Thanks for all the reviews : ) Most of my storylines mirror what is happening but Matt has not been possessed by a traveller, as much as I enjoy his gorgeous accent it was too much and I'll leave that up to Julie Plec.
Chapter 4: The Big Bad Wolf
New Orleans, Louisiana
"So how did Katherine take the news about your new lady love carrying my child?" Klaus smirked trying to tease a reaction out of his older brother. Elijah just shook his head his gaze firmly focused on the road.
"I know being immature is just your default setting Niklaus but we've had enough." Rebekah groaned tired from their long drawn-out road trip.
The siblings had driven almost the last five hours to New Orleans and were only about twenty minutes from their destination. Caroline had refused to ride with Klaus so that meant he had to endure the rest of the time with Rebekah. Luckily she had slept for most of the journey.
"Last time I checked you spent most of the trip asleep so I can't see how I've irritated you dear sister."
"I was up late and didn't get much sleep." She mumbled. Matt had been fairly upset given he'd had no one to grieve with about Bonnie and Rebekah had dutifully stayed with him, like the good friend she was.
"So you and the quarterback are hooking up again then?" He asked curiously.
"Even if we were you're the last person I'd tell brother." She growled. "Since you are in such a chatty mood how did Caroline take the news of your impending fatherhood?" It was Klaus's turn to go silent now all the attention was on him.
"Suddenly you're not so chatty Niklaus." Elijah grinned.
"You two are hilarious." He groaned. "And just for the record Caroline is fine."
"Yes fine enough to not want to ride in the same car with you." He shot back.
"You're one to talk; Katherine hasn't wanted anything to do with you for the past few days." He replied rolling his eyes. "Although maybe once Hayley starts making those googly eyes at you the claws will come out."
"Well at least she's not having my baby."
"Yes but she doesn't have a big crush on me."
"Well that's a surprise given how utterly charming you are." Rebekah muttered sarcastically. "Also can I just say how incestuous and wrong this conversation sounds right now?"
"Did I happen to mention how much I love these little family road trips?" Elijah reiterated. "The one thing we do need to discuss is living arrangements, I mean last time I checked we weren't running a hotel."
"Well I don't know about the rest of our uninvited guests but Caroline will be sharing with me." Klaus said confidently.
"You wish." Rebekah laughed. "The girl won't even travel with you in a car let alone share your bed."
"Well given I'm supposed to be protecting her it makes sense, I'm sure she'll see it my way." He said making Rebekah snort. "Oh is someone jealous because the quarterback doesn't like her?"
"Shut up Niklaus." Elijah said rolling his eyes sick of their incessant squabbling.
"I think your living arrangements are going to be the most interesting brother." He chuckled. "Maybe you could move in with Hayley and give Katherine your room. Unless you all want to bunk in together then you can free up your room completely?"
"You won't be laughing when Caroline refuses to sleep anywhere near you Niklaus." Elijah said knowing he was right and Klaus would be eating his words.
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"Nice digs." Stefan said looking around the big property. "I take it there's room for us?"
"Not really." Klaus said wishing Stefan, the Doppelganger and the quarterback would all take a hike.
"Well I'm happy to go and stay somewhere else far, far away." Caroline murmured.
She was growing increasingly nervous about a certain she wolf and what she might do when she came face to face with her. If it wasn't bad enough she was having his baby she was also living with him, something that didn't sit well with Caroline.
"You're not going anywhere Caroline." Klaus barked always trying to assert his power and be the alpha male.
"Excuse me?" She baulked placing her hands on her hips. "You can't tell me what to do."
"Oh I can and I will." He growled standing so close to her she could feel his hot breath on her skin. They stared at each other in a trance for what seemed like hours.
"Wow do you want us to leave you guys alone?" Matt joked noting their unmistakable chemistry.
"Yes." He cried.
"No." She shouted at exactly the same time their eyes still fixed on each other.
"What is all the yelling about?" Hayley yawned walking into the room her surprise evident as she laid eyes on the group. Caroline took a few deep breaths trying to remember she was carrying a child and as much as she wanted to kill her she couldn't, well not right now anyway.
"It's just like one big happy family." Stefan teased noting the escalating tension.
"What is going on?" She cried in confusion walking towards Elijah and grazing his arm lightly. Katherine flinched not liking what she was seeing at all.
"Marcel is after Caroline so Klaus brought her back her for protection." Elijah said succinctly making Hayley roll her brown doe eyes.
"So what's she doing here?" She asked gesturing to Katherine.
"I have a name you know Hayley." She spat emphasising her name for good measure.
