Howling of the Wolves
A Twilight/Vampire Diaries Fanfiction
By
Fantasy Writer'92
Memory can be a funny thing. It can stay hidden for days, weeks, months or even years at a time. Then, seemingly out of nowhere it pops right back up again. Of course, there's one that you try to forget but it just stays with you…
Caroline Forbes stood motionless in the middle of the Mystic Grill's parking lot. Klaus had just flashed out of here to rescue his brother, Kol from Stefan, Damon and Alaric. But there definitely was something else going on for he had grabbed and shook her demanding answers. The jig was up. She was lucky he hadn't instantly killed her.
"Caroline!" she heard her mother call as the patrol car swerved into the lot right beside her. "Get in!" the Sheriff ordered.
"Mom! What's going-?"
"I said "Get in!"
The young vampire looked back towards the grill where her friends were facing off with the original hybrid. "Mom I'm sorry, I c-!"
She never got to finish the sentence as she felt a sharp prick in her back and then lost consciousness. When she came to, Caroline found herself strapped in the front seat with her seatbelt on and her mother driving.
"Mom?"
"Morning Sweetheart, there's a blood bag in the cooler down by your feet if you're hungry" she said, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Mom, what happened? And where are we?"
"North Carolina,"
"North Carolina! Mom, WHAT are we doing in North Carolina? Don't tell me we're moving here. Because I can't right now. My friends need me! Speaking of- Oh My God! Where's my phone?! The vampire franticly began searching the compartments of her purse which she found on the seat between.
Liz sighed, "Caroline! Calm down and breathe. I have your phone, it's right here in my pocket and I'm not giving it back until you listen to me. I am also on vervain, so there will be no compulsion. Am I clear?"
That seemed to sober the young vampire up. "Mom?"
"Last night was too close Caroline. Way…too…Close. I almost lost you." Liz gasped breathing heavy with emotion as she pulled off to the side of the road. Turning off the engine as she looked Caroline in the eye.
"It doesn't matter if you're a human or a vampire. You're still my daughter. Parents should never outlive their children. But if you stay in Mystic falls? You will end up dying- for real this time, sooner rather than later. I won't have you be the "Blond Distraction" anymore. Not for ANYONE or anything. Do you understand me?"
"But Elena-?"
"Elena Gilbert has enough Protectors and people watching her back. But the question that I want to know is:
WHO is watching YOUR back to make sure you are safe when you and your "friends" come up with and conduct these dangerous and far out missions? Is Stefan on standby? Ready to jump in incase you need him? Bonnie? Alaric? What about Tyler? "
"Tyler is gone, Mom." said Caroline as she wrapped her arms around herself, thinking of how he left Mystic Falls to find a way to break the sire bond.
"Exactly! And you need to be gone from town too. Not forever. For at least…a year, maybe two? Until this "Doppelganger" drama dies down. I will not risk losing my only child over this. Do you have any idea how horrifying it was to watch you nearly slip away from that bite? I don't regret letting Klaus Mikealson in because he is the one who saved you with his blood. But I am not willing to take that chance again"
the Sheriff declared, before wiping away the tears that had escaped, putting her hands once more on the wheel and starting up the car again.
Ten minutes of silence was all Caroline could handle before she reached across the seat and took her mother's free hand. "I'm so sorry Mom, I didn't mean to scare you"
"I know you didn't," she answered, giving her hand a light squeeze. Caroline looked in the backseat spotting her luggage but not Liz'.
Suspicious she asked, "Where are we going?"
That when the sheriff let a long sigh,
"Caroline, these last couple months I've been in contact with Cousin Charlie. Charlie Swan from Forks Washington. His daughter, Bella is in a really bad place right now. It started with a bad break up at the beginning of September but from what he's described there's something else going on. I think it's Supernatural related. I've expressed my opinion but Charlie's in denial. He actually said he and his folks moved clear across the country to get away from that bullsh-! Sorry, it just makes me frustrated that he won't admit what's going on in front of him even after all these years"
"Well maybe he has a good reason?" Caroline suggested, trying to be helpful. Liz bit her lip, careful not to draw any blood. She knew she had to tell her; Liz couldn't just send her off not knowing. "There is…"
...
Caroline's eyes widened as she tried to digest everything she'd been told, before mentally sorting and compartmentalizing. "So let me get this straight: You want me to go to Forks to stay with my cousins, enroll in school there and help Bella the best I can?" she asked wanting to make sure she had the bases covered.
"Yes, but I don't want you to think of it as punishment. Rather your own adventure, away from Mystic Falls and you'll be with family"
Just then Caroline's phone started vibrating, Liz cautiously took the phone out. Seeing that it was Damon, she answered.
