Chapter 5
Mystic Falls, VA
-2012-
"Look Kol, I don't know what your problem is, but I really need some time alone right now, so we will have to have this discussion later." Frustrated, Bonnie walked past him and continued home. She almost turned around to apologize for snapping, but reconsidered and kept on her way.
When