A/N: Here's the next update! I finished midterms this weekend and wanted to post this for you guys. I had hoped to have this up saturday but the ending just kept changing. But here it is, this monster of a chapter. Seriously, it's over 6,000 words. Enjoy!
Rebekah Mikaelson was persistent. If she didn't remind Caroline of herself so much then maybe there would be more room in her heart to hate her. After their quasi reconciliation after the decade dance the pair hadn't really talked or crossed paths. So when Rebekah stormed into Caroline's room the morning after Chereen's death demanding she accompany her shopping, Caroline was sure she'd lost her mind.
Still terribly bleary from sleep, Caroline paused and assessed the blonde original as carefully as she could. "We're not even friends," was the first thing that tumbled out of her mouth. Maybe in another circumstance Caroline might have cringed at her head to mouth filter's failure, right now however, she didn't care.
Ever cognizant, Rebekah nodded her head while slowly stepping towards the window. "I hope you've gathered by now that you're not leaving any time soon so those ragged clothes you brought with you will run out fairly quick."
"Where are you going with this? Cause I'd really like to get a few more hours of sleep," she replied while propping herself up on her elbows. Caroline did not need a reminder this early in the morning that she was stuck with two outfits, and was not getting clothes any time soon because she had told Bonnie not to come until the end of the week.
Huffing in annoyance, Rebekah turned on her heel to face Caroline and crossed her arms. "I'm bored and you're in desperate need of clothes. So get up. Maybe we can find you something that doesn't scream small town rags."
Caroline scoffed at that and fell back on her bed. "As much as I'd love to shop, even if it is with you, I don't have the ti–"
"Don't worry, Nik is paying."
Shooting up in bed, Caroline's eyebrows seemed to have followed suit. "He offered to pay?" Money was not what she was going to mention but the news did not surprise her. It was a Klaus thing to do if the blue ball gown hanging in the back of her closet had anything to say about it.
"Not exactly. But since you two are currently fighting, I say the wanker deserves it."
Confused, Caroline asked the first thing to come to mind. "Are you fighting with him too?"
"No. Well yes, we're always fighting. But he's also always a wanker."
Caroline suppressed a laugh while shaking her head. "I'm not his...girlfriend or anything where I can take his card and go shopping. I'm also not that type of girl anyway. So thanks for offering up your brothers card, but no thanks."
"Oh please, save me the drama," Rebekah sighed. "We all know you're going to end up with my brother at some point. And since his options of controlling you since you can die are limited to compulsion and a snapped neck, I suggest you get used to the most basic form of revenge: denting his pocketbook."
Caroline was poised to interrupt the Original's rant but Rebekah kept going. "Now, I suggest you get dressed. I have an afternoon fitting for my ball gown. And we need to find you something to wear between a spa trip and a final cake testing."
Having said her piece, Rebekah stomped towards the door in stilettos Caroline hadn't even realized the blonde was wearing until the would be normal decibel pounded against her vampiric eardrums. Even though Caroline's mind was swarming with questions about this ball Rebekah needed a gown for, she asked the question that jumped to the tip of her tongue. "How are you so sure?"
It was vague. Rebekah shouldn't have known what she was talking about. Actually, Caroline was certain she'd have felt much better if Rebekah had even so much as pretended to not know. But she knew what Caroline was asking. Pausing in the door way, Rebekah turned her head over her shoulder to stare back at the baby vampire. "I think the most obvious answer is, what Nik wants, he gets. But," she paused, assessing Caroline as if unsure of what to say next, "you're also too young and still too human to know what good and bad is."
It was not what she wanted to hear. Ever since Klaus had left Mystic Falls Caroline's mind kept replaying all the awful decisions he made, but from his perspective, more often than usual. While a part of her mind wanted desperately to forget all the bad things he did, another part wanted her to define bad. Lately, that part was screaming for her attention after being locked up in a corner for too long.
When Klaus had come to Mystic Falls for Katherine's pretend death, Caroline had told him the truth: she hated herself for the truth. Some days she doesn't think the truth is as simple as hating herself for knowing she could love Klaus liking Klaus. Some days she thinks the truth is hating herself for how often she has to remind herself to hate him because of some morals she can't see the line to anymore.
