I'm glad you're enjoying my crossover episode which seems bigger than that now. Thanks especially to Ellavm18 for your lovely review (one of the many), I really wish I could write TO! I was most upset not to have my Originals fix this week.
Chapter 5: Girls Behaving Badly
New Orleans, Louisiana
"You're welcome at the bar anytime ladies." Sophie laughed filling their shot glasses with tequila and watching them down it at once.
"This place is great." Caroline squealed already past tipsy by this stage. "I could get used to New Orleans if every night is like this."
"I thought you were leaving." Katherine asked pointedly. "You know pregnant she wolf, vampire that's trying to kill you not to mention all the crazy witches."
"Hey." Sophie cried offended by that remark.
"Yeah we like Sophie she brings us drinks." Caroline chuckled. "As for the wolf maybe we can dump her in the bayou after the baby is born, I mean surely no one would miss her."
"I don't know maybe her child?" Rebekah interrupted. "I think the alcohol is making your brain fuzzier than usual."
"Damn and here I was thinking we had a foolproof plan."
"So if you don't like Klaus what exactly is the problem with Hayley?" Sophie asked curiously.
"Caroline does like him for some unknown reason." Katherine said rolling her eyes. "She's still in the denial phase though."
"I am not."
"See?" Katherine laughed as she proved her point. "Caroline's problem is she doesn't like feeling indebted to anyone and Klaus saving her is case in point."
"I'd hardly call it saving me." She muttered thinking she was big enough to do that herself. "Anyway you can talk Katherine you won't let Elijah anywhere near you."
"Are you blind or something?" Sophie asked. "Now that is one man who can definitely wear a suit." Katherine smiled thinking of how incredible he always looked with and without the suit.
"Yeah what is going on with you and my brother?" Rebekah asked. "I know it freaked me out at first but I have to admit you're better than Hayley, not that it's really difficult of course."
"Thanks, I think." Katherine said shaking her head. "Elijah and I are never going to happen there's too much history between us, he should just move on with the werewolf."
"Excuse me?" Caroline cried. "Just because we can't kill her doesn't me we want her having our men."
"Your men?" Rebekah asked curiously.
"Sorry Freudian slip." She muttered thinking it was anything but that. "Anyway what's happening with you and Matt?"
"Nothing." She baulked defensively feeling a little uncomfortable about sharing things with one of his good friends.
"I would give anything to have a nice normal human to deal with any day."
"You're forgetting that some of those pesky human emotions can be even worse." Rebekah said knowingly.
"Amen to that." Katherine murmured raising her glass in agreement. "You know he's pretty cute, I mean for a human." Rebekah blushed self-consciously knowing how true that was.
"Yes well we had something once but he runs hot and cold all the time. I never know what mood I'm going to get with him."
"It's the whole vampire thing Rebekah." Caroline said remembering his reaction to finding out she was one. "Matt's never embraced our world very easily but I think he just needs time."
"He's had all the time in the world." She cried throwing her hands up in frustration.
"So is Matt the well-built blonde with the amazing blue eyes?" Sophie asked.
"Yes why?" Rebekah asked jealously.
"He was in here before, loved my gumbo which is always a plus in my book. His friend however wasn't so kind."
"Stefan is going through a rough time lately." Caroline explained.
"Yeah his girlfriend dumped him for his brother and he lost his memory right, Matt gave me the run down after Stefan insulted my gumbo."
"And people tell me I need to work on my people skills." Katherine muttered.
"He's just going through a rough patch he'll be the same old Stefan in no time." Caroline said hoping rather than thinking it was true.
"Well given he came all this way for you I think there's still hope yet." Sophie said. "I have to say you're pretty popular given both Stefan and Klaus are both so protective of you."
"Well Stefan is my bestie so no surprises there."
"So what's Klaus's motivation then?" Sophie asked.
"Oh well he doesn't want Marcel to win obviously." She said offhandedly.
"Really? I may not have known the guy for a long time but he doesn't seem the type to go out of his way for just anyone."
"I know." Caroline conceded. "It's just I've been hurt before and not sure I could handle going through that all again." Tyler had really shaken her confidence and Caroline was struggling to put herself out there again if it was only going to end badly. She had to admit even with her strong feelings towards Klaus there was every chance of that happening especially given the added baby complication.
"Can I just say something?' Sophie asked looking at them all with frowns on their faces. "You are all very fine women and are sitting here moping about these men you came here to get away from."
