrote them off as girly girls, when judging by their conversation, the two weren't.
''What? Just because I like pink, and actual display that I'm a girl, I can't be a badass too? News flash Mikaelson, the only girls who think that way are just jealous, because they can't pull off both.'' The words were said with an eyeroll and a dramatic flip of the hair that only Lizzie Saltzman could pull off.
Hope couldn't say or do anything except nod her head, especially when she saw her Aunt Rebekah give a discrete tiny smug smirk and a raised eyebrow, while looking at her plate.
Hope went off her Mom in terms of style, and she guesses favorite color. Green would be her generic answer if anyone ever asked. Though, if Hope was being truthful, it was more so red. A bold red. Her Mom was the Cresent Alpha and prided herself on being a tough tom-boy. Combat boots, hoodies, and while she wore dresses for occasions and sometimes just because, the dress was hypothetically hidden under all the tough-girl persona she had. Hope consciously or subconsciously, followed her lead, which unfortunately was away from her Aunt Rebekah, who lived for all things girly, and was highly disappointed she didn't have a girly girl niece that would enjoy shopping with her.
Hope will also admit to turning her nose up at girly-girls with her mother, who mocked about typical girls who don't get the real world or their challenges. Not knowing that she was taking a hit at her fashionista Aunt as well.
"Exactly right darling. Who says we can't pillage a village, while being dressed to the nines.'' Rebekah winked at Lizzie.
''Blonde hair curled, and perfectly in place.'' Caroline added softly with her own little smirk.
Her Dad had a fond smile on his face as he looked at the three, while shaking his head, at their laughter.
Her Aunt didn't teach her that she could have the best of both worlds. That she could wear a dress and fight and still be considered a tough girl. Then again, it wasn't her Aunt that was raising her at the time. It was her mother. The mother, Hope wanted to be just like, for some inane reasoning in her head, that maybe, if Hope was more like Hayley, and did and believed in the same things she did, then Haley would want to stay and be with Hope more in Mystic Falls, instead of trudging back to New Orleans every chance she got.
Hope now knew it was wrong. Her pre-misconceptions of the twins and of her Aunt. An Aunt who has lived for more than a thousand of years. Her of all people, would know more about the world and the good and bad, even though she could always be found in pink and high heels, with makeup and purses.
At the front of this all was Caroline herself, who Hope considered a second mother, who helped raised her. Hope forgot all about the children that were actually Carolines. All of the twins extra-curriculars were being done when they were with their mother, or around her. She made the dates; she made appointments and advanced the twins as they grew and kept watch. She was involved. It was more than could be said about her own mother. Or her other relatives.
Which is why throughout the meals, unbeknownst to Caroline herself, she was receiving prideful, appreciative, loving, and aweing glances from the Mikaelson family. All seeing what an involved mother looked like, what they should be doing, and what unfortunately, their own niece and daughter respectfully, went without. However, there was a feeling of hope in the air as well. While Hope may not have had this, she had a chance to receive it now.
The twins were regaling the family about their accomplishments, skills, and knowledge. Caroline was telling them stories of Hope's school days. Preset and past. Messes in Magic Class, Art Class Prodigies, Leadership Skills, and an impressive volunteer work list.
No, she didn't have the same impressive resume as the twins, despite being this amazing tribrid being. A term that was pounded into her psyche from a young age, but that didn't matter. From the way Caroline was speaking about Hope's life, with so much love and joy. Mirth and appreciation. It wasn't so much as what was said, it was how she said it. Either way, the Mikaelsons appreciated it. As did Hope.
Hope was jealous of her family's attentions to the twins during dinner and lunch, but what got her through it, was that she had Carolines.
Unfortunately, the other person who felt they weren't getting enough attention, was the one person that could ruin this newly forming families plans, Alaric Saltzman.
Things weren't adding up in the Saltzman household. For the twins, who started this off by completing the resurrection, and also, by Klaus and the rest of his family, who was wondering about a few things that had come into a half light. Half, because the human wasn't to know about it.
The big question is, why is there things about the twins, that Saltzman can't know, or Caroline feels the need to hide?
The question before that was who would have their mother's back, when she had no one else?
The twins put Klaus in that position, that the hybrid would have gladly chosen anyway. So, he didn't think it needed to be said, or asked, that he get to the bottom of the family troubles, and see what changes needed to be made to make his love happy.
And get to the bottom of it, he did indeed.
The problem could be bubbled down to a simple fact. A human, can only teach supernatural's so much, and those same teachings, can only go so far.
Whether he likes it or not. His daughters are not supernatural. Granted, witches, while undisputedly, are quite powerful, they don't have to switch forms like the other factions. They are more human than the other two main factions. No breaking bones and turning into a mammal on four legs, and no veins under their eyes or blood red in their irises either.
More human in appearance, but no less supernatural in reality.
A part of Saltzman, no matter how deep, was holding out for the prospect, that one or both of the girls would leave the supernatural world behind, like their biological mother did. Hide their magic, and live normal human lives, like they would have had, had Jo Laughlin been alive.
What Saltzman wasn't counting on, was how much influence their birth mother would have on the girls. The only mother they knew, and she was a vampire. Never scared them, never made them question her, if anything it made them the most open-minded witches out of them all.
With the little Klaus actually had talked to the girls, he decerned, especially in Elizabeth's case, that the girls were staying in their world. They loved magic; they loved their world. Elizabeth had even come up with elaborate lies and tells to tell people decades from now, why her mother looked like she could be her daughter. Josie while wasn't as proactive, with her plans as Lizzie, would go along with her sister's plan.
The girls were both in agreement, that they weren't giving up their mother, their magic, or their friends. MG, Kaleb, and Penelope, though Lizzie could do without the last one, had all known each other since they were 5, have been friends since. They had been through a lot and they could never see the day they just left their friends hanging. No matter how much magic they would need to prevent aging. They wouldn't just leave their friends in the dust. They had their mother's loyalty after all.
Looking at their mothers' story in a whole new light from different points of view, clear as day it can be seen, that Caroline Forbes was the last vampire standing.
The girls had seen each of the old members of the Scooby-Doo Gang disappear out of their mothers' orbit, without a second glance. Treating their time in the supernatural like a fad that ran out of style and now they wanted to get back to their once human days. Elena, Damon, and Jeremy all moved away from the supernatural, only thing tying them to it was the name of the building housing young supernatural's. Jeremy, while finished high school, never got the hang of college life, so has been running around all the world and its dive bars, getting work as a dishwasher or bartender. He sends his sister postcards from all over America, and if he's really hard pressed for cash, he takes Alaric up on his vampire hunting jobs or finding young supernaturals.