It often kept her up at night, especially at Whitmore glancing over at Bonnie and Elena's sleeping figures, wondering whether she'd be as alone as Klaus in a thousand years or whether she'd be forced to see the world as collateral damage for the ones she loved; isn't that something she'd already done by choosing Bonnie over 12 strangers? Some nights, the nights she's honest with herself, she's sure she'd do it again without a doubt. On other nights, the nights she wished she'd never met him because of the emotions he stirred deep within her young vampiric soul, she's so adamant she'd find another way like her determination is the only reminder she had left.
Pushing the covers back, Caroline trudged out of bed. It wasn't fair how often Klaus plagued her mind and it certainly wasn't fair how often his love for her forced her to question her morality. That's all she ever wanted, to be loved by her father enough to come back to her, to be loved by her mother enough to stay home, to be loved by Damon enough to have a choice, to be loved by Matt enough for him to stay, and to be loved by Tyler enough for him to choose her. The one man that did choose her, who always chose her, wasn't someone she could so easily choose. The fates apparently had an ironic sense of humor where Caroline was involved.
After dressing in the clothes she'd arrived in, Caroline decided that yes, maybe she could manage shopping with Rebekah if it meant more clean underwear. Maybe it wouldn't be all bad. It would give her an excuse to leave the house and sneak a moment away to call the Tulane Medical Center and find out if Klaus lied to her or not. If he didn't, then she'd use the chance to find out Tom's work schedule. Her sole mission was to find Tom and keep him and Stefan safe. She could not lose sight of that.
When she walked into the kitchen ready to tell Rebekah that she'd join her after a blood bag, Caroline paused in the doorway while watching the odd sight. Enzo sat at the kitchen table with his feet rudely propped up while Klaus and Rebekah stood on opposite ends of island countertop looking nearly ready to throw a stake at each other.
Inspecting their fighting stances, Caroline realized she's heard them arguing on her way down. So absorbed in her thoughts she'd nearly missed it all. Shaking her head, she reprimanded herself internally, not wanting that to happen again. Not here. Not when she was essentially alone. Not when Klaus was her closest ally.
She recalled Rebekah mention shopping and the next thing she remembered was Klaus yelling something about snapped necks and compulsion.
"You need to control everything Nik! How else did you think you were going to do it?" Rebekah screeched.
As she fully stepped into the kitchen she noticed Klaus' shoulders tense. Good, she thought to herself. He deserves a little discomfort after what he puts her through. When Rebekah met her eyes, Caroline decided her best course of action was sarcasm. So she spoke up with a shrug of her shoulders. "Let's not forget killing the people I love and emotional blackmail."
"Good morning blondie," Enzo greeted, his smile far too chipper for the scene that was unfolding before him. "Nice of you to join the show."
Rolling her eyes, Caroline headed straight for the fridge for blood, purposefully ignoring Klaus despite the eyes following each of their movements. Rebekah and Enzo seemed to be on the edge of their seats waiting for who'd break the silence. The answer was quite obvious to Rebekah. Her brother hadn't been slighted, Caroline had.
And so he spoke to her, voice confident and sure that he'd be forgiven. "Good morning to you too, love," he smirked.
Ripping open a blood bag, unfortunately one Klaus got her, and he appeared rather smug about it when he noticed, Caroline caught his gaze with a glare. "Good morning, Klaus," she replied, her tone patronizing at best.
He couldn't help but smile. There was the fire he'd come to love. Caroline mistook his smile as smugness and grew more irritated. Hoping to speed things along, Klaus spoke as if nothing had happened. "I hear Rebekah is begging you to go shopping with her."
He was normalizing it and Caroline couldn't stand it. They had a blow up. He was acting entitled last night and right now and she was not in the mood. "Just stop, okay?"
The air seemed to freeze exactly where it was. Enzo watched on with curiosity while Rebekah realized Caroline had silenced Klaus and succeeded. "Do tell, love. What is it that I'm doing that displeases you?"
Frustrated, Caroline groaned. "That!" she exclaimed, gesturing to him. "Exactly that. You can't just do that!"
Clenching his jaw, Klaus was furious. He felt as if he was a child being admonished for a wrong he wasn't aware of. His voice dangerously low, he responded. "Would you care to elaborate what 'that' is? Wild hand gestures and vague statements don't wear well on my patience."
"Your patience?" Caroline asked incredulously while ripping into her blood bag, completely unaware of Enzo smirking and Rebekah watching on in a cross between amused and confused. "Oh my God, you started the argument yesterday and your patience is wearing thin?"
