AN: I'm so sorry I have been absent for so long. I have many lame excuses, that all fit under the 'life got busy' category. This story is nearing it's conclusion and my goal is to finish it before school lets out. I don't expect to get much (if any) time to write this summer, so I am going to try my hardest to not leave you all with an unfinished story for two months. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I really wanted to put something out for any of you still hoping to read more. I want to thank all my reviewers for taking the time to leave me your thoughts and ideas, as I have not had the time to respond personally. I really appreciate your input and love hearing from you. To all my readers out there who will read this update despite my long time away, I send you virtual hugs and chocolate chip cookies. :)
Caroline pockets her phone with a smile on her face. "How's Lizzie doing?" Bonnie asks as they walk towards the group of witches sitting around a wooden picnic table in the middle of a tree lined park.
Caroline stops short, so the witches in Bonnie's coven can't hear her. "She's doing well, I think. She calls me all the time and I wonder if she is actually bonding with anyone other than Klaus." Caroline says in a hushed voice. She knows the witches in Bonnie's coven are not fans of vampires and they would probably give her a collective aneurism if they knew about her past and present involvement with Klaus.
Bonnie gives Caroline a supportive smile. "Give her a little more time. It takes time to find your roots." Bonnie looks at her coven members. The two friends take a few more steps towards the witches, when Caroline halts again. Bonnie sighs. "I only invited the ones who were understanding of our friendship. None of them will hurt you." Bonnie rests her hand on Caroline's shoulder.
"I spent five years away from the supernatural. I have superior control over my bloodlust and can survive on very little. I guess I kind of got used to feeling like a normal human again." Caroline admits.
"I thought you liked being a vampire?"
"I do. Well, I like who becoming a vampire made me. I'm not such a huge fan of the whole drinking blood thing. But I like who I am." Caroline smiles back at Bonnie. "But that 'pretending to be a normal human' portion of my life is over, and I'm back in the world of witches, vampires and werewolves."
"And hybrids." Bonnie whispers as she winks at Caroline. "Come on." Bonnie pulls Caroline along until they are standing next to the table. Caroline counts three witches and two warlocks and she wonders if one of the warlocks is the one who Bonnie seems to have a crush on. "Hey!" Bonnie calls and all the occupants of the table turn and smile at her, offering greetings. "This is my friend, Caroline."
Caroline smiles her "Miss. Mystic smile" and shakes hands with the members of Bonnie's coven. They spend the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening just talking. Caroline loves hearing their stories and all the trouble some of the newbie witches get into. Caroline cannot help but watch the look of pure bliss on Bonnie's face. It's obvious that her friend has found people who understand her and make her feel important. Looking back, Caroline can admit that Bonnie's abilities were often used, with no regard for her opinion and wellbeing. Seeing her friend, surrounded by other witches and warlocks, smiling and sharing stories causes Caroline's heart to swell. This is all Caroline could hope for, for Bonnie. Caroline makes a vow to herself to never lose touch with Bonnie again, because she likes seeing this Bonnie.
Caroline gets a text from Enzo about meeting for a few drinks and she waves goodbye to Bonnie's friends. "I'll meet you back at your place later." Caroline says as she hugs her friend. Caroline vamps off to reach Enzo within minutes.
"Hello Gorgeous. How did meeting the coven go?" Enzo asks, as he slides a tumbler of dark colored liquor towards Caroline.
Caroline sits herself down on the barstool next to Enzo. She takes a swig of the drink and looks around the bar. She didn't notice it at first, but turns out Enzo invited her to a vampire bar. She can taste the hint of blood in her drink. "Enzo." Caroline growls out.
"Just indulge for one night." Enzo says, trying to look innocent and failing miserably.
Caroline lets out a sigh and sips from her drink again. "One drink." She pokes Enzo in the chest with her pointer finger to make her point. Enzo smirks back and rubs his chest where he would have bruised if he wasn't a vampire. "It was really nice seeing Bonnie so happy and comfortable. It's like she found her people."
Enzo knocks back his drink and signals for another. "That's good, right?"
"Yeah, it's really good." Caroline takes another sip of her drink.
"So then what's wrong?" Enzo studies Caroline's face and she is shocked to see the genuine concern on his face.
"Bonnie seems so at home with her coven. The only place I have felt at home, since becoming a vampire, was with Lizzie." Caroline fake coughs to cover her next words. "And Klaus."
A knowing smile stretches on Enzo's face. "Oh, Gorgeous. Just admit that you have feelings for the man. There will be no judgement here."
Caroline downs the rest of her drink and gives in and orders one more. "I just miss Lizzie. And Klaus. Ok? I miss them both." Caroline groans and swallows down the contents of her second glass in one gulp.
Enzo shakes his head in amusement and throws some money on the bar top. "Ok, enough drinks." Enzo grabs Caroline's hand and pulls her from the bar. They walk along the streets of Boston in silence for a few minutes. "If you miss them, why don't you just swallow your pride and go back? I highly doubt that Klaus will turn you away if you came back." Enzo offers, trying to be a good friend.
"It's not my pride in the way." Caroline begins to explain, as they meander through the city. "I was being honest when I thought Lizzie needed some time with her family. I don't want to take that away from her. It's bad enough she calls me whenever she can. I'm not sure how much time she is actually spending with her family or learning magic."
Enzo begins to steer them back to Bonnie's house. "Then why do you answer?"
"I can't just not answer. I love her and miss her. I could never not-" Caroline is cut off when a loud screeching sound is heard and then the sound of crunching metal.
