Chapter 9

Caroline was glowing as she walked the streets of New Orleans with Klaus. They had stopped in a restaurant and she changed into clean clothes. Even though she was changing from jeans and a t-shirt into jeans and a more fashionable t-shirt, there was something about clean clothes against skin. Her vampire senses made any smell, even just day old clothes rank and she relished in the fresh scent of cotton. All of the negativity surrounding her life fell away as she was led towards Bourbon Street.

It had taken a while to hit her; she was actually here. She had never really left Mystic Falls, and now Caroline was wandering the streets of New Orleans. The voodoo vibe, which surrounded the whole town and sometimes seamed created and touristy, served its purposes by thrilling visitors into believing they were experiencing a more demonic world. That world shifted immeasurably from fiction to reality, as they got closer to Bourbon Street, into the heart of Klaus' realm. Here there was a deep feeling of history. Caroline could tell she was amidst an old world. This place had roots, supernatural roots. She was wandering through Klaus's creation, the city he built. She reveled in it.

Klaus led her towards a doorway after the bulk of her tour. He gripped her hand as they walked into Rousseau's. Caroline smiled at the familiarity. Even in New Orleans, a bar is like any other bar. Peanut shells covered the floor, clouds of smoke, and the smell of alcohol permeated the air. But mostly her smile came from the dark. Ever since she became a vampire she felt more content in the moonlight, or candlelight. She loved her daylight ring, she loved the sun and light that the ring brought her but the night was like a blanket. It hugged her. And the ambience of Rousseau's hugged her tightly. She could see why Klaus liked it here. He had told her about this place during their travels and she was beginning to understand his life here, or even anywhere. He was a man surrounded by familiar places but unfamiliar people. It was almost as if Klaus trusts the structure of the building, the places he has been, more than the beings that occupy them. Perhaps that is why he cares more about the city he built than the family he has brought here.

While she was thinking all of this, Klaus led her to their seat; a little booth in the back corner. Instead of sitting on opposite sides of one another, when Caroline sat in the far side of the booth, Klaus slid in right next to her. He put his arm around her and she was pushed against the wall. It made her heart race, her breath quicken. She was cornered. She had no escape.

Klaus ordered them two beers, a brand that she didn't recognize. It was a dark, smooth drink, it slid down her throat like thick blood and her body settled as the alcohol did its magic. They were talking quietly, discussing different moments of their day. Caroline was in the midst of telling Klaus that she enjoyed the tour of his city when Marcel, the vampire who had rudely interrupted them the night before, sauntered into the bar.

Klaus noticed him immediately, his smile dropping from his face and his grip tightening on her arm. She was somehow maneuvered farther into the corner of the booth and when Marcel sat down opposite them Klaus adjusted his body so his shoulder was in front of her. She then realized that his sitting next to her wasn't necessarily romance or intimacy, but protection and territory. Klaus was clearly marking his.

"Klaus, we need to talk." The vampire smiled at Caroline, "Why don't you go to the bar for a minute. I need to talk to your boy."

Klaus' hand gripped and pressed on her leg, apparently she wasn't going anywhere.

"She stays."

"It might be in your best interests for her to leave, we have things to discuss."

Caroline looked between the two men and decided that it was her turn to speak up. "You guys can have your pissing contest later, say what you need to say and then leave."

Marcel's entire body turned towards her. "Okay Kitten, here's what I have to say" Caroline grimaced at his leering face and leaned back in the booth, putting more space between her and the vampire and allowing Klaus to be in between them.

"According to the word on the street, your lady is pregnant."

The vampires let that thought hang in the silence. Caroline could see that this was not information Klaus wanted Marcel to know. She watched in avid fascination as the vamps both planned their next move, staring each other down. Before Klaus could say or start anything, Caroline spoke up. "That is ridiculous, I am not pregnant."

Klaus turned to glare at her. He did not like her particular strategy.

"Not you, Kitten, the other one, the brunette."

Klaus found his footing in the midst of this conversation, "I don't know why you're coming to me with this information mate. As if I could care about the pregnancy of some little girl. There is not relevancy in this conversation so you can leave now."

"Well it would be relevant if the baby was yours"

Klaus laughed, but he never stopped glaring at Marcel, "There are many things in this world that defy fantasy, but this is not one of them. Vampires cannot procreate."

"You're not just a vampire though are you Klaus?"

Klaus let his wolf eyes come to the surface. Caroline flinched in remembrance of times past when those eyes meant certain death, and Marcel backed away, prey avoiding a predator.

