AN: Hey readers! As usual, thank you for your reviews, favorites and follows! I simply cannot believe all the love this story gets! Just a little warning, this chapter is a little shorter than the past few have been. I deeply apologize for that. I honest reason is that this chapter revolves mostly around Damon/Enzo/Klaus and in my original story plan, Damon and Enzo never really made an appearance. They are in this story for the sole reason of making my readers happy (and that a little jealous Klaus is always a joy to read!). I hope you guys enjoy! There might be some grammatical errors, but if I didn't post it now, it would be another couple of days. Happy reading!
Klaus watches as Caroline vamps away. His mind is running awry with all the different ways this night could have ended. Not once when he had thought about his date with Caroline, had Klaus imagined him dragging himself to Rousseau's with the purpose of drinking the bar dry. Klaus walks to the bar because he can't even process how his date with Caroline went from going good to her upset and leaving him alone. As Klaus makes his way to his favorite bar, he begins to debate with himself. Maybe he should have been more sensitive to Caroline. Klaus has always been well aware of Caroline's love of humanity and her ability to forgive. She has even tried to forgive him on occasion. Klaus wonders if he should call her and apologize. But his mind strays to his kingdom. He can't be sensitive and run a kingdom. His minions need to fear him. He will lose everything if he goes soft because of Caroline. Klaus' internal debate only fuels his anger and puts him into a foul mood. Klaus nearly rips the door off of Rousseau's as he enters the bar. Cami is working the bar and she can practically feel the anger and frustration radiating off of him. Klaus throws himself down onto a bar stool.
"Hey." Cami says gently. She places a full tumbler of bourbon down on the bar top. "Let me know if you need anything else." She says, trying to pull his attention from whatever issue he is dealing with. "Anything." Cami says again, making sure Klaus realizes that she still wants to be his friend and is willing to lend an ear for him.
Klaus barely acknowledges Cami and just grumbles something under his breath. Cami takes that as a sign to let him stew for a while. Cami goes back to tending to the other customers, always keeping one eye on Klaus.
After Klaus has already downed three tumblers of bourbon, he senses the presence of some vaguely familiar vampires. Klaus looks to his left and sees Stefan. Klaus cannot even bare to be slightly happy that the Ripper has come down to New Orleans. Klaus groans out loud as he looks to his right and sees Damon Salvatore settling into the seat next to him. On the other side of Damon is another dark haired vampire, who Klaus can only assume is the Enzo character Caroline spoke of.
"Hey Klaus." Stefan says, not picking up on Klaus' awful mood.
"Ripper." Klaus grinds out.
"I was hoping you could give me some directions to where I might find Care." Stefan says carefully, realizing that Klaus does not seem to be in a helpful mood.
Klaus quickly writes down some directions on a napkin and throws it at Stefan. Stefan sends a look to his brother who is eying the angry Hybrid mischievously. Stefan sighs, hoping that his brother will use some discretion and won't completely piss Klaus off further. "Thanks." Stefan says as he leaves the bar to go find his best friend.
Damon turns away from Klaus and motions to the blonde bartender for a drink for him and Enzo. Enzo looks around the bar and thanks the bar tender as she gives them their drinks. Cami gives the two vampires a weary look, because she can just tell they are trouble. "So this is New Orleans." Damon says wistfully as he takes a gulp of his scotch. "I would have expected more fanfare from the king of New Orleans." Damon adds.
"Where is the king?" Enzo plays stupid. "He's here?" Enzo fakes excitement and surprise.
"Sitting right next to me." Damon pretends to whisper as he tilts his head toward Klaus. Klaus growls under his breath, but Damon and Enzo decide to ignore the warning.
"That's the Hybrid?" Enzo takes a moment to observe the angry King of New Orleans. "I don't get it." Enzo comments. Damon looks to his friend with questions in his eyes. "I mean, I am just as handsome, maybe a little bit more so. No doubt I am more charming. Why would Caroline ever hold out for someone like him, when I am ready, willing and available?" Enzo winks.
Damon laughs as Klaus' entire body tenses. He doesn't like this Enzo guy and he absolutely hates that Enzo seems to be after Caroline. And with the way he just pushed Caroline away, Klaus left the door wide open for Enzo. Maybe he should just get rid of the vampire. Pull his heart out right now. Problem solved. Klaus smiles at the mental picture of him removing the heart form this lesser version of himself. Cami notices the tension and walks over to Klaus. She gently rests her hand on his, as a sign to remain in control. She offers him a friendly smile. Damon notices and clasps Enzo's shoulder. "There's your answer. Blondie doesn't want you because you want her. See, Klaus here has found a human replacement for Caroline. And that must make her crazy with wanting what she can't have." Damon turns to Cami. "Tell me, Blondie 2.0, did you give it up easily, or did you make Klaus chase you too?"
