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Aftermath

Six

He stared at her, really stared at her. She looked annoyed, but mostly tired of the situation she was put in. He tried to search for the woman he had known for years, the nice and kind hearted woman that he had married underneath all the hate and the glare she had reserved for him. He tried to put some sense into everything, trying to remember the time she stopped being his Caroline, the woman he had married.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Her tone was soft, lacking the usual coldness reserved for him. Her question was ignored though, as he looked away. He truly wanted to believe her, he really did, but they found her phone and her clothes. "I can't believe this. You actually think I'm capable of doing something like this?"

He didn't think she was capable of doing anything an hour ago, but now he was questioning everything about her. "The evidence is all there." There was a shaking tone clear in his voice and he mustered the courage to look up into her eye. Despite everything that had happened between them, there was still love. He couldn't deny that.

Caroline tilted her head in confusion. "Evidence, what evidence?" This was something new and wasn't aware of. What was it that had him so shaken? What was it that had him second guessing her innocence?

Klaus inhaled shakily, leaning forward as he placed his hands on the table and entwined them to stop them from shaking, his hands that was inches away from hers. It took everything in him not to reach out and grasp hers. "They found her phone and her bloody clothes…" He couldn't tell if he was feeling sad that Camille was gone, or if what he felt was annoyance that she hadn't explained what had happened between them. "You need to tell me everything, Caroline, before things get out of hand."

The brave face she had been trying to put on crumbled in front of him and she withdrew her hands from the table, his words burning her. She looked him in the eye before she smiled, the little trust she had in him was diminished the minute he spoke the words. The toughest thing about the power of trust was that it was very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.

"You know for a minute, Klaus, I thought you were going to believe me." She laughed humorlessly, her eyes betraying her as a silent tear rolled down her eyes before she wiped it away. He should have believed she was telling the truth, should have believed she wouldn't do something like this. It broke her heart to know that she would never be able to trust him again. Each time he disappointed her, it took a piece of her that he would never be able to get back. Why do they call it a heartbreak when everything in her body also hurts?

"Come on, Caroline," he said, quietly. "What am I supposed to believe when all the proof was laid in front of me?"

"You're supposed to believe your wife!" Her voice trembled. Until this moment, she hadn't realised that someone could break your heart twice. "You're supposed to believe the woman you married, the woman who bore your children. You're supposed to look into my heart and never doubt me. I don't know why I expect you to when you hardly know me."

"But they found it in your belongings."

"It's called a frame job, Niklaus. Look it up," Her tone had risen but it still cracked at the end, showing her vulnerability.

"But who would frame you, Caroline? That doesn't make any sense."

She gave him a deathly glare. "Oh, but me hurting her makes sense?" There was no other way to say it. After being broken too many times, she had made herself completely numb inside. "I'm really done talking to you, Niklaus. Why don't you go and check up on Noah, and leave me alone."

A rasp on the door prevented him commenting her dismissal, after all there was nothing he could say to make her understand. He raised his head up and glanced at the door, not moving at all. He didn't want to leave just yet. He wanted to stay, he wanted to be wrong about Caroline. But whether it was a frame job or not, he had ruined it by not believing in her.

Klaus walked out of the room, quietly shutting the door but not before his eyes collided with Caroline's again. He stepped out, surprised to see a dark haired man standing beside Stefan. Stefan had an annoyed look on his face and it was understandable, knowing the history with the man, Klaus looked away.

"Why is he here?" he directed his question to Stefan who sighed and shook his head. "What does he have to do with anything?" He was really pissed off by the fact that Tyler Lockwood was here. The Tyler Lockwood, his wife's first love. Tyler didn't bother to spare a glance at Klaus, thinking he was too good for him before he walked past him and into the interrogation room.

"It wasn't me," Stefan tried to say to spare himself from being ripped apart by an angry Klaus. He could not blame him though. They all hated Tyler Lockwood. The man had no shame in revealing how he was still in love with his sister-in-law. "Griffith thinks it's a murder investigation and he needed Lockwood."

"Well, you all better prepare for another murder," Klaus said coldly, his eyes gazing at the door that Tyler Lockwood had just walked in.

"Klaus, you won't do anything to him. Promise me that you will behave."

"I can't bloody promise you anything. If the bastard knows what's good for him, he'll keep away from my wife."

Caroline was trying so hard to wipe the years but every time she managed to, another would fall. Her heart was twisting in pain and she rubbed a hand over her large stomach. Hey, honey. Mummy's been crying a lot, huh? Don't worry, I'll be fine. Your mum is very strong, honey. She's tough and she would come out of this stronger. I miss your brother. Caroline wiped a tear. I miss him so much. She sobbed. I don't know how he is, what he's going through. I love you, honey. Both you and Noah.

She didn't get to finish talking when someone entered the room. She couldn't hide her shock and disbelief upon seeing the man she hadn't seen in five years. Tyler Lockwood sure had grown, he was taller, bolder and his hair was shorter now. She felt mixed feelings about him, but anger wasn't one of them. His eyes fall on her and she watched him draw a chair back as he made himself comfortable on it, crossing his legs and arms. She eyed him, not saying anything but let him stare all he wanted. She wasn't about to lose her shit in front of him.

