9. Family portraits

One would think that after the two days she had Caroline wouldn't sleep a wink. Especially since she was technically sleeping in the guest room of a house belonging to her worst enemy, now also known as her dear husband. But no … Caroline Forbes slept like a log. I guess all of the excitement of the married life finally got to her. But as she woke up the next morning she saw she overslept exactly 36 phone calls and about 50 texts. Ups. There was of course her father, who was probably pulling his hair out by now, and calling every assassin on the face of this planet to take down Klaus, and possibly her as well. And of course there were phone calls from Bonnie and Lexi, probably throwing a "take her to the loony bin" intervention in her honour. There were Matt's worried texts and phone calls screaming- my boss has finally lost it. And surprisingly just one text from Katherine saying:"You finally got some, good for you." Typical Kat, making her laugh even in the darkest hour in her life. God she missed her, and hoped she'd be back soon from backpacking through Peru. Wait … Do they even have tabloids and internet reception in the outskirts of Peru? Wow, so as predicted this has become global … Damn, I guess it was time to get up and face the world. No more hiding in this nice, cosy bed. She had some explaining to do. To a lot of people … And the first one was up, she thought when she heard her phone ringing. This time she actually made an exception and answered it.

" I simply can't believe he married you. I can't believe you talked him into it."

" Good morning to you too Stefan. Lovely day, isn't it?"

"Don't you good morning me missy. What the hell happened in Vegas? I mean I'm browsing through web pages and web pages talking about the new Mikaelson pair, and I don't even know if it's true, I mean my supposedly best friend didn't call me to brag about it … Is it even true?" she could hear disbelief, but also worry, in Stefan's voice.

" Well the Mikaelson part isn't, I'm definitely keeping my last name. The marriage part? Weeell … It kind of is."

" I seriously don't know what to ask first. How? Why? What were you thinking?"

" I don't think there was much thinking involved. We were pretty drunk. "

" Believe me when I say Care, Klaus is never that drunk. He always knows exactly what he's doing." Caroline decided to leave the drugged part out of it, she didn't know if it was shame or just not wanting everyone to worry, but if this fake marriage was to work then everyone had to believe it wasn't that fake. Even her best friends. Even Stefan, somehow she'd let him in on some things, but some … Would be just between her and Klaus, if he learns how to keep his mouth shut. Hopefully the 100 thousand dollars that she'd be paying him every month would be motif enough.

" So where is your dear hubby now? I feel like I should have a word with him or something."

"Thank you for the concern, but no words needed Stefan. And where is he? Oh, just sleeping in his magnificent house, which he apparently, guess what, owns. Why didn't you ever tell about it? I thought he was fat broke?"

" Well, first of all darling, every time I even tried to mention anything about the notorious Niklaus Mikaelson you rolled those beautiful eyes of yours and said you didn't want to hear a word about that scumbag. I'm not psychic to know he would become your next boo."

"You're right, I'm sorry. Anyways, how can he even afford this?"

" He bought it two years ago, as far as I know. And he did a lot of work on it himself actually."

" Klaus? And work? In which parallel universe are we living in again?"

" The same one in which you marry him?"

" Touché. Still, this house must cost a fortune to obtain on a monthly basis. He must have some rich lovers. Since I don't see him getting any good roles lately, like in years …"

" Caroline … Klaus is not the same person he was ten years ago, not even five years ago. Don't be fooled by his little acts."

" What are you trying to tell me Stefan?"

" You're both my friends, and I care for you both. But you are my best friend, like a sister I never had, so the only thing I'm going to tell you is to be careful. Klaus is not the silly boy that cares only about parties and fun anymore. He may not want the world to see it, but he has grown up. If he's with you it only means he has decided you could be of use to him. That you're the ticket he needs to raise his profile. I mean this publicity could help him get some decent parts again. He only pretends he doesn't care about being practically unemployable, but trust me, he does."