Klaus' fist gets so tight on his tumbler, that he shatters the glass everywhere. Cami is not only worried about Klaus, but annoyed at these two vampires who seem to be goading Klaus. She reluctantly walks away because her presence only seemed to make things worse.
Stefan easily follows Klaus' directions and finds the apartment Caroline and Lizzie are staying at. Stefan knocks on the door and is shocked by how sad Caroline looks when she opens the door. Caroline gives him a watery smile and wraps her arms around his shoulders, sighing. "Stefan, you're here."
"Of course I am. I promised you." Stefan says into her hair. Stefan pushes his way into the apartment and gently cups her face with his hands. Her bloodshot eyes and the tear streaks on her cheeks are signs that something is not ok. Even on her worse day with Lizzie, Caroline never cried about it. Caroline had reveled in the inner strength she found after Liz's passing. To see Caroline so upset slightly unnerves Stefan. "What happened?" Stefan asks, dragging Caroline through the apartment. They settle on the couch and Stefan wraps an arm around Caroline's shoulders.
Caroline lowers her head onto Stefan's chest and closes her eyes. "Klaus happened." Stefan decides to give her a moment to elaborate. "We went on a date, so Hayley could spend some time with Lizzie. It actually was going ok, until he needed to deal with a vampire. And by 'deal with' I mean kill, cold bloodedly, without even letting the guy explain himself." Caroline fights to keep the tears in. Stefan nods, understanding that Caroline was still uncomfortable with killing and bloodshed. "I tried to plead with him, but his precious reputation was more important than being fair and at least giving the guy a chance to explain. He had wolf bite and was hallucinating." Caroline explains, as she buries her face further into Stefan. "I probably made him mad because I just left. I couldn't stand to be around him anymore. I can't see myself with him when he's like that. It just breaks my heart." Caroline admits. "Ugh, this is all so messed up." Caroline groans. All of a sudden, Caroline's face whips up to look at Stefan. Her eye brows are furrowed and she looks confused. "How did you know where I was staying?"
Stefan laughs, nervously. "Funny story. We found Klaus at some bar. He gave me some directions. He's kind of in a really bad mood."
Caroline jumps up from the couch. "We?"
"Yeah, Me, Damon and Enzo." Stefan confirms.
"Where are Damon and Enzo, Stefan?" Caroline asks, with more than just a hint of worry. She knew Klaus would not take well to her just running off after their date. Especially since she challenged him and called him out on being cruel and blood thirsty.
"Still at the bar." Stefan says, unsure.
"You left them there, with an angry Klaus? What's wrong with you, Stef?" Caroline begins to panic. "Oh, god. He's going to kill one of them, or both of them. You know Damon loves to push Klaus over the edge. Ugh!" Caroline speeds around the apartment, throwing some clothes on and washing her face. Caroline vamps up to Stefan and points a finger at his chest. "You are staying here, with Lizzie. I need to go diffuse a hybrid sized bomb." Caroline moans as she leaves the apartment and a rather shocked Stefan.
Caroline uses all the energy she has left to vamp herself to Rousseau's. She knows that is the only bar Klaus would feel comfortable brooding in. She slows down, so she can walk in the door at a human pace. Cami is tending to a customer near the door and glares at Caroline as she enters. "Why are you here?" Cami asks, with more attitude than a human should be giving a vampire.
Caroline decides to just push past Cami and not bother with answering the rude question. Caroline continues her scan of the bar to locate Klaus.
Cami steps in front of Caroline, standing only a few inches away. "You should leave. You've done enough damage to him. I know it's your fault he's in the mood that he is in. Just get out of my bar." Cami tries to be tough and stand up to the blonde vampire.
Caroline sighs and shakes her head. This woman has no sense of self preservation. Just because Klaus likes her, she thinks she is untouchable. Caroline only barely taps into her vampire strength and gently pushes Cami to the side. Cami is shocked that Caroline actually just pushes her away. Cami begins to storm after Caroline, but it's a lost cause as Caroline bolts to the far wall where Klaus has Enzo pinned, by his neck. "Klaus, let him go!" Caroline shouts.
Klaus recognizes her scent even before Caroline spoke. He could tell she was in the bar, but he really wanted to know why. Stefan had come to see her and clearly she had shown up without the ripper. Klaus decides to humor her and he drops Enzo to the ground. Even with his vampire reflexes, Enzo stumbles to the ground, rubbing his neck. Klaus turns around the face Caroline. "Caroline, what a surprise."
"Great timing, Gorgeous." Enzo gives Caroline a flirty smile. "Did you come to save me?" Enzo asks, as he rises to his feet. Caroline just shakes her head and wonders how she got in this position.