Even their beloved Aunt Bonnie got out of dodge. Sure, she kept in contact with their mother. A few scattered phone calls and birthday gifts for them, but the visits were always one sided, and their mother was always the one making the effort to meet fact-to-face. The term best friend, didn't truly belong to their aunt anymore, it was there for sentimental sake. As the one other individual still present in her life, that was also there for her human days and her teenage years. A friendship based more on longevity than anything else. The girls new-ish aunts were more their mothers' friends. The twins had been learning so much about their mother's life and her work outside the school, all the things that their Aunt was equally shocked at, making the witch realize that she had lost touch with her childhood best friend.
There it was though. Childhood. They weren't children anymore. Maybe a part of Bonnie was pulling a disappearing act like the rest of the Gang, she just kept in touch with Caroline, while the others didn't. Bonnie also kept in more touch with Elena though. The witch not ready to let go of the friend she spent most of her life defending, loving, and being friends with. There was a tiny part of Bonnie, that was also holding on to that human contact. That option. Don't get her wrong, she loved being a witch, but she was without magic before, and she lived. It sucked, but she lived. She went a long time with having magic, but not using it, leaving it dormant inside of her. Bonnie knew she could do it, and by the off change that she decided to say goodbye to this life, she could slip in and still have a friend that was with her for every part of it. Most people didn't even have the same friends they did in high school. She considered herself lucky to have at least one that was with her since she was 5.
Shamefully, she realized, that meant leaving Caroline behind.
Mary Louise and Nora are Carolines best friends. They knew facets of Caroline's life that Bennett didn't. Parts that Klaus, himself wasn't aware of until he saw a bit from the other side. Caroline had certainly made a name for herself in the world. Away from the boarding school even. It was smart. His love was always thinking ahead and finally, if he was being honest, about herself for once. Caroline was always smart, smarter than most gave her credit for. He also knew she hid it well. Not many knew how high her I.Q. was, or the classes she took in college, no matter what her major listed. He honestly didn't truly know why Caroline hides her intelligence. Though he's sure it has something to do with those insipid friends of hers, but he quelled his anger in the knowledge that she wasn't hiding it anymore.
Caroline has been in the process of creating a whole other world separate from the one we dark creatures share with the humans. She already had a school, even if it wasn't running like she originally planned, she had multiple hospitals set up nationwide, catering to all supernaturals. A blood bank, prenatal care and official witch practices for any newborn rituals of covens were a few things that could be done. The doctors were all supernaturals themselves, aware of the different bodies and conditions patients would have. She recently even got a coven to take over curse breaking. The coven specified what curse or spell was placed on someone and they would remove and make sure the patent was well during after care. Of course, that last one came with a few kinks. Witches, were particularly persnickety when others but into their cursing business, but business was business.
Caroline was also rolling the idea of opening up an orphanage for supernaturals. Unbeknownst to Alaric and the other occupants of the school. A good number of parents or guardians were dropping of their special child with no more than a name most of the time, before they left with a trail of skid marks behind them. That would have been okay, if not rude, except for the fact that these children were all babies and toddlers. The youngest being 1 and the oldest 4.
The one-year-old was a witch that was displaying magical tendencies very early on, if Carolines red hair, and burnt flower bush were any indication after she picked him up. The four-year-old was a temperamental werewolf, whose eyes stayed gold more than their beautiful green. After tracking down the families, the parents admitted to basically treating the boarding school like a fire station and justified their actions to the fact that they were leaving their children with people that better understood them. Caroline didn't like it at all. The abandonment was one thing, another was that the school, whose open enrollment was now being seen as some sort of drop off for the unwanted, no matter the age.
Caroline of course took the two in, hired a wet nurse to care for them until she could make other arrangements. She would never turn away a child in need, but the setting of a school wasn't the way she wanted the two to grow up. The werewolf, Gabriel, was back in a year for kindergarten, the teachers and Alaric only knowing that he seemed to gravitate to Caroline and trust her more than others, not that the two had met a year prior and that Caroline periodically visited him, while he stayed with Caroline-approved supernatural family that took very good care of him.
Little Angela, the little witch, with the penchant to changing hair colors and building fires, was currently 3, being snuggled up to another Caroline-approved, supernatural foster family, who was showering her with all the love and presents a girl could ask for. She was happy for the little one, but was hoping by the time school came, she wouldn't have a spoiled brat on her roster of students.
Caroline didn't tell Alaric about the kids, because he knew he would deal with this the human way. Bind their supernatural sides and put them in the system as abandoned children, and when they reached school age, unbind them and integrate them into the supernatural world. All of Alarics problems with the kids was solved with them pretending that they were human, and Caroline just didn't agree. She went down that road, and it was a sticky one to get off of, and when you did, you spent the next part of your life looking back and wondering why you didn't get off sooner, and how did you let yourself get stuck in the first place.
This way, the kids have a foundation of who they are, and what they are. It's not a shock. No, they don't have their biological parents, but Caroline did a detailed family mapping on each family, so if down the road. if they have any questions., Caroline's sure she can answer 90 percent of them. The 10 percent is in the hope that these kids will hopefully be raised right and with so much love and assurance that they will find acceptance with the horrible truth that their parent simply didn't want them, so Caroline brought them to someone who did.
He also knew she wanted to expand school branches. On her travels a lot of places wanted a boarding school that catered to the diverse student body that the Salvatore School does. A European branch was being talked about heavily, but Caroline had made no mention to expand the school with the rules and regulations as it stands now. She wanted the school to be painted in the image that she imaged when she first thought of it. Not this baby-proofed version. She wanted these kids to be proud of what they were and use these formative years to figure out who they were. To respect each other, even when or if they didn't like each other. She wanted them to be better and know better, and go further than she can even hope for. They wouldn't though, not in the way that things were going.
Which brings us to the problem that Klaus was trying to get to the bottom of in the first place. The way things were going was in the image of Alaric Saltzman.
The girls' school classes.
The girls' vacation.
The girls' magic.
The girls' interactions with people from Caroline's life.
The girls' knowledge of their own life and heritage.
All in the image of one Alaric Saltzman.
He would give the human the benefit of the doubt, even if it was small. The hunter probably didn't realize he was doing it, putting himself in the superior spot of the parents and making the final say, damned what Caroline wanted or said. To spread the blame also, he knows for certain his love has no problems reading the riot act out of any opponent that tries to get in her way. That being said while he has an idea, he doesn't understand why Caroline hadn't put her foot down a long time ago.
The inkling he has in his brain however is telling him that his once suspicion is correct. Once upon of time, Saltzman did ignore and besmirch his loves claim to the twins, and even with it being said in the heat of the moment, and her setting him straight afterwards, it didn't change the fact that, words hurt. Caroline birthed them, she was all they knew, but Saltzman would always hold higher the mother that was never there, and treat Caroline as a step-in nanny with a title. Mind you, when the twins were first born, that is what Saltzman had in mind. Caroline being in their lives and being a mother to them, was a decision that came afterwards.
