August 31, 2014
Klaus shoved his phone back in his pocket, the motion rather more aggressive than usual. The degree to which he had been caught off guard was appalling and unacceptable. While Caroline had been worryingly well-informed, somehow he had been the one who knew nothing. That would soon change if his minions wanted to keep their limbs attached to their bodies, but that wasn't the bloody point.
He hadn't walked into a situation blind in centuries. If anything, he walked into most encounters with half the deck in his hand and the other half rigged beyond belief. So it had been second nature to play up the charming angle when aggression failed. It granted him her address at least.
Yet his attitude was less of a facade than he would have liked. His soulmate was formidable, a trait that was as admirable as it was aggravating, and part of him responded to that. Frankly, his wolf already considered the matter settled. Caroline was their mate and it wanted her.
After a moment's thought, he pulled his shirt off, quickly discarding the rest of his clothes into a semi-neat pile on his front table. It took negligible effort to then move from his foyer to the woods, his already enhanced vision sharpening even further as his eyes flashed gold, the rest of his monster pulled to the forefront.
He crouched on the forest floor, bones breaking and reforming in a macabre series of crunches. A few seconds later a tawny wolf stood where there was once a man. His form was unnaturally large, even on all fours, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the average human.
With a quick shake, Klaus readjusted to the sensation of being a wolf, his instincts closer to the surface than ever. Bounding forward, the easy loping gait of his wolf devoured miles of terrain in an instant. He all but flew through the forest, navigating through the underbrush with preternatural ease.
As he ran, the scents of the forest enveloped him, and long forgotten flashes rose to the surface. Laughter. The bright, easy joy of children. Blonde hair. Sparkling blue eyes. Seemingly summoned by the flickers of memory, her scent blew in his direction.
Pomegranate. Lemon. Sage.
It took the full force of his millennium of control to only follow the trail for a few miles before turning around and heading back to his manor.
His wolf snarled its displeasure, clawing at him, but he ruthlessly suppressed those urges, knowing it wasn't the time to show up at her door as a giant werewolf. It certainly wouldn't improve her impression of him.
September 1, 2014
Caroline smoothed down the fabric of her floral dress, admonishing herself for the nervous gesture as she shrugged on a jean jacket. It's not as if she hadn't been expecting the knock. She even knew it was indeed Klaus and not some random stranger on the other side of the door.
Brushing aside the lingering hesitation, Caroline strode toward the door, pulling it open a moment later. She was greeted not only by Klaus but also by a gorgeous bouquet of amaryllis, heather, and iris.1 It was very much an unexpected gesture, though she could appreciate that Klaus apparently had more taste than to offer something as trite as roses or carnations.
"Hello, Caroline."
"Hi," she replied, still a bit distracted by the very unusual sight of the Original Hybrid holding a colorful explosion of flowers.
He tilted them in her direction. "These are for you."
She took them from him, a small smile having risen unbidden. "They're lovely, thank you." Caroline turned, leaving the door cracked as she called over her shoulder, "Give me a second to put these in water." A vase and some water later, and she was left with no more easy distractions.
Slipping out the door she arched a curious eyebrow. "Soooo, what does the infamous Klaus do on a date?"
He offered her his elbow, a gesture she accepted after a split second of hesitation. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Lunch or…?"
His eyes glinted slightly as he turned to look at her. "I would be delighted to share a hunt with you, sweetheart, if I thought you would accept. But no, I did indeed mean a restaurant."
Caroline shifted, embarrassed by the flash of intrigue she felt at the idea. Catching sight of his slight smirk, she aimed a glare at him. "Shut up. It's terrible etiquette to tick off your date before you even go on the date."
There wasn't as much heat in her tone as there could have been, and he must have sensed it judging by the slight twitching of his lips.
"My lips are sealed, love."
A relatively short drive later saw them seated at a small hole in the wall diner. Klaus flipped through the menu for a moment, but already seemed to know what he wanted. Instead he spent his time eyeing her with amusement, her bafflement likely painted on her face.
"Virginia is not exactly the home of gourmet cuisine (and there was the expected snobbery), but over the years I've learned that certain small establishments like these tend to make their food better than supposed five-star businesses."
Just as he finished speaking an older woman came bustling out of the kitchen, a delighted expression on her face. Streaks of startlingly bright red burst out amidst mostly gray hair, but despite her apparent age the woman had a youthful air about her.
"Nick, it's been too long!" The woman shifted her gray eyes between the two of them. "Oh? And you brought a lady friend! How unusual of you."
Nick (?!) just smiled, seemingly at ease. "Apologies, Jeanette, I haven't been in town or you know I would stop by." He turned to look at her, gesturing between her and the other woman. "Caroline, this is Jeanette, one of the best baker's south of the Mason-Dixon line. You should really try the pie. And Jeanette, this is Caroline, my lovely date."
Jeanette laughed, obvious mirth broadcasted in the crinkles around her eyes and mouth. "Nick flatters me, really. But it's a pleasure to meet you, Caroline."
The woman's joy was contagious and Caroline found herself smiling as well. "You as well." But before she could start making polite small talk, Jeanette interjected, looking a bit sheepish.
"Oh, right, sorry for the interruption, dears. Can I get you anything to drink while I'm here?"
They both asked for water and the woman chirped a 'coming right up' before departing.
"I met Jeanette in the 50s," Klaus answered her unasked question. "Killed her husband actually.
Caroline knew she was gaping unattractively, but-
"He makes it sound so terrible when he says it like that." Sometime in her stupor, Jeanette had wandered back over, water glasses placed with a soft tap, and Caroline's eyes darted over to peer at her. The former red-head looked far more serious, but still just as obviously fond of Klaus.
