"Keeping it in the family"

Her assistant Dana was getting her some coffee the next morning. Black, bitter, just the way she liked it.

"So, what did I say? Yeah, call Mr. Peters and tell him will have to reschedule our meeting. Book him up for tomorrow, around 2 o'clock, if that's ok with him. I have a family lunch to go to today. You know how Joseph's gets when it comes to his lunches with the family. I mean he didn't even show up for work today, so silly."

" Some special occasion?"

"No, I don't think so. Well, Katherine and Damon got back from their honeymoon. But I think he just wants to see us all together at the same table."

"Your dad is so attentive towards his family. You're really lucky, if I may say so."

Yes, she was. Caroline didn't forget that for a second. Without her family she would be lost. They were her strength and they were her weakness. She had no place in her life for another one, she thought, while grabbing her bag and taking out a small black box with a white ribbon wrapped around it. She opened it once more, as she did that morning, and was dazzled by a diamond bracelet that was inside. She couldn't deny it, it was breathtaking. Then she took out a note that came with the ravishing bracelet.

"Beauty with beauty. Until we meet again.

Klaus."

She just found it this morning laying on her doorstep. That man wasn't normal. Did he think she would like it? I mean, she did like it, she loved it. But she told him clearly she couldn't be bought. Well, I guess she will just have to tell him that again. When returning the bracelet. She couldn't possibly keep it. Although a part of her really wanted to. She looked it once more, admiring it, touching it. "Beauty to beauty". He was really obnoxious. Really, really obnoxious, she kept telling herself and still gazing at the bracelet. "Oh get a grip Caroline, you're not seventeen anymore, stop being infatuated by things that sparkle."

She finally closed the box and put it back into her bag. It was time to get going. Joseph hated when people were late, especially to his little family reunions.

She walked into her family house just in time. So relieved she wasn't late, although Maria, their housekeep, told her everyone was already here. Duh, when she was the only one who actually showed up for work today. I mean it's not like they didn't own the company, but what's right is right.

And the first person she saw, walking down the stairs in a lovely blue dress, was Elena.

"Oh good Care, I thought you were going to be late. You know how much Joseph hates that."

"Well I am sorry but I am not playing hooky like some other people I know." she looked at Elena her eyes saying – yes, I mean you young lady.

"Well someone had to help Joseph arrange everything."

"And we pay people to do that, why again?" Care wasn't backing down. She was in a good mood when she was around her family. And Elena always brought this side of her. She was like a little sister she always loved to tease.

"Well you know I like being helpful."

"Oh, just say Stephan drained you out last night and we're call it quits."

There was that shade of red again. They should call it "Elena red" from now on.

"Are you picking on my wife again?" A voice came from upstairs.

"Always brother."

He came to her and kissed her in the cheek.

"How's my baby sis doing? Keeping that cute little ass of yours out of trouble?"

"Of course, do you even have to ask?"

"Yes, you know I do." he said while smirking.

"Well my beautiful ladies, shall we?" he took Caroline by the one hand and Elena by the other and escorted them to the salon.

Katherine, Damon and Joseph were already there sipping their drinks.

"Hi everyone" she said.

"Daddy." She kissed him in the cheek.

"See, I told you she wouldn't be late." Joseph said to Damon.

"Well there's a first for everything." Damon replied.

"I told them they should bet on it but the Salvatore boys aren't into gambling, apparently."

"No, the Salvatore boys are a bore." Caroline said to her second sister- in- law Katherine, and went to kiss her.

"How are you honey? My brother treating you alright?"

"He's doing his best." Katherine was teasing Damon. She was a little tease, just like Caroline. That is why she was so perfect for Damon. Yeah, and because she worshiped him and his big ego. Her brothers were so lucky, she thought. In this crazy, horrible, messed up world, they managed to find love. And now she wasn't the only girl in the family. That was kind of nice too.

They were sitting down and having a great family lunch. If someone was to see them like this, they would never suspect they weren't humans but vampires, everyone except Elena that is.