Klaus was poised to reply but Caroline cut him off in her barely contained rage. She didn't want to be anywhere near him and his annoying desire to forget his indiscretions. "No, you know what? Your patience can wait because I need some serious retail therapy if you're gonna help me save Stefan's life."
She nearly whooshed out of the kitchen but instead collected her blood bag and stormed out in a calm, collected manner. In the courtyard, Caroline waited for Rebekah to join her because as much as she now wanted to shop, she had no clue where anything was. She heard Rebekah give one last jab to Klaus before joining her. "At least one good thing came from your tantrum Nik."
Caroline almost felt bad for antagonizing him but she didn't want to think about it, at least not for a while. As a perfect distraction, her phone buzzed to life with a text from Enzo.
E: Tom?
C: I'm getting an idea of where he'd be and calling a few places
C: Maybe you should check some medical places, he was an EMT in ATL
E: On it, gorgeous
Caroline rolled her eyes at that as Rebekah walked right past her. "Let's go. We have plenty to do and I will not wait for you."
Sighing, Caroline knew she was in for an interesting day. Not only was Elliot tailing them, shopping with Rebekah felt like what Caroline imagined her friends felt when they shopped with her which was odd to say the least. When she finally decided that retail therapy really was in order, as well as new underwear, Caroline fell into a comfortable groove with Rebekah, which again was odd.
There was a cake tasting at noon where Rebekah immediately began shouting at the baking chefs. She apparently wanted yellow cake with a lemon filling not a lemon cake with a custard filling "So?" Rebekah prompted Caroline after forcing her to taste every flavor she chose for the multi tiered cake.
"So what?"
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but your input would do right about now."
"You want my input?" Caroline asked incredulously. "I thought I had awful small town taste?"
"Yes, you do," Rebekah admitted. "But you're also the only uncompelled person who will give an honest opinion because we both share a penchant for party planning." Before Caroline could reply, Rebekah continued. "I can compel you but I figured this approach might be more successful."
Caroline thought for a moment and decided the blonde deserved her brutally honest opinion because that's exactly what Caroline had wanted while party planning and never got it. "I wouldn't do a raspberry filling with the red velvet, just stick to traditional cream cheese."
"Hmmm," Rebekah considered for a moment before nodding. "Okay, and?"
Caroline was taken a back for a moment. The original was actually taking her advice? She felt as if pigs were flying but she had to admit, she'd been feeling that since finding out Tom's blood made hybrids. Sighing, she conceded. "It's spring so I'd also do a multi tiered cupcake cake with the respective fillings maybe surrounding a one or two tiered cake."
Rebekah thought for a moment while testing the consistency of the white chocolate mousse filling. "It would be aesthetically pleasing," she commented. "Fine." A few more barked orders and Caroline couldn't believe she was helping plan this ball with Rebekah and hadn't wanted to tear each other's heart out yet.
Their next stop was an extravagant dress shop where Rebekah announced Caroline was getting a dress because she wasn't allowed to make an appearance at her ball dressed like a commoner. Yes, those were her exact words.
"I don't need a dress," Caroline refused as the shop clerks greeted them. "I'm not going to your ball."
"You will be in the house therefore you will be at the ball and you will be in a ball gown," Rebekah said with finality.
They were being escorted to the back of the store where fittings took place and Caroline finally asked the question she'd been dying to have answered. "What's so important about this ball?"
She however didn't get an answer until their clerk left to get Rebekah's tailored dress. "My brother is coming back to life, Caroline. Not that you'd understand seeing as you're an only child, but this is important."
She spoke with such disdain that Caroline nearly took a step back and did in fact try to understand. The Originals were not her favorite people. The less there were the less trouble for everyone. But being just a girl who lost her brother, okay, yeah, Caroline could understand that.
"So you're throwing him a welcome home party?" she asked as a peace offering, like she understood, because really, she'd do anything to have her dad back.
Whipping around at that, Rebekah met Caroline's eyes and Caroline could of sworn she saw an emotion she'd only ever seen in the Original after her failed (and stolen) homecoming dance. Sadness. With the blink of an eye it was gone and it was business as usual with Rebekah Mikaelson.
"Yes. Now whatever you're planning on doing to or with Tom, don't."
