Fixing Mistakes

Chapter 8 - Stronger Together

Mikael sneered down at the bloodied and broken body of his son. The sight of Klaus whimpering in pain disgusted him, he was a man and should show that by being strong. Men did not cry.

"You are weak, Niklaus." Mikael kicked Klaus in the stomach, "You are pathetic." He punched him again and again, "You are not worthy of life let alone love." He raised his fist to hit him once again, "No one would miss you, boy." He brought his hand down to strike Klaus.

"Get away from him!" Caroline yelled as she ploughed into Mikael, roughly pushing him away from Klaus.

Mikael stumbled back a few steps at Caroline's shove. Glaring at her he roared, "You dare to lay your hands on me?"

"Oh, I more than dare." Caroline stood in front of Klaus, raising her chin up high and her arms spread out as she blocked Mikael from touching Klaus, "I will not let you hurt him."

Mikael laughed at Caroline's statement, "Is this meant to frighten me? Because I can assure you that little girls do not frighten me."

Caroline smirked, "And you do not frighten me at all."

"Then you show how foolish you are. This," Mikael dismissively waved his hand at Caroline, "show of strength means nothing to me," he shrugged his shoulders, "absolutely nothing."

"And why is that?" Caroline narrowed her eyes at Mikael as she waited for his response.

Mikael stepped closer to Caroline, "I am not scared of little girls whom stick their nose in my business and attempt to stop me from disciplining my own son." By the end of his speech he towered over Caroline, his heated gaze glaring into her calm ones as he tried to intimidate her, "I could crush you like a bug."

Caroline leaned in and hissed, "Was that supposed to scare me? Because trust me when I say I have seen and faced worse than you."

Caroline's response infuriated Mikael, she showed not one inch of fear in the face of his contempt. He gritted his teeth in irritation, "You would protect that weakling."

Caroline bristled at Mikael's insult of Klaus. Glaring at him she sneered, "The only weakling here is you." She smirked, "Niklaus is worth ten of you."

SLAP!

Caroline's face whipped to the side with the force of Mikael's hit. Her cheek stung but she was determined to not show fear in front of Mikael. She slowly turned her head to face him again, once again staring at him with no fear, "Weak."

Mikael growled at Caroline's reply, at her strength, her ability to look him in the eye after striking her. He hated her. He balled his hand into a fist, preparing to hit Caroline again.

Klaus was curled into a ball as he tried to catch his breath. His whole body ached from where Mikael had repeatedly punched and kicked him. He was full of bruises he was sure of it. He closed his eyes moaning, clenching his fingers in the grass he waited for the pain to pass. He could hear snippets of Mikael and Caroline's conversation.

No, sweetheart, don't bait him, Klaus thought desperately as he listened to Caroline and Mikael's exchange of words. He tried to move himself so that he could get her away from Mikael and leave.

And then Klaus heard the slap.

Klaus eyes opened immediately, he forced himself out of the fetal position, stretching out his limbs and forgetting his aches.

THUD!

Klaus gasped as he looked up at Caroline and Mikael, I will kill him.

Mikael punched Caroline in the jaw with all his strength and still she did not fall to the ground only stumble on her feet. Growling, he wrapped his hands around Caroline's throat, "If you continue to talk back to me I will give you the beating that I owe my son."

Caroline's jaw was on fire, her cheek must have been broken it hurt that bad, her lower lip swelled to twice the size, she was in agony and yet she still didn't bow to Mikael. When he put his hands around her throat she spoke hoarsely, "You are the weakest man I've ever met, Mikael." She drew her knee back and jammed it into his groin.

Mikael howled in agony as Caroline's knee connected with his groin. He released her neck and held his hands between his legs as he let the pain wash over him. Groaning through his teeth he stood up and out of nowhere threw an uppercut under Caroline's jaw.

The force of Mikael's punch sent Caroline flying backward, she fell over Klaus landing next to him. He eyes fluttered open rapidly as she tried not to pass out.

"Caroline!" Klaus cried out as he took in Caroline's battered face, her cheek was swollen and her lip was split. As he stared at her injuries he felt a rage take over him that he had never felt before, a pure and volatile hate for Mikael. He clenched his hands until they turned white, glaring hatefully at Mikael, "How dare you touch her."

Mikael smirked down at Klaus, "I will do what I want to whomever I want. She hit me so I struck her down." He chuckled with malicious glee as he watched Caroline trying to keep her eyes open, "It looks as if she will not be getting up for a while." He moved his foot back as if he was going to kick her.

Seeing the movement of Mikael's foot Klaus jumped up and stood protectively in front of Caroline, "Do not even think about laying a hand on her."

Mikael raised his eyebrow, "What are you going to do about it, boy!"

"I will not let you harm her." Klaus stood tall, looking Mikael in the eyes as he stood his ground.