Caroline and Enzo look up to see a man stumble out of a dark pick-up truck. The entire front end of the truck is smashed in, having collided with a small red car. Enzo takes a few long strides to reach the man, who reeks of alcohol. "What happened?" Enzo compels the man.
The man's eyes glaze over more than they were. "I don't know. I blacked out while driving and the next thing I knew, my truck was crashing into this car."
"Are you drunk?" Enzo asks, watching as Caroline slowly walks towards the car.
The man shrugs his shoulders and wipes the blood that is trickling down his face from the gash on his forehead. "I had a few drinks at the bar. I shouldn't have driven." The compulsion forces the man to admit the truth.
Caroline closes her eyes and breathes deep. She can smell the blood coming from the car. She wills her vampire features to vanish and looks in the window of the totaled car. "Enzo, there's a child in here." Caroline examines the little boy, putting his age at probably about 6 months old.
Enzo allows his face to vamp out and grabs the drunken man by the collar. "Where you going to call the cops?"
"Hell no. I was going to run. The truck isn't even mine. It's my brother-in-laws." The man admits.
Caroline looks closer at the occupants of the car. The little boy in the back is well protected in his car seat, and fast asleep. The woman in the passenger seat is already dead. The driver is breathing heavy, barely clinging to life. "Danny." The man moans out. Caroline watches as the man makes eye contact with her. She is struggling to keep her vampire face away, as blood seeps out of his wounds. "Save Danny."
Caroline takes a step closer to car and points to the backseat. "Is Danny your son?"
The man weakly grasps for Caroline's hand. She lets him, even though his hand is covered in blood. "Please, save my son." The man breathes his last breath and his hand slips from Caroline's.
She swallows thickly and looks at Enzo. Enzo tightens his grip on the drunken man, holding him still as Caroline pulls the back door to the car open. She carefully unbuckles the child from the car seat and pulls him out. Danny stirs in his sleep and settles against Caroline as she holds him to her chest. Caroline cuddles the child and checks for injuries. "Danny is fine. His parents are dead, but he is ok."
Enzo smirks at the drunken man who just orphaned an infant and lets his fangs drop. He drains the man within seconds and tosses his body back into the truck. "They will just assume he died from the accident." Enzo explains, licking his lips and approaching Caroline. Enzo watches how carefully Caroline holds the baby, cradling him, protecting him. A small smile graces his face. "Perhaps this is a sign. A chance to begin again, with a true human child. A child, whose parents won't be coming back for him."
Caroline stares at the sleeping child. Danny has round cheeks and tufts of light brown hair. He is probably a sweet little boy who won't even miss his parents. It would be so easy for Caroline to just disappear with him. A tear rolls down Caroline's cheek and places a kiss to the top of Danny's head. "Lizzie is the only child I intend to parent. I won't replace her. I can't. When the time is right, I will reunite with her, and in the meantime I will miss her. Danny deserves to be loved, by human parents. I'm sure they will find a family for him." Caroline kisses the baby again and buckles him back into the car seat. Enzo watches as Caroline places an anonymous phone call to 911, informing them of the crash.
Caroline and Enzo stand in the shadows and watch as the police cars, ambulances and fire trucks all speed to the site of the accident. They are not standing too far away, but with all the sirens blaring and chatter of the rescue workers, they have to strain to hear what is to become of baby Danny.
A female paramedic emerges from the truck. "I have one body in here. And he smells like a liquor store." The woman crudely yells.
A burley paramedic walks over to the police officer in charge, with Danny tucked into his arms. "There's two bodies in the car. Most likely this little guys parents." The man gestures to Danny.
The officer nods. "The child is the only survivor?"
The paramedic looks at Danny sadly. "I'm gonna load him up so we can get him to the hospital and make sure he's ok."
"I'll call someone from CPS to meet you there, while we attempt to find next of kin." The police officer waves the paramedic away.
Caroline looks at Enzo and nods softly. They turn to disappear into the darkness as they hear the police officer comment that the crash that killed three people was just another case of drunk driving that has left a child orphaned.
Enzo waits until they are closer to Bonnie's house to ask. "Are you ok, Gorgeous?"
Caroline shrugs and rolls her eyes when Enzo levels her with a disapproving stare. Caroline stops walking and sits down on the curb of the street. "The officer said they would look for his family. Maybe Danny has an aunt or grandmother who will take him. I mean, I 'rescued' Lizzie and look where that got us. Her life was thrown into a tailspin because I took her from the home where Klaus and Hayley left her. Maybe she would have been better off."
Enzo sits down next to Caroline and pulls her face into his hand. He forces her to look him in the eyes. "Listen to me. You gave Lizzie some wonderful years and a normal childhood that she would not have received if she spent those years with your hybrid boyfriend."
Caroline gently pulls Enzo hand away from her chin. "Yeah, but I just can't help wondering if I wasn't cut out to be a mom. I mean, the whole vampires can't procreate thing should have been a sign."
Enzo throws his arm around Caroline's shoulders. "But you are a mom. To a wonderful little girl, who loves you so much she would rather sit on the phone with you than be the princess of New Orleans. You are always going to be Lizzie's mom, even if Hayley is around. You were the first and probably best, mother that child has ever known." Caroline shakes her head and but resigns and lays it down on Enzo's shoulder. "You'll see, Caroline. Lizzie will never forget you. And one day she will come back to you."
"Thanks for being such a good friend, Enzo." Caroline stands up and holds out her hand to Enzo. "Now come on, I need to get back to Bonnie's before Lizzie calls again. It's almost bed time for her."