Klaus hated that Caroline felt this way. She was a good mother and she deserved the perks and title that came with it. She deserved to have the final say when it came to the girls and their life. She deserved to feel important and to be happy.
So, this is where life found them, standing in a room eyes glaring at each other. Twins stationed at their mothers' side, Hope next to her father, Klaus and the heretics taking up beside them. Dorian, the librarian, and friend to Alaric playing neutral field and sitting at the table in the middle with Emma Tig across from him. The school guidance counselor and friends to both Caroline and the hunter, giving her insight on the school and its students, as well as Alaric's capabilities. She was playing mediator, quite successfully, he noted impressed, but how long that would take? His love was proving to have the Mikaelson dramatics and conformations. They never did anything in little doses. When things needed to be let out in the open, they let everything out in the open.
So here they go.
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It started with a simple day trip with the aunts. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing ambiguous or malicious. Rebekah was dying to get little Elizabeth in the shop. The little blonde more than happy to allow his sister to play dress up, seeing as with Rebekah's age, she obviously invented everything that ever was considered stylish. A but out of range, considering Rebekah was A.) Kept in a box throughout periods of time and B.) Couldn't possibly be in every spot at once to influence fashion, but it went all on deaf ears to the two. Rebekah was beaming with pride and the adoration she was receiving from her little blonde niece.
Nora and Mary Lou were also along for the ride, wanting to actually spend time with and talk to the twins, and not just the information they usually got from Caroline. It was honestly easy. Even though the two weren't actively in the twin's life, they knew most of what was going on in it, so they followed along with the stories and antidotes, and just enjoyed each other's company.
Freya and Hope made up the back. Each coming in and talking some. Shopping wasn't Hope's thing before, but since the wakeup call with the twins, Hope decided to jump back in. With the twins, school, and her family. First, everything that Hope didn't like, wasn't true. That was a Hope that was following cues from her mother, and was trying to distance herself from everyone.
The New Hope, while wasn't vying to go into every store like Lizzie, or try on every little thing like Josie, was a happy medium. She let everyone pick out little pieces for her, and she tried on a few, she bought most, and then was content with just sitting in the lounge and playing runway judge to the twins. She had fun. Genuine fun. She laughed, joked. Got into the know of all the gossip going on at school. Heard the love story between MG and Lizzie. The Alpha fights in the pack, and Alyssa Chang's reign of terror over the newbie transfer witches from The Salem Institute.
The problems started, when typically, enough, they brought the supernatural world, into the human one. It started out simple enough. Freya asking about the pros and cons of being a heretic. What was it like going through life? The obvious, vampire hold ups: No kids, age out everyone you care about. The pros however were having the best of both worlds and having a rechargeable magic at their disposal. Plus, they were already with the people they wanted to spend forever with, so there was no trouble. Then Lizzie opened her mouth.
''I wish I could have the best of both worlds.'' Lizzie pouted
Nora and Mary Lou looked confused at that statement. To them, it was obvious that the twins could. Nora and Mary Lou both were regular siphoner witches before they were changed by Lily Salvatore. The same could easily happen to the twins. The twins were astonished but that tid-bit of information. They had an option! More than just being witches and living a life and dying at the end of it. They wouldn't be their mother's daughter if they didn't like options. To categorize, make pro/con list with and dissect, until they find the best option. Then Mary Louise opened her mouth.
''Of course, you should take care to not unlock your wolf side before that decision. Then you would be, hmm, well there isn't a name, but we could say you'd be a hybrid-witch siphoner. Or heretic-wolf. Whichever. A wolf that changes at will, and a witch that siphons and uses their vampiric abilities to heal quickly. Never mind you, we'll think of a name.'' Mary Lou thought about casually, while swiping through the racks looking for a red top to go with Hope's new jeans, like she didn't just drop a ball on them that shacked everyone.
After that declaration, the adult females, couldn't tell which little one was more excited. Josie while liking the heretic part, didn't pay too much mind of her wolf side, seeing as for the moment, she didn't want to unlock it. She hated seeing the wolves slink down to the cellar every month, looking forlorn. When she thought of wolves, she thought of them running wild and free. She didn't want to be shackled every month, so being a witch-vampire hybrid held more appeal.
Lizzie was actually thinking about her mother, which would come to the surprise of the other students at school, she wasn't thinking about herself. Her mother was still resting from being turned into a hybrid. Her organs starting to semi-function and her body making its own blood, instead of the borrowed blood from a vampire. Plus, she was a natural hybrid, she was more alive than dead. So other parts of her body were coming back to life after a more than a decade of desiccation on the inside. The process was painful, even though their mother tried to cover it up, and Klaus, who hadn't left their mothers side, tried to shield them from.
If Lizzie activated her wolf side, her mother wouldn't have to be alone. Wouldn't have to learn all these new things at once. Lizzie could do it with her. She was aware that she was only 12, and her mind can change, so if the off change that she didn't spend eternity with her Mom, she could definitely run around the moon with her, and leave her with the memories of the two of them against the world, even after her daughter leaves it.
The only thing that was going through Hope's head was she wouldn't be alone anymore. No, the twins wouldn't be exactly like her. She had magic of her own, she didn't have to siphon it, but it was the closest Hope would ever have to someone being like her. The twins and her could all turn at will and practice magic, and when the time comes, they can all make the decision if they want to activate their vampire sides or not. They would be their own faction and Hope wouldn't be alone anymore.
The rest of the shopping trip was met with excited plans for the future. Supernatural or otherwise. The talk going back to the school, and from the school to the ears of the Headmaster, Headmistress, school counselor, and librarian. Which is how they all became gathered around their mother's office, while the students were doing their mandatory Mystic Falls volunteer work outside of the school, so no one would could listen in to the argument that would surely take place.
''So, wait, before this takes place. Docket 1: The twins future. How is it, that, the twins can phase like Caroline?''
That was a question that had been plaguing Klaus's mind also. While he knew Caroline was their mother, without a doubt, biologically speaking, things would not add up. He figured, the girls were so in sync with Caroline and her place in their life, that the blood factor slipped their minds in child-like wonder, and they wanted to be like their mother, without understanding that they couldn't be.
''When the twins were four there was an accident at their school. Josie hit her head and it was a lot of blood. Lizzie saw her sister with blood all over her and flipped. Magic overload, fires, dark clouds, the whole nine yards and Lizzie reused to sit still until she had Josie beside her. Lizzie was a match, but she wasn't calm enough to donate blood, she kept magically breaking the needle and blocking anyone from getting to her. One of the teachers there, the reason I picked the school, was a witch. A pretty understanding one. Alaric wasn't a match and we couldn't get blood from Lizzie, however in a twist of faith, my human blood type matched Josie's perfectly. I asked her teacher to take it from me, then I called Nora and Mary Lou, and asked could they siphon the vampire aspect out of my blood.''
