History Hides the Truth - VIII The Birthday

Summary: TVD Rewrite surrounding Klaroline. Caroline has spent centuries away from her husband after helping her best friend escape him. After finding a new companion in Chicago, she solves his bloodlust problems with a little help and forms a new best friend. In the present Caroline comes to Mystic Falls, eager to assist her best friend find love.

I do not own The Vampire Diaries.

KLAUS

The dynamic between Caroline and I had changed dramatically after she revealed the truth of how she felt. I began to question who I was. There was no denying that I had changed since we first met although underneath I still saw myself as the same man. I just wished Caroline would see things the same way. She was adamant that my desire for power had ruined me. I was just a monster that cared for nothing but myself. I disagreed; I cared deeply for my family, Caroline included. It was why I carted my siblings around in boxes to protect them from satin himself as he walked the earth with the mission to kill us,

When Caroline had left, I feared for the worst. Thankfully Mikael was not aware of my marriage which gave me some hope that she would be safe, but not enough. Never would she truly be safe without me beside her. She thought otherwise.

"We've got another lead sweetheart," I spoke softly as I climbed into the driver's seat.

Caroline had made no effort to move from the car once we arrived at the house in Tennessee. I decided to leave her in the car although I feared she would run. I always feared that I'd be alone.

She still hadn't moved from her position with her head resting against the glass of the passenger door. She was curled up onto the seat, pushing herself into the door.

"Shouldn't be long now until we find the pack," I continued. I thought for a second she might be sleeping but I noticed her eyes staring blankly. "Caroline?" I extended my hand to touch her knee but she immediately pulled it away with a disapproving groan.

Another pleading scream sounded from the house. I smirked as Stefan was finishing the girls off inside. It was good to have my old friend back.

"Why do you feel joy in other's suffering?" Her soft voice asked.

"I am simply pleased for Stefan to be indulging himself as a vampire should," I replied simply. I found Caroline's miserable orbs watching me. "I taught you that."

"Times change," she muttered returning her gaze to the floor of the vehicle.

"My love for you hasn't," I insisted.

"Don't. You couldn't love anything if you tried." Her words stung. I shook my head just before the passenger door clicked as Stefan entered in the seat beside Caroline. His fingers wiping away the excess blood from his lips.

"It is done." I returned Stefan's announcement with a nod before turning back to the wheel. In the rear view mirror I noticed the ripper's eyes on my blonde wife.

STEFAN

No one spoke in the car. Caroline stayed curled up against the passenger door even when Klaus left the car to search for Ray.

"Caroline?" I asked, once my eyes saw Klaus step into the bar and out of sight.

"If you're going to tell me how amazing it is to feed on a human then save it," she mumbled in a dull tone.

"Actually I wanted to just speak with you. I haven't had a chance since Florida," when she said nothing I continued. "I heard everything before. You know I think he's trying for you."

She sighed sitting up in the seat and giving me one of her 'seriously' looks.

"Please don't sit there and try to convince me to give him another chance like some high school boyfriend drama. I've had enough of that already with Elena and Bonnie." She sighed once more, reminding me of a secret I need to reveal to her. I leaned forward and flicked on the radio. "Do we have to have that? I'm not in the mood."

"It's to block the sound. I don't know if he's listening," I explained. "Elena is still alive."

"What? How?"

"You know her Uncle John slash biological father?" She nodded. "He gave up his life for her." A soft smile appeared on her lips, the first I'd seen it in a while.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Honestly I thought she was gone."

"Damon confirmed it, after Katherine brought him the cure. I wanted to bring you some good news after everything bad that was going on."

"Thank you Stefan," she nodded before pulling me into an embrace. "It's her birthday today. I should be throwing her a massive party." We chuckled, releasing each other from the hug.

"You can make it up for her next year," I smiled.

"If there even is a next year, things don't look too bright for me anymore but you, you'll get out of here and be with Elena forever."

"If I get out, so are you," I insisted. She shrugged not so convinced.

CAROLINE

I began to feel more comfortable again with the lack of Klaus' presence. Stefan once again had brought me out of my shell and I was my bubbly self once more.

"Well Lexi always gave you a hard time," I chuckled, as we reminisced about our times with the blonde ripper antidote. "I just helped where I could."

"I guess you kind of want her here now don't you?" Stefan wondered. I nodded.

"You're not as bad as you were back then though, I guess this is the early stages," I glanced at the building of the bar. "I won't let him control you as much as I can." I promised before climbing out the side of the vehicle.

"Where are you going?" Stefan called, moving into the cool air himself.

"To make sure he doesn't do anything he shouldn't." Stefan flashed before me.

"I know you're like…married and all but are you sure you want to go in there? I don't want you to break down again."

"I'm fine Stefan, honestly," to my approval Stefan relaxed and followed me inside the bar.

A welcoming sign reading Southern Comfort hung above the doorway, greeting us as we entered. My eyes scanned the room noticing the wooden beams that sat on the ceiling above the oblivious humans. No one seemed to care that a man was chained to the wall against a darts board. Blood was dripping down his face and clothes as his features were scrunched in pain. Klaus had his feet up on the bar with a glass in his hands watching as a compelled human threw darts in Ray's direction.

"Klaus!" I exclaimed horrified by his actions.

"Finally joining the party sweetheart?" Klaus smirked standing up and walking towards me, leaving the drink behind. "Stefan mate, have a little fun." He gestured to the male human who held out a dart for Stefan to take. He glanced at me before accepting the invitation.