This time Caroline did stand there in shock before composing herself quickly. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Listen Caroline," Rebekah insisted, her voice verging on sinister while stepping closer to the other blonde. "I don't care for my brother's hybrids either but whatever it is you have planned to save everyone's lives, it can wait until I have my brother back."
Attempting to stutter out a response, Caroline was cut off once again by Rebekah. "Don't try to deny it. If you screw something up so Kol doesn't come back to us, Nik will not matter, I will rip your heart out. As long as you don't screw up, Nik doesn't need to know that I'm suspicious of your loyalties."
The only thing that struck a chord was not the threat to her life, but her supposed loyalty to Klaus. "I am not loyal to Klaus."
The tailor entered the dressing room just then and Rebekah quickly compelled them to be docile and forget everything they overhear once they're done. "Sweetie," Rebekah cooed. "Your scooby doo gang is in Mystic Falls. You are alone here and your closest allies are us. Don't screw it up."
"Gee, thanks for the friendly reminder," Caroline muttered while taking a seat so the seamstress could fit Rebekah into her gown.
"It's what I'm here for," Rebekah smiled at Caroline through the mirror she stood before.
"Is that Zuhair Murad?" Caroline asked suddenly when the dress Rebekah wore actually came into sight.
"Yes and it's gorgeous," she replied while smoothing down the silk that fell asymmetrically over the full tulle skirt.
"That's his fall collection," Caroline remarked, admiring the tasteful gown from afar.
"Well, well," Rebekah mused. "Small town Caroline Forbes actually knows something about fashion."
"I've always known a thing or two about fashion," Caroline shot back. "You were too busy stealing my position as head cheerleader to notice."
"Well, maybe you can put that fashion sense to good use and find yourself a gown."
"I'm not buying a ballgown."
"Then compel yourself one!" Rebekah exclaimed. "Honestly, you're a vampire for God's sakes. I will not have you ruining my extravagant ball with your small town garb."
For the sake of getting away from the Original, Caroline was ready to leave under the guise of perusing the selections. "I'll be back," she mumbled on her way out of the dressing room.
She heard, she's sure everyone in the store heard, Rebekah call out to her, "You better be looking for a dress!"
She wasn't and didn't have any intention of looking. Instead, mapped out the store and realized Elliot was sitting across the street in the garden seating of a coffee shop. Rerouting herself, she headed towards the back of the store. She ignored every questioning gaze and finally found an exit. A truck was being unloaded in the back alley. Side stepping the workers, she made quick work of getting back on a main road while listening to Elliot. She couldn't let him hear her. Her best option was to get out of range of hearing him, hoping Elliot was still adjusting to vampire hearing so that her plan might actually work. Outside another small cafe that had much cuter garden seating, Caroline took a seat carefully and pulled out the numbers she'd gotten off line the night before via her phone.
They were all numbers related to Tulane Medicine. Klaus had been vague and she knew for a purpose. But he also must have known that Caroline was nothing if not persistent. She'd collected 7 or 8 numbers and had every intention of calling each one to find Tom.
The first 2 were a bust. The third was a wrong number. On the fourth call, the receptionist knew a Tom. But suddenly, Caroline was struck with how little she knew about Tom outside of his face and his name. After lying about having met him at a park and wanting to return something he'd left behind, the receptionist willingly gave Caroline a contact number and his hours for the next few days. Jotting it down, she hung up with a breath of relief. She'd found him. Now all she had to do was put together his escape plan. Meeting him however was also on the list.
Deciding she'd been outside long enough, Caroline skipped back to the boutique to find Elliot unmoved across the street and Rebekah hadn't noticed she was gone. "Well?" was the Original's greeting. "I don't see a ball gown on your arm."
"That's because I'm not getting one," Caroline cheered back. Something in Rebekah had clearly snapped when she finally conceded, stepping closer to Caroline in a menacing manner.
"Fine. Don't get a gown but don't you dare step anywhere near that house the night of the ball."
"Fine with me," Caroline replied, shrugging her shoulders and forcing Rebekah out of her personal space.
Without saying a word, Rebekah stormed off leaving an annoyed Caroline behind. "And where are we going now?"
"My nails aren't going to paint themselves," Rebekah called over her shoulder before stepping out the door and not waiting for Caroline.
That's how she spent the next few hours. While Rebekah stewed in Caroline's protestations for a dress, Caroline pampered herself with a mani-pedi and found a cute boutique for some new dresses and a few tops. It hadn't escaped her that Elliot remained on their trail, keeping out of their way and Caroline was almost certain it was for Rebekah's sanity by now, seeing as Caroline didn't mind his company.