''That's possible?'' Dorian asked astonished.
''Yes.'' Caroline answered back in a clipped tone. Images of her stupid decision to cure cancer from her mother were brought to the for front of her mind, before she pushed them aside and focused back on the present, offering Dorian a tiny apologetic glance.
''Anyway, the twin's teacher managed to get everything, but by that time Lizzie was semi-calm, and in the case that this didn't work, I sent Ms. Miller to go get a donation from Lizzie, leaving a nurse to collect mine. Which she did, but instead of taking it back to Ms. Miller and Nora and Mary Lou, she just distributed to Lizzie.''
''So, it was an accident?'' Klaus stated following along with the story.
''Yea, it was.'' Alaric answered surprisingly. ''Josie stayed in the hospital for a week, and when we spoke with the doctor, he said Carolines blood had difficult properties to dissect and discern, but it was a perfect match. We were confused by the statement, until we saw the file. Vampire blood can still be a blood type, but with the magical aspect included, it shows as having an abundance of positive and negative blood together, which can't live in a person, well a human one.''
''Positive, Negative. A dead person, who is technically still alive and walking.'' Hope said.
''Exactly.'' Caroline confirmed. ''We looked the file over, and it showed that Nora and Mary Lou didn't siphon it out. That my vampire blood was already inside of Josie and Lizzie, which means what the witches did to my blood to awaken my wolf side, it awoke in the girls as well. They probably didn't feel anything because they were so involved in their own spell, but it affected them too.''
''But how?'' Dorian questioned.
Nora stepped in to give them a witch explanation. ''People rely so heavy on the magic side of things; they forget to dig into the scientific aspects, like what is truly possible and what isn't. Yes, the twins who were conceived by Jo and Alaric were placed in Carolines womb, but that's just it. In Caroline's womb. Growing through her bloodstream, taking in her nutrients and sucking up her magical properties. Scientifically, with just a smidge of magic, the fact that Carolines genetic properties slipped into the twins is actually very expected, to the point that it should have been expected from the beginning.''
''If you read the blood work, the twins have more of Jo's and Caroline's DNA inside of them, with Alaric's coming in third. Probably because both mothers are supernatural while Alaric is only human. Mind you, even with twins, they still have different genetic codes, but in a general sense, Lizzie has more of Caroline, with Jo's genetics second, and Alarics third. Josie the opposite. Jo's first, Carolines second, and Alarics third. We're suspecting the up/down percentage in DNA affected their physical attributes, seeing as Lizzie bores great resemblance to Caroline, and Josie to Josette.''
''So, they're your girl's sweetheart.'' Klaus smiled at his love in awe.
''Yea, they're my baby girls.'' Caroline returned the smile, before running her hand through Josie's hair and tucking a strand of Lizzie's behind her ear. The girls each smiled up at their mother at the gesture and statement.
''That's awesome Caroline.'' Dorian said genuinely, getting a 'thank you' and a smile back in return.
''The reason it has been brought to the table however is the fact that Rik is honestly worried about something that hasn't been decided yet, or happened yet.'' Caroline huffed out, bringing the situation back to current problems.
''Don't make it sound like I'm the delusional idiot here, Caroline. The twins and Hope have been talking-,''
''We were just talking!'' All three girls yelled exasperated. Klaus patted each on the back, calming them, and telling them to settle down.
''Exactly, Rik! Nothing is decided, nothing is happening, it's just them making future scenarios in their heads. Like them mentally decorated their dorm room or future apartment together. You can't control their thoughts!''
''That's not such a bad idea.'' Lizzie whispered to the other girls, who despite the situation, had a chuckle at the blonde and nod in agreement.
''No scenario that I heard about is happening! Do you understand! They will not be unlocking their werewolf gene; they won't be becoming vampires! End of discussion.''
''Exactly how are you going to stop us. It's our bodies, our decisions.'' Elizabeth crossed her arms, glaring at her father.
''You are just a kid, you cannot make these decisions without-,''
''No one is getting their neck snapped in the next month Dr. Saltzman! By the time we come back to this conversation, we will be 17 or 18, and officially won't even need your consent.'' Hope pointed out with smug satisfaction.
''I don't care if you are 25 and about to make it happen! You're not going through with it! I am the father-,''
''-And our mother said we can make the decision at 18 but she wants us to think about waiting till 21. Nobody wants to be stuck like a teenager.'' Josie added seeing the confused looks of Hope and Lizzie at her last sentence.
''Caroline.'' Alaric growled out, which in turn caused the actual wolf of the room to let out one his self to the human who had the audacity to talk to his mate like that.
''I am not a child Rik, you don't talk to me like that, and technically Hope has a valid point. They will be 18, either in college, or traveling, it's not our say,'' Caroline continued talking, ignoring Hope's high-five with the twins and Klaus's eyeroll at the part about the girls traveling, ''now we can either be compassionate parents about this and be open or they can run off to someone else, we're not the only supernaturals the girls know.''
''This is your fault. You put this idea in their head! You and this monster!'' Alaric yelled at her, pointing his finger at Klaus.
''Back off!'' Hope went to stand in front of her father, but Klaus grabbed her and moved her behind himself instead.
''Actually Saltzman, Caroline and I were laid up in a hospital for the last week, having short communications between ourselves and our girls, given the fact that the mother of your children was withering in pain for a week, so excuse me, but I don't think she was in the right state to start a guerilla warfare against you!'' Klaus' voice-controlled calm in the beginning, ended with his words coming out in a roar at the accusation.
The accusation and tone were enough to shrink the human back a little and get his baring's. He knew it wasn't Carolines fault, he was aware how hard her transformation was, apparently worse than the other wolves. He didn't mean his words, to Caroline at least, it just seemed like she was betraying them. They were a team and she jumped ship.
''You started steering the ship Rik, and you left me to wipe down the deck. You made all the decisions, and I was just there to clean up any mess that came of it, or if the girls disobeyed it.'' Carolien said softly, drawing Alaric back in, the human not aware he said the last thing out loud. ''What?''
''You made all the decisions for the girls. The schools, Texas, what the school had to be in order for them to come here, -''
''What?'' Emma, Dorian, and Klaus said simultaneously.
''Texas was safe Caroline. I was trying to keep my family safe.'' Alaric defended himself.
''You tried to keep us human.'' Caroline stated. ''Your right. Mystic Falls was not safe in the slightest, and we couldn't stay here, but sticking us in a two story, white picket fence suburb. Banning the girls to not use magic? Not allowing Bonnie to show them anything?''