" You're telling me this like I already don't know it …"

" But do you? Do you really? Because we all know how easily you give your heart away … Look at Tyler …"

" Stefan I'm sorry but I have another call, it's my dad. I'll call you later, love you, bye."

She hung up as fast as she could, Stefan had the best intentions, but he was wrong this time, dead wrong. This was far from the ideal situation, but this time, she at least knew what she had gotten herself into. And there was no way she'd ever actually fall for Klaus.

A text from Stefan arrived shortly: "Fine, I'm not saying a word about the matter anymore. Just want a dinner invitation so I can enjoy the fireworks ;). Love ya."

Ok, so now it was Bonnie's turn. Yoicks, she dreaded this.

" Before you say a word let me explain, ok? Klaus and I met in Vegas, and sparks flew, and silly kids us decided we have spent too much time apart as it is, and decided to get married. So, ta- da you were right all along. I always had feeling for him and now, we're finally together."

" Oh honey …" Bonnie sounded like a worried mother scolding her crazy child.

"No, it's great. I'm happy. Happier then I've been in months. Really, I promise." Caroline hated lying to Bonnie, but some things just had to be done.

" You know you can tell me anything, right? I know I'm a bit judgemental sometimes."

" No, don't even say that. You're the best friend a person could ask for. But there is nothing to say, I know it's a bit hasty but … I've put my life on hold long enough, now I just want to live it. By my rules."

" Are you sure? Jeremy and I are just about to leave for Sydney, but if you want me to, I could stay …Yes, that is definitely what I'm going to do, I'm going to stay and …"

" My God don't be silly. I'm fine, and I need some alone time with my new husband, if you know what I mean. We have a lot of catching up to do, in every sense, if you know what I mean." Caroline hoped sexual allusion would throw Bonnie of the track.

" Ok then, but I am going to call you every single day to see if you're ok. Is that clear?"

" Clear as a pistol. And could you just do me a favour before you leave? Would you call Lexi and tell her the same thing? And Katherine if she ever decides to resurface."

" Of course honey, but I'm just so worried about you …" The tone of Bonnie's voice almost made her spill the beans and have a good cry. But she had to focus, she has gotten herself into this mess by herself, and she was going to get out of it the same way.

" Don't be. Have a nice time down under, pet some cute little koalas for me, and give my love to Jeremy. Love you so much. We'll talk soon. Bye."

As she hung up on yet another one of her best friends, lying yet again, she finally got out of bed, and walked onto the balcony facing her suspicious future. She made herself face reality. She was trapped in this house, and even when she will get out, the public will expect her and Klaus to go everywhere together, as the perfect in love newlyweds they were. Weeks would pass before she could be seen anywhere without him, without tabloids writing about troubles in paradise already. And now she had the most difficult task of all to do. Call her father … But she, she just couldn't do it on an empty stomach. She couldn't remember the last time she ate a decent meal; it must have been at the benefit two days ago. Seemed like two lifetimes ago, if you consider everything that has happened in between. But she had to eat; starving herself to death wasn't a smart move. Even if eating meant going down stairs into the kitchen and possibly bumping into him. But she couldn't avoid him for six months, as much as she wanted to.

She put on a pair of shorts and a top and went downstairs. As she was approaching the kitchen she heard some noises. Damn her luck, was it too much to hope for she could get some food and ran upstairs into the safety of her room? Although one would think she was always in the mood to bicker with Klaus, this was not true. Not after their little sex talk last night, she still had to wrap her mind around it. But her mind was working on over-drive as it was, and dealing with the thought of having sex with Klaus, a sex she'd actually remember this time, was just too mind blowing at this point. She entered the kitchen to find … Well, not Klaus, but another Mikaelson that wasn't really her biggest fan.

" Morning …" she said shyly.

Rebekah just looked at her like she was a bug that needed to be squashed, and turned back to doing what she was doing in the first place, not granting her another one of her precious glances. What was it with those Mikaelson's? Why on Earth did they have to be so obnoxious to everyone?

"Can I get some coffee?" Caroline asked politely.