"Sophie is right." Katherine cried. "What are we doing? We need to seize the moment and have some fun not talk about these guys who only want to control us."
"Ooh I love this song." Rebekah cried hearing the opening beats of Sexy Back. "We have to dance." She pulled the girls up with her and over to the corner where they started to move to the music attracting quite a few admirers, which given how good they looked was hardly surprising.
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Elijah was lying in bed thoughts of a certain brunette racing through his head making sleep that much more difficult. There was something different about her now and not just that she was human but Elijah couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed so tired and defeated almost like she'd given up but he had no idea on what.
He crept out of his room deciding he needed some blood to alleviate his anxiety. As he walked past their door he couldn't help but open it just to have a glance of Katerina while she slept. It seemed like the only time he could do that without her yelling at him or telling him to get lost. He looked into the room, the moon's silver light shining in the window and illuminating two very empty beds. His inhaled sharply wondering what had happened to them, had Marcel somehow broken in and kidnapped them? One thing he knew was that he had to wake Klaus this minute.
"Niklaus!" He cried rushing in and turning on the light.
"This is exactly why I need my own place." He mumbled his voice thick with sleep. "Go back to bed and leave me alone."
"I can't do that, we have an emergency." He uttered. The word emergency was all Klaus needed to rouse him from his sleep and sit upright.
"Why don't I like the sound of that?" Klaus growled his voice low.
"The girls are missing."
"They're what?" He shouted getting up and going to see for himself. If Marcel had snatched his Caroline he was going to make him pay. Seeing her empty bed made him crazed with something he couldn't quite pinpoint. Was Klaus Mikaelson actually scared? He raced across to Rebekah's room noticing her bed unslept in as well realising they'd snuck out. He knew how much Caroline wanted to venture out and it looked like his sister had aided her escape. Even if they were together that didn't mean Marcel or one of his men weren't lying in wait.
"Let's go get them." He cried stalking out of their room to change his clothes. Elijah raced down the hallway to do the same. He never had to worry about her before because he knew she could hold her own but now as a human he wasn't quite so sure.
"What's Klaus got his knickers in a twist about this time?" Hayley asked emerging from the shadows in a very brief scrap of fabric posing as a nightie.
"The girls are missing. Go back to sleep everything is going to be okay." He muttered distractedly.
"I think they can look after themselves Elijah." She replied rolling her eyes.
"I'm not so sure about that Hayley, they're alone in a new city and Marcel is after Caroline don't forget."
"Yes but Rebekah is with them."
"Hayley I'm not going to fight with you about this." He said. "Go back to bed." Hayley knew by his tone that she'd been dismissed. She knew it had nothing to do with Caroline and everything to do with the doppelganger. Hayley hated Katherine Pierce and had no intention of losing Elijah to someone like her.
"Be careful Elijah." She murmured placing her hand on his arm. He smiled, albeit briefly, and Hayley knew that was a sign she still had a chance.
"Elijah." Klaus hollered from the base of the stairs, patience really was never his strong suit he thought.
"Rebekah had no right to do this. She knew this was is in direct contravention of our orders." He barked already planning his revenge and thinking a dagger might be useful. He always did like putting her in her box when she got out of line.
"Look at least if the girls are with her then they should be safe." Elijah said always trying to calm the situation even though he was just as scared for Katerina for some reason.
"Unless Marcel has stumbled upon them." He seethed. "Rebekah has always had a soft spot for him and I worry he might try and exploit that to get Caroline."
"We won't know until we get there." Elijah murmured. "I think we should try the bar then go from there."
"Let's hope they haven't gone too far." Klaus uttered feeling completely out of control, something he hated. He wished he wasn't so rattled but Caroline seemed to bring that out in him and he was powerless to stop the torrent of emotion he felt whenever she was near.
Maybe it would be better for her to go back to College after this then he could concentrate on the job at hand which was taking back his city and defeating Marcel. Klaus had to admit that now Caroline was in New Orleans the prospect wasn't nearly as satisfying. If he could have both Klaus knew he would in a heartbeat.
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"Well this place has livened up since we were here last." Stefan said taking in the heaving crowd as they walked through the front door.
"I think I might know why." Matt said looking towards the bar and gesturing to Rebekah, Katherine and Caroline who were currently gyrating on top of it. "Why does it feel like we're in the middle of the film Coyote Ugly right now?"
"Because we are Matthew." He said patting him on the shoulder his eyes widening at the spectacle playing out in front of them. The boys had left the bar earlier to sample the rest of Bourbon Street but had decided to come back because it seemed like the place to be. Well it was tonight, that was for sure.