''They were young Caroline.'' Alaric said as if he was explaining something to a child. ''If we allowed it at home, they would mimic it at school, and draw attention to themselves and-,''
Before he could finfish that sentence, Caroline zoomed in front of him, eyes ice cold, but instead of their original red with veins underneath, there weren't any veins, and Carolines eyes were golden.
''I already told you once to not speak to me like I'm a child. I'm not asking again. If you haven't noticed with the layout of the room. You're on trial here, not me. Got it?''
Alaric leaned back from Caroline. He wasn't fearful, but cautious. Caroline had never questioned much when it came to the girls, just going along with the flow of him. Call him a caveman, but he was old fashioned and liked the situation they had. He was the father, the head of the family, it should be that way. Obviously, Caroline didn't feel that way anymore, or at all in fact. Most of this stuff was before she even got back together with Mikaelson, so he couldn't even blame the hybrid.
''Yea.'' He cleared his throat. ''Yes, got it.''
Caroline stood back and walked back over to Klaus. ''Obviously, the no magic rule didn't help much. Look how that turned out. 9 schools in 2 years, before we opened this place up. The girls were withering away in those schools. Half the time I said I was taking them to school, I called them out and just took them to a carnival or a flower field and just let them roam free. They could do magic, they could play, they could breathe, they could just be, Rik! Be them, and not the little humans you wanted us to be.''
The twins were silent as their parents faced off. They both had a little smile on their face that the other occupants minus their parents noticed, when their mother was speaking about their secret trips. The twins loved those trips. The secrecy and the spontaneity of them. A day with their mother, running wild and turning roses into daisies, and grass into dandelions. It was magical.
''Then I finally open this school and-,'' Caroline begins throwing her arms out, exasperated by all the failed plans that went down the drain for this place.
''The school is doing good Caroline.'' Alaric said, confused as to what the problem would be.
''The school is not the school I imagined it to be, but I let you take the reins, because I love my daughters, and I wanted them to be them, and you would never have let them attend Forbes Academy.'' Caroline said.
''What?'' Every eye was on Caroline now. This information new to everyone, except Nora and Mary Lou, who quickly came in to get control of the situation.
''Girls, this next tid-bit is best placed for the adults.''
''But it's our school.'' Lizzie protested
''Yes, and if you lead out and go get some refreshments and catch up on homework, I'm sure you have, you will have a new and improved school, by the time this conversation is over.'' Nora said in a low fake conspicuous manner to the girls, that everyone could hear.
Alaric scoffed. ''Don't bet on it, that place you want to build was barbaric.''
''Compared to the Magically Baby-Proofed Dreamland riddled with unpreparedness of real-life expectations you saddled these kids with instead.''
''Preach Ms. C.''. A voice could be heard from the hall. Nora opened the door and MG and Kaleb were standing outside with grins on their face, accompanied by the rest of the Mikaelson siblings, whose patience had reached an end and wanted to know how the conversation was going. ''Yea, the younger kids were done with volunteer work, so we offered to bring them back and see if you guys were done with your family meeting. You are not. So, we'll just be-,'' MG said all this in a rush in his typical upbeat way, not wanting to disrespect or disrupt.
''-Actually, these three can help you wrangle the youngest, and you four can take their places. Thank you.'' Nora said pushing the grumbling pre-teens out into the hallway and letting in Elijah, Rebekha, Kol, and Freya.
''What is this!'' Alaric waved his arm out, exasperated by the audience.
''This is mine and Caroline's family, not to mention supernaturals well within their strength to rip you apart, you'd do well to remember that.'' Klaus warned.
''Brothers, sisters come.''
''Now Sunshine, tell me more about this barbaric school you wanted to create. Sounds exciting.'' Kol wiggled his eyebrows, getting a smile on Caroline's face, which was his goal.
''Not barbaric, just more understanding of the supernatural, than my friend here would have liked.''
''You weren't taking any precautions; you were just letting your personal narrative affect the safety of-,''
Caroline held up her hand, cutting him off. ''What did we just say about the way you talked to me?''
The siblings all looked on impressed and with approval about how Caorline handled herself.
''Now, everyone, my narrative.'' Caroline addressed the room, sneering at Alaric when she said the last word.
''You all know what I've always wanted to add a school under my belt, before the twins, and now. The twins sped up the process, but I was already thinking of it. The only thing the same about SBB and Forbes Academy are that they allow all four species and that its year around enrollment.''
Caroline brought out binders with her logo on it. A capital F in Calligraphy in gold and vines draped around it. Twin swords in an X stood behind it. It was very Greek mythology.
Klaus loved it.
''What are these?'' Alaric asked confused.
''I don't give up my dreams for other people anymore. Sorry, that Caroline passed away a time ago. I was always going to open this school. I was hoping for you to be a part of it, but I can live with it just being me, and our daughters. No matter how late in their high school career they get, they will attend my school.
''Wait, what?!'' Alaric was flummoxed. ''You're going to compete against me? SBB? The girls aren't-,''
''Funny. You thought I was asking.'' Caroline deadpanned him with a look.
''Now, the basis of what I was trying to form with this school was...''
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The plans were good. They were great. They were nothing short of spectacular. All his siblings wanted a hand in what Caroline had created with the school. Emma and Dorian were blown away with how much thought and preparedness Caroline had for Forbes Academy. Students, teachers, donors, building, board of directors and governors, and benefactors. All that they were waiting on his Caroline. Caroline promised them Forbes Academy. To expand Salvatore Boarding School would be a slap to their faces, and Caroline seen as a joke, and all her hard work making a name for herself ruined.
What was even more entertaining is the fish out of water look Saltzman had been sporting since he saw his own staff of people, get on board with the Academy.
A staff that Caroline all hired mind you, so that should have told the teacher something.
Caroline was fair, a lot more than Klaus himself. She started with, that the Salvatore School, wasn't a bad school, it just catered more towards lower-level children. 13 and up were bored with lessons, not learning real life lessons, and were honestly just lolly-gaging until they had to graduate. The vision she had for the school was supposed to prepare the students for the real world, in an isolated, yet safe, atmosphere where they can make mistakes, and can try again. Better here, than out there, where there aren't any second chances, at least those that don't come with a price. If they don't take the price, they get a stake through the heart, and there won't be any coming back from that.
Forbes Academy, was intense, but in a good way. Caroline didn't want to mess around. She wanted her students ready.
Vampires would be shown how to feed from the vein. That one surprised everyone coming from Caroline Forbes, but she defended herself. It was survival. There won't always be a blood bank or bunny around, life gets tricky, and in life or death, death to another is better than death to oneself. Though they would be taught to do it wihtout killing as well. They didn't have to choose that way of feeding, but it was a good thing to know.
The premise was that each supernatural would walk in and leave having pride in what they were, respect for what other were, and through that realizing and developing who they wanted to be in this world.