After three minutes of staring contest, Tyler heaved a dramatic sigh and uncrossed his arms, opening the briefcase she had failed to spot when he first got in. She almost rolled her eyes when she saw the tape recorder he pulled out, watched again as he slowly and calmly closed the briefcase, setting it aside on the floor beside him. He pushed a button on the tape and glanced up at her again.

"Shall we get started then, Mrs. Mikaelson?" He smiled at her, but God knew it wasn't a nice smile.

Caroline leaned forward and glared at him. "What are you doing here, Tyler?"

Tyler Lockwood narrowed his eyes at her words before his lips curled into a smile, cutting off the tape as he put it aside. She rose a brow at his action, her mind confused and she could feel the tension between them. There was nothing they were going to hide from each other now. The two eyed each other, the stare down between old friends and previous lovers. What had transpired between them was an old thing, which she had almost forgotten about, but which he still felt bitter about.

She quirked a brow and he leaned forward, a sly smile on his lips. "Figured they think I'd be the one to make you confess," he answered, cheerfully. Too cheerfully. His response only left Caroline to furrow her brows and glared at his smug look. "Because we have history, you might be able to confide in me."

She snorted, not impressed. "Confide in you? We had history, yes. That was a lot time ago, Tyler, and I honestly don't know what you think will happen."

"You broke my heart," he reminded her.

"You're mistaken. I didn't break your heart. We broke up."

"You did!" he hissed, his fist meeting with the table. "You broke my heart! You stomped on it, Caroline! And what did you do next? You met that arrogant man Klaus and fall in love with him. I tried to get you back, but that man out there had completely casted a spell on you! Don't you see, he isn't good for you. If he were any better husband, you wouldn't be here! I told you he wasn't good enough for you, Caroline. Isn't this proof enough?"

Her eyes were unmoving as she trained on him. "Did you….did you set me up?" Her fists clenched in realisation as she began to see everything clearly now. "Is this revenge, Tyler? For breaking up with you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Caroline. I did no such thing." He rolled his eyes and eased back on the chair. Caroline could read the lies in his eyes, the need to seek his revenge was what gave him away and his plans. This was a man who never forgot what Klaus did to him on their wedding day. He had showed up to try and stop the wedding, but Klaus had punched him and called security when Tyler wouldn't leave.

Tyler continued in a calm tone, "You killed Camille out of jealousy, or maybe hurt her. You did that." Before Caroline could open her mouth, he cut her off. "Don't say you didn't."

"Stop lying to me. It's just you and me here, Tyler."

He stood up. "I think we are done here." He gave her an intense look before he disappeared from her sight. He rolled his eyes when he found Klaus Mikaelson standing guard, probably waiting for him to get out. Tyler rolled his eyes. He hated the man so much, the man who took away his Caroline away from him. What did she ever saw in him? Klaus did nothing but hurt her. He wasn't the perfect man for her, he was.

Clenching his fists, he sent the man a glare and couldn't help, but stopped to say a few words to him. "You call yourself a good husband?" he asked with a deep chuckle. "Take a look at yourself, Klaus. You sent your wife to jail. What kind of a husband does that?" He never got to say another few words before Klaus jumped on him, sending punches after punches.

"DON'T—" Klaus screamed a broken scream. "TALK—" His voice vibrated with anger. "ABOUT MY WIFE!" He was a man who was hurt, a man who couldn't handle the truth being spoken to him. He was a man who knew had done wrong to his wife, to his family.

It was his scream that had Caroline getting up from the chair. She couldn't sit when she could hear the broken scream from her husband. Stefan was trying to restrain Klaus, but he couldn't overpower him when he was furious. Klaus slammed Tyler against the wall, pounding into him. He was seeing red, didn't process what everyone was saying to him. He glared at Tyler, his eyes threatening him. He looked into the eyes of the man who would gladly take away his wife from him, who wanted an opportunity to paint him as the bad guy to her.

"Niklaus." Her soft voice reached his ear and stopped his fist in mid air. It was her soft voice that cooled his anger down. He loosened his hold on Tyler's collar.

Tyler snorted as he wiped the blood away from his nose. "Couldn't handle the truth being thrown in your face, eh? What, you suddenly want to prove that you care about her? Yeah right." Klaus' eyes flashed in anger once more and he slammed him against the wall.

"Niklaus, please."

Tyler strained his neck and smirked at the fury in Klaus' eyes. "You deserve a man better than him, Caroline. A man who wouldn't cheat on you and send you to jail," Tyler said, glancing at her. If he opened his mouth again, nothing would stop Klaus from beating him to death. "I could have been that man."

Klaus swore, ready to throw a punch that could surely end his life when Caroline held his wrist. He sharply turned to her and seeing the rage in her eyes, he dropped his hand. Tyler gathered himself before Stefan pulled him to give him an ice pack.

"Klaus, what do you think you're doing?" she sharply demanded.

"Caroline, you didn't hear what he was saying about us."

