Holy Cow I updated! I gotta be honest, there were more than one moment where I almost gave up. But luckily, inspiration came to me and I was able to put it down. This chapter is a little shorter than I'd like, but I felt like I needed to get something published for all of you.

I don't have much to say, other than I hope you're all still with me! Also, if you haven't already please check out liarfaker and I's fic The Vixens and The Vamps. It's under our joint Author name SoapFactory.

Feel free to leave me a review.

Chapter 12: Cowgirls Don't Cry

The Cabin

Klaus had woken up in many strange places. He's peeked an eye open in tawdry inns after a night of drunken inhibitions. He's stretched and yawned underneath too many trees to count, not to mention along a few river banks. He's even awoken a few times a top his horse. His head bobbing up and down as his trusty steed followed behind his gang.

That morning in the cabin, after his imagination indulged in the sensuality of Ms. Caroline Forbes, he awoke from the sound of low voices. The memory of his dream faded away and the reality of his surroundings slowly came into focus.

"Welcome back." Elena sat beside him offering him a glass of water. He took the drink and looked at it disappointed.

"You got anything stronger?" he mused.

"Water is good. You need it to gain your strength back."

"I find whiskey brings me back quicker," he said and sat up from the couch. That's funny, he thought. He could've sworn he fell asleep in the chair.

She only smiled and nodded for him to finish the drink.

"How's Rebekah?" he asked, his sister's condition coming back to mind.

"She's much better. Stefan just went back in with her. We can head to my camp tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" He sat the drink down and tried to stand. The blood rushed to his head and he fell back onto the couch. He felt like he'd been on a week long bender, his head pounding and his vision blurred.

"It'll take some time, just sit down and relax."

"I thought you said it would be days before we could even consider moving Rebekah?"

"I did."

"But you're now telling me we can leave tomorrow? Has she made that much progress in such a short amount of time?"

Elena tilted her head and smiled at him again. Always smiling. Like he was some silly child that always needed further explanation. He half expected her to talk to him slowly and with overly pronounced syllables.

"You've been asleep for three days, Klaus."

"What?" He snapped his head toward her. That was not a good idea. The motion caused a raucous in his skull that no amount of pressure from the palms of his hands could make go away. He squeezed his head and closed his eyes. "Three days?" he spoke quietly as not to disrupt the peace and quiet slowly settling back in his mind.

She nodded again.

"How can that be?"

"It's always different for each person. Some only sleep for an hour, while others sleep for one or two days." She busied herself while she spoke. Folding sheets that were obviously line dried and recently brought in. "But you, you needed three days."

"Is that unusual?"

"Yes." Ominous as usual, she didn't go into any further detail. She grabbed the stack of sheets and took them to the back room.

Klaus leaned back against the cushions of the couch and finished his water. It was unusual but for the first time he felt a sort of peace wash over him. The words that Caroline (well dream Caroline) spoke came back to him again.

"Your mind is clouded with death and revenge and you have no direction."

He knew that his mind was clouded with death and revenge with the lives that he had taken and the lives that were taken from him. It was always about family and retribution, that's what he told himself. He wanted to take care of them and he never felt like that was possible until they disposed of the one man that brought the most fear into their lives. The man that destroyed his family by killing his mother and abandoning the rest of them.

His actions against Mikael were his life long purpose. But now, he knew she was right, he had no direction. His gang has been displaced; two of his own injured, two brothers separated, and one new addition that seemed to be the catalyst to it all. And because of that catalyst, he can't remember a day in his life when he was truly content. That he wasn't planning his next scheme against Mikael. It only took three days of what he can only describe as pure bliss for him to realize he had found that contentment. It wasn't with money, or revenge and it wasn't with retribution. No, it was with a certain blonde, that made him feel nurtured and peaceful, even if it was a dream, for the first time in his adult life.

He was relieved to know that Rebekah was on the mend, for the sooner she was better, the sooner they could return to Elena's camp.

When Elena came back into the living room he asked, "Would it be alright if I went in and saw her?"

"Yes. I would knock though. She's been feeling much better and Stefan is keeping her company at the moment."

Klaus didn't need the visual that Elena so nonchalantly offered. He liked the Salvatore brother but that didn't mean he liked the idea of him and Rebekah. He stood up slowly this time, allowing his equilibrium to balance out. He walked to the bedroom door and knocked hesitantly.

"Come in," he heard the soft response of his baby sister.

The room was brightly lit with the sun pouring through the window. The last he saw Rebekah she was barely holding on and now she looked a little worse for the wear, but with a smile on her face. "Niklaus, you're awake."

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Stefan said and gave Klaus a pat on the shoulder. "I'll leave you two to catch up." He walked over to Rebekah and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before heading out the door.

"Come," she patted the bed beside her, "sit down next to your sister."

Klaus did as she told and took a seat. He brought his hand up to her head to smooth down her hair and he felt a small tear prick the corner of his eye. "I...I'm so sorry Rebekah."

"For what, Nik? You couldn't have known this would happen."

"For not being there. For letting all of you down." He looked away from her and closed his eyes. "This never would've happened if-"

"But it did and I'm going to be just fine." It was her turn to comfort him and she cupped the side of his face and brought it back to her. "Klaus, it was an accident. An accident that never would've happened if we didn't run off the way we did. It's nobody's fault."

"I think Damon can take a bit of the fault," he scoffed. He had forgotten all about the tyrant until just then. What a stupid son of a bitch, he was.

His anger was about to spill over again like hot molten lava when she placed her hand on his. "Damon was just doing what he thought was best. We didn't have to follow him, you know? But we did, we thought we could handle it."