Katherine was telling hers and Damon's honeymoon stories and they were all laughing so hard.

"And then we went to the Eiffel tower, when it was closed of course. And Damon compelled the guard to let us through anyway. And then …"

"Then you did the nasty." Caroline couldn't help but add.

Luckily Katherine wasn't like Elena so she wasn't blushing, but Elena was once again blushing for her.

"Caroline …" she just whispered and pointed out to Joseph.

"That's ok, Elena. I know my daughter has quite the tongue on her."

"But you still adore me, right?" she asked her father although she knew what he was going to say.

"Of course", he looked at her gently.

"So have you been to the Louvre?" Caroline asked and right away remembered Klaus. Damn it, she could not think about him, especially when she was with her family. That would be like a little betrayal she didn't want to commit.

"Yes, and it was amazing." Katherine was mesmerized although she was at the Louvre so many times before. "You have to go to Paris Caroline; you're going to love it. I can't believe you still haven't been."

"I was planning to go when I was in London two years ago but other things got in the way. Hot London things. "

She looked at Elena and winked. This time she didn't blush. Wow, progress.

"Speaking of rotten British things …" Damon just had to ruin a perfectly good family lunch.

"What are we going to do about Klaus?"

"Who is Klaus?" Elena asked.

So Joseph told them the whole story once more.

"He sounds like a dangerous guy." Elena said, and Caroline saw how Stephan right away took her hand into his to ease her.

"Don't worry sweetie, you know I would never let anything happen to you. Any of you."

"He's not dangerous, he's just a jerk." Damon said pompously as always.

"He is dangerous." Joseph finally spoke again.

"He is not to be underestimated. Is that clear?" he looked at all of them dead serious.

"And you are not to putting yourself in any danger, playing heroes and nonsense like that. I won't have any of that. Is that clear? Caroline?"

"Yes, yes daddy." She barely uttered those three little words. She was so busted. But others had no idea what was going on and apparently Joseph decided to keep it just between the two of them. She was so grateful for that, she hated justifying herself. Stephan and Damon would freak if they knew she met Klaus, on her own. She would never hear the end of it, playing the role of protective older brothers too far.

Joseph started to speak again. "We will not attack. I have lived for too long and if I've learned one thing, then I have learned that war is the most pointless thing a man has ever contrived. So we will not attack. But … If we were to be attacked, we will fight back like the family we are."

He raised his glass – "To our family."

"To family." they all repeated and agreed with his words. They were keeping it in the family.

Klaus slept through the morning. He had to admit, she really picked out an excellent bed. He couldn't remember when was the last time he had such a good night sleep. And the dreams he had weren't bad either … not bad at all… they included a certain feisty blonde, minus most of her clothes … He wondered if the reality would be as good as the dreams. And somehow he knew it would be even better. As he was getting himself dressed he started thinking about the bracelet he sent to her. He would have given anything to see her reaction. The bracelet was gorgeous; it was once worn by a princess almost as beautiful as her. Any other woman would probably faint when receiving it, but Caroline Salvatore wasn't just your average any other woman. He realized that the second she walked out that car and removed her sunglasses. She was unique. Different. Intriguing. She was the type of woman that would throw the bracelet into the garbage just to prove a point. Still, he was hoping she didn't do anything as rash as that. "Beauty with beauty", he had meant it. But she was just a girl, no matter how unique and intriguing and beautiful. And he had his Moonstone to take care of. He had to put the blonde beauty aside and prioritize.

He went downstairs and saw Rebekah giving out orders.

"I want my salmon to be fresh. And I want the finest champagne that can be found in this pathetic little town. Oh yeah, and find me some fresh blood. I don't care how and where. If you don't … Then you'll have to do" she said and licked her lips to prove a point.

"Bekah?" she was giving him a headache without even uttering a word.

"Yes brother?"

"Who in the bloody hell are these people?"

"Are you blind or something? The caterers."

"And why do we need caterers?"

