Thank you very much to ALL those who put 'This Time' on alert, into their favorite, and/or reviewed. Thank you to the anonymous guests who reviewed as well.
Special thanks to jessnicole for her very kind words and her support to this story and myself since the beginning.
I was glad to see you enjoyed the Caroline/Rebekah bonding.
And to those who think they know what is going to come, let me tell you you're highly mistaking: there is a lot of surprises ahead for everyone.
Caroline had just dropped Elena at the Salvatore Boarding House. They were now on their way to Bonnie's house. The rest of their girls' night out had gone rather well, in joy and good mood.
Rebekah was thinking maybe she should try and put in a good word for her brother, well, two of her brothers actually: to Caroline AND Bonnie. But she eventually decided not to. After all, although she had just spent a nice day with them and hoped they felt the same, they still weren't BFFs so… the love department kind of felt like forbidden territory.
As they parked in her driveway, Bonnie unfastened her seatbelt and hugged Caroline goodbye before turning to Rebekah, "So… this was an interesting evening."
"Yep." Rebekah chuckled.
"So… should we hug or something?"
Caroline burst out laughing at the awkwardness between her friend and Rebekah.
"No, that would be too much." she paused. "But we could kiss." She finally said in a dull tone.
Bonnie shrugged and leaned backwards to kiss her. She then got out of the car, Rebekah taking her place at the front seat. After she waved the two girls goodbye, the car started up and they left.
Rebekah knew this would most certainly be her first and last night out with the doppelganger; with Bonnie… she wasn't sure. Indeed, they had had some fun; the witch had showed herself to be agreeable company… She really hoped she would get to see Caroline around though. Besides, she knew nothing would please her brother more and since she was eager to get back into his good graces, she figured getting along and hanging out with Caroline might just be the best idea she could've come up with.
Indeed, since she and Matt had started a relationship, Rebekah couldn't help but feel like a bridge had driven between them; it was almost as if her favorite brother was jealous of her relationship with her boyfriend. Sure, at first, it didn't quite displease her. On the contrary, Rebekah felt flattered and was delighted. But now, it was seriously starting to mess with her mind. She missed the so special complicity she and Klaus used to share.
Soon after they left Bonnie's, Caroline struck up the conversation, "Against all odds, I enjoyed today with you."
"Thank you… me too." Rebekah replied looking in the other blonde's direction with a genuine smile on her face. The latter briefly looked back at her and smiled too.
"I'm sorry about Elena." Caroline apologized. "I know she acted kind of bitchy today. But… she really has… the sweetest heart… It's just there's still so much… history between you guys…"
"I know, I know, there's still a lot to work out. But don't take this the wrong way I'm not looking forward to do so: I don't like Elena, I never have and I probably never will. There's just this… thing about her aura that I cannot seem to stand. So as much as I love Matt…"
Caroline simply nodded and remained focused on the road before her.
After Caroline parked in the Mikaelsons' driveway, Rebekah cleared her throat, "Thank you for the ride… you didn't have to."
"Sure." She paused. "We should do this again someday."
"Um…"
"Just the two of us. No witch. No doppelganger." Caroline reassured her.
"Okay, I would love to."
"Great, so we stay in touch."
Rebekah nodded. "Do you want to come in and say hi to Nik?"
Caroline shook her head in response.
"Come on. Don't make me drag you in." she insisted. "Nik will kill me otherwise!"
She laughed at the other blonde's comment and a thought immediately entered her mind: Was Klaus really so obvious about his 'feelings' for her? Even with his siblings?
"I'm sorry; I can only deal with one Mikaelson per day." She paused. "But tell 'Nik' I said hi."
This time, it was Rebekah's turn to laugh. The latter then nodded and the two blondes kissed goodbye.
Caroline waited for Rebekah to enter her home and drove off.
/
Klaus was in his bed, a pencil in his hand, his sketch book on his lap. He was drawing Caroline from his memory of the Founder's Party.
Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but remember how ravishing she looked at his mother's ball wearing a similar dress. She believed he was trying to buy her off with the fancy dress and the expensive bracelet but in reality he just reckoned a woman of her order and class deserved the best the world had to offer.
They had shared their first dance that night and they had had their first real conversation… even though he had already started opening up to her a couple of days before on the occasion of him saving her life on her birthday.
The honesty of her words those two nights still struck him.
A feisty one, he had thought to himself.
Rebekah had returned from her girl date not less than an hour ago and Klaus had rushed to her to know how it went. She, of course, had fought back laughter and rolled her eyes at her brother's lack of countenance whenever the pretty blonde was involved.
It would be a total understatement to say Klaus was surprised to hear his sister and Caroline had planned to go out again very soon. Well, he knew they had a couple of things in common but he didn't think they would… click so fast. But then again, he would only believe it when he would see it with his own eyes.
As his mind was filled with images of the stunning blonde, Klaus grabbed his phone on his nightstand and sent the latter a text.
Klaus 11:19 pm
Good evening, love
He received a text as well almost instantly.
Caroline 11:20 pm
Good evening
Klaus 11:20 pm
How are you doing?
Caroline 11:21 pm
I'm fine, thank you.
I told Rebekah to say hi.
Klaus 11:22 pm
She did.
It pleased me, thank you.
Klaus 11:24 pm
Caroline,
Would you be willing to go on a date with me tomorrow?
At this text, Caroline almost dropped her phone out of shock.