"We need to get them down now." Matt cried looking at Rebekah in particular. "They are just drawing attention to themselves." He tried to walk off before Stefan pulled him backwards.
"Calm down mum." He laughed. "They're having fun there's nothing wrong with that and I told you Sophie said Marcel wasn't back yet."
"Yes if we can trust Sophie, I mean you just met her." Stefan shrugged his shoulders, yes Matt was right but there was something about Sophie Deveraux that intrigued him. She was tough, brutally honest and said exactly what she thought and after everything he'd been through with his brother and Elena it was refreshing.
"You need to lighten up, let's get a drink and then we can keep an eye on the girls." He said steering him towards the bar Matt's eyes trained on the blonde Original who was laughing uncontrollably at something Katherine whispered in her ear.
"Stefan, Matt!" Caroline giggled watching them approach. "Where have you been? Lucky for you boys the party is just starting."
"Really, I kind of thought it already had." Stefan joked unable to stop himself from laughing.
"I think you should get down, you're making a scene." Matt warned them looking around the room ominously.
"Why don't you come up here and join us Matt." Caroline suggested. "I certainly think the ladies would appreciate it." Matt just rolled his eyes, he should have known trying to talk to Caroline when she was drunk was hopeless. He noticed Rebekah chatting animatedly to one of the barmen behind her.
"Who's Rebekah talking to now?" He asked trying to sound like he didn't care but failing miserably. Katherine and Caroline gave each other knowing looks.
"That gorgeous specimen is Rob the barman." Katherine said watching Matt's reaction closely, he walked over unable to contain his curiosity.
"Rebekah what are you doing?" He asked interrupting their conversation.
"Dancing last time I checked." She grinned.
"I think you should get down right now, this is hardly protecting Caroline now is it?"
"Well it looks to me like Caroline is having fun for once which can't be a bad thing, maybe you need to loosen up a little."
"I'm plenty loose." He baulked.
"What happened to the Matt I was with in Europe, because if he could see you right now he'd be pretty disappointed." She said bending down and looping her arms around his neck and moving in dangerously close that familiar jasmine scent he loved making him slightly dizzy.
"I'm here for a reason and that's to help Caroline." He implored his blue eyes losing themselves in hers.
"Well I think the best thing you could do is let her have some fun. I mean it's the least she deserves after everything you've all been through don't you think?" She asked obviously meaning Bonnie. Matt's face finally broke out into a smile.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this but you're right Rebekah." He teased nudging her playfully. "I'm going to need a half dozen tequila shots down here." He laughed yelling to Sophie.
"So couldn't stay away from the place hey?" She asked Stefan who had seated himself at the bar.
"Yeah well when the entertainment is this good how can you." He chuckled gesturing to his friends. "Just hold the gumbo."
"I can't believe you dissed my cooking. I'd like to see you whip something up, what's your speciality?"
"Well there's blood, blood and more blood I guess." He said shrugging his shoulders. "And the beauty of it is there's hardly any preparation involved."
"Charming." She laughed. "Caroline sure knows how to have fun."
"She certainly does, usually after copious amounts of this stuff." He said downing the tequila shot in front of him.
"So I'm curious how exactly is this protecting her?" She asked. "You realise just because Marcel isn't in town at this moment doesn't mean the rest of his men aren't nearby."
"I have actually considered that." He shot back sarcastically. "There's no point in hiding out we need to send Marcel a message and what better way than some public bar-top dancing."
"So what does Klaus think about your little plan?"
"Klaus doesn't like it very much at all." He growled in Stefan's ear. "What the hell are you doing mate?"
"There always has to be one party pooper." He drawled. "If you hadn't noticed she's having fun."
"Oh that's just great Stefan I can't believe you're happy for her to be up there like a piece of meat for Marcel." He seethed.
"She's not a piece of meat Klaus and if you hadn't noticed I am sitting this close for a reason."
"You haven't been here Stefan and quite frankly you have no idea what Marcel is capable of doing." Klaus cried. "I could never forgive myself if he hurt Caroline." Stefan watched Klaus with interest not expecting such a show of emotion from the Original hybrid. Stefan hadn't realised just how much Klaus loved her until now.
"Okay man maybe I don't but after everything with Tyler and Bonnie don't you think she deserves some fun?"
"Right now I couldn't care less." He cried preparing to launch himself onto the bar and drag her away. He looked around noticing all the men in the bar salivating over Caroline and Klaus didn't like it one bit.