"I was a sheltered girl, too enamored by my first love to realize what a monster he was. And maybe he didn't deserve death, but I can't say I'm upset about. Frankly, I'm grateful for what Nick did." Pinning her with a surprisingly sharp stare, she added, "Perhaps it doesn't seem it, I know Nick tells me more than enough tales, but he's one of the good ones. You're a very lucky girl." With those parting words, the woman whirled and left once more.
Several beats of silence passed before Caroline managed to speak. "...So you saved her?"
"Hmm, no. She's a strong woman, much like you seem to be, Caroline. Jeanette saved herself. I just took a little bit of bloody vengeance on her behalf."
Caroline blinked, a part of her softening further. Now, she could understand how he might be her soulmate.
"But on to more mannered subjects, I want to know about you, Caroline. Your hopes, your dreams, everything you want in life."
His tone was an odd mixing of teasing and sincerity, and she gladly seized the change of subject, it even startled a laugh out of her and she shoved the complicated swirl of her emotions to the back of her mind.
"That is such a line," she teased, though Klaus seemed unashamed.
The rest of their meal passed far more smoothly, so much so that she found herself slightly startled when she realized they had loitered for over an hour. After paying the check, and leaving a generous tip, Klaus guided her to the door, his hand warm against the smaller of her back.
"There's one more place I would like to take you."
Caroline's eyes darted around in delight, absorbing the dozens of horses that she could see. It was pretty much a certainty in her mind that this was the result of some creepy minion stalking, and yet she found herself feeling more flattered than annoyed or violated. Her priorities really had become skewed.
A light flush crossed her face as she spun to face Klaus and caught the softer expression on his face.
"A couple of these are mine, so I arranged for us to go riding, if you would like?"
An enthusiastic agreement died on her tongue when she remembered what she was wearing. As a vampire, any possible abrasion from the saddle wouldn't really affect her but it would still be bothersome. Plus, she'd rather not flash anyone when she mounts or dismounts the horse.
Reading the disappointment on her face, Klaus already had a solution prepared.
"I also took the liberty of procuring a few pairs of riding breeches. They're in the bag in the backseat."
She beamed in delight, no longer bothering to quell her reactions, and without thinking, Caroline lunged forward and swept the Hybrid into a quick hug.
"Thank you!"
She pulled away, politely ignoring the way he had tensed, and ran off to change.
Klaus guided her to one of the more distant stables. There didn't seem to be as many stalls as some of the others, but all the housed horses were magnificent, even to her untrained eye.
"Are these all yours?" She wondered; it wouldn't be a surprise if that were the case.
"Not personally, but all the horses here belong to my family, yes."
When they came to a stop it was in front of the stall of an enormous, black stallion.2
"This Hymir3 He can be somewhat untrusting of strangers, but he's one of the most loyal horses I've ever owned."
Caroline approached slowly, hand held aloft. "Hello, Hymir."
He regarded her with his large, dark eyes for several moments before snorting and lowering his head into her hand. She rubbed the soft velvet of his nose, becoming more daring from the apparent acceptance. Soon she was petting the horse with both hands, cooing about how handsome he was.
Klaus chuckled softly behind, his face looking a tad surprised and impressed when she glanced at him. "He is a bit of a sucker for a pretty face apparently. I think I'm jealous, love."
Caroline tossed a smirk over her shoulder. "Well, if you play your cards right...And I'm more than just a pretty face."
The Hybrid stepped closer, turning her to face him as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Far more," he muttered and Caroline barely withheld a shiver from his touch and intensity. His eyes were a stormy blue as he leaned closer, and she couldn't quite stop the way her eyes flicked to his lips for a split second and back again.
With a nicker Hymir shoved his head between the two of them, demanding attention. Klaus huffed out a breath as he patted his horse, grumbling under his breath half-heartedly, "I called you loyal, you beast."
Caroline did a poor job muffling her giggles, giving up when Klaus leveled a thoroughly unimpressed look in her direction. She managed to control herself after a few moments.
"So, which horse will I be riding today?"
Stepping away from his own mount, though not before giving one last admonishing stare to his utterly unrepentant steed, Klaus gestured toward the next stall. Walking over, Caroline was greeted by another gorgeous horse, this one a dapple gray color.4
More amiable, the mare stepped right toward them, sticking her head over the gate and gently nudging them with her nose. She seemed to be most interested in their pockets though, and Klaus pushed her back with a stern 'no'. Caroline had never seen a horse pout before, but that seemed the best way to describe her expression.
"Don't be fooled, love. She's being cute to try to weasel treats out of you."
"You totally spoil her don't you?"
"...Of course not."
Once Caroline stopped teasing Klaus over the adorable way he treated his horses (I'm not adorable, love), he patiently walked her through grooming and tacking Dagný,5 the dapple gray one.
"Have you ever ridden before?"
She shook her head, both nervous and excited to ride such a majestic animal.
"No, I always wanted to as a little girl, but I never got the chance."
Klaus just nodded. "Alright, I'll teach you."
He held the horse steady to help her mount and adjusted the stirrups once she settled. Handing her the reins, he showed her the best way to hold them before mounting his own horse in a flash. He then paced a large circle in front of her, purposefully going slow and exaggerating his gestures a bit as he narrated the basics.
Halting in front of her he assured her, "Dagný is very well trained so if you're nervous I can just have her follow Hymir until you're more confident."
Caroline shook her head, determined. "No, I think I got it."
It wasn't quite so simple, but Caroline's vampire nature definitely helped her catch on quicker. Her balance and sense for the way the horse was moving were certainly far better than any human's.
Soon the two could maintain an easy trot and occasional canter through the fields.
And once she got the hang of it, Caroline's laugh was absolutely delighted as the wind pulled at her hair, Dagný's strides powerful and swift beneath her.
Her cheeks almost ached from how wide and long she had been smiling.
"Klaus, that was amazing! Thank you so much!"
"It was my pleasure, sweetheart."
Mildly flushed from the exhilaration, Caroline didn't let herself think when she impulsively leaned toward Klaus, brushing her lips against his in a swift kiss. A peck really.