The sun was setting by the time Rebekah decided she was done shopping. Caroline had checked out much earlier. It was around that time that Enzo texted her wondering if she'd found anything about Tom. She'd quickly replied that she hadn't found anything but had a few places in mind to call. Enzo himself hadn't had any luck and Caroline couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She couldn't imagine what brash decision he'd make to fulfill his debt.
There was a plan (multiple plans not everyone knew about albeit) in place to save Tom and Stefan and Caroline would not let Enzo ruin it. So she returned to the compound with Rebekah, not entirely sure what to do with herself. She'd located Tom and had worked out a scenario of stepping out for a walk and losing Elliot to track him down. All she could do was hope Enzo didn't find out and wait for the Travelers to arrive with Stefan.
As the hybrids began, grudgingly, unloading Rebekah's impulse buys, Klaus greeted the two at the gate. "Ahh, you're home. How was the shopping trip?" he asked, a rogue smile on his face.
Rebekah simply rolled her eyes and began walking away. Not before calling back, "Caroline's not allowed to be home the night of the ball if she refuses to get a gown." With that, Rebekah stomped further into the house until she was another heartbeat amongst the undead in the compound.
"I see it went well," Klaus chuckled.
At that, Caroline scoffed and began walking away. "You're still upset with me," Klaus called out to her, not as a question, but a statement.
Pausing, Caroline couldn't even connect the right words together to tell him that yes, she was still upset with him and that he needed to simply go away. Slowly, he came up behind her and she turned to face him. It was then Caroline noticed what he was wearing. Black jeans, a dark grey henley, and a black leather jacket. He looked like every bad boy she'd ever wanted all wrapped in one and it infuriated her.
"Caroline," Klaus spoke slowly, her name a cadence to his own ears. "I need to speak with you. And I know you're angry love, but I need you to put aside your discontent with me for a moment."
She glared at him hard, arms crossed, gauging if he was speaking the truth. He was an Original but Caroline liked to thing she could spot a liar, even if it was Klaus. And in this case it wasn't. So she uncrossed her arms, softened her face and gestured for him to lead the way.
He led her across the courtyard and near the back of the house where what she presumed was his study. It was dark yet light and airy all at once and she would have liked to have called it gaudy but so far everything she'd encountered in Klaus' home was tasteful and elegant yet homey.
As he went to fix himself a drink, Caroline once again crossed her arms and asked, "What do you need?"
"I am attending Chereen's funeral tonight. Elliot has brought to my attention," he began while dropping ice in a tumbler before topping it off with some gin, "that Marcel was in your company when Chereen was killed." He motioned, silently asking her if she'd like a drink as well but she shook her head, declining.
"Yeah, so?" Caroline asked, not quite seeing the need to speak to her about it.
"Oh, well I did hope you'd do the talking from here," Klaus replied, his face expressionless, evaluating her every move.
"What?" Caroline scoffed. "Do you think I'm working with Marcel on some silly plot to take you down?"
Klaus leaned against his desk, legs stretched in front of him and tumbler in hand. He looked better than Caroline cared to admit. "It did cross my mind, briefly," Klaus mentioned, his head tilted the slightest bit as he spoke. "But I trust your judgment is better that what your friends believe it is. You would have seen right through his charisma."
He trusted her. Caroline couldn't remember the last time she'd heard that and it unconsciously made her loosen her staunch pose. "Not to mention if you were plotting on ending me, Tyler wouldn't have floundered for as long as he did."
Caroline stood there, thrown for a loop. Klaus had never shied away from making his advances toward her obvious but this, this was very different than gifting her a bracelet. He was telling her he trusted her, that he believed her smart enough to outsmart him. This was a far cry from what she'd grown used to hearing about herself. Usually it started with control freak and ended with bitch.
Sighing, Caroline just wanted to process. There hadn't been enough time to process anything since arriving. So she kept her guards up and asked, "What do you want, Klaus?"
"Did he say anything to you?" he asked, pushing himself off the desk and beginning to pace. It was all business now, Caroline could tell by the way his shoulders tensed and hunched the slightest bit. "Did he make any indication of knowing who you are?"
She finished his question in her head. She's sure he meant, "who you are to me?"