Rebekah pointed towards the coffee, not looking at her again. So Caroline got up and poured herself a cup of coffee. The silence was killing her, Caroline was never really sit still and be quit kind of type, she always had to say something.

"It smells great. What are you doing?"

"I'm doing myself breakfast. What, your husband didn't bring you breakfast in bed?"

"No, I'm sure he's busy with something. Do you know where he is?"

"He's outside taking a swim and doing his morning work-out."

Caroline couldn't believe Klaus actually worked out, I mean, she couldn't lie and say she didn't notice his body looked aaamazing, but the last she remembered his work-outs consisted

of drinking himself into an oblivion while handling two or three girls at the same time.

"Look Rebekah. I know we didn't start of at the best of terms, but I'd really like to fix that. I'm sorry about yesterday; I know I must have come off like a total nutcase, but in my defence Klaus didn't tell me you were his sister."

Caroline honestly didn't know what to do with this feisty blonde, so she decided that honesty would be as good as an approach as any. She could see the blonde putting her walls down a bit, or at least she hoped that was it. She was very hard to read. Another thing the gorgeous siblings had in common.

" Did he tell you I was his girlfriend or something?"

"Actually he did …" Caroline admitted, although she knew this made her look like a total idiot. But Rebakah finally laughed, she had a very pretty laugh, and rolled her eyes.

"He can be such an idiot sometimes. I know he wants to protect me from the public and all, but saying to people I'm his girlfriend? That's just sick …"

" I agree." Caroline said finally relieved the gorgeous blonde was showing some signs of being human.

"Hey, I'm not the one that married him." and it was over.

"Well, it's a complicated story." was the only thing Caroline said and stared at her coffee. But the blonde surprised her by taking out two plates and putting scrambled eggs on them.

"I like to put some vinegar on them, it's the only way I like them." she said trying to show she was unique in every way possible. But Caroline would have eaten the eggs even if she put snake poison on top, as long as the blonde was showing some signs of likeability. And Caroline was also curious … I mean, who wouldn't be? A sister appearing out of nowhere? And she suddenly realized she knew so little, if anything, about Klaus's family life.

"Thank you. So, I had no idea that Klaus had a sister?"

"What, you don't share every thought? Being a married couple and all?"

"I see you don't think highly of marriage."

" Well that's just because I'm not a bloody idiot. Marriage is a sham, and so is love for that matter." Caroline felt sorry for the girl, to be so young and already given up on love. Or maybe, I don't know, taken in her recent experiences, maybe the girl was right, and she was the smart one while Caroline was a fool that still believed in a fairytale called love and marriage.

" Don't need to pity me or anything." Rebekah added. "I love my life as it is. I have fun, have sex, I care about certain people, but love is just too complicated. It broke my mother's heart, and it as sure as hell won't break mine."

" Klaus said yesterday you are his step- sister. You have the same mother?"

"Aren't you a nosey little thing? But no, we have the same father, the same lowlife waste of air and space father." Rebekah said without blinking, like she was talking about someone else and not herself and her family.

"Maybe I shouldn't be telling you about him; it's not a great story to tell."

" I'm Klaus's wife, you can tell me."

"Maybe he should tell you himself if he wants to."

"True, but you know how he is when it comes to these things. He likes to keep things bottled up inside. I don't think that's very healthy." Caroline knew this was a low blow, but she was way too curious to learn something remotely human about Klaus to back down now.

"Well, like I said I don't think there's much to tell anyways. It's a typical story about an asshole not loving, well, anyone but himself actually. Our father was married to Klaus's mother; he was never to mine, fortunately or not, because being his mistress killed her. Anyways, he was one of those larger than life figures. Nobody was ever good enough for him. Not Klaus's mother and not Klaus. He told me when he was younger he was constantly trying to prove himself to him. To prove he was worthy. But nothing was ever good enough. So when he was spotted in a bar in a small town near London he took his chance and when he was offered the role in the US he took it, hoping it would make his father finally proud of him."

" But it didn't …" Caroline whispered mesmerised with the story.

