When I Grow Up
Chapter 7. - Always & Forever
"Damon, Stefan. Someone please open up" Caroline was frantic and constantly watching over her shoulder for Mikael and Nik was in tears after waking up as Caroline jumped from the window. "Sshh Nik it's okay" she tried rocking him but it was no use. There was no one answering and even though Caroline had an invite she couldn't get into the house, everywhere was locked up for some strange reason.
"Caroline?" she heard Elena call her, Damon and Stefan in tow. "Care, what's wrong? Are you okay?" she ran to her best friend embracing both her and Nik who was crying. "Damon get them inside" Caroline was shaking and when Damon and Stefan offered to take Nik she backed away.
"Blondie come on it's okay. You're safe here" Damon tried reasoning with her and eventually she nodded and let him take Nik who had cried himself to sleep. She followed him closely as Damon placed the sleeping toddler in the guest bedroom before taking Caroline by the hand back to the living room.
"Alright Blondie, what happened?" he asked her while handing her a glass of Bourbon. She immediately brought it to her lips and knocked it back in one go before gesturing for another. "Mikael" she spat out his name staring into space.
"Care, you know Klaus killed Mikael right" Elena spoke up as she moved to sit next to her.
"I know" she whimpered "Bonnie, when she performed the spell that went utterly wrong." she sighed "Elena, Nik is Klaus"
"What?" her eyes wide "This is a joke right?"
"No, I wish it was" she told her honestly. Damon watched as she tried to begin to explain but she couldn't form the words. Stefan sat opposite Damon and they shared a look which said "Help Caroline". Elena was about to start ranting when Damon shushed her "Let Blondie speak for once Elena, she's important too" Caroline's eyes met Damon's blue ones and for once her smile reached them. She mouthed a 'thank you' before speaking.
"Elena, a little over a week ago Bonnie came up with a spell to send Klaus back in time or something but it wouldn't affect the bloodlines. Before any of this it was you guys who would send me to distract him and not once did he become angry towards me for doing it because he told me he always enjoyed my company. He would listen to me and make me feel cherished and I began to fall for him but I had a hand in this. The spell went wrong and Klaus was transformed back into a toddler. He doesn't remember anything other than the life he had back when he was a boy. Mikael was also brought forward with this spell and is trying to kill him. Elijah has contact with a witch but he also needs Rebekah to help with the spell" she stopped as the tears began to flow "I know he's a toddler now but I love him and I have to protect him, he will be changed back soon and I wanted you to know that I am sorry for not telling you sooner but I am not sorry for falling in love with someone who always puts me first" Stefan's jaw dropped but he knew something like that would have happened eventually, Damon was beaming with pride at young vampire who was thinking of herself for once, she deserved happiness and someone who loved her for being herself. Elena was silent, she couldn't form any words at all.
"Elena?" Caroline whispered through her tears looking for some answer from her life long best friend. "Say something, please?"
"What can I say Caroline?" Elena started and Caroline could feel her stomach drop waiting on the lashing "I would have done the same thing" Caroline met Elena's eyes as she began to form a smile "You do crazy things when you're in love and you always protect the ones you love" Caroline began to sob and the two friends embraced one another in a hug.
"So you're not mad?"
"No, not anymore. I would have been if you dated him at the height of his psychotic episodes though" Caroline laughed as the tears kept flowing. Damon had a smile on his and Stefan looked between him and the crying teenagers. "So is that why the kid hates me?" Stefan asked and the room laughed
"Yeah he thought you were trying to take me away from him" Damon burst out laughing and added "You know that's love when even Baby Mikaelson gets jealous when men talk to you Blondie"
"Yeah" she laughed, her tears stopped by now.
"So how long before you do him?" Damon wiggled his eyebrows suggestively
"EWWW Damon, he's still a baby" Elena scrunched up her nose in disgust
"Gross Damon" Caroline whined
"Damon you ass" Stefan shook his head as he followed Caroline and Elena out of the room.
"What did I say ?" he was left in the room by himself as Caroline, Elena and Stefan went upstairs to check on Nik.
"Elijah, what the bloody hell did Niklaus do now?" Rebekah had to get an early flight back from Paris, it was fashion week and she was about to spend a lot of money. "You do realize that he is not speaking to me over something stupid might I add so why must I help him?"
"Sit down Rebekah" Elijah spoke sternly and for once she didn't answer back. "I've contacted Michelle, it seems our brother is in danger."
"Michelle? The witch? How is Nik in danger?" Rebekah asked her brother with wide eyes. "Elijah?"
"Niklaus got himself in trouble obviously by tormenting the well known residents of Mystic Falls"
"The doppelgänger probably provoked him" Rebekah snidely commented
"Enough Rebekah, listen to me" she nodded and Elijah continued telling Rebekah the events over the past week and a half. "Now will you help our brother?" she nodded tears in her eyes. "What if it doesn't work?"
"A young vampire by the name of Caroline Forbes is taking care of him at this moment. Michelle should be here in two days and then we can deal with Mikael."
"Caroline? But, but she told me she hates Nik. Why would she do this unless ?" Rebekah's eyes widened again "She loves him. That blonde bimbo loves our Nik." Elijah rolled his eyes but nodded "Rebekah seeing as Niklaus has affections for this girl, I wouldn't refer to her as a 'blonde bimbo' it's not proper English at all"
"Our brother is in danger and you're worried about English Grammar, really Elijah?" she got up and went to Nik's art studio. She looked around the room and she could still see him painting away as she sat bugging him while Elijah would sit with both, usually on the small sofa reading one of his novels. She smiled and left the room closing the door behind her. "Always and Forever, Nik" she whispered to herself.