SBS put a lot of emphasis on 'good and bad.' Forbes Academy doesn't follow that logic. A student tells the teachers who they want to be, and they give them the skills, tools, and direction they need to become that.
If a vampire wants to drink straight blood bags. They will teach them how. What blood banks are the best to go to. Difference between city and country blood banks and hospitals. How not to get caught? Who to compel first? Best storage space. Longevity of the blood. All the ins and out of their feeding method. The same with animal blood. The when and where of hunting. Disposing of carcasses. Fielding enquires.
No judgments for what they choose. Only the support and guidance in what they chose.
Witches would have personal sanctuaries. Different covens put emphasis on different aspects of faith and divinities. Each witch will learn each one. When they get down to nitty gritty of magic, where It originated from, where it came from, then there is a class to add...Magical Science.
A field Caroline herself is on her way to becoming an expert in. Caroline was focusing on weaponry for the supernatural. Each faction having a weakness. Vervain, wolfsbane, and a pink spotted white pill for witches that binds their magic, if they were ever in close proximity to. Caroline wasn't trying to start a war of the species exactly, however, she knew with how often her name was being brought up, it was always smart to have backup plans. Most of the world saw a blonde haired, blue eyed, girl still, and that was fine, that would be their downfall. Caroline will gladly be the opponent, that none of them saw coming.
Caroline wasn't a teacher for the Magical Science class, but the more advanced students would get a personal tour of her laboratories and see some of the unclassified things she had going on there.
First the students have got to appreciate the magic of the past, to see how far in the future magic can take them.
There was also a subgroup for old witches. Not age wise, but life wise. Witches who were turned, whether without their consent or because of an illness, or simply because they wanted to be. Either way, Caroline knew that having that piece ripped away from you had to be tough, so an energy sanctuary would be just for those vampires. They may not be able to actively do magic again, but they will be able to feel the energy into their systems and breathe in the scent and spirit, until they can learn how to harness their own. Obviously, they can't do magic, but the energy can settle gracefully in their bones, rather than the alternatively, like Kol, who let the energy sprout out through bloodlust and rampages. Enough blood and energy rolling around that the magic could be felt, even if he couldn't expel it. Caroline was giving the witches an alternative to that.
The werewolves would be taking anger management. Just like at SBS, but a lot more physical attribute. Field courses, of all kinds. Boxing, Swords, and wrestling. More ways to channel their anger on something else. They would also be putting more emphasis on Pack Morale. Getting more in touch with their lupine capabilities and how far they go. Does the pack really feel like a united pack, or just a bunch of strangers that share the shapeshifter ability? If that all goes well, then the pack, would no longer need to be chained during the full moon. Barriers would be put up. The surrounding town and citizens safe. An over casted compulsion would be done on the nearby towns, just a tinkle in their brain telling them they shouldn't be out on a full moon at dark, a thought that will be erased by the morning. A compulsion that the people of Klaus' human village had, except no one had to go hide in the caves.
The wolves would have free reign. To run under the moon, feel the air in their fur, and be united as a pack. Rough housing and play fighting. Playing tag and sleeping in a puppy pile. Beginning out wolves, who haven't got in touch with their wolf and not fully accepted the pack may spend a month or two being chained for full moons, but the goal is for all of them to be free.
Inter-faction classes are important at Forbes Academy. To respect someone, you have to know someone, not the stereotype or the rumors. Allowing a vampire to attend Lycanthropy 101 is allowed. The vampire in question would have to give reason as to way they want to be in the class. If they have a friend they want to help, or a sibling, and they will be tested to see if their lying. Witches are encouraged to spend time with Vampires and see how the so called 'abominations' of the supernatural world actual live, and how they feel. Look at the weight of the world they carry on their shoulders and the enemy that is time. Not too little of it, but too much. Especially for teenagers, who can't even grasp the full weight of eternity.
They would learn respect. To accept themselves and each other. It's obvious what makes them different, let them see what makes them the same. What connects a vampire, werewolf, and witch together? What do they have in common? Learn more about the common grounds of who a person is, before they get hung up in what they are. They are more than their abilities. FA emphasis the person, the child, not what they are. Learning about themselves as a person, learning how to defend themselves and fight, without using their powers. Getting in touch with themselves, before they get in touch with their gifts.
There would be more support to those kids who don't fit into a group. The subgroups of the main supernaturals and those who even break that mold.
Phones, laptops, and electronics will be allowed on campus, and with students. Same rules apply with regular school about where and when to have them out, and restrictions, confiscations, and detentions along with it.
The difference is, the electronics will be provided to the student. Using Magical Science, Caroline has created a supernatural cyberspace just for supernaturals. Invisible to humans on the web, and a virus to those who seek it. Everything the students were missing out on from the humans: YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and TikTok, were all back. Supernaturally. Kids could post, send, email, whatever they wanted, with one catalyst. This was only supernaturally based. No cross contamination with whatever human account they had. They even would have a school website, with all of the students from all of the branches (Caroline had 3 who were vying for an Academy on their territory) all gathered under the Forbes Academy umbrella.
That was only the beginning of the changes Caroline wanted to make from the very beginning of SBS. She never wanted it be in the Boarding House. She wanted eh school to be somewhere else, a fresh start, and away from the memories that this place and town held. The problem of course was Alaric. He couldn't put as much into a new facility, and Caroline, who of course had a list of pre-approved properties she was thinking of.
Klaus' money was a godsend. Contrary to what many believe, Klaus' money didn't start up SBS. Caroline had plenty. She would never start something that had children's lives and futures on the line if she couldn't finance it herself and have a whole 5-, 10-, and 15-year plan. The money from Klaus was just an old friend showing support. Financially, but support none the less. The money was accepted of course, but it didn't go into the school. It provided scholarships to dozens of kids wanting a spot and yet couldn't afford the tuition. Ergo the Mikaelson Scholarship Fund was invented for SBS. The name, the one thing Caroline wasn't budging on, no matter how upset Alaric got over the matter.
If regards to the Boarding School however, Caroline didn't get her way. Alaric didn't feel comfortable with Caroline paying for everything, and making all the big decisions, especially something that would affect their daughters one day. At eh time it made sense to Caroline. Though looking back now, it's funny how that feeling flip-flopped over the years to become what Caroline is feeling right now.
Enter Damon, who graciously offered his up and approval for an expansion, and like with everything else, Alaric got his way.
The Salvatore Boarding House was the location of the school Caroline dreamed of. Along with carrying all the bad memories of her youth, in the town that sucked the soul out of its inhabitants, and leaving Caroline continuously coming back to a life she left behind, all because she wants to be with her daughters. Caroline has been this way for years and sitting around a table with all of Klaus' siblings and their significant others, As well as Emma and Dorian, everyone got on board with Carolines ideas. The Originals, looking over the names on her list, approving some, crossing off others, the reasoning usually said teacher was a bit too radical for a teacher's position. Kol, Freya, and Finn all wondering if they can teach classes.