"Okay let me put it this way if you try and manhandle her she's just going to make a scene. Surely attracting extra attention is going to make the situation a whole lot worse." Klaus nodded knowing Stefan was right about that.
"So seeing as you're the expert what do you think I should do?"
"Reverse psychology, works every time. Act like you don't care and watch her come to you." Klaus considered this thinking all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and crash his lips against her soft pink ones, something he'd been desperate to do since that night he saved her from Tyler's wolf bite. Klaus knew Stefan was right and didn't want to make it worse. He gestured to Sophie for a drink and took a seat at a nearby table refusing to make eye contact with Caroline even though he could tell her eyes were fixed on him.
Caroline was livid, she'd half expected Klaus to race over to the bar and throw her over his shoulder but he didn't. She had to admit that's secretly what she wanted and his indifference towards her hurt more than anything. Didn't he care that almost every male in the bar was ogling her? Well except him of course. Two could play at this game she thought and bent down to talk to one of her many admirers, laughing and smiling desperate for a jealous reaction.
"Katerina?" Elijah asked coming over to the bar knowing there was no point in acting all crazed with jealousy like his brother would. She was talking to a burly blonde and by the looks of it they were hitting it off, something that made Elijah's skin crawl. He was the only one for her, when would she see that? He noticed the blonde rubbing her arm and knew that was the last straw, he was dead.
"Let go of her otherwise you'll have to deal with the consequences." He threatened.
"You're not the only vampire around here buddy." He cried moving closer in an attempt to intimidate the Original not knowing what a big mistake that would be. "Get your own girl." By this stage he was so close Elijah could feel his hot breath on his face.
"Well you see there's a problem with that because she is my girl." Katherine couldn't look away if she tried, his profession of love making her dizzy. She noticed Elijah had long since passed the point of calm and was channeling something else, was it jealousy? She had to admit even with their long history she had never seen it this much on display before.
"Well I think the lady will tell you different, so go away before we both do something we'll regret."
"Oh I assure you the only person who'll be regretting anything is you." Katherine noticed Elijah's hand moving dangerously close to his chest.
"Dave I really think it would be best if you just walked away right now." She warned knowing exactly what was coming next.
"Trust me sweetheart I think I've got this covered." Elijah baulked how dare he call his Katerina sweetheart, he was the only one who had that right.
"Ah no you haven't got this covered." She cried. "You see Elijah's party trick is ripping peoples' hearts right out of their chests." Dave faltered the sound of that particular trademark not to mention his name making him groan in realisation that he'd messed with the wrong guy.
"You're the Original." He murmured in shock.
"Well one of them." He smiled. "Now where were we?"
"I was just leaving." He cried scurrying away as fast as he could.
"You just had to go and ruin my fun didn't you Katerina?" He smiled noticing her swaying dangerously close to the edge of the bar. He rushed over catching her in his arms assuming it was just the excessive amounts of alcohol she'd consumed. He pressed a chaste kiss to her temple before leaving the bar to take her home and put her to bed where she belonged.
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Caroline was close to breaking point. Yes she'd had many offers but the person she wanted was too busy talking to another blonde to notice. She hadn't seen her before but she noticed how friendly they seemed to be with each other. Caroline had a feeling tonight wasn't their first meeting. Defeated she finally climbed down from the bar and sat herself next to Stefan, the sight of them too much to bear.
"Don't tell me that's the end of the show?" He cried pretending like he was upset.
"Yeah well maybe if you tipped me I might have continued."
"What? Here I was thinking my phone number would be sufficient." He laughed pointing to the red napkin he'd doodled on with his cell number and a big 'call me' next to it all encased in a love heart.
"I assumed that was for Sophie not me." She laughed gesturing to the bartender and watching Stefan colour slightly. "Just because I've been busy dancing doesn't mean I haven't noticed what's been happening."
"We were just talking Caroline." He groaned desperate to change the subject. "Anyway I thought you might have been too busy spying on Klaus and the blonde to notice. She's quite pretty don't you think?"
"Whose side are you on mister!" Caroline hit him on the arm. "She is pretty though." She mumbled feeling very lonely right about now. Yes Klaus was controlling and frustrated her constantly but at the same time she didn't want to see him with someone else.
"Not as pretty as you Care." Stefan said genuinely. "You know I never believed his intentions towards you were genuine until tonight."
"What do you mean?"
"He loves you Caroline, which I'm sure you already know, and even though he's annoying and over protective that's his way of showing he cares, which for someone like Klaus is a big thing."