"Your attempt to appear brave is pathetic, Niklaus." Mikael sneered at Klaus, "You will do nothing to me because you are weak."

Klaus looked down to the ground, took a deep breath as he clenched his hands, raised his head to look at Mikael and hit him square in the jaw with all his pain and anger behind it.

Mikael raised his fingers to his lip, pulled back to look at them and saw that they had his blood on it, "You finally are man enough to hit me." He snorted, "Now leave before I really hurt the two of you."

"You think I will just leave after you hurt Caroline." Klaus glared at Mikael, an uncontrollable anger running through his veins, "I am not going to run away after you've hurt her."

"What are you going to do, Niklaus?" Mikael sneered, as he pushed Klaus in his chest, "Are you really prepared to go against me?" He glanced down at Caroline's prone form, "For her?"

"Yes." There was no doubt in Klaus's voice, he would pick Caroline in a heartbeat, he had never known happiness until she came into his life. She was his first choice, "For her," he looked at Caroline and smiled at her, "I'd do anything."

Caroline returned Klaus's smile, her heart doubling at the meaning behind his words. He was finally standing up for himself and showing the strength he possessed.

Mikael backhanded Klaus causing him to stumble, with this distraction he reached down and pulled Caroline up by her hair.

"Argh!" Caroline cried out as Mikael pulled her up by her hair. She reached behind her and dug her fingernails into his hands, "Let me go!"

Mikael gritted his teeth against the sharp sting of Caroline's nails digging into his skin. In retaliation he yanked on her hair pulling out some by the roots, "Be silent, girl." He pulled her head back until he could look in her eyes, "Know your place."

Fire filled Caroline's eyes at Mikael's statement, I will show you just what my place is you ignorant asshole. She braced herself for the pain it would bring her and slammed her head into Mikael's jaw.

Mikael yelled out in pain as Caroline's head collided with his jaw, he released his hold on her hair and brought his hand up to his face to massage his jaw.

Caroline breathed in gasps as the pain in her face doubled, it was worth it though to cause Mikael pain. Glaring up at him with hate she pulled her hand back and punched him in the cheek causing Mikael to stumble to his knees, "Do you want to know where my place is?" She kicked him in the chest sending him over so that he was laying spread eagle on the ground, standing over him she answered her own question, "My place is with Niklaus."

Mikael just glared hatefully at Caroline, thoughts of revenge in his mind.

Klaus stood beside Caroline and looked down at Mikael. He could see the wheels turning in his mind and he knew that he would be planning revenge on her, "Don't even think about hurting her again," he narrowed his eyes at Mikael, "or I will kill you."

Mikael snorted, "Empty threat, boy!" He curled his lips in disgust, "You don't have it in you."

"Attempt to touch her again and I will gladly prove you wrong." Klaus looked at Caroline with affection in his eyes, "Caroline is my strength."

Caroline returned Klaus's affectionate gaze, her eyes shining with emotion. Reaching over she tangled her fingers with his, squeezing them tightly as she smiled at him.

Mikael rolled his eyes at the loving couple in front of him. It made him sick to watch Klaus flourish when he was with Caroline. All the years he spent beating the weakness out of Klaus only for it to reemerge in her presence. Love was nothing but a weakness and Mikael was anything but weak.

Klaus returned Caroline's smile before his gaze swept back to Mikael, the smile instantly turning from a smile to a hard line. Holding Caroline's hand for support he addressed his father, "Stay away from Caroline and I."

"And if I don't?" Mikael raised his eyebrow.

"I will kill you, Mikael." Klaus threatened, narrowing his gaze as he vowed, "And that's a promise." He stomped his foot on Mikael's face knocking him out.

Caroline placed her free hand on Klaus's chest as she asked, "Are you okay, Niklaus?"

"What have I told you about that, sweetheart?" Klaus sniffed, tears in his eyes as all that happened finally hit him, "When it is just us you call me Klaus."

"Klaus," Caroline corrected, her eyes full of concern, "are you alright?"

Klaus tugged on Caroline's arm pulling her into his arms, one arm around her waist the other cupping the back of her neck, he laid his chin on top of her head, closing his eyes he whispered hoarsely, "Better. Now that you are in my arms."

"I'm not going anywhere." Caroline whispered back, her arms circling Klaus's waist as she returned his embrace. She felt safe and loved within his warm embrace, cradling her so close she felt one with him. Until her cheek pressed against him, "Ow!" Caroline whimpered pulling away sharply, the pain in her cheek increasing from a dull ache to shooting pain.

Klaus winced in sympathy at Caroline's sound of pain, he too was aching in almost his whole body. Stroking her hair away from her face he suggested, "Let's get you to Ayana so she can heal your injuries."