"Of course it didn't, he was a deranged man that hated his life for some reason, so he couldn't stand to see anyone else happy. Klaus's success made him criticise him even harder. Until Klaus finally had enough and cut all the strings to him when he was 18. "

"And all the boozing and drugging and whoring began."

"I don't know, I mean it probably is connected, but I'm not cutting him any slack just because his life wasn't perfect. And neither should you. He made his choices, bad ones, and nobody forced him to make them. He still had more than most people have, and he blew it. Just because I'm his sister doesn't mean I'm blind to his flows."

Caroline couldn't believe but she was really starting to like this girl, no, not girl, a woman. Because she could see how the things she went through made her they way she was today. Sassy, smart and strong. All those things Caroline wanted to be, but lately felt like she was lacking.

"So when did Klaus find out about you? Because I presume he didn't know he had s step- sister?"

"A few years ago. He always suspected his father led a double life, maybe even a triple, we can't know that, but back then he was too angry to actually care. My mother died when I was twenty."

" I'm so sorry …"

" It's ok, I mean it's not, but it was a long time coming. And she told me I had a brother some where out there. So I found him, and the rest is history, I guess …"

" I always wanted to have siblings." Caroline admitted.

" Well, you can see from mine it's not everything that's cracked up to be. But it's better than to be all alone in the world." Rebekah took their plates and started washing them; Caroline sensed she needed some time alone after her little story. Although she was a real trooper on the outside, Caroline kind of sensed she was more delicate on the inside, she just wouldn't allow the world to see it. And she could definitely relate to that.

"I'm going to go find Klaus." She said and went outside. She learned a great deal about him today, but she knew she shouldn't let it mess up her mind. She did feel sorry for him, but as Rebekah put it, no matter what we've been through we still make our own decisions and our actions affect other people, so there is really no excuse for selfishness and bad behaviour. And she would make no excuses for the bad boy of Hollywood. She did it once, and it ended up bloody, but she was far from that seventeen year old naive girl, or was she?

She stepped outside on the pool terrace to find Klaus. She heard him talking to someone on the phone, and once again, the curiosity got the best of her. Yeah, she was acting like a seventeen year old when she hid behind a fake palm tree and eavesdropped.

" Look sweetheart I can't talk right now." Who the hell was he talking to? One of his girlfriends? And there it was again, the strange sting of jealousy growing in her body.

" Yes Caitlin, I know I have only six more weeks left. I'm handling everything. Don't be so bitter, and have some bloody faith in me. I'll call you soon, ok?"

Ok, this definitely didn't sound like your typical lover's spat, but what was it then? The thought that she knew Klaus much less than she initially anticipated scared her. But since she had no other choice then to spend the next six months with him it only meant she would have to get to know him, get to know him in order to shield herself from letting another man use her, in any way possible. Because whatever game he was playing, she was on to him.

"Hey hubby, did you sleep well?" she stepped onto the terrace and sat on one of the wooden chairs next to the pool.

"Well yes, although I didn't have anyone to warm up my bed. What about you honey? Did you think of me in that big empty room of yours?" he got up from where he was sitting and came up to her. He pressed his body to her back, and started running his hands all over her small delicate hands.

"Did you miss me?" he whispered in that stupid accent of his. In his sexy, seductive accent and made her spine melt. And he knew exactly what he was doing; Caroline never for a second forgot all of this was just a game to him.

" Like a bullet through my brain." she said and pushed him little but not enough, she didn't have the strength to push him all the way.

"You can fight it all you want, but you know it's going to happen. You want it, I want it, why fight it then? "

" I have no idea what you're talking about Klaus. I guess all the chlorine must have gotten into your brain. I don't want anything from you, except a fake marriage, the accent on the fake part.

" That conversation from last night isn't over … It's sooo far from over my sweet little Caroline."

" Klaus, just stop …"

" Stop what?"