Caroline was ecstatic, Klaus beside with his arms wrapped around her was smiling back at his love. Happy that she was happy, and was getting everything, she wanted.
Caroline looked deep into Klaus' eyes and spoke softer than a whisper. ''Thank you, Niklaus.''
Klaus sucked in a breath at the rawness of Carolines whisper and the love shinning in her eyes. ''Anything for you, my love.'' He whispered back, pressing his head against hers, in silent affection as the table prattles on.
Josie and Lizzie shut the door quietly, both dancing a little jig and high-fiving and shooting Hope, who was lookout, a thumbs-up from the bottom of the stairs. Their plan worked. New School. New Caroline. New Life.
''We did it!'' Lizzie jumped for joy, running around and going back up into her room with Josie and Hope, who had taken their mother's idea to heart. Yea, no, they didn't go help the boys with the younger school kids, they had more important things to get done. Cementing the girls' new truce of friendship and sisterhood, the girls traded rooms and did a whole switch around with two roommates at the end of the hall. Now they had a triple room, with still a surprisingly good amount of floor space left for a sitting room they would need to ask Klaus to furnace. Bonus! MG and Kaleb's room were right directly diagonal to them, the last room at the end of the girl's hallway, the first door in the boy's hallway.
As Josie was turning around to follow after her, she saw her father step out the door with his jacket, car keys, and what Josie can see sticking out of his shoulder bag, a tall brown paper bag, holding what could only be her dad's favorite kind of liquid. Bourbon.
''Oh. Josie.'' Alaric said startled. ''Your mother and, uhm, her...Klaus, are going over things for school, which will be different, uhm, there will be changes, but they won't all be bad, so just hang in there, and watch out for your sister.'' Alaric stuttered out his farewell before being stopped.
''You know you can be a part of those changes too. You don't have to leave. Mom wants you to be a part of them.''
Alarc scoffed.
''She does! She just wanted things better. For her, us, -''
''-What about me. The school.'' Alaric interrupted, not wanting to hear anything about Caroline's better ideas.
''Mom always thinks about the school. She wouldn't do anything to hurt it, and what happened to 'Mr. Family Guy', huh? What happened to, 'if it's better for you and your sister, and your mother, it's good for me too?' Remember that Dad?'' Josie argued back.
Alaric sighed. Yes, he remembered. Mind you, he said it when he thought it would always be the four of them.
''Just give me time Josie, okay? This is a lot of changes that are happening, with a lot of people I'm not so crazy about. I don't trust them, and I don't trust them around my girls, ah!'' Alaric held up his finger when he saw her about to interrupt, no doubt to stick up for said people. ''I do however trust your mother, and if she says your safe, ill reign it in.''
Alaric sighs, ''I just need time. I love you; I will call you and Lizzie tomorrow.'' He turned to walk away.
''If Lizzie and I choose to unlock our werewolf sides or become heretics, would you still love us?'' Josie blurted out after him. The question had been floating around in her head and she just had to know the answer.
Alaric whizzed around quick, not believing what was being asked of him. ''Of course, I would be! I'll always love you too, I just think, it's just that-,''
''You would prefer us to stay as human as we can.'' Josie concluded.
''You can't come back from that. Once you're a vampire, that's it. Your mother, adjusted brilliantly,'' he gave a dry chuckle, ''then again, your mother has always been one of a kind, but still.''
Josie nodded. ''Would we still see you a lot if we became-,'' Josie trailed off seeing her Dad's face. Yes, he would always love his daughters, but seeing them as somethings that weren't his daughters, as wolves, vampires? Probably not. They would then be strictly in their mother's world. Would need her guidance. No comebacks, her Dad said. It unfortunately made sense to Josie. She doesn't think her father ever became 100 percent comfortable with their mother being a vampire. Caroline didn't drink from a blood bad in front of him, it had to be in a cup or water bottle. The twins didn't mind either way. It was their mother.
She remembered they made her cry one day. It must have been a hectic day, because the girls were able to sneak up on her and they saw her drinking from a blood bag. they ran their fingers under her eyes feeling the veins there, and she opened her eyes, and they saw that they were red. Instead of running away screaming, Lizzie beamed at her, ''That's awesome Mommy.'' Josie adding in her two cents as well. ''You look beautiful.''
A breathy laugh escaped their mothers' mouth and she snuggled both her little girls up and gave a teary 'thank you babies 'in return.
''Right.'' Josie said. ''Bye Dad, the offer still stands.'' Josie turned away and headed up the stairs, closer to the music blaring in the room at the end of the hall and just in time to help her friend Kaleb carry the snacks into the room for a movie night.
X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X
Changes had come!
Forbes Academy was up and running! Except it wasn't Forbes Academy anymore. It was MFA. Mikaelson-Forbes Academy. The name was a toss-up. Caroline had no illusion that she would marry Klaus one day and his name would be her name, and while that excited her, she also didn't want to give up the Forbes name either. She was the last Forbes.
Her daughters still held the name Saltzman, though Lizzie had a formula for what her last name would be through her life. She would be a Forbes for high school. So, freshman year and up, she would hyphenate, Forbes-Saltzman. When she got to college, and her and her sisters make those difficult decisions about the rest of her life, she would decide if she wanted to keep Saltzman based on her father's reaction. Lizzie didn't want to belong to anyone that didn't want her and her mother and Klaus always reassured each girl that they would love any version of them. So, from 18 and older Elizabeth Mikaelson was still in the air. Josie agreed with her sister, and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in herself when new students would point and say, those are the Forbes twins, or during role call and the teacher never wanted to say the whole name, they would just say Josie Forbes. She loved it.
Her daughter's antics aside, Caroline worked hard for the Forbes name, to take it pass the town line, but also away from her father's hunter day lineage. She started making her own legacy and it was a shame that it started happening when she got to be with her soulmate, and honestly loved the idea of being a Mikaelson.
Klaus, however understood, and was immensely proud of Caorline for creating something for herself. For all school locations, they agreed on MFA. For everything Caroline had done with the Forbes name before him, would stay Forbes. Caroline's name however, in intimate and professional life would be,
Caroline Elizabeth Mikaelson
A name fit for a Queen. His queen.
All the changes Caroline wanted to happen, happened. Klaus, while loathed to admit it, didn't think building another school was the right way, especially considering that the building was in good shape and already was established. To close would draw attention. What they did do was a total redesign of the place. More windows, more earthy and light tones, bringing in the Greek theme, of Caroline's emblem, which stood tall right beside the M of his families and about the 'I' of the institute that he and his love founded together.