"Well, Nik … I was planning on telling you this morning but since you overslept…"

Rebekah had a hard time finding words. And this could mean only one thing Klaus thought, major trouble ahead.

"Bekah, what did you do this time?" he looked at her like he was going to rip her into shreds.

"Hello brother" he heard a voice behind him.

"Elijah …" he turned around and stared at his older brother.

"You don't look too happy to see me."

"Just surprised brother." he answered honestly.

"Well Rebekah had cordially invited me to a family lunch; it would have been so rude of me to decline."

Klaus turned to face Rebekah and gave her a deadly look but she didn't back down this time.

"Oh Nik, stop looking at me like that. Yes, I invited him. Our brother. And we will have a nice, polite family lunch."

" Don't tell be you invited Kol too?" Klaus said and could feel that headache coming his way.

" Actually …"

Oh no, here we go, he thought.

"I left him a voicemail but I think he's having too much fun in LA to check his phone."

"LA? So cliché." Klaus said in disgust.

"Don't be so judgmental brother" Elijah replied, "You did have as daggered for years, even centuries …"

"You know I did that to protect you."

The two brothers were looking at each in anger. All was not forgiven. There was a long way to go to accomplish that.

"Enough you two." Rebekah yelled.

"You can fight each other to death some other time. Today we're having a family lunch. Clear?"

Rebekah could be very persistant when she wanted to. So they eventually sat at the table and started eating. Rebekah and Elijah were talking about his travels, about the mansion and everything like they were normal siblings, normal human beings and not vampires. Klaus couldn't stand that. He didn't have time to chit-chat. He kept thinking about only one thing – why is Elijah really here? Does he know about the Moonstone? Is he going to intervene with his plans? Is he going to have fight not only the Salvatores but his own brother? Again? Not that he would ever admit this to anyone, but he was well aware his long life was one fight after another. There was never a moment of tranquility … Never …

"So brother, about that Moonstone of yours…" Elijah said and Klaus almost dropped his knife. So the question was answered, he did know. The only question remaining was. What was he planning to do about it?

"I see our little sister has let you in on our little secret." he looked at Rebekah with a look that was literally saying – I'm so going to rip your head of later.

"Nik, don't be mad. It's not what you think. Elijah wants to help us."

"Bekah … You can't actually be that naïve."

"Nik, don't treat me like a child … I …"

Elijah interrupted their little banter.

"She is right brother, I am here to help."

"You actually think I'm going to believe you wanting to help me break the curse? You actually want me to believe you wouldn't mind my being practically immortal?"

"I want to help you Niklaus because I want peace. I don't want anything happening to any members of this family. "

"What are you exactly saying to me Elijah?"

"I want you to have your Moonstone but I don't want any bloodshed between us and the Salvatores. "

"You know I can't promise you that brother." Klaus said honestly.

"I know." Elijah replied. "But I am here to help."

"Why?" Klaus asked once more in surprise.

"Because we are family brother. Even after everything. And … I guess we owe you in a way, for finally killing Mikael. We are free. Except you … You are still for some reason haunted by your curse. If you need to face it, we'll help you."

"We want you to be free. I want us to be a family." Rebekah added.

"You know this could go down in so many different ways and get really messy?" Klaus finally spoke.

"I doubt the Salvatore's, that Joseph, will just hand over the Moonstone."

"We are behind you brother." Rebekah said and touched his hand lightly. Something she rarely did. Affection was rarely shown in this family, but they still were … a family …

"To our family." Elijah raised his glass.

"Keeping it in the family." Klaus said and sipped his drink hoping it wouldn't turn out to be poisonous.

I really hope you like this chapter guys because I must say I really, really love it ... I never thought I'd have so much fun writing about family relations ... I hope your not mad there's no Klaroline in it ... Ok, you have the right to be a little mad but this is a family story as well as a love one ... And I think it's important to know their backround to know them, and family will have a great role in further chapters as well ... BUT PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, PLEEEASE :))) ...

So what's ahead? Hm? Maybe some dancing? You'll see ... Thank you for reading :)))