"I'm aware of that Katherine." She bit back. "So you brought back the whole of Mystic Falls here just to protect Caroline?"
"No they invited themselves." Klaus added. "Anyway nothing for you to worry about Caroline will be staying with me."
"Woah you work fast." She said raising her eyebrows at Caroline. "I thought you were madly in love with Tyler last time I saw you?"
"I don't need to explain anything to you." She said through gritted teeth remembering exactly why she hated the bitch. "And I won't be staying with you." She said for Klaus's benefit his macho attitude rubbing her completely the wrong way.
"Well where are you going to stay then love?" He asked curiously.
"There was a nice looking hotel up the street."
"Fine by me." Hayley said. "The less bitchiness around the baby the better."
"Oh please surely this baby is cursed with that bitchy gene already given its mother." Katherine groaned already sick of her whiny voice.
"Something you want to share Katherine?" She asked.
"Oh sorry I thought I already had but given your obvious stupidity I'd be more than happy to elaborate." Hayley went to lunge at her causing Elijah to intervene acting as a shield between them.
"Ladies calm yourselves it's not a good idea to get all worked up like this."
"Of course Elijah you're right." Hayley said gazing at him adoringly making Katherine feel even sicker than usual.
"Oh please." Caroline groaned unable to help herself. "You're always trying to pretend like you're this innocent victim when you cause all the problems."
"I think someone's a little jealous." She muttered. It was Caroline's turn to go at her this time, screw the child.
"Woah it's okay love." Klaus said placing his hands on her shoulders and gazing deeply into her eyes. Caroline immediately felt calm an effect Klaus seemed to have on her unfortunately. She moved out of his grasp immediately not wanting him to think he had any effect on her.
"I think there's slightly too much estrogen in here for my liking." Stefan whistled at all the unfolding action. "Let's um go and get a drink Matt." They practically ran out of there glad to be away from the madness.
"I might go with them." Caroline said needing to get as far away from the she wolf as possible.
"We haven't worked out where you're staying yet." Klaus pressed still hoping she'd stay with him.
"Well if we need to accommodate everyone maybe Elijah and I could share." Hayley suggested earning a dirty look from Katherine. If looks could kill Hayley would be a pile of hot ash right now.
"If there's a shortage of rooms Caroline and I can share. I mean we've done it before and managed not to kill each other." Katherine said quickly not liking the sound of Elijah sharing with her one bit.
Usually Caroline would have refused given she and Katherine weren't overly close but she could see Katherine was just as affected by Hayley and it was nice to have someone else to share in the hatred.
"Well since that's organised and the bitching has finally stopped for now, I'm going to sleep." Rebekah said going upstairs Katherine and Caroline on her heels.
"Women." Elijah said shaking his head once Hayley had retreated to the kitchen.
"You're telling me and that was only round one. I think we definitely deserve a drink." Klaus agreed making them a whiskey and just enjoying the peace and quiet.
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"I can't believe he stopped me before I could kill her." Caroline muttered packing her small amount of clothes away in the wardrobe thinking she'd definitely need more if she was going to be there longer.
"Hey you're not the only one, if it weren't for Elijah I would have killed her first." She groaned. "You've known her longer than me but has she always been such a…
"Whiny bitch?" Caroline laughed.
"Yes and we have to put up with that as our housemate."
"So why exactly did you agree to stay here given how much you don't like Hayley?"
"I'm just a glutton for punishment I suppose." She replied rolling her eyes and making herself comfortable on the single bed next to the window.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with Elijah by any chance?" She asked curiously sitting on her bed.
"No why would you think that?" She shot back defensively.
"Well it was hard to miss the way she was hanging all over him." Katherine's eyes lit up immediately.
"So I wasn't imagining things?"
"Ah no I think even Matt noticed and that's saying a lot believe me." Caroline muttered. "So what's going on with you two exactly?"
"Nothing, that was a long time ago and trust me I have no intention of revisiting memory lane."
"Are you sure about that?" She asked pointedly.
"I think it's for the best." She murmured thinking no good could come from them getting back together especially given her deteriorating condition. "So what about you?"
"What about me what?"
"Oh come on the dumb blonde thing won't work on me." She cried. "You and the hybrid."
"Well that's…."
"Weird yes I know but you can give me more than that." She interrupted making Caroline roll her eyes.
"Honestly I have no idea, I'm definitely drawn to him but then he has to go and do stupid things like impregnating bitchy werewolves." She groaned thinking just how messed up her love life sounded out loud.
"This is ridiculous." Katherine said impatiently. "We need to go out and get away from these Originals before we go crazy."
"Are you suggesting a night out?" Caroline smiled excitedly. "How do you propose we get past our gatekeepers downstairs?"