Rebekah was in charge of the uniforms which more or else remained the same. She threw in gold and dark green for the school colors, the plaid blue bottoms changed to plaid red, and more variety of selections.
School vehicles now included sleek SUV's, motorcycles, and a helicopter. Caroline asked what on earth they would need a chopper for, but Klaus merely shrugged with his smirk in place.
Classes were multiplying, students were tripling. Their fourth faction gaining a lot of tread. One of the things MFA had on SBS. The In between faction. Home of the other supernaturals that don't fall into the three main groups. The world would be surprised, but there are all kinds of creatures out there, and word got around and they put their trust in the Forbes-Mikaelsons to keep their secret and their young one safe.
So far, a Phoenix, Landon, was our new student, who came accompanied by his werewolf brother, Raphael. An accident in a car on a full moon, killed his girlfriend and brother, activating the curse in Raphael, and afterwards watching his brother Landon burst into flames in the woods, before solidifying into ash, and breaking free. Not even 5 minutes later, a black tinted SUV pulled up with a friendly faced woman and younger boy hopping out and asking if they needed help and wanted to come back to a school that could help them. The two foster brothers, cautious of anyone not each other, and not used to people being nice without wanting something, didn't have much to lose, so came along and got acclimated to MFA.
Throughout the year other in-betweens joined the ranks, creating their own little faction. Smaller than the other two, but no less diverse. A gorgon named Mia. Wade, a fairy. Cleo, a harpy. Zara, a pixie. Zara, Wade, and Landon were proposing the idea of a flight club, so they can test their flying limits, and see where best, and how best to fly. Klaus would approve. He was a fan of this little faction. Hope was in it. No, no one was like her in it, but no one was like anyone in it. If anything, for once Hope found herself lucky. She had people to look to for each part of her. Knowing the depth history of each. Everyone else, just had to guess and play it by ear for the most part.
Alaric came and saw the new changes. Against Klaus' wishes, Caroline still offered Alaric a headmaster position. After he of course went through the new training of how this school would run different from SBS. Alaric was stuck in the world of 'good and bad', and Caroline wanted to make sure he was out of it, before he tried to mentor any kids. Her worries, and Klaus' anger were irrelevant however, because as much as Alaric could give credit where its due, MFA was magnificent. He just didn't want to be a part of it. Whether old grudges with the Mikaelsons or hurt pride, he never said.
He and Caorline switched places. He went on the run for a way to break the Merge. Klaus thought it fitting, considering the other way to break it was the girls turning. Alaric wanted a different way, so he could go look, while Caroline gets to be with the girls. Of course, though, he wouldn't be Klaus if he didn't send hybrids to tail him, and already had contacts looking at any other way to stop the merge.
A tid-bit of information that Klaus did not share with the girls, but did share with his lovely mate, was that the hunter spent more time in the European bars, than he actually did in a library or checking out leads. The presence of the elder Salvatore, joining for a ''bro's trip'' not helping the motivation in the least.
Caroline rolled her eyes; she knew exactly what the problem was that Damon went for a bros trip with Alaric. As typical, Alaric cried to the Salvatores about Carolines bad judgment and the girls lack thereof. Elena and Damon were speechless, but that soon turned to righteous indignation when they realized all the other poor souls the twins passed up, only to resurrect Finn and Sage. Elena cried and angrily spewed words for a lost chance with her Aunt Jenna, who died as a vampire and who could come back. Damon was fuming that Caroline, the ex-wife, and his ex-sister-in-law didn't think to bring back his little brother. A few other choice words were ended, when Alaric realized what his moping had done, when Damon got a look in his eyes like way back when and he had a stupid plan in the works.
Alaric didn't want to get his buddy killed, over his own hurt feelings, and there would be no more chances, especially since Caroline would not stand in the way this time if the Originals wanted blood. Caroline having wrote them off ages ago. So, Alaric whisked his buddy away on a drinking bender it seems.
''While he's supposed to be looking for a way to save our daughters.'' Caroline said crossly, upset at this piece of information.
''Pieces are already in place to ensure our daughters have the best future possible and whatever their hearts desires.'' Klaus wrapped his arms around his mate and buried his head in her neck, loving her scent. Carolines wolf was art to the eyes. Beautifully pure white, she looked like silver in the moonlight, with golden streaks up her snout and framing her face. She was equal parts sun and moon and a perfect contrast to Klaus russet, gold of his wolf, and the brunette gray of Hope's and Hayleys.
Caroline's transformation has been coming along well. Klaus noting similarities and differences Caroline seemed to have compared to werewolves and hybrids. Caroline kept her blue eyes as a wolf. It was a beautiful shock to her color when he first saw. She was warmer than the hybrids, but not so much than the born werewolves. He could see her flushed cheeks, here blood pumping through her veins, again, more than a hybrid, less that a born werewolf. Thankfully her immortality wasn't in question, which was great and a letdown for Caroline, who wanted to stay immortal, of course, but hoped she could age a bit out of her teenage years, but was officially stuck, still, at 17.
What surprised him the most was how much she brought out his own wolf tendencies. Different from his one tryst with Hayley. Sure, he was rough then, just a one-night stand to forget his troubles. His behavior with Caroline now, was downright animal. Literally. All his lupine instincts and mannerisms were coming up, being more dominant to his vampire. Nuzzling, growling, and appetite for rare meat. His wolfs main concern was his love for his mate and his pups. The girls staying clear of any boy around them, knowing he would come blazing, eyes yellow. When it had to do with his Caroline, an aggression like no other, comes over him when she is around other males. he went ballistic when he went for a hug yesterday and smelled the new art history teacher on her, after they came from a meeting in her office. That in turn took to his animalistic side and he needed to reclaim his mate and mark her with his scent, something he found he did a lot, and... apparently something else.
Caroline was indeed more alive than dead, her organs coming to life, just enough to create one.
A sound like a hummingbird was coming from beneath his hands around the waist of his mate and landing on her stomach.
Klaus smirked. Apparently, his wolf thought it was time for his mate to give him a pup. Looking across the veranda, he saw his three little girls laying down in the green field, each waving their magic around to see who could form the best cloud. The twins settling into the Mikaelson fold seamlessly, like they've always belonged there. Which, they actually have. Any child of Carolines, is a child of his. He rubbed his hand over Carolines stomach. He couldn't wait to add another pup to his brood.
''What are you thinking about my wolf?'' Caroline whispered, leaning back to kiss him on his neck, causing him to playfully growl.
''When are we going to tell the girls about their new sibling?'' Klaus raised his eyebrows.
''Soon. They just started school. Alaric has been gone. They have a new, yet old environment, with an abundance of new family members. Let them settle and get used to this first, then we'll tell them. Together.''
Klaud nodded and smiled. ''Together.''
''Always and Forever.''