Caroline nodded in agreement, "She can heal you too." She brushed her fingers against the bruises forming on Klaus's face.

Klaus kissed the pads of Caroline's fingers as they brushed his mouth, "She can." He ran his fingers gently across the side of her face, over her neck, down her arm to curl around her hand.

Caroline rest her head against Klaus's shoulder on the walk back to the village.

Ayana rubbed her healing balm onto Caroline's face, anger filling her as she surveyed what Mikael had done to her, "He should never have laid a hand on you." She frowned as massaged the balm onto her neck, "It is not right."

"I could not stand by and watch him harm Niklaus," Caroline responded, wincing as Ayana massaged her injuries, "I care about him too much to turn away from that sight."

Ayana smirked at Caroline's use of the word care, she had surpassed caring weeks ago and was now fully in love as was Klaus. They were very adorable to watch. Ayana smiled, young love.

Not noticing Ayana's smile Caroline continued, "Seeing the way Mikael treats Niklaus made me so angry." She looked up at Ayana asking, "How can he treat his own son this way?" This is before he knew of Esther's affair and Klaus's true parentage. Mikael was a monster long before Esther turned him into a vampire.

"I cannot answer that, child, only Mikael can." Ayana replied, applying the final coat of balm to Caroline. In all honesty she had long suspected that Mikael was aware or at least suspicious of Klaus's legitimacy, why else would he treat Klaus the way he did? On some level he must know.

"He doesn't deserve to be treated that way." Caroline truly meant that, Niklaus does not deserve be treated this way, no wonder Klaus became such a monster after he was turned. He had spent his whole human life feeling helpless and weak because of Mikael's abuse, when he turned he never had to feel vulnerable again. Her heart ached for the man he was and the man he becomes, he is just lost.

Ayana put her bowl on the side and patted the bed, "You must sleep now to let the balm work."

"What about Niklaus?" Caroline asked around a yawn, whatever Ayana had put in the balm was making her sleepy.

"Esther is using the same balm on him." Ayana assured Caroline. She waited for her to lay down before covering her with a blanket, "Sleep well, child." She kissed Caroline on the forehead before leaving the room.

Ayana's eyes turned black with anger, I must speak to Esther.

"He has gone too far this time, Esther." Ayana paced outside her home, agitation in her every step as anger from what Mikael did to Caroline and Klaus consumed her.

"I know he has." Esther replied, just as angry as Ayana at her husbands actions, "I am afraid he may actually kill Niklaus one of these days," she clenched her hands with rage, "or any of my children."

"We must do something." Ayana knew Mikael had to be prevented from murdering one of his children.

"I have to protect my children." Esther wrapped her arms around her waist, feeling afraid and vulnerable, "I can't lose another."

Ayana placed her hand on Esther's shoulder vowing, "We will find a way to protect them."

"We shall find a way." Esther vowed, she would find a way to protect her children from Mikael's wrath. She would search through her grimoires to find the answer.

It had been a week since the Mikael incident. Esther and Ayana had spent their free time looking through their grimoires to find a way to protect her children. Klaus and Caroline had stayed away from Mikael as much as possible.

Caroline was waiting for Klaus when a pair of hands covered her eyes, before she could panic she smelled Klaus's woodsy scent and relaxed. Covering his hands with hers she giggled, "What are you doing?"

"I am taking you to my secret place." Klaus answered, "I will lead you there." He leans in closer, "If you keep your eyes closed I will release my hands."

"Okay." Caroline agreed, keeping her eyes shut as Klaus removed his hands from her face and joined their hands together before leading her.

Klaus led Caroline a short distance through the woods until they reached their destination. Holding her hand tightly he took her through the opening, along a tunnel until he came to the mouth of what he wanted to show her, "You can open your eyes now."

Caroline opened her eyes and almost gasped. It was the caves that would one day become a part of the Lockwood property. These were the caves that told the story of how the Original family were turned into vampires and how Klaus murdered his mother.

Klaus walked into the cave pulling Caroline behind him and led her over to the wall of the cave, "My family and I have played in this cave since we were children." He ran his hand over the words carved into the stone, "Rebekah, Elijah and I carved our names into the rock."

Caroline already knew that as Elena had shared with her Rebekah's story of her family. She kept her head turned toward Klaus as she waited for him to speak.

"Rebekah and I carved ours in a hurry as we did not want father to catch us." Klaus smiled fondly at the memory of Rebekah insisting she wielded the blade to carve her name, "A part of us will live on."

"In a thousand years these carvings could possibly still be there." Caroline revealed, it amazed her that some thing Klaus and Rebekah created one day had lasted for well over a thousand years.

Klaus chuckled, "I do not know about that but for now my siblings and I have left our mark." He looked down briefly before catching Caroline's gaze, "Just as you have left your mark on me."

"How so?" Caroline asked, curious to know what mark she had left on Klaus.