"Well if they don't let us out freely we'll just need to improvise."
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"So what's the story with you and Rebekah?" Stefan asked curiously.
"There's nothing going on Stefan and since when have you ever been interested in my love life?" Matt mumbled.
"Yeah that defensive reaction speaks volumes and to answer you question never but given my love life is so dismal I need to live vicariously through you." He laughed. "So what are you two involved, friends with benefits, lovers?"
"No none of the above." He baulked his face colouring slightly. "It's kind of hard to explain"
"As the kids on facebook would say 'it's complicated' or something like that."
"Since when have you joined facebook?" He asked in disbelief remembering Stefan's reluctance to join the world of technology and continuing to scribble away in his old journals.
"Since months ago, I have ninety-nine friends already."
"I didn't know facebook was such a vampire friendly zone."
"Oh yeah it's a great way to keep up with the friends I haven't seen for hundreds of years." Matt just shook his head. "Anyway back to the blonde Original, do you like her or what?"
"I don't know, there are times when things are great and we get along really well then there's the other times when..."
"She's Rebekah, I hear you man." Stefan laughed as two bowls of steaming gumbo were placed in front of them by the waitress.
"This gumbo is delicious." Matt moaned as he hoed into the popular New Orleans delicacy. After trying a small amount Stefan resorted to moving his spoon around the bowl, not impressed with it at all. He had tried gumbo a few times during his extensive life and it hadn't improved much since the last time.
"I don't know what you're eating man but my gumbo is terrible." He grimaced.
"Excuse me?" An attractive dark haired woman asked overhearing their conversation and coming over to the table.
"Yeah don't order the gumbo it's not good." He warned. Suddenly he felt her slap him around the head.
"How dare you?" She cried. "I'll have you know I made that myself."
"Well I hate to break it you but I think some cooking lessons are definitely in order." He said holding his head. "And do you always hit your patrons like that?"
"I have never once had anyone complain about my gumbo, it's actually considered one of the best in New Orleans I'll have you know."
"Well if that's the case I think I'll steer clear of the gumbo during this visit."
"Has you friend always been this charming?" She asked looking toward Matt for an answer who was busy shoveling food into his mouth.
"Well he's had a rough year what with his girlfriend dumping him for his brother then the whole memory loss thing." Matt said. "If it's any consolation I think your gumbo is great." She nodded at him in acknowledgment.
"I really shouldn't be offended given you prefer eating blood." She murmured walking away.
"Wait." Stefan called out suddenly intrigued by her. "You can't just say something like that and then walk off."
"Yeah I kind of can." She laughed walking into the kitchen, Stefan jumped up and followed her inside.
"Don't even try and compel me either, I'm on vervain." She said not even bothering to turn around.
"So how did you know?" He asked curiously.
"Oh please New Orleans is overrun by your type, humans are becoming more rare than vampires around here."
"So if you're not a vampire and I'm assuming not human what are you exactly?" He asked.
"No that I owe you any explanation after your less than flattering review of my gumbo but I'm a witch."
"I should have known." He murmured. "As I understand it witchcraft isn't allowed around these parts."
"That's right." She said shaking her head. "You seem to know a lot for an outsider."
"Let's just say I'm acquainted with the Originals." He said making her turn around in interest.
"I should have known." She muttered. "What is Klaus building his own army now to combat Marcel's minions?"
"No I think they're more than powerful enough on their own. We came here to protect someone Marcel is after." He said leaning up against the counter.
"Ah yes the girl, his one true love." She murmured.
"How do you know about her?"
"Trust me word gets around, especially when it concerns Marcel or Klaus."
"So where is this Marcel, I think I'd like to have a word with him myself."
"That is not very wise given his power in New Orleans." She said shaking her head. "Anyway he's not here, left town to get your friend but it looks like Klaus got to her first."
"I'm curious, in all of this the one thing I don't understand is how Marcel found out Caroline even existed. I know Klaus would be too smart to mention her and put her life in danger."
"The wolf told him." She said shrugging her shoulders.
"You mean Hayley?" He asked thinking he wouldn't put it past her to do that in exchange for something she wanted.
"No I've heard this one has been living in the Bayou for the past few weeks." She said mysteriously. Stefan sat there for a moment processing the information and not liking where his thoughts were taking him.
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"You must have a death wish for trying to talk to me now." Katherine seethed sensing him approaching her in the garden.
"Unfortunately you can't kill me that easily." He chuckled. "You know I always loved picking the apples here." Elijah scooped one up from the ground and handed it to her like it was a peace offering, Katherine did a mental eye roll thinking how many more teeth she'd lose if she tried to eat that.