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Who gave you the right to hit someone on my behalf? Because he spoke the truth?"

Klaus' shoulders sagged and he stared at her in disbelief, probably shocked that she thought it was all true. "What," he breathed harshly. "Is that what you think? That I'm not good enough for you?"

"You haven't given me a reason to think otherwise, Niklaus." His eyes flipped up at her with hurt and he shook his head vigorously, denying whatever she thought. "Take a good look at our life. I'm in jail," she reminded him. "I'm accused for Camille's disappearance. Our life is over, Klaus. Everything started with you. Maybe you might have deserved me before, but my feelings have changed. Look at you, Look at me. Do you think this is going to end well between us?"

Klaus turned, a hand running down his face as Caroline felt his anger, his heartbreak, his acceptance to the truth. "Niklaus, there won't be an us." Her voice was small but sure. He was speechless, unable to form words that could sum up his conflicting feelings. He let out a shaky breath.

Klaus walked in two hours later, nervous as hell. At this point, he didn't even know what he would expect from Caroline. She had told him they would never be together, she could have told him that million times and he would still have hope. He wasn't going to let her go. He knew he did so many mistakes. Accusing her of hurting his child, and he didn't for once believed she couldn't hurt Camille.

But even after everything she had said to him, he still had hope. He still had hope as he found her sitting on the chair, her eyes half closed. He took on a seat across from her, and she looked away as she crossed her arms. Klaus knew she didn't want to talk to him anymore. But that was okay. He would do the talking.

"Caroline," he started to say, not knowing how she was going to act to what he was about to say. "I'm sorry for not believing you earlier, but I completely believe you now."

He wasn't ready for the cold chuckle that rang through the room. "Really, now? It only took you an hour to realise I was innocent?"

"Caroline.." He moved to touch her hand, to wrap his around hers and ensure her of his mistakes that he regretted, but she pulled her hand away before he could make any contact. She wanted nothing to do with him.

"Was it too hard to be on my side?" she asked with shaky voice, holding herself right around the middle. She had desperately wanted him to be on her side. Was it too much to ask for? All she had needed was for the man she called a husband to believe her. But when your husband doesn't believe you could not harm a person, what more could they be between them? It was the ultimate betrayal for a husband who lived with his wife for years, knew her inside and out turned out not to support her. Klaus could scream that he loved her, could fight anyone for her but he could never erase his mistake.

"I was confused, Caroline."

"Confused?" She laughed. "This is the second time you have accused me of murder. Were you confused the first time too, Klaus? When you thought I got rid of our baby?"

Klaus shook his head. "I'm so sorry. You wouldn't hurt anyone. I don't know what came over me. They found Camille's clothes and phone. Someone planted those evidence. Stefan and Griffith are sure of it. They have the person on tape and—"

She scoffed, still feeling the stings of his early accusations. "And then what? I should look past this and move on? Forgive you? Smile and let you into my life?"

"Caroline, that's not fair."

"Not everything is fair!" She could barely sit still, too done with the situation to even care about how he perceived her body language at that point. "I'm tired of you accusing me. I'm tired of you leaving only to come back." It was a low rasp that took him by surprise because she sounded tired and broken. "You left me." Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes blurred with unshed tears. "And you think you have the right to tell me it's not fair? That you're sorry? 'Caroline i'm sorry. Caroline it's not fair.'"

"Caroline.."

"That's enough, Niklaus. I have had enough." He was silenced by her tone, cutting him at every turn. "I don't care if you believe me anymore or not. The fact that you never even once stopped to remember I'm still the same person." She shook her head, letting the sole tear that escaped run down her face.

What could he say? The more he talked, the more he pushed her away from him. He felt like she had gone far away and he could not reach her anymore. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to turn worse like this between them.

"Something tells me you won't listen to me," he said with a sigh.

"Well look at that, Niklaus, something we can both agree on."

Then he shook his head, looking at her. "But aren't you being a hypocrite? All I wanted was for you to believe I was innocent, and you are mad because I didn't believe you?" Caroline opened her mouth and closed it. Klaus knew he had her. But he decided it wasn't the right place or the right time to talk about it. He stood up, understanding that she probably wanted him to leave but she wouldn't like what he was about to say. "They are letting you go for now. I'm staying with you, Caroline. I won't leave you alone."

Her eyes finally looked up at him and she shook her head in defiance. "That is not going to happen."

"Caroline, I'm not going to let you stay alone. Besides, Tyler is back here. You think I'm going to give him an opportunity to approach you?"

"You think this is a game?" She was barely able to contain her anger. "I don't want you anywhere close to me."

"You can close your eyes anytime!" He raised his voice and she recoiled at the volume. "I'm not going to argue with you anymore. If you think someone is framing you, you need someone to watch over you. And Noah, you need me to watch over him as well. You can't do everything alone."

"I can take care of myself and Noah."

Klaus rolled his eyes. "Sure you can, love."

"Don't call me that," she snapped, glaring at him.

"You can yell at me all you want, but don't make me carry you out of here. You know I will do that, Caroline."

"Fine."

TBC