She pulled back with a deeper blush, though she refused to look away. His pupils were ringed in gold as he absently licked his lips. Then he stepped closer, giving her time to dodge him as he slowly moved to cup her cheek, caressing the edge of jaw with his thumb. Leaning in just as slowly, he tilted her head to indulge in a slightly longer kiss, the pressure a bit more firm though the whole affair was rather chaste.
When they broke their exchange, Klaus just rested his forehead against her's for a moment, his eyes still closed. It seemed like he was just breathing her in and Caroline did the same.
Oak. Petrichor. A hint of copper.
Perhaps, she should be a bit more startled by how quickly they seemed to be moving, but it was surprisingly easy to open up to him now that she was trying. Oh, she was sure it wouldn't all be smooth sailing, but for now she reveled in how warm and comforting he could feel pressed against her.
The next week passed quickly in much the same way, Klaus a regular presence as he whisked her off on various dates. Not all of them were as elaborate as their first, but she could tell how much care he put into each of them. Always trying to make sure they were something she would like. Picnics. Dancing. Even casual movie nights.
September 10, 2014
Knock Knock Knock
Caroline blinked, wondering why Klaus was here. He normally didn't just drop by, some part of him a bit too old fashioned to not call ahead.
She pulled the door open, somehow not surprised that he appeared a bit disgruntled, though he offered a slight smile as she appeared.
"It seems my younger siblings can't keep out of trouble for long. Normally, I'd leave it to Elijah, but Kol stirred up something...worrisome during his normal carousing."
Caroline leaned against the door, feeling a bit of concern well up.
"Worrisome?" She repeated. That was not an encouraging word choice from an Original, let along the Original Hybrid.
"Potentially, some old enemies of our's. Very old ones." He looked apologetic as he added, "I'm afraid I will have to return to New Orleans for a few days perhaps a few weeks to get a handle on the situation."
Caroline looked thoughtful, hardly offended that Klaus had other obligations. Family was important after all. She bit her lip as she hesitantly offered a suggestion.
"Perhaps, I could come with you?"
It was Klaus' turned to blink, the surprise and trace of suspicion in his expression causing part of her ache for him.
"It will be dangerous, Caroline."
She couldn't manage to withhold her eyeroll, though she was very serious when she met his gaze. "I'm well aware, Klaus. I'm not an idiot."
She couldn't read his expression, but she could sense the rapid churning of his thoughts. Several long moments passed as she waited for his answer, her nails pressing into the wood of the door
"If I tell you to run, you will run."
"Fine." Though she made no promises on what she did after that.
"You'll also have to put up with my siblings. Are you sure you want to come?"
His attempt to lighten the mood wasn't subtle, though she knew it was also a semi-genuine attempt to dissuade her.
Her tone was purposefully airy as she replied, "Hm, and I'm sure they have tons of stories about you." Before he could retort she vanished up the stairs, her voice floating back down. "You can come in. Just let me call my friends and pack, alright?"
Klaus stepped across the threshold, unhindered by the barrier that had just fallen. Not that it really mattered he had come to learn, but he understood the sentiment behind the gesture. Silently he made his way over to the mantle where he ran a fingertip along the edge, his ears catching the sounds of Caroline bustling around upstairs.
When he asked to call on Caroline he honestly hadn't know how things would turn out, his mind had still absently toying with the idea of killing her despite his wolf's vehement opposal. His own sudden recollection of her once presence in his dreams hardly swayed him. He wasn't that human boy any longer. Nor did he ever wish to be again.
And it had been a calculated move to bring her to see Jeanette of course. An old lover, a human, one that knew of his monstrous actions, but thought him good of all things. Such an odd combination of traits. Klaus moved away from the mantle, eyes alighting on a vase that contained the bouquet he had had delivered that day.
He stepped closer, rubbing a petal between his fingers, lips quirking as a preservation spell hummed against his skin. What a delight his mate ended up being.
Strong. Ageless. Fearless.
Caroline whipped around her room, her closet doors thrown wide while she pulled various drawers open. Her phone sat on her bedside table, Bonnie and Enzo on speaker phone.
"Are you sure about this, Gorgeous?"
She paused, fingers toying with a sequin on one of her flashier dresses.
"Sure, not really. But I've weighed my options and this is what I want."
Bonnie having already experience Caroline's dwelling was a bit more relaxed, though no less protective.
"As long as it's yourchoice."
Caroline smiled, grabbing a blue sundress several hangers over.
"Thanks guys!"
The trip to New Orleans didn't take very long between vampire driving habits and a Mikaelson private jet. A few hours later put the two of them on the front steps of The Abattoir.
("Really, Klaus?"
"I didn't name it, love, but you must admit it has character, hm?")
Klaus slid his phone from his pocket, thumb blurring as he texted out a quick message. "Freya will need to allow you through the wards."
Before Caroline could comment and remind him that perhaps his family wouldn't want some stranger in their house, the door flew open.
"Nik-" The voice abruptly cut off as she noted her standing beside Klaus. One eye blue, one eye brown, both narrowed and dark. "Who is this?"
Caroline was almost impressed by the amount of sneering disdain the other blonde managed to pack into that one question.
"Now, now, Bekah, sheathe those claws, Darlin'. Your jealousy is showing." A brunet came swaggering up, leaning against the door just behind the blonde. His head cocked, smirk playful and eyes threatening. "'Tis a fair question though. You're bringing tasty little things home, now?" He leaned forward a bit, resting his chin on his sisters shoulder, only to be harshly shrugged off in return.
Klaus took in an unnecessary breath. "Rebekah. Kol. Why don't the two of you do something useful and fetch our other sister?"
Traces of intrigue and calculation flashed across both of their faces as they absorbed Klaus' non-answer.
There was a moment as no one said anything, each eyeing the others, before Rebekah let out a scoff.