"Never forget it mate."

"Play nice now Klaus. I only bring it up because it is strange that you have a wolf girl living with you. Why keep her around if she is not pregnant."

For once, Klaus was thankful for his brother's humanity, "Elijah is infatuated with her. She stays as his guest, not mine."

Marcel considered this, his head slowly beginning to nod, but Caroline could tell he didn't really believe his sire. "Okay buddy, if you say so."

"I do say so. And now I say that it is time you leave."

"Okay, okay, I know when I am not wanted."

"You mean when your told your not wanted?" Caroline asked.

Marcel just smiled hit the table twice with his palm, and before he went he yelled to the barkeep, "anything they order is on my tab. I'll see you later Kitten." He smiled at Caroline then sauntered out into the daylight.

As soon as he was gone Klaus smiled at her, "Sorry about that."

She smiled, "he doesn't know about Hayley?"

"There's not many people I can trust with that information."

"I understand," she said. "It's life-changing. She's having a vampire baby. It's unprecedented."

A strange and content silence followed that comment. It wasn't until Caroline took a sip of her drink that she realized they had been that way for a great length of time. Her beer was getting warm. The visit with Marcel had made her uncomfortable. She was getting ready to go back to the house. Caroline leaned into Klaus, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Time to go, love?"

She smiled and sighed, "Yeah, time to go."

Once at the house they decided to spend the remainder of the afternoon 'resting.' Klaus had lifted Caroline off of her feet the moment the front door closed. She squealed in surprise as he swooshed up the stairs and threw her onto his bed. She smiled, knelt on the bed, and grabbed Klaus by the nape of his neck, pulling his mouth to hers. This time she was taking charge.

Using all of her vampire strength, (probably more than necessary, he may have gone willingly) Caroline flipped Klaus onto his back on the king sized bed underneath her. He pushed himself up, but she pushed him back down by his shoulder. She smiled and leaned in to kiss him, "I'm on top this time." She whispered.

Her lips were in the process of finding his ear, when she hear him make a slight growling noise, "As much as I love the foreplay love, if you want to be on top, you need to move faster. You have exactly five minutes before I-." Her tongue invading his mouth quickly silenced his lips.

"Alright, sir. I'll move more quickly." Never moving her lips from his, she took off her jeans and then straddled his waist. She pressed herself against him, slowly grinding her hips down onto his. Klaus, unable to take any more teasing, grabbed her wrists in his hands and flipped her over pinning her arms above her head and her body beneath his.

She pouted underneath him, "I thought I had five minutes."

He smiled and kissed her hard before saying, "you provoked me." His mouth returned to hers. They spent the next few hours battling each other for dominance, neither winning, neither conceding, both always struggling against one another.

Lovers living in a house with multiple people, who attempt to spend a day together will always be disappointed. Too much time gets in the way. The other people demand to be heard. The time they have alone is fleeting and that was even more true for Klaus, who was trying to dominate a city, and Caroline, who trying to save a baby. Once the sun sat, reality came crashing through the door. Literally, Elijah just barged into Klaus' room.

"Clearly," the vampire boomed, Caroline flinched, covering herself. And Klaus rolled his eyes, "You have been racked with worry over your unborn child. Let me assure you brother, Tyler did not attack today. I would feel better about watching Hayley if we had some plan of attack for when the wolf comes to take away your baby." When Klaus didn't move or acknowledge his brother in any way, Elijah started again. "Try, Niklaus, try to care about a life other than yours." Klaus glanced at Caroline. She was lying on her stomach looking at him. He held her gaze, the smallest hint of a smile crossed her lips and she raised her eyebrows, letting him silently know that she agreed with his brother.

Klaus broke her gaze and growled, "Fine. We will be down in a minute." Elijah left the room with as much authority as he left it. Klaus turned over Caroline and kissed her quickly. "Come on, Love," he mumbled and got out of bed. "Let's go plan a war."

Caroline shot up, "Not a war. Don't call it a war."

"Fine, a battle then."

She sighed with relief, "Thank you."

"I'm glad that makes you feel better love. But a battle will always begin a war." He smirked at her and put on a shirt.

She got out of bed and started to get dressed. "I didn't come here to start a war Klaus. I came here to help your baby."

"Yes. And that is greatly appreciated love. But something bigger is happening here. The wheels have started turning. You can't stop it now." He left the room with that horrifying comment.