"He," Caroline began but paused because, what did Marcel uncover from overhearing her conversation with her mother? They mentioned everyone's name except Klaus, so they should mean nothing to him. But that look he gave her while Elliot was pulling her away from the bar said more than she wished it did.
Caroline changed course and instead said, "We didn't talk a lot. My mom called so I stepped out and talked to her. I'm sure he and Elliot over heard it but we didn't say your name."
Klaus paused mid stride. "Whose names did you say?"
"I don't know," Caroline said dismissively. "My mom mentioned Bonnie and Elena not knowing where I am and a missing Stefan and Damon missing Enzo, but she never said his name." As Caroline continued to talk her voice trailed off because names were exactly where Marcel would start and she was an idiot for not realizing sooner. She could have just endangered everyone in Mystic Falls.
Klaus looked annoyed but meeting his gaze, it hit her. "But that doesn't mean he knows we're even connected in any way," she tried in vain. "And if it does he won't know for a few days, at least until he can get some intell," she proposed, foolishly hopeful.
"Caroline," Klaus pleaded, stepping forward and meeting her eyes. "I will ask you again. Did he make any indication of knowing who you may be?"
She stood before the Original Hybrid completely dumbfounded, her mind replaying that look on Marcel's face as Elliot dragged her away. "Caroline," Klaus pressed, gently grabbing her face to get her attention once again.
"Yes," she whispered. "My mom mentioned you but she didn't use your name and Marcel looked like he knew everything he needed to know."
She could feel the anger emanating from his skin, vibrating in his finger tips where they rested gently on her neck. So when he pressed his forehead against hers gently she was taken aback until he let her go and paced one length of his desk. Turning back to her he asked, "What did she say?"
"Who? My mom?" At his nod Caroline thought how to word this but couldn't find a way to put it lightly. "She basically gave me her blessing cause she thought I was here pursuing you."
Suddenly the anger was gone and Klaus looked dumbstruck for once. Instead of allowing Caroline the glee of a Klaus not completely composed, he carefully schooled his features into a wry smile. "Mother dearest gave you her blessing?" he asked, his voice a sly coo before frowning playfully. "Well I'm rather ashamed, I never asked her for her blessing. Perhaps she would forgive me with a phone call?"
Glaring, Caroline crossed her arms and snapped, "Stay away from my mom. I'm not here for you."
"Of course you're not love, not now anyway."
"Oh please," Caroline scoffed. "I'm not here for you now and once Stefan is safe, I won't be back. Now can we please get back to saving my friends lives?"
Klaus bristled, having heard what he didn't ever want to. But Caroline was young and foolishly clinging to who she was, not considering who she could be: someone great and powerful, a Queen. "Of course. Let's return to perpetually saving your unfortunate friends."
"Good," Caroline stated, officially ending that conversation. "How's Marcel going to find out anything?"
"He will send someone to Mystic Falls. He knows I spent time there before discovering he was alive. It will be his first instinct and he will follow it."
"And once he does?"
"He will return with information. Your friends will, of course, foolishly befriend his spy and learn everything about your Mystic Falls gang and your connection to me."
Caroline wanted to ask, 'you mean how you love me but won't admit it or mention it or talk to me about it?' but refrained because being connected to Klaus while an enemy was seeking revenge was bad enough as it is, entering a discussion about how Klaus has no idea what love even is, is not on the list of things to do tonight. She did however want to defend her friends judgment but she knew better. They would seek out a new vampire in town to determine friend or foe. And if Marcel's spy is good, he'll know he needs to be friend no matter what.
Instead she asked, "How do I protect them?"
Klaus paused before looking at Caroline precariously, stepping towards her. "Your concern should be here. There's not much Marcel can do to your friends nearly a thousand miles away. They have each other."
"Yeah, and I'm stuck here with you," Caroline rolled her eyes. "I don't need to be reminded."
"Well perhaps you do," Klaus gritted out. "Your safety, Caroline, is of the utmost important and the moment you entered New Orleans became my responsibility. You will not die here."
The need to defy him burned on the tip of her tongue but her lips, who knew his and his skin so well, they knew better. He spoke as if he were commanding her to stay alive yet his eyes told another story; he would not let her die. The safest place on earth for her was by his side and she hated it. The way he looked at her appeared as if he was waiting for her to disagree, to challenge him, but it never came.