"Please, I'm not one of your little minions." Having said her piece the blonde flounced off, leveling quite the glare in Caroline's direction before she left.
Kol continued to linger, an impish expression on his face. "My, my, already riling our sister. That must be a record."
Before Klaus could retort, another blonde woman appeared. She seemed older than Rebekah, and Caroline assumed this was Freya.
"Klaus." Her eyes shifted to take in the new addition just as the two before her did, though she was much more polite in her inquiries. "And guest?"
In response, he settled an arm against the small of her back, shifting a bit back to put her in front. "Yes, this is Caroline."
Her lips pursed, questions visibly restrained. "Well, come in then." She stepped back allowing both of them to pass, Kol somehow having slinked off in the meantime. Caroline was almost surprised when nothing barred her from entering. But if Bonnie had taught her anything, that didn't mean much when a powerful and innovative witch was present.
Klaus ignored his sister behind them, guiding her up the stairs instead. "This way, love."
Several turns later finally brought them to their destination, and Caroline marveled at its splendor as Klaus swung the door open. Its grandeur wasn't exactly a surprise considering whose house she was in, but still.
The walls were cream, the floor some type of dark wood, probably mahogany. It had a four poster bed, a window seat and a balcony between the two windows, a large closet, and a door that she suspected led to an ensuite bathroom.
She stepped in, rolling suitcase in hand, making her way toward the bed. Though she heard the door click shut behind her, Klaus' presence remained.
"Why did you come here, Caroline?"
Her hands stilled on the fabric of one of her blouses. This probably wasn't a conversation they should have while she stared at her clothes like they held the answers to the universe. Setting the top back down, she slowly turned to face him.
His face was impassive as he leaned against the door, his arms crossed.
"Why do you think I came, Klaus?" She held up a hand before he could take that the wrong way. "I don't mean to be difficult, I'll tell you why I followed you. But you brought me all the way here, let me into your house...Why? Since you seem to doubt my intentions."
He shifted, suddenly in front of her as his hand wound one of her curls around his finger. "Is there not a saying about enemies and closeness?"
Caroline didn't let him rattle her, sensing they were on the precipice of something. She set her palms on his chest, not putting any pressure to push him away, just letting them rest there.
"You consider us enemies?"
He released the curl, letting it spring back, as he used his newly freed hand to trace the column of her throat.
"I've considered all that stand in my way enemies, and you've certainly thwarted me more than most. Interceding on the doppelgänger's behalf as you did."
Perhaps, his words would have rattled someone else, but even as she peered into his dark, expressionless eyes, she couldn't dredge up fear. Maybe that was a mistake on her part, but she didn't think so.
She felt his fingers twitch against the sensitive skin of neck, his surprise when she only smiled in response.
"I'm not shocked you're the grudge holding type, I am too." Leaning closer, until she was sure he could see the lack of guile in her eyes, she all but whispered. "But Klaus, you never said you considered me your enemy."
He too leaned forward, dipping under her face. The tip of his nose followed in his finger's wake as he retraced a line down her throat, stopping at the curve of her shoulder and pressing a light kiss to her skin.
"No, you're my mate." He pulled back, his eyes containing a tinge of vulnerability. "Do you intend to be my enemy as well?"
She could see what it cost him to ask, rather than demand or threaten or destroy.
"No, I came here because yes, you are my mate. And whatever power that decided we were a mach for each other? I might not understand why, but it feels right, and that's enough for me right now. So don't make me have to run, Klaus. I want to stay."
Something hot and wild flared in his eyes. "Good."
"Good."
The air in the room seemed charged, his hand now cupping her cheek, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. The tension was broken when a fist started pounding on the door.
"Jesus, Nik, are you fucking your little tart already?"
Caroline would be more offended and irritated if it wasn't clear Klaus felt enough for both of them. The moment was thoroughly ruined and Klaus looked murderous.
"I'll fetch the rest of you luggage after I deal with Rebekah."
Caroline turned back to her open suitcase, tuning out the angry sniping she could hear in the hallway.
September 14, 2014
Caroline spent the next few days mostly flitting between her room and Klaus', torn between wanting to know his siblings better and not infringing on their space when they clearly didn't know what to think of her. And some seemed downright resentful of her presence, to say the least.
When she finally decided to venture farther into the house, she regretted it pretty much instantly. For such a large house, the density of Mikaelson's seemed to be high at all times.
First, it was the library…
One of the first rooms she came across was the library. It was a gorgeous space, all dark wood and tasteful accents, the entire room filled to the brim with carefully organized shelves. It didn't take her long to curl up in one of the lounge chairs by the fire, book in hand.
Her finger twitched when a few hours later she sensed another presence enter the room. Reaching the bottom of a paragraph she glanced at the page number before closing it, looking up to see who was disturbing her peace.
He was another one of Klaus' brothers judging from his aura, Elijah if she had to guess, based on his sartorial choices.
("Can you tell me anything about your siblings? You know, since I'm crashing their house?"
"Hardly, 'crashing', love. I invited you."
She just rolled her eyes at him, unimpressed.
He smirked cheekily. "Fine. Fine. Kol's a pervert and a pest. Rebekah's a brat and a pest. Elijah is a constantly overdressed pest. Finn is thankfully not here, though he is dull enough you wouldn't notice the difference. Freya's alright, I suppose."
"I'm sensing a bit of a pattern here," she deadpanned.
"Quite. I'm sure they will make nuisances of themselves shortly." )
"Can I help you?" She asked, keeping her tone level, neither hesitant nor confrontational.
"My siblings informed me that Klaus had a guest, and it is only polite that I greet you. My name is Elijah, a pleasure, Ms. …" He trailed off as he proffered his hand, pretending not to already knowing her name and anything else a thorough background check would grant him.
Polite. Sure. That was the reason he was here. All the same, she returned his handshake, grip firm. "Forbes, but please call me Caroline."