"But you couldn't!" He stood up and threw his hands out before turning around to face her. "What were you thinking?"

"We obviously weren't!" She yelled back at him. "Do you think, for a second, that if I knew I was gonna get shot that I would've followed Damon? Do you think any of us would?" She was getting heated. The Mikaelson temper filling the room with its rage and indignation. "I'm all for following your heart, Niklaus, but since when did Caroline Forbes become more important than your family?"

He ran a hand down his face and grunted with annoyance. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I? Stefan filled me in."

"Well then Stefan doesn't know what he's talkin' about either." He walked to the window and leaned against the frame and stared out. He couldn't look at her, if he looked at her she'd know the truth. It was something he hadn't even figured out for himself and yet all the women in his life, his new sister-in-law included, seem to have a much better grasp on it than he does.

"Klaus," she said softly. "Klaus, look at me!"

"It wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to happen, Bekah." He turned to look at her then and with furrowed brows he shook his head, "She was supposed to remain a memory."

Rebekah smiled at her slightly pathetic brother. As a woman she knew how easily it was to fall victim to your heart. It took far too many heartbreaks before she finally found Stefan. "Tell me about her," she offered.

"What?"

"Tell me more about how our childhood friend has gotten hold of your heart."

He rolled his eyes and smiled before heading for the door. "I'm sure you'll get it out of me one way or another. But until then, I'm going to pack for the Apache's camp."

"But Nik-"

"Get some sleep, Bekah," he said and closed the door behind him.

(***)

Apache Camp

"Come on you slow poke!"

"Oh, sure, don't mind me, I was only shot with a fucking arrow!"

"Watch your mouth, Kol!"

Caroline raced through the prairie at top speed with an exhausted Kol close behind. It had been close to a week since he had been outside and she felt it was time for him to get some fresh air. Never being one to turn down a wager, he had agreed to a race, believing that his hurt shoulder would give her enough of a handicap to possibly beat him. Clearly he underestimated her feminine façade.

"I win!" She cheered, and began clapping and jumping up and down to celebrate her victory.

"You won, cause I let you win!" Kol threw back at her. He placed his hands on his thighs and heaved with exhaustion.

"Suuuuure," she mocked. "And I suppose I cheated too?"

"Possibly..." he smirked.

"Well, maybe you should lay off the peace pipe."

"Hey! It makes my arm feel better-"

"And the monkey business with all the squaws in the village?"

"All part of the healing process, Darlin'!"

"I'm sure it is." She just shook her head in feigned disappointment, but in reality she was growing fond of Kol's brazen shenanigans.

They turned and strolled lazily back to camp, laughing and joking as friends would do. Kol picked up a stick and dragged it across the ground, drawing zigzags in the earth, while Caroline finds the perfect piece of grass to pluck from the earth and place in her mouth.

"The air is getting colder during the day." Caroline said as she felt a cool breeze nip across her arms. "Winter will be here soon."

"Well, I would offer you my coat, but it's reserved for proper ladies."

Caroline glared at him, trying to keep a straight face, but it was no use. She covered her mouth and began to laugh again when he waggled his eyebrows at her and smiled that deviant smile. "I wouldn't want the jacket from that scoundrel "The Tailor" anyway. It smells of harlots and horse shit."

"CAROLINE!" he scolded. "Watch your mouth, young lady!"

"I can't help it," she teased. "You bring the worst out in me, Kol Mikaelson."

"Yes, I tend to have that effect on people."

Caroline never thought she would hear Kol really laugh. He was either too serious for his own good or his laughter was filled with malice and spite. But the way he laughed now, how he threw his head back and allowed a silly almost childlike chuckle to flow freely out of him, made her heart light. Like the rest of his family, there seemed to be a deep sadness surrounding him, and with the new information regarding Mikael and their past it wasn't a surprise.

There was a gentleman in him after all, when he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. "Sorry it smells like horse shit," he shrugged.

"That's alright, I'm getting used to it." She laughed. Not really knowing what to do with his sudden show of kindness, Caroline was quick to change the subject. "So, when do you think the others will come back?"

"Why? You tired of my company already?"

"No, it's not that, it's just..."

"You miss him?"

She did miss him. She missed him terribly and she didn't even know why. Perhaps the time with Kol had reminded her of their childhood. Or maybe there were things in Kol that just plain reminded her of him. They were brothers after all. "Kol, do you think he cares for me?"

"He probably likes ya a lot more than I do!"

"That's not sayin' much," she laughed.

"It's true. I prefer my women a little less chatty and a lot more naughty."

Once again Kol's redefining the word 'gentleman' with his boorish wit and subtle charm. "Come on," she tossed his jacket back at him. "Race me back to camp?" She didn't give him a chance to answer, she just took off at top speed leaving Kol in her wake.

"Wait! I wasn't ready!" He hollered at her before hurrying to catch up.

(***)

It's not like it was a surprise. Well it was a little bit of a surprise. He knew her affections could change if she only spent some time away from him. But to watch them fall upon Kol was too shocking for words.

Klaus watched from across the way as the two of them ran and laughed, like two love struck hyenas. He had to admit that he'd never seen Kol happier, but then he'd also have to admit that he never wanted to hit him in the face more than he did at that moment.

"Is that her?" Rebekah asked from behind him.

He nodded and sighed heavily.

"Seems she's taken a liking to our dear brother."

"It seems that way."

Oh no Klaus...you got the wrong idea! Always the first to think that someone couldn't possibly care for him the way he cares for them. Sigh. When will you learn Klausy dear?

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