She should've seen it coming. Indeed, if it had just been about good evening and good night, Klaus surely would've called her. And Caroline was right, Klaus effectively chose to text her because he feared her legendary rejection he seemed to be so solely entitled to.
What was she supposed to respond? She couldn't, with all her common sense, actually say yes. Sure, she had a nice time with him at the Founder's Party, but still… this was still Klaus; HE was still Klaus.
Besides, she would be leaving in a couple of weeks so why risk growing attached to him and him to her just to eventually leave it all behind? To end up hurt with a void? No, Caroline Forbes was smarter than that. She didn't need someone more to miss and make her feel bad; she had her friends for that: Elena, Stefan, Bonnie and Matt.
Klaus 11:33 pm
Caroline?
Caroline 11:35 pm
I do not think that's such a good idea
Klaus 11:36 pm
Please?
Klaus 11:38 pm
I will be on my BEST behavior!
Caroline 11:42 pm
Fine
What time should I be ready?
A huge smile spread on Klaus' face at Caroline's response.
Klaus 11:43 pm
I'll pick you up in the morning… at 9.
/
As always, Elijah was the first to get up. After taking his breakfast which consisted in a mere cup of tea, he headed for the mall box outside and looked into it. He took all the letters in, keeping his own in his hands and leaving the ones that weren't addressed to him on the table next to the eating table.
Then, the calmest member of the Mikaelson family went back to his room and as soon as he closed the door, he reviewed the letters he was holding. There was one in particular that picked Elijah's interest, one with a beautiful and very special handwriting.
Elijah put the other letters on his desk and sat on the sofa across his room before opening that precise letter.
08/09/13
Dear Elijah,
I hope you are doing great. I have been trying to put some distance between us as you may have noticed, well, more than there already is. But I believe you know that does not mean I don't think about you… I never stop… And I hope you sometimes think about me too.
Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I am fine. You do not need to worry.
I miss you.
Your Katerina
Elijah read the letter once more. Then, he stayed motionless on the sofa for a while, the gaze lost. For the next hour, his mind went to a single place: his Katerina.
How could she even wonder if he thought about her?
He never stopped…
He missed her.
/
Klaus and Caroline were in his SUV and on their way to his place. The road was clear. A rather uncomfortable silence reigned in Klaus' car since they had left the blonde's house.
Caroline was wearing casual clothes –a grey top with patterns along with a blue pair of jeans –much to Klaus' orders; the latter was dressed with a dark shirt buttoned to the top and a matching pair of jeans. However, given that she had agreed to spending the whole day together, Caroline took nevertheless a black dress in a bag as well as a pair of dark high-heels.
"You are very silent today, love." Klaus eventually spoke keeping his eyes on the road.
"I've never had a fluent tongue in your company." She said lifting her gaze towards him. "Besides, I'm mentally preparing myself for a day with the Big Bad Hybrid." She half-teased.
He glanced at her, and then remained silent for a moment, "Is that how you see me?"
Caroline turned to study Klaus' face: his expression was impassive.
"You know the answer to that question."
A small silent settled down between them again before the blonde gave him an actual answer, "I do not see you like that." She paused. "If I did, I wouldn't be here."
/
Once they arrived at the Mikaelson Mansion, Klaus quickly got out and rushed to Caroline's side to open the door for the young lady.
At the sight of his siblings in the driveway and the realization that none of them had left the house yet, Klaus let out a low growl.
As Caroline advanced cautiously with Klaus towards the entrance, the charming Kol Mikaelson stepped in and took the blonde's hand to plant a kiss on it, "Good morning, sweet Caroline."
The latter just smiled while Klaus shot his younger brother a deathly glare, "Back off, Kol!"
"Oh, relax! Can't you see we're on our way?" he cast a glance at his brother but stared in admiration –so as to annoy Klaus –at the beautiful blonde as he kept going in a very seductive voice, "Unless of course, you want us to stay…"
"Well, I don't mind." She shrugged before she warily glanced at the blonde man and smirked as she saw his jaw tightening.
Rebekah and Elijah who also saw their brother's reaction sniggered.
"I am kidding, I am kidding." She finally said half-laughing causing for Klaus to look at her with an undecipherable air: he
"Okay, perhaps, it's time for us to go." Elijah declared for the attention of Rebekah and Kol.
"Finally a brilliant idea! Thank you, Elijah!" Klaus exclaimed not even bothering to hide his high annoyance from Caroline.
"I will see you perhaps another day, Miss Forbes." Elijah said with a smile.
The latter nodded, a smile on her face as well, "I hope so Elijah. She paused. "And please call me Caroline."
Elijah nodded and opened the door for his sister.
"See you later, Caroline." The Mikaelson female said and heard a "Definitely" coming from the other blonde as she entered the car.
"See you very soon, sweet Caroline" Kol kissed the blonde's hand once again before he turned to enter the car as well.
Once his siblings left, Klaus took Caroline's hand to lead her into his house and was surprised when she actually didn't withdraw it.
The second Caroline set foot in the Mikaelsons' Manor, she stopped in her steps.
"Oh my God…" she paused in amazement before her surroundings. "We're in Paris!"
SO… what did you think of the chapter? Loved it? Hated it?
Please tell me the Kalijah part wasn't too cheesy? lol. We'll get to see where that came from...
R&R and let me know.
Next chapter: Klaroline is in Paris! And much more!
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