"No," I breathed as I felt Klaus' arms around me.

"Don't panic love, your turn will come," Klaus whispered in my ear.

A groan left the wolf's mouth as the dart left Stefan's hand. Stefan walked closer and pulled a dart from his skin. He whimpered in pain.

"Ray, you can end this right now. Just tell me where your pack gathers for a full moon," Klaus spoke, taking my hand and moving us both closer to the painful scene. "I know you live by code and all that but you see, things aren't going to get better for you if you don't." Stefan moved back to the glass and was about to dip the dart in but Klaus halted him. "Let Caroline have her turn." I squirmed in his grasp refusing.

"No, I'm not doing anything," I glared at him once he freed me.

"It's only truth or wolfsbane love. You simply dip the dart into the glass and throw if he refuses to answer," he explained as if I was stupid. I continued to scowl in his direction.

Before Klaus could protest further, a woman with dark skin and raven black hair appeared behind us.

"Mister Klaus, I have some information for you. Damon Salvatore was spotted at the farm house." I gasped quietly. Damon was searching for Stefan and I.

"Well thank you Claudine, you just tell your friends to keep up the good work." She nodded and left. "It seems your brother, is getting closer. Someone's gonna have to deal with that." Klaus moved to leave our small crowd but I grabbed his wrist.

"Don't hurt him, he just wants his brother back," I pleaded. "I know you know that feeling."

"Don't you dare speak of that," he growled removing my hands from him. It seemed he knew exactly who I was referring to. His youngest brother was always a sensitive subject.

"I'll handle my brother," Stefan announced, his features serious.

"Why should I let you leave?" Klaus questioned.

"You know I'll come back," my best friend's eyes glanced to me. "For Caroline. Unless I see proof she's happy beside you, I'm sticking around."

"Very well." Stefan left the bar, leaving me with Klaus.

…

Time passed and Klaus failed to convince me to join in with the fun. In the end I took Klaus' seat at the bar and watched the scene before me. The bartender consistently asked me whether I wanted to spill my sorrows over something strong. I declined each time before Klaus compelled him to leave me alone.

"Thanks," I mumbled before resting my head on my arms. In response I felt his hand stroke my hair softly. I let him, before watching him return to torture Ray.

Eventually Ray revealed the wanted information allowing Klaus to continue with the next phase; transition. I knew everything too well.

Centuries ago Klaus had explained everything to me about his plans for every werewolf on the planet. I knew it meant so much to him and as the loyal wife, I assumed it was right but after being away for so long I saw things differently. These wolves would be under my husband's control and unable to break free. I knew the feeling.

"It's a three step process Ray, this is step one," Klaus pulled his wrist to his lips, biting deep into his flesh. His eyes faded into flames and back in the process.

"What more do you want from me?" He gasped for breath, struggling against the ties that held him to the wall.

"Have you been listening to a word I've been saying? I have great plans for you." Klaus slammed his wrist into Ray's mouth, forcing his hybrid juice past his lips.

"What are you going to do now?" Ray trembled once his lips were free from Klaus' now healing wrist.

"It's time for step two Ray." I immediately looked away not wanting to witness the events that were about to happen. My new eye line found that Stefan had returned. I slid from the seat, just when my ears caught hold of Ray's snapped neck.

"What happened?" I asked Stefan, keeping my eyes averted from Klaus.

"You're back," Klaus acknowledged.

"He won't come back," Stefan confirmed. Klaus nodded. "I killed Andie." Stefan sighed, revealing what I wanted to know.

"Damon's compelled fake girlfriend?" He nodded. I glared at Klaus when a light chuckle left his lips.

"Let's just hope for your brother's sake he gets the message." Klaus rubbed my back gently. "Let's get going, the full moon is tomorrow."

ELENA

I stood up from Damon's bed as I waited for him in his room. All the evidence of Damon's research on Stefan and Caroline's location with Klaus was in my hand after I'd discovered it while searching for him as he just disappeared.

"Not now Elena," he sighed, leaning against the door.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded. "Why did you keep it a secret?"

"Can we not do this right now? I'm having a really bad night." I wasn't taking a no for an answer. This was Stefan and Caroline we were speaking about.

"All summer, every single time I came to you with a lead, you made me feel like an idiot for having hope," I stepped closer to him, ignoring his words before.

"You were an idiot," he muttered, clearly something had happened when he vanished. "We both were." As he tried to pass me to remove the sweat from his brow, I extended my palm to stop him.

"Tell me what you know, Damon," he tried to move past me once again. "We're supposed to be in this together. Why didn't you tell me that you've been tracking Klaus' victims?"

"Because they're not Klaus' victims Elena, they're Stefan's!" I gasped at Damon's words. "He's left a trail of body parts up and down the eastern seaboard."

"No," I shook my head, in denial. "You're wrong."

"I've seen it happen before. He's flipped the switch, full blown ripper, and I suspect Caroline has lost hers too."

"Stop it, Damon," tears began to form in my eyes.

"No, you stop, Elena!" He yelled at me. "Stop looking for them. Stop waiting for them to come home. Just stop! Stefan and Caroline are gone and they're not coming back. Not in your lifetime." I fell to my knees, unable to keep the tears from flowing. This was the worst birthday.

A/N Once again your reviews have been amazing! Thank you for much for all your support, and please do send me your thoughts on this chapter.