"Over protective and annoying, sounds like someone else I know."
"Whatever." He shot back rolling his eyes. "Yeah before you get your hopes up I don't love you, well you know in that way."
"Are you scrunching up your nose Stefan Salvatore?" She cried. "I can't believe the prospect of me is that mortifying to you."
"Let's just say I'm so glad we never went there because one you would have driven me crazy and two we wouldn't be the best friends we are today." He smiled.
"Thanks." She grinned back. "I'm going to go I think, I've had enough for one night, are you coming?"
"Nah I might stay here and keep an eye on Matt." Caroline looked over towards Matt who looked quite preoccupied with Rebekah and a few tequila shots then back to Sophie who was very unoccupied.
"Right well I'll leave you to look after Matt then." She smiled slyly knowing exactly why he wanted to stay. She was dreading having to go past his table but knew there was no other way out. She inhaled deeply attempting to steel her nerves and stalked out not even bothering to glance in his direction.
She breathed in deeply as the cold air hit her face sobering her up slightly. She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets and started walking.
"First you dance on top of a bar for everyone to see and now you're walking alone at night, not the brightest things you've ever done love." Klaus chuckled coming up behind her.
"Go away." She moaned. "You know I was actually thinking how peaceful everything was until you decided to interrupt my reverie."
"Well given I said I'd protect you there's really no choice Caroline." He smiled walking up next to her. "You're stuck with me."
"Aren't I lucky?" She muttered her gaze fixed on the ground afraid if she looked at him and those gorgeous dimples she'd melt. "I'm surprised you could tear yourself away from your lady friend back there."
"Sounds like someone is jealous." He quipped.
"I am not jealous, you are free to do what you want Klaus whether it involves chatting up women in bars or impregnating a she wolf."
"Yeah you're jealous." He confirmed loving this envious side of her. "You realise I'd much prefer to spend my time with you even if you are being like this. I still can't believe you disobeyed my orders and snuck out tonight."
"Are you really surprised?" She asked. "I don't like people telling me what to do and trying to control me."
"Trust me it's in your best..."
"Interests, I know." She groaned. "I think I've heard that about a hundred times in the last few days."
"You don't know Marcel Caroline, he's very dangerous and not someone you want to mess with."
"Another thing I've heard a hundred times." She replied shaking her head. "You have to let me live my life Klaus otherwise this will never work."
"Well I can't do that." He baulked not willing to compromise on anything when it came to her safety. "I'm trying to help but you continue to throw it back in my face and break the rules."
"Do you blame me?" She cried coming to a halt and facing him. "You are the most controlling person I've ever met and I don't appreciate being told what I can and can't do."
"Well you're no picnic yourself sweetheart." He countered rolling his eyes. "You are stubborn, frustrating and acting like a spoilt brat right now."
"How dare you." She seethed.
"Oh don't worry I could go on all night love."
"Well if I'm so frustrating why don't you just leave me alone then?" She said turning on her heel and striding away from him up the street.
"Trust me I'd love to Caroline but there's this fairly important thing I need to do which involves protecting you, even when you are being utterly childish like this."
"I was doing just fine without you in my life and the you have to come crashing into my dorm room and turn everything upside down." She cried waving her hands in the air.
"Well from what I can tell everything wasn't fine Caroline." He cried catching up and grabbing her hand and spinning her around so she was within inches of his face.
"Why do you have to care so damn much?" She hissed her blue eyes wild with anger.
"You know why Caroline." He murmured reaching up to caress her face gently. She felt the shivers reverberate throughout her body not expecting his touch to have such an effect on her. As much as she knew she was going to regret this later she leaned forward brushing her lips against his softly. Klaus didn't need any more encouragement responding immediately the feeling of her lips on his making him dizzy with longing. He had imagined this moment for so long but it was so much better than any of his daydreams, something he didn't think was possible.
Klaus took his time slowly exploring her mouth his tongue dipping inside her warmth. She tasted delightful a mixture of tequila, champagne and strawberries and he couldn't get enough. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her flush to him and deepening the kiss unable to wait any longer. Caroline moaned against his lips making him stir and suddenly her lips weren't enough and he wanted to taste every inch of her body.
Without warning she pulled away making Klaus feel strangely empty. He looked at her in confusion, her face red and flustered panting heavily from their intimacy.
"We, we can't do this." She mumbled unable to make eye contact. "I've got to go." She turned and ran away into the darkness leaving a shocked Klaus in her wake.