"Shouldn't you be comforting poor Hayley in her stressful condition." She blurted out unable to stop herself.
"That wasn't what it looked like before Katerina, you have to believe me."
"Oh really and what did it look like?"
"Hayley has grown somewhat attached to me but I promise I never encouraged her."
"So how exactly did she grow so attached to you if you didn't do anything?"
"Well given Niklaus is devoid of any real emotion I was helping to care for the woman who's carrying his child, you can't blame me for that."
"That's your problem Elijah you're just too kind and caring for your own good." She scoffed.
"Last time I checked being kind or caring wasn't a crime Katerina." Elijah said moving closer so that he was within inches of her face affecting her concentration. "I seem to recall you telling me that's why you loved me."
"I was obviously not being myself." She muttered not meeting his gaze. "Nothing good can come from all of that fluffly crap."
"You're too busy pretending you don't care but I know that's not true." He murmured. "It's okay to be vulnerable sometimes."
"Given I've been running from your brother most of my life you'll have to excuse me for not allowing myself to be vulnerable Elijah."
"Well that's over now so things can go back to normal." He smiled brushing his hand softly over her cheek. Katherine had to stop herself from crying wishing more than anything that things could be like that but knowing she could be dead tomorrow. Even though she was still angry about everything he did the last thing Katherine wanted to do was lead him on and the best thing was to keep her distance from Elijah.
"Since when has anything ever been normal?" She mumbled retreating towards the house desperate for a distraction to take her mind off things.
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"So are you talking to me yet?" Klaus asked knocking on her door hesitantly.
"Not really."
"I'm sorry if I was a little um…"
"Rude, arrogant, bossy?" She said throwing adjectives at him.
"Well I wouldn't say that." Caroline rolled her eyes expecting that sort of an arrogant response from him. "I'm sorry about Hayley back there she can be a little…"
"Annoying, bitchy, whiny?"
"You should really write a novel with all these colourful adjectives." He joked. "I know how badly she's treated you in the past and it can't be good having it all dredged up again."
"You're right about that." She murmured looking out the window onto the extensive grounds. "This is a nice place."
"Well it isn't where we used to live, you would have loved that." He muttered thinking how Marcel had made himself so comfortable there. "I'll show you it someday not to the mention the French Quarter and I'll even take you to one of my favourite jazz clubs."
Caroline smiled despite everything remembering his phone call to her all those months ago when he talked about showing her everything the city had to offer. Then she remembered he'd slept with Hayley by then and couldn't help wondering if he really meant it, something that had unfortunately tainted all her memories of their time together since finding out about the pregnancy.
"Let me guess though you're keeping me under house arrest."
"Well just until I've sorted something out with Marcel." He murmured not exactly sure what that was yet. "It won't be long I promise and then I'll show you everything." Caroline turned around his words about the future confusing her more than ever.
"I came here for one reason only Klaus, once it's over I'll be heading straight back to College." Klaus lowered his gaze not expecting her words to hurt so much, for some reason he'd assumed that he'd never lose her again.
"I guess I hoped once you came here and saw the city you'd love it just as much as me and want to stay for good."
"Well it's difficult to love a place that houses vengeful vampires, a coven of crazy witches and don't even get me started on the she wolf and your unborn spawn."
"At least you could never call it boring." He chuckled raising his eyebrows, attempting to make a joke. "Trust me you'll love it if you give it a chance."
"Fine let me go out tonight then and explore this so called amazing place."
"No can do love. I don't plan on letting you out of my sight, so get used to it." He replied smugly only making Caroline angrier.
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"But I wanted to watch America's Next Top Model Niklaus." Rebekah complained standing in front of the television obscuring his view.
Caroline and Katherine were gathered at the top of the stairs trying not to laugh at this very normal moment happening in this house between two Original siblings. Rebekah had agreed to run interference for them when it was obvious Klaus had no intention of letting her leave the house.
"Rebekah I was planning on watching a documentary." He groaned. "You know how much I hate that reality television nonsense."
"You always get to choose." She whined for extra effect.
"Oh fine anything to shut you up." He growled standing up and stalking towards the kitchen. She looked up and gestured for them to come downstairs now the coast was clear.
"Thanks Rebekah." Caroline said genuinely looking forward to a change of scenery from all the drama of being held captive by a relentless hybrid.
"I'm only doing this because Marcel isn't back yet and I know how overbearing my brothers can be. Now go, I'll join you at Rousseaus once he goes upstairs." Katherine and Caroline snuck out the door already tasting freedom and looking forward to the night ahead. This would show Klaus for throwing his weight around.