"Ms. Forbes," he started, expression bland and neutral, the man too refined to make a bigger show of ignoring her request. "I hope your stay has been pleasant so far." His gaze fell on her book as if he just realized he might have been interrupting her. "Excuse me, I shall leave you to return to your affairs."
The man nodded to her politely and though she stayed another half-hour or so, she couldn't re-immerse herself in reading. Elijah may have acted like he was leaving her be, but she could sense the way he was observing her. Knew he must be mentally picking apart every detail and constructing all kinds of theories to explain her presence.
Then, the kitchen…
Seeing that her reading time had been spoiled, and hanger was very much still a thing as a vampire, Caroline headed for the kitchen. Not in the mood to make anything complicated, she grabbed a couple of bags of B+ and whipped up some simple mixed drinks, just to give herself something to do.
"So, the tasty little thing is making a tasty little thing."
Caroline whipped around, instantly spotting Kol leaning against the fridge. Seeing that he had her attention, a wicked little grin crossed his face. "Would that be cannibalism?" He punctuated his question with an exaggerated gasp of mock horror.
It was an honest struggle to refrain from any visible reaction. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction, as it was rapidly becoming clear that Kol was a professional shit-stirrer. Unfortunately, her best efforts were not enough. Judging from the way his grin widened, he could tell that he was annoying her.
"So is that your secret, Darlin', that's got Nik all in a tizzy?"
"Absolutely," Caroline stated as flatly as possible before gulping down one of her drinks and sliding the other to Kol. "Enjoy the cannibalism."
She felt no shame when she took the opportunity to bolt.
The sitting room...
However, she was coming to learn no where was safe. Rebekah ambushed her in one of the many sitting rooms, and was full of passive-aggressive and aggressive -aggressive commentary.
Caroline could easily snipe with the best of them, but it wasn't exactly how she wanted to spend her day.
And even the goddamn solar.
Not even Freya, the most polite of the bunch, really gave her peace. Admittedly, she actually managed to hold a semi-normal conversation with the woman, but it was obvious that she was also subtly trying to figure out why Klaus brought her with him. (Not that she could be brought places).
It was exhausting and she took the first opportunity to beat a hasty retreat.
Klaus' hand stilled mid-stroke as he heard Elijah confront Caroline. He kept his ears tuned to the conversation even as he resumed sketching, curls coming to life from lines of charcoal. His siblings were nosy, but they wouldn't harm her. Besides, by now he knew Caroline could more than hold her own.
Still he'd certainly have ... words with them later.
September 16, 2014
"She's your mate, isn't she?"
Klaus carefully didn't react, continuing to pour some bourbon into his glass. He took a sip, turning to face his brother as he leaned against the wall.
"Now, what makes you say that?"
Elijah was the picture of nonchalance as he ran a finger down the edge of the page, turning it gently. "You are not subtle, Niklaus. You can barely go a few moments without touching her when you occupy the same room: her back, her shoulder, her hand. Her room is the master suite across from your's for god's sake. Not to mention, the fact that Rebekah and Kol have experienced an exponential increase in neck snaps recently. Oh, you might couch it in your typical excuses of temper, but I cannot help but notice it always seem to happen right after they pester Ms. Forbes. Need I continue?"
Klaus said nothing, a bit stunned by how much Elijah noticed, how much there was to notice . In the end, he didn't reply, a few moments later inquiring about the latest news of the witches.
His silence spoke for itself.
September 20, 2014
Caroline, surely exasperated by the menaces that made up his family, came to him rather than retire to her own room.
"Your siblings are the actual Worst, Klaus," she growled in frustration.
He chuckled setting his sketchbook aside and rising from where he had been lounging on his settee.
"Well, I don't always claim them." Walking over he hesitated for a split second, his burgeoning genuine affection still a bit startling, before settling a hand on the small of her back and guiding her over to where he had been sitting. Possession. Desire. Wanting to stroke and taste every inch of her until she trembled in his arms. Those were feelings he understood easily. But the way he wanted to simply hold her in his embrace, offer comfort and shelter and warmth. That was foreign.
Yet he couldn't help the way a part of him softened with amused fondness as she all but threw herself onto the settee, an adorable frustrated expression on her face. Stepping closer, he settled down beside her, shifting her legs to make room before letting them rest in his lap. She blinked, startled from her grumblings and looked a bit surprised by the move.
"So, what have you been up to all day anyway?" She blurted out.
He fidgeted slightly, feeling her skin twitch beneath his fingers as they traced little patterns on her ankles. After a moment, he leaned forward to retrieve his sketchbook and passed it to her.
"One of my lesser known passions."
Klaus watched as she slowly flipped through his drawings, absorbing her little expressions of appreciation and wonder. He resettled against the cushions, continuing to rub circles on her calves. "Though one of my landscapes is hanging in the Hermitage." He let out a slight chuckle. "Not that anyone would notice. Have you ever been?"
Caroline glanced over, an odd expression on her face. "No, I've never really been anywhere." As she spoke, he caught a glimpse of something wistful on her face, his next words nearly leaping from his mouth.
"I'll take you. Once this little detour is taken care of. Anywhere you wish to go, Caroline. Rome. Paris." She looked a bit astonished, and he tacked on a more teasing, "Tokyo?"
Caroline laughed, startled by Klaus' grand gesture. "Oh, wow. You know I don't need you to take me places?" Her tone was light and playful though and he laughed with her, a boyish grin on his face. She leaned a bit closer, her laughter subsiding as the air electrified. "I think I would like that though. Traveling with you."
His own smile dissipated, replaced by something a little more intense.
But before anything more than his hand on her cheek could happened, her vision blurred.
August 8, 2007
Caroline inhaled a slow breath, counted to three before exhaling. She sat cross-legged in the backyard, the grass lightly poking at her even through the blanket she had set down.