"Sure I can" Caroline mumbled under her breath, following the vampire down to the dining room.

The hierarchy of the family could be seen by the positions they took at the dining room table. It was a massive mahogany piece that had probably rested in this particular house for the last few centuries and was occupied by the various members of the Michaelson family. Klaus took his position at the head of the table on the far side of the room. Elijah, ever loyal, sat to the right of his brother. Hayley was at the opposite end of the table, curled up in her chair, staring down the father of her baby. And Rebekah sauntered in past where Caroline stood and sat at a chair towards the middle of the table. She never could choose a side.

This made Caroline stop and wondered where she belonged amongst these vampires. It was disconcerting, against all instincts, to place herself in a room full of Originals, but after pausing a moment Caroline walked in confidant. Choosing to sit as far away from Hayley as she could, she sat at the position to the left of Klaus folded her hands on the table and waited for the festivities to begin.

Klaus began, "So Elijah, you called this apparent meeting, what would you like to talk about."

"Well Niklaus, I was thinking that we should have a plan in place for when Tyler comes to town. Since you seem to have no worries whatsoever about Hayley, it falls to me to make these plans."

"And what makes you think I have no worries for the girl?"

"You seem to be more concerned with showing Miss Forbes around the French Quarter than with protecting Hayley from a very imminent threat."

As the brothers continued to argue about Klaus' intentions, Caroline watched Klaus. He was battling, and he was happy about it. Caroline knew from experience that Klaus loved a big reveal and he was currently building up to it. Elijah was playing right into his hands.

"It's nice to know that you have such little faith in me brother. But I have ascertained that Tyler will not be attacking until tomorrow. Now we have plenty of time between now and when he comes to find the best way to protect Hayley."

"And how do you presume to know that?" Elijah inquired.

"Oh come on now. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Tyler has already tried and failed in the daylight. He was avoiding the night because the majority of vampires in New Orleans do not have daylight rings. In theory, during the day the wolves would outnumber us. Hayley would have less protection with the sun out. But he failed and failed miserably. His only advantage now is the full moon. Which is tomorrow night." He smiled at his brother.

"And during the full moon, we are at a huge disadvantage because a werewolf bite will kill a vampire." Elijah reminded them.

"Unless they are given Klaus' blood." Caroline pointed out.

"Which is why they will try to separate us from Klaus during the fight." Rebekah spoke up.

"My thoughts exactly little sister." Klaus smiled. They were all catching on, starting to work as a group. They ageless creatures began to strategize.

Caroline was shocked as the Originals planned for battle. These vampires who are always at odds were coming together, working in perfect synchrony, hatching a plan to save one of their own. Hayley and Caroline both offered up advice that was accepted to make sure the plan was perfect. Caroline only had to speak up once or twice in opposition. Specifically when Klaus tried to keep her away from the danger.

"No," she exclaimed. "I have to be by Hayley. You need to put me closest to her."

"Caroline, you will be of better use on the outskirts of the fighting," Klaus chastised.

Elijah also had opinions about Caroline's addition to the plan, "I don't trust her remotely with Hayley."

"I don't care whether you trust me or not! If you all fail to stop Tyler, I can be the best defense against him. He won't hurt me."

"Caroline you are not actually considering the circumstances" Rebekah said.

"What are the circumstances then?"

"If you are the last defense…if we all fail then you would have to kill Tyler. Could you do that?"

She stopped at that. She truly believed that Tyler would stop once he saw her there. That he would reconsider if she were actually there putting herself between him and Hayley. She didn't really consider what would happen if that didn't work. Could she kill him?

"No, I can't kill him." She admitted. "But I still believe that I can stop him."

Klaus nodded at her insistence, relenting. "Okay, lets work Caroline closer to Hayley, the wolf may stop if he sees her."

Elijah started to protest but Klaus interrupted him. "We can work out different plans for different scenarios. Let's make sure one of them includes Caroline near Hayley."

Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. She liked what they had come up with; as long as she was positioned near Hayley. They had plans and backups and backups for the backups. If they were as strong as they all boasted to be individually, they should be formidable together. Caroline had been a member of many groups plotting war against the Originals. For the first time a plan involving those three immortal creatures made absolute sense to her. Caroline liked her odds. She grinned, thinking it probably had something to do with being on the side of the powerful, instead of the powerless.

A/N: What do you guys think? Is Caroline being naive? Will Tyler stop because it is her? Maybe you'll find out next chapter :) As always, please review.