"Elliot will accompany you wherever you go. Expect a hidden entourage until Marcel discovers who-"
She cut him off in that fiery voice of hers he loved. "What?" she exclaimed. "Elliot, fine. I can deal with Elliot. A hidden entourage? No."
Klaus continued to talk over her, his eyes closed in frustration. "-you are. When he does you are not leaving my sight."
"What? You think you can keep me hidden away? That I'll listen?"
"Caroline," he growled.
"No! I don't need someone to save me or protect me!"
"While I'd love to let you believe that," Klaus spoke firmly, his voice a low growl raising in a slow crescendo. "Right now you do. Marcel is tactical, I would know, I trained him. He is waiting for an opportunity and he will see one in you. Despite his deluded notion that this city was his, I took back something he valued and he desires to destroy me." As he spoke, his shoulders broadened while he towered over Caroline. Her eyes never left his gaze in a silent refusal to back down. "He is 200 years older than you," he stated, his eyes frantically imploring her to understand. "While no match for me, he will have your heart in his hand before you can even blink. And that will not happen."
Instead of defying him, Caroline wanted answers. Klaus couldn't do this to her. Tyler treated her like a porcelain doll, doing everything in his power to ensure she stayed out of the battle, things she wouldn't forgive anyone else for. She didn't expect this from Klaus. And as she thought about it, she didn't like it from Klaus.
"Why don't you talk about it? Why not just say it?" She fumed.
He leveled her with a stare, wondering briefly where she was going and if now was the time to play along. "About what, sweetheart?" he asked, heading back to the liquor cabinet to top of his drink.
"About how you feel," she stated, her eyes a storm of anger. The way his eyes briefly widened while turning away was enough to encourage Caroline to continue. "You can't protect me from everything. Not because it's so, way impractical or because I don't need it, but because you just don't get to.
Hard faced, Klaus stepped forward and asked, "Why is that?"
"Because I say you don't."
"Is that so?" Klaus inquired, slowly stepping closer as if evaluating his prey. "I needn't remind you love that I don't take well to being told what to do. While you're here, under my protection, you would do well to remember that."
"I wasn't 'under your protection' when Silas came back, why were you so angry to hear about it then?" she finally spat out. "And don't you dare say my life was in danger, it's practically a prerequisite for being a vampire."
"You could have died!" Klaus practically roared. And while Caroline was mildly shocked, she stood her ground, refusing to be scared by his volatile moods.
"Why is keeping me alive so important to you?" she exclaimed, frustrated and terrified of the answer she'd receive. She just wanted him to say it. He's shown it and promised it but he left and everyone always leaves. But she's here and he's here and she just wants to hear it, spoken, out loud, for once.
Klaus' demeanor turned near murderous. "You dare ask me to spill my heart out when you so clearly still regard me in disgust and hostility?" Voice hoarse when it hit her ear drums, Caroline felt shivers race down her spine.
"I haven't regarded you in disgust or hostility since arriving," Caroline stated, her voice hard and determined. "I showed you the truth in the woods. Why can't you just say it?"
"Have I not shown you the truth?" Klaus asked, nearly appalled at the unspoken accusation. "I have shown forgiveness, kindness, patience, and pity where it was not due, for you. Have my actions not spoken louder than any words you would like me to say?"
Unwanted tears sprung to her eyes because yes, they have, but they haven't. The thought that had been plaguing her forever finally spilled out of her. "Yes, but you left. And everyone always leaves." Having the truth out in the air was suffocating, like the words were trying to come back in but her throat wouldn't let them. She met his eyes briefly, angry and soft all at once, before she walked away.
A/N: So did I do Klaroline angst well? I hope I did. They're both feeling a lot of different emotions right now so if it feels like a whirlwind, good, it should. I know it's been forever and a half and I'm sorry. If you ever want to contact me or nudge me to update, I do have a tumblr, it's alovelydisasterr (yes, two r's), hit me up. I'm not an avid klaroline blogger but i'd be more than willing to talk about klaroline. Otherwise please share your thoughts? I'd love to hear what you guys have to say. I know this update was long but I couldn't cut it anywhere and I think you guys deserved it after waiting so long.
Since I'm very visual, here's rebekah's dress: . /tumblr_lybb41FlJK1r4p4nto1_
(I know you can't hyperlink or copy and paste it but it's a 2011-2012 fall winter line of zuhair murad but it's so cute let's all pretend it's 2014 spring collection. okay? okay.)