Fourteen and a bit gangly with limbs feeling too long and weight redistributed to odd places, Caroline Forbes seemed to be the typical young teenager.
She wasn't.
Her fingers fiddled with the edges of her loose tank top, before she resettled, placing her palms on her knees. Inhale. One, two, three. Exhale. One, two, three. Inhale. One, two, three. Exhale…
The sunlit red-black of the back of her eyelids wavered and faded.
Her lips curled into a smile as she took in the figure before her. He smiled back at her.
"Hello, elskari." 6
"Nik!" She was beaming now and didn't hesitate to move over and tackle him in a hug. She could feel the way he huffed beneath her, and she lightly swatted him. But because he could be a pest, her friend just chuckled at her, though he did shift to hold her more comfortably.
His fingers carded through her hair as she cuddled with him in the grass.
Klaus blinked startled by the vision that washed over him (them, judging by the clearing glaze over Caroline's eyes), mood ruined. Until now, he had forgotten the details of those ancient dreams. And he wasn't exactly pleased it bled through. What need did he have of that past, when he was accepting the flesh and blood version of his mate in the present?
Caroline appeared even more disturbed. "That shouldn't have happened," she muttered to herself.
Klaus frowned. He had thought that he had accidentally read the memory from her, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"I'm calling Bonnie," she announced, pushing back toward the other side of the settee.
They both listened to the phone ring a few times before the witch picked up.
"Caroline? Is something wrong? Did Klaus do something to you?!"
"No, no, nothing like that, Bonnie. It's something else. I had a very vivid flashback to one of the dreams Klaus and I shared as children, and it just came out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure Klaus saw it too." Her eyes flicked to him and he nodded in confirmation.
"That shouldn't be possible."
"Yeah, that's what I said."
"That connection broke when you turned. Maybe it could re-establish itself now that the two of you physically met and are now both undead, but it wouldn't happen like that. It would be a new dream not some shared recollection of an old one."
"Is that Gorgeous?" They both heard, the voice sounding like it came from several feet away from the phone's receiver.
Klaus couldn't quite prevent the way he bared his teeth at the pet name, though Caroline reached over to soothe him, twining their fingers together. He couldn't remember the last time he held hands with someone, but he still took the opportunity to tug her a bit closer. She came willingly and leaned against his side.
"Yeah, something might have happened to her soul bond."
"What?! Did the Hybrid do something to her?!" His question echoed the witch's though his concern was mixed with far more anger.
"Enzo, I'm okay, I promise."
The witch interjected, quickly explaining what Caroline had relayed.
"We'll be there shortly, Gorgeous."
Caroline spluttered. "What?! No, guys I can't ask that of you. If Bonnie needs to do her diagnostic spells I can just come there."
"You didn't have to ask. Besides I've been looking for an excuse to be able to give that Hybrid of your's a piece of my mind."
Caroline sighed and rolled her eyes, but her expression was fond. "I suppose there's nothing I can do to dissuade you?"
"Nope." The irritant sounded much too pleased with himself. "See you soon, Gorgeous."
"Bye, Caroline."
"You certainly keep interesting company," he stated dryly.
September 21, 2014
Caroline rushed for the door able to hear Bonnie and Enzo's chatter on the other side. Flinging it open, she enveloped both of them in a hug even as she admonished them.
"Why didn't you tell me you were here? I would have gotten you from the airport."
"Seems your boyfriend is good for something after all. He had a car waiting for us."
Blinking in surprise, Caroline glanced over her shoulder to where Klaus was hovering near the stairs. He gave a little nod, but didn't say anything nor did he come over. She huffed at him, but turned back to her friends. "So, we could probably go to the-"
"You're letting your little pet invite guests, now?"
Caroline took a fortifying breath before whirling to face Rebekah, a pageant queen smile on her face.
"No need to worry, Rebekah, I'm not inviting them into the house."
Rebekah scoffed. "As if I would worry-"
"Gorgeous, who is-"
Both Enzo and Rebekah froze as their eyes met. Enzo's blue eye and Rebekah's brown each flickered, slowly shifting until their heterochromia vanished. Another flicker and the pair possessed matching hazel eyes.
The entire room was frozen in shock, each spectator gaping at the scene before them.
Klaus absently rubbed his jaw, uncharacteristically stunned by the last hour's events. Rebekah practically threw a fit until her soulmate was invited in. That was expected. The fact that she had her soulmate all but fall into her lap due to the indirect actions of his own? Far less expected. The following debacle with Kol? He had stalked away, mood black.
"Klaus?"
Caroline appeared wary as she interrupted his thoughts. Part of him clenched at her renewed guardedness while the rest of him seethed, whispering doubts in his ear. Three soulmates in as many weeks? Surely, it wasn't a coincidence.
He could feel the way his eyes darkened, blood starting to rush through his sclera.
Ylir 7991
Nikulás knew he must have fallen asleep, but it did not grant him peace as it normally would. He snarled as he took a blade to the bark of a tree over and over again. Thick gashes marked its trunk as he continued making swift strikes.
"Nik?" He heard called behind him. His shoulders tensed, but he refused to turn. The thwacks of his sword against wood covered the sound of Karoline's footsteps, and he startled when her warmth was suddenly behind him.
She said nothing, just clasped his shoulder in a gesture of support. His sword dipped from where he had stilled mid-swing. After another assuring squeeze, she released him and moved a few paces away, half-circling the tree.
A blade of her own in her hand, she leveled a challenging look in his direction.
"Well?" She asked with a playful quirk of her lip. "Are you going to let me outmatch you?" Without waiting for a response, Karoline shifted and made her own deep cut in the tree.
Tension unknotted from within him replaced by a familiar competitive spirit. "Never."
Klaus sucked in a harsh breath, and a blink later he had Kar-Caroline pressed against the wall.
"I will not be manipulated by you!"