"You have brightened my world." Klaus replied, his eyes shining with unshed tears, "I lived in darkness until you brought the light back into my life."

Caroline's breath caught at the emotion in Klaus's eyes, "Klaus..." She brought her hands to his chest, her gaze never leaving his, "What are you saying?"

Klaus placed his hands on top of Caroline's, looking deeply into her eyes he replied, "I am saying that I..." he swallowed thickly before finally confessing, "...I love you." He held his breath waiting for Caroline's response.

Caroline's eyes widened and her heart rate increased. Klaus loved her. A smile spread across her lips and a tear fell from her eye. Laughing breathlessly she raised her hand to cup Klaus's cheek and whispered back, "I love you too, Klaus."

Klaus released a breath in relief, Caroline loved him back. Laying his forehead against hers he asked, "Say it again."

Caroline grinned, "I love you."

Klaus closed his eyes, smiling in wonder, "Again."

"I," Caroline kissed each of Klaus's closed lid, "love," she ran her lips over his cheeks and jaw until she reached the corner of his mouth, "you." She placed her lips on his and kissed him passionately.

Klaus returned Caroline's kiss with equal fervour, his arm snaking around her waist to hold her close, his other buried in her hair as he devoured her mouth.

Caroline moaned as she opened her mouth and accepted Klaus's tongue. As they tasted one another she ran her fingernails across his back, loving the groan he let out.

Klaus released Caroline's lips breathing hard, his heart trebled in beats as desire sang in his veins, the feel of her body against his fuelling it.

Caroline tried to control her breathing, the need to show Klaus how much she loved him nearly overwhelming her, her body was filled with desire for him.

After Klaus calmed his breath he ran his fingers across Caroline's cheek, "I have something to give you."

Caroline tilted her head her eyes glistening with excitement, "What do you have for me?"

Klaus walked to the wall where he carved his name to retrieve a satchel he placed there earlier in the day. Going back to Caroline he took out a rolled up piece of paper and handed it to her, "I made this for you."

Caroline took the paper from Klaus and unfurled it. She gasped as she revealed a picture of herself and Henrik picking apples from the orchid. Henrik was sitting on her shoulders reaching for an apple a wide smile on his face, Caroline's face was tilted upwards, her mouth wide caught in a laugh, her cheeks as rosy as the apples surrounding them. It was breathtaking.

"Do you like it?" Klaus asked nervously, this was the first time he had ever shown Caroline his art and he was anxious to know her reaction.

"It's beautiful, Klaus." Caroline smiled down at the piece of paper, "I shall treasure it always."

Klaus was happy that Caroline liked his drawing, to know she loved it meant everything to him and gave him that extra confidence for what he was about to do. He took out her final gift and reached for her hand, "I have something else for you, Caroline."

"I do not need anything else, Klaus, this painting is more than enough for me." Caroline didn't need anything else from Klaus but himself, that was enough for her.

"Caroline..." Klaus placed his gift in the palm of Caroline's hand.

Caroline looked down at her hand and gasped in shock.

"...will you be my wife." Klaus's hands trembled around Caroline's as he awaited her answer.

Caroline stared down at the ring in her hand in disbelief, it can't be, it had the same cut, the same style, the lapis lazuli was unmistakable, it's my daylight ring.

"Oh my." Ara placed her hand on her chest as she witnessed Klaus proposing to Caroline.

Nera glanced at Ara and asked, "Are you crying?"

Ara wiped a tear away from her cheek, "It is so very sweet." She smiled at the image in the mirror, "The bond is almost complete."

Nera couldn't help but smile at the tender heart of her sister, even after thousands of years and witnessing humanities cruelty Ara's sense of caring had never faded.

"Do you believe she will say yes?" Ara asked, she did not think Caroline would refuse Klaus.

"I have no doubt." Nera answered, she didn't need her alter of water to know that, anyone who saw them together knew that Caroline loved Klaus just as much as he loved her.

Ara smiled at Nera's answer, her sister was not as optimistic as she was because of her gift of sight, she could see where your choices would lead, the good, the bad and the tragic. That could jade a person but Nera was strong, both physically and mentally, it made her a realist but also full of hope. Hope that humanity would one day make more good choices than the tragic ones.

Once, Klaus and Caroline were one of those tragic stories. Now, their story was full of hope and with a few more good choices they would be forever cemented as having the greatest love of all time. Strong, passionate, unbreakable. There will be a few more bumps in the road before that can occur.

Ara and Nera are hopeful that Klaus and Caroline will overcome every obstacle before them. After all, a love like theirs only occurs once a millennia.

TBC

AN - What did you guys think? I hope you all enjoyed it. The start of this chapter was very action packed and ended with a proposal. Find out Caroline's answer next chapter :-) Until next time X X X