Damon approaches the group with a big smile on his face and he bumps his shoulder up against Caroline's. "Did my baby bro send you to babysit us, Blondie?" Damon slurs just a bit and Caroline groans. She rolls her eyes at Damon's antics, but refuses to even glance in Klaus' direction. Klaus hates that Caroline won't even look at him. He knows that he really upset her and he wonders if threatening to kill this Enzo guy will also work against him.
"No, Damon. Stefan didn't send me. But when he said that he left your two here with him." Caroline points her thumb over her shoulder at Klaus. "I knew it would lead to nothing but trouble. Enough blood has been shed tonight. I don't need the two of you getting drunk and baiting the hybrid king of New Orleans."
Enzo smiles slyly as he slips his arm around Caroline's shoulders and pulls her next to him. "Us? Bait an evil immortal hybrid? Really?" Enzo asks, innocently. Caroline actually laughs at the show Enzo is putting on.
Klaus however, is angered further. To see Caroline so at ease with Enzo and how close they seem to be. It only gives him more reason to rip the heart out of the dark haired vampire. Cami glares at Caroline as she maneuvers around tables to get to Klaus, to make sure he's not killing anyone in the bar. Damon's face breaks out into a teasing smirk at Cami's appearance. "See, Blondie, you are free to take Enzo up on his offer now." All eyes turn to watch Damon Salvatore. Caroline's eye brows raise up and she knows she will regret letting Damon finish, but she is unsure what he is drunkenly talking about. "Klaus has acquired this little human bartender as a Blondie 2.0. A replacement. So you can take Enzo on as Klaus 2.0." Damon smiles innocently and Enzo also grins.
"I am not a replacement for her." Cami huffs.
"But, you are both blonde, even dress similarly. Only difference is our Blondie here is a baby vamp and you are just a human." Damon continues. "And here, we have two charming, accented bad boys. Only difference being one is an indestructible hybrid and the other is a former Augustine vampire." Damon beams, proud of himself. Caroline shakes her head and rolls her eyes. She really needs to get these two guys out of this bar and away from Klaus.
"You don't know anything about my relationship with Klaus." Cami says indignantly as she walks away again. Klaus cannot be bothered with Cami at the moment. He is trying his hardest to not just rip Damon and Enzo to pieces and take Caroline away.
"But I tried being charming and giving her presents." Enzo says to Damon, as if Caroline and Klaus aren't standing right there. "It didn't work." Enzo turns to Klaus. "What am I missing?"
A small part of Klaus is happy that Caroline doesn't have feelings for Enzo more than just a friend, but the majority of him is just enraged and he wants nothing more than to just bite into the troublesome vampire's neck and let him waste away of a hybrid bite. When Caroline still refuses to look at him, Klaus takes action. Klaus pushes Enzo and Damon up against the wall, with one hand on each of their necks.
"Klaus!" Caroline exclaims, not expecting him to just react like that.
"Look at me, Caroline." Klaus says, calmly. Caroline just swallows hard and looks to the ground. "Caroline, please. Just look at me." Klaus pleads with a softness in his voice. Caroline's eyes meet with Klaus' and she has to remind herself that he just killed a sick vampire in cold blood, without consideration for anything but his reputation and kingdom. "Will you vouch for these two?"
"What do you mean?" Caroline asks, her eyes shifting from Klaus to Damon and Enzo. She locks eyes with Klaus and waits for his explanation.
"Vouch for them, that they will not cause any trouble in my city. You saw what happens when a vampire causes problems here. Otherwise, I am tempted to leave them be with a lovely parting gift of a hybrid bite and no cure to be offered." Klaus explains without ever taking his eyes away from Caroline.
Caroline sighs and looks to Damon and Enzo. She glares at them for putting her in this position. "Can you two just behave while you are here in New Orleans? Please?" The 'please' was more of a demand than a request. Damon nods to the best of his ability, while being pinned to the wall by a hybrid.
Enzo decides to take one last shot at Klaus. "Only because you asked, Gorgeous." Enzo chokes out with a wink.
Klaus drops the vampires and they jump to their feet quickly. "Ok, time to go." Caroline begins to usher Damon and Enzo out of the bar.
"Oh, Caroline." Klaus calls, his voice going back to the amused tone it has too often. Caroline stops and turns to look at Klaus. "I believe we need to talk."
Caroline shakes her head. "Tomorrow." She walks out the door, still pushing Damon and Enzo.
"So are you taking us to finally meet your little girl?" Enzo asks, knowing that Klaus can still hear.
Klaus grits his teeth and vamps out of the bar and in front of the group. "I do not want those two sorry excuses for vampires around my daughter. Do you understand, Caroline?" Klaus says, darkly.
Caroline laughs. "Klaus, you forget that she is also my daughter. And they are my friends. If I want them to meet, they will." Caroline guides both Damon and Enzo towards the apartment she is staying at and away from a fuming Klaus.