His grip was not as harsh as it could have been, but he still found himself surprised when their positions reversed.
"And I will not be manhandled, Niklaus!" Even in his anger, he couldn't help but find her monster glorious, though she pointedly released him after a few seconds.
She stepped back, flicking some of her hair over her shoulder as her fangs retracted. "Now, I'm going to go speak with Bonnie as we intended to do earlier. Get back to me when you've gotten over yourself."
Turning, she moved toward the door. He felt a flare of anger, that she could dismiss him so easily, and used it to smother the betrayal stirring within him. He hadn't given her his trust to be betrayed.
"Don't turn your back on me."
She halted in front of him, where he now blocked her path, before leaning a bit closer.
"Then don't turn your back on me, Klaus. Talk to me. Don't just jump to conclusions."
He could feel his fingers twitch at his side. His hand was a blur, a millennium of experience telling him to strike first, to distrust the manipulations of his enemies. But the skin of her cheek was soft against his palm, and he could feel some of his anger draining away as he cradled her face. He stroked his thumb against her cheekbone.
"We'll talk when you return." He murmured at last. And against his near every instinct, Klaus dropped his hand and stood aside.
Caroline knocked on Kol's door (something she never thought she would do), waiting several moments before it swung open. Bonnie stood on the other side with Kol lingering behind her. If the matter wasn't so serious, Caroline would be more amused by the look of wonderment on Kol's face, the way he was still holding Bonnie's hand.
Bonnie tracked the direction of her gaze, slight humor dancing on her face. "Don't mind him." Her friend perked up. "He might be able to help, actually. I've never met someone who knows so much about magic."
She felt her eyebrows rise, a bit surprised. That was convenient.
Bonnie gestured her in and took a seat on the edge of Kol's bed, while Caroline chose to settle on an ottoman. As she summarized the current situation, she watched Kol trace the edges of Bonnie's fingers with his own, though he had a serious expression on his face for once.
"And this has just started to occur?" The question came from Kol as he looked up to regard her.
She nodded. "Yeah, like I said we used to share dreams, but they were were never waking visions."
A frown furrowed the Original's brow. "Someone is meddling where they should not dare to," he muttered darkly.
Caroline leaned closer, tone urgent. "What do you mean?"
Kol moved to stand before pausing, with a cock of his head and a twitch of his fingers a leather-bound book appeared in his hand. There was a flash of awe and delight on his face, but his uncharacteristic solemnity soon returned.
"Soulmate bonds can shift over time, especially when the involved parties alter the type or strength of their relationship. However, that change must be initiated and accepted by those involved. It's not spontaneous." Flicking through several pages, the Original scanned the lines of text before snapping the volume closed. He looked up and summarized a rather worrying tale. "Several centuries ago a particularly jealous and covetous man died when he tried to break up a mated pair, convinced that the woman was actually his soulmate. And it would have been an insignificant albeit unusual happening if the man wasn't also a very powerful warlock. From the Other Side, he managed to interfere with the bond, causing little changes neither of the pair expected. They were vulnerable enough that he succeeded in breaking them from one another."
Caroline's lips pursed as those facts settled in her mind. "It's a plot against Klaus."
"Very likely," Kol confirmed.
"But...why? Sure, it could stir conflict, but it's not like a potential relationship failure would kill him or anything."
"Darlin', Nik is a possessive man. He's also a wolf and an Original vampire. And you're his mate. Trust me, that means something to him."
Caroline felt her heart jolt lightly. "Right," she suddenly chirped. "Thanks, Kol. I'll leave you two to it. Bye."
Her steps were purposeful as she rushed back toward where she left Klaus. It had been surprisingly reassuring to have confirmation of his feelings from someone else. So, if he could just get out of his own way, maybe they could get somewhere.
As she whipped past the courtyard an idea sparked in her mind.
Klaus spun, eyes narrowed as he caught the object flying toward him. Confusion washed over him as he realized it was a sheathed sword and Caroline had been the one to toss it to him.
He hefted the weapon, tilting the hilt in her direction as he inquired, "A sword, Caroline?"
Brandishing a sheathed blade of her own, the blonde beckoned to him. "We're sparring. Come on."
The baffled "what" he uttered as he followed was not particularly eloquent. She glanced over her shoulder as she walked.
"You're frustrated. I'm frustrated. The mood isn't quite right for angry sex. Soooo," she drawled, "we're going to fight and then we'll talk. ...Oh! And no powers."
"...Where did you even get these swords?"
A laughed escaped her at Klaus' question. "Surprisingly enough, your sister."
(Where would the Mikaelson's keep swords? Surely, they had a stash of weapons sitting around somewhere. She pondered who she could ask that would in turn ask the fewest questions.
"Caroline," a haughty voice called from behind her. She barely refrained from pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"Yes, Rebekah?" She managed to say levelly. Though her eyebrow rose when she turned and saw the Original was almost fidgeting.
"You rescued, Enzo," her fellow blonde blurted out.
Caroline softened. "I did, yes, and I've never regretted it."
"Thank you." She regarded the Original, knowing the woman's gratitude was sincere; this moment the most honest and genuine Rebekah had ever been with her.
With a small honest smile of her own, Caroline nodded. "Enzo has had my back in return for years now, and I love him dearly. Don't hurt him, Rebekah." The unspoken 'or else' lingered between.
Nodding again, Caroline turned to go, but paused mid-pivot. "Hey, Rebekah? Do you happen to have any swords around here?"
"...I beg your pardon?"
"I think Klaus and I would benefit from releasing our mutual...aggravations. Then, maybe I can get through his thick skull."
Rebekah actually snorted with amusement. "...I suppose Nik could do worse than you.")
"Are you sure you want to do this, sweetheart?" Klaus' tone was taunting, but his eyes were darker. Evidently he decided to channel his frustrations into this fight after all.
Good, Caroline couldn't help, but think. She had frustrations of her own.