Oh no, he was about to kiss her, and she, she was about to push him away, she had to, but it was like her body and her mind just weren't coordinated, one was screaming no, while the other one was pleading yes. And then when she was just about to do, God knows what, she heard a horrible scream coming from the house.

"Caroline? Caroline where the hell are you? Are you out there?"

Her heart sank. She knew this had to be dealt with, but she could already see how it would play out. Her father appeared on the terrace dressed perfectly as always, white shirt, gray trousers, and a tie, always a tie. The glasses he wore gave his face a serious tone, but he still looked pretty darn good for a man over 55. She wasn't expecting from him to run outside and starting to yell as mad, she was expecting exactly what he was doing at this point. He was just standing there and observing her closely, studying her like she was one of his projects. Oh wait, in some ways, it was exactly what she was.

" Caroline, what have you done?" he said in a quite, disappointed voice that made her feel so small and pathetic.

" Hi dad. How are you?"

He looked at her in disbelief, and said nothing. And as we already know Caroline hated silence, it made her ramble on and on just to avoid it.

"So, surprise. I was just about to call you, but everything happened so fast. Well, not so fast, I mean you had to suspect that we were dating; you saw the pictures from the Ivy. Sure, it may seem fast to some people, but look at it this way, we practically grow up together. And when it's right it's right. Right Klaus?" she was turning blue in the face, she was sure she was going to faint from rambling without catching a breath.

But her husband was just as quite as her father. Great, so this was an absolutely perfect timing for Klaus to have nothing to say, it was definitely a first.

" Are you pregnant?" he father asked yet again in that detached voice of his. He didn't ask it like a future grandfather happy there might be a grandson on the way, but as a manager already calculating how many roles will this set back his little start. And it hurt, it hurt more then she would ever admit to anyone.

" No … Of course not … We, we just love each other."

" Oh cut the crap with me Caroline. You hate each other."

" That's old history Bill." Klaus finally found his missing tongue and decided to join the conversation.

" I'm not speaking to you Niklaus, so you better not address me." the tone of his voice made Caroline shiver. She had never seen him this angry, he was always so poise, and now he was barely holding it together.

" I don't know what you did to make Caroline agree to this charade but I certainly know why."

"Dad please, can we talk about this when we all calm down a bit?"

" You married her to advance in the pathetic thing you call your failed career. You want to ride on her coattails, just like you used to."

" Don't say that. This is exactly the reason I didn't call you. I knew you'd be upset and start making unfair accusations without even hearing us out." Caroline was once again pulling the actress in her, trying to play the role of a woman passionately defending her husband.

" Upset? You think I'm just upset? What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to deliberately ruin your life? Is that it? I don't think I've ever been this disappointed in you."

When he said it, it was like a knife ran through her heart, all her life she had done absolutely everything to please this man, to make him proud, to make him love her, and one mistake, and he was this cruel to her? It wasn't fair, but she wasn't going to show him how much he had hurt her.

"I'm only twenty eight daddy. I have lot of years ahead of me to disappoint you."

" That's enough Caroline." Klaus said gently and put his hand around her waist, what the hell was this one up to? The men in her life sure were tiring her down.

" Bill, I'll be so kind and lay things out for you. Caroline is my wife, and in case you haven't noticed this is my house, so you either behave, and speak to my wife with respect or I'm afraid you won't be very welcomed into our home."

Caroline stopped breathing for a second. Really? Was this really happening? It felt yet again like observing someone else's life from the sidelines. She couldn't remember the last time anyone spoke to Bill Forbes that way. I mean him and Tyler had a great relationship, but it was only because Tyler had the utmost respect for him, and to be honest, was amazing in butt kissing. Klaus on the other hand, Caroline doubted he every butt kissed anyone, he was more of a kiss my ass kind of guy. And for the first time in her life, she kind of started respecting him for that. The sixteen year old that admired him for his bravery and free spirit returned for a second, and for that glimpse of a second saw him through a totally different pair of eyes. And just about when she thought Klaus couldn't surprise her any more then he already did, there he went and did it again.