"About time Blondie, "
"Excuse me Damon Salvatore"
"Oh shit.. Liz I-! It's Sheriff Forbes to you Mr. Salvatore. Please inform Elena and Bonnie that Caroline is fine. We are just having some Mother – Daughter time. I will be back in a couple of days. Until then, take care of it yourselves the best you can" she finished ending the call without giving him time to respond and leaving her daughter gob smacked.
"You're really serious about this"
"My daughter is not bait. Now Caroline, I will take you as far as Raleigh and make sure you get on a plane. I didn't want to do it in Virginia in case someone- maybe a hybrid followed and ambushed us. I also wanted to spend some time with you"
"Oh Mom..."
The rest of drive seemed to pass by much quicker as the mother daughter duo moved onto much lighter subjects: remembering the good times of past, listening to music. It wasn't all peaceful though with Caroline's phone on mute, still lighting up with the "occasional" texts and voicemails from Bonnie and Elena.
As they pulled into the parking spot at the airport Liz took out Caroline's cell, handing it over to her. "As much as I wish you would go cold turkey and not have anything that could be traced and pull you back to the toxic situation that we just left. The choice is ultimately yours"
Caroline looked at the phone in her hand then back at her mother. Could she do this? This trip had given her a lot to think about, before finally reaching in her purse and pulling out her pen and pocket calendar. Scrolling through her phone, she found and wrote down the information that she wanted.
Handing the cell back to Liz, Caroline took a deep breath and said "Keep it for me, will you? I'll contact Elena and Bonnie when I'm ready"
The Sheriff smiled, "That's my girl." Saying goodbye at the check in was tough, but the smile and hope in her mother's eyes made it worth it. "I love you Sweetheart, and don't forget, Charlie will be there waiting to pick you up."
"I won't, love you too" she answered giving one last hug, before moving forward wheeling her bag and hopefully into the future.
...
It was a long plane ride and Caroline was so glad that she had fed beforehand, drinking the blood bags in the car. She wasn't nearly as tempted now as she would have been. Closing her eyes and leaning back, Caroline tried to prepare for what was ahead. She hadn't seen Charlie in a long time. Probably since she was ten or eleven? Bella? Even longer, they'd only met a couple of times. If she remembered correctly Bella and her mother R-Rose? R-Rachel? Renee?! (That was it!) had been off touring a lot of the country. Maybe later on we could talk about the places she's seen.
One of the things Caroline immediately noticed was the naturally cool temperature from outside and the overcast clouds that had rolled in after she collected her bags and left the building. Standing under the new arrivals sign of the flight she had taken when a police cruiser pulled into the loading and unloading lane. The Cop got out of the car.
"Caroline? - Caroline Forbes?" he asked, looking at her. Caroline smiled back at him; this must be Charlie.
"Yes, Cousin Charlie, right?"
"Right, I almost didn't recognize you. Seeing as how much you've grown." he smiled, before popping the hood of his trunk and offering to help with her bags.
Less than five minutes later, she was once again seated in the front seat of a cop car going down the busy streets as they left Seattle. "I'm really glad you're here. From talking to your mom on the phone, it sounds like you need this change. I hope things work out, for both you and Bella"
"How is she really doing?" asked Caroline.
The police Chief winced, "It's bad. She won't hardly move, much less talk. Eat or Drink anything. What's worse is that Bella had developed this 1000-yard stare look. Her eyes are just as lifeless"
"What exactly caused this? Do you know? Mom just said it was a bad break up."
Charlie snorted with disgust. "I never liked that kid, always felt uneasy around him."
Caroline raised any eyebrow "Be that as it may, Charlie. I need to know what I'm dealing with. Even if it's just from your perspective"
The Chief smirked, "You'd make a good cop kid."
"Well, I was certainly raised by one, certain things seem to just rub off…"
By the time they actually got to Forks, Caroline was almost certain that this "Edward Cullen" that Cousin Charlie reluctantly spoke about was actually a Vampire or some other Supernatural species. After hearing just how quick Charlie had shut her mom down though, Caroline didn't dare voice her suspicions. Just wait until they get home.
Seeing Caroline pause at the front door of the house after he went in, made the Chief lightly chuckle. "Are you waiting for a personal invitation?"
"As a matter a fact: I am" she answered teasingly trying to play it off as a joke and hoping he would get the hint.
"Well then, Miss Forbes, I officially welcome you to my home. You may come in and go anytime you please" Charlie mock bowed and pretended to take off his invisible top hat.
"Thank you, Sir" Caroline smiled, and took a step across the threshold. The barrier was gone, it worked.
Next obstacle that needed tackling: Bella…