With an admittedly indulgent flourish of her sword, Caroline snarked right back. "Maybe you've forgotten, likely since you're older than dirt, but you once taught me how to sword fight. And I've only picked up more tricks since."
If he was surprised he didn't show it. "I certainly hope so, love, or this won't be much of a fight."
Between one breath and the next he was lunging, sword aimed for her throat. It was fast, but Caroline redirected it with ease.
"Are you even trying?"
The next slash was her's, a harsh side blow that could bifurcate a man. He too used minimal effort to block it.
"Are you?"
Their eyes narrowed as they circled one another, trading a series of strikes. It seemed every exchange increased in speed or strength or skill. But they ended up in another deadlock, their blades locked together.
Klaus wet his lips, a savage grin on his face. "You do remind me of my younger self... but he existed a thousand years ago." He suddenly ceased his resistance, shifting back as Caroline stumbled forward. His follow up was ruthless, a lightning fast jab that would pierce her chest.
Throwing her weight into her overbalanced position, Caroline ducked and rolled under Klaus' sword, ending in a crouch behind the man. She swept her sword at his ankles, forcing the Hybrid to jump lest he lose his feet.
Pressing her advantage, Caroline rose and struck multiple times, forcing Klaus back as he was still landing from his jump. He still managed to catch one of her blows once he re-balanced, sending her own sword careening to the side with a flick of his wrist. Then, it was his turn to advance, driving her back with several rapid swipes.
Dropping to the ground, Caroline upped the ante as she added her legs to the fight, sweeping his feet out from under him as she thrust her sword upward. With surprising flexibility, the man bent out of the way and flipped back to his feet.
Their eyes glinted as they locked gazes, momentarily paused as they reveled in the rush of their fight. On some unspoken signal, the two burst into action once more. More serious, Klaus' next attacks were even faster, his style a seamless dance of blade and body. Caroline too altered her fighting patterns, appearing to flow around and redirect everything that came within range.
She wasn't sure how long they were at it, but they dueling with a skill unmatched by most, on the borderline of straying into supernatural ability.
There.
It was the tiniest of opportunities, but Caroline seized it, managing to unbalance Klaus' sword in his hand. Not one to be outdone, a masterful twist of his wrist sent both of their weapons flying.
Klaus licked his lips, eyes dark. "A draw, Caroline?"
She stepped closer, wary, neither of them the type to concede. Her eyes tracked the shifts of his clothes over muscles, watched as he seemed to uncoil. Slowly, she followed suit.
"I suppose we should have that talk now then," she said carefully.
Caroline fiddled with the crystal glass in her hand, swirling the alcohol around in random directions. She could feel Klaus' gaze from across the room, his impatience growing as her silence lengthened.
She threw her drink back, gulping it like a shot, and grounded herself in the burn it trailed down her throat. Setting the glass down, Caroline walked toward Klaus, stride determined.
"I think you do know that, other than you and I, I didn't plan for any more soulmate pairs. How could I? Eye or ability sharing are not exactly easy indicators to track down ahead of time." She watched the reluctant agreement wash across his expression. "Our bond though...Kol was surprisingly informative."
His jaw clenched. "He has always had a great fascination for such things."
"He thinks someone is tampering with it from the Other Side. Someone with an incredible amount of magic." As she spoke, Caroline braced for his reaction.
Though his eyes instantly flashed bright, near glowing gold, the rest of his body stilled. And for several long moments, Klaus seemed to be staring down some imaginary enemy before his piercing gaze landed on her. His voice was husky when he spoke, a growl seeming to underlie his speech.
"How well did you study my family, Caroline?"
"...You suspect this is Esther's doing." It wasn't a question, and while it was anticipated, it still hurt to see suspicion re-enter his eyes.
"You truly are a remarkable well-informed baby vampire." That was not a compliment, and she could hear it in the way his voice suddenly got quiet, a silken threat weaving through his words.
She refused to let him cow her though nor did she wish to further feed his paranoia. "One of my closest friends is a Bennett witch, Klaus, and she has Ayana's grimoire. That woman had many guilt-laced confessions penned about the role she played in the creation of so-called abominations and just who she helped."
Klaus didn't find regret to be a particularly useful emotion and he rarely felt it. Yet there was a complicated little twist in his chest whenever she regarded him as she did now. He swallowed around the even more foreign urge to apologize, prodding instead for any other details she could tell him about their situation. He let those details distract him, filing the information away as he concocted plans.
Caroline made to leave when there was nothing more to tell, and he moved to stop her. It surprised them both, and he just stared at her for a split second, absorbing the ever present spark of her spirit that burned in her eyes.
"Wait," he muttered as he set a hand on her shoulder. "I-I apologize for my less...well-mannered actions earlier. Suspicion comes naturally to me, but perhaps I shall try to refrain from ah 'jumping to conclusions' in the future."
Her eyes widened and her lips slightly parted, the obvious surprise making him glance away. But before he could mutter excuses and beat a hasty retreat she squeezed the hand on her shoulder, grasping it and lifting it off. The press of her lips against his knuckles was a surprise and his gaze darted back to her.
She smiled at him, expression soft and pleased.
"Thank you for the apology, Klaus." A more playful smirk crossed her face even as she pressed another quick kiss to his hand before dropping it. "We had a little spat, I'm over it already."
1. Amaryllis: splendid beauty, worth beyond beauty; Heather: admiration (lavender), wishes will come true (white); Iris: compliments (purple), hope (blue)
2. Picture horse breed: Friesian
3. Old Norse: darkening one or shading one; related to twilight
3a. I headcanon that for all of Klaus' artistic talents he is not a very creative namer, a trait he shares with Caroline
4. Picture horse breed: Andalusian
5. Old Norse: dawn or more literally a combination of the words for day and new
6. Old Norse: Sweetheart
7. Old Norse winter month spanning ~14. November – 13. December