" And also Bill, I'd really like to see Caroline's tax returns from the last few years. And her financial statements if you don't mind.

"You no good bastard, are you implying I mismanaged Caroline's money?"

" I don't know. Have you?" Klaus said in a dead serious voice.

Ok, Klaus had gone too far there. She might have resented her father a lot of things, but he was always more than careful with her money and thanx to his impeccable investments she was a millionaire.

" So now we are finally getting to the only reason you married Caroline. Because of her money."

" First you say I married her to get ahead in my career … Now it's because of her money… Pal, I married her because of the sex."

She could see her father clenching his fist and going toward Klaus in a blind rage, so she stood in front of her husband, willing to do anything to stop this stupid show from getting any further. A stupid show also knows as her life, she thought bitterly.

" Ok, that's enough. We all said some things we didn't mean, and had our laughs, but we all need a time out. I'll call you tomorrow dad, I promise. Just give us some time, give us all time to adjust to this new situation.

"There will be no adjustments on my side." he said firmly not backing down an inch. What was it with her life that she always had to be surrounded by the most stubborn men?

" Do I need to show you out Bill?" Klaus was as polite as always.

" No need. I'll leave the same way I came in."

" No, dad … Let me …" but Bill Forbes was already leaving her new home, and maybe even her life.

" And here I thought this day would be fun free. That was a real rollercoaster ride."

"How dare you question his integrity like that? How MY father handles MY money is none of your freaking business." Caroline turned her anger towards the only man left standing. Klaus.

" Hey, if he has nothing to hide then he won't mind opening the books for his new son-in-law."

" But I mind you asshole, those things are private and I'm calling my lawyer to make sure they stay that way."

" Oh relax sweetheart. Do you really think I know how to read a financial report?"

" Omg, you were just deliberately pushing him."

" Come on Carebear, don't tell me you didn't enjoy it at least a bit? Now your father knows he can order me around like he does you."

" Oh shut up, I run my own life."

" If you say so sweetheart, whatever makes you sleep at night. Speaking of sleep, where were we when your father so rudely interrupted us? You know, you're so tense all the time, I bet you could use a good massage."

" Maybe you are right … A good massage sounds heavenly. Could you call someone and order a massage for me, I always like to be massaged by a professional that knows what he's doing."

" Oh sweetheart, what this hands could do for you. I bet you'd scream your lungs out."

" I bet I wouldn't."

She was about to leave and return into the house when she turned around, she couldn't let her curiosity rest. "Why are you pushing this Klaus? You don't even like me."

"Because I'm a guy, and maybe I am curious …"

"Curious about what?"

" What lies beneath …"

" Maybe I'm curious too … But you know how they say, curiosity killed the cat." was the last think Caroline said before she walked into the house. She heard him mutter coward to her, but she didn't look back. Because she was too afraid she would have tripped, and fallen right into his arms, and under his spell.

Omg, so this is one maaaassive chapter :p. I didn't think it would turn out this long but I just kept on writing and writing. I hope you'll be pleased with the result ;). I know there is not a lot of Klaroline in this one ( so I promise I'll fully make it up to you in the next chapter) but I think it's an important chapter in understanding Klaus's and Caroline's backround a bit.

Family is what defines us (to answer one question I got, no unfortunately I decided not to include other Mikaelson siblings into this one, hope you don't hate me too much :p). I hope you liked this chapter, and that you do understand Klaus a bit better now. PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW :)

Since I feel like all the Klaroline lovers, and especially amazing and kind followers of my story are like my family I have to tell you sth. Good news for me, not so much for this story.

I got a job, I start Monday, and I'm moving to a different town on Saturday, so it's going to be a stressful. I love this story so much, and I don't want to give it up, since I know a lot of you would be very sad, right? So I'll definitely try to keep it up, but I can't promise regular updates as they were until now, but I'll try to write a bit every day, and we'll see ;). Thank you once more for all your support, keep on supporting me, because your support is what keeps me writing.

P.S. Spoiler alert - things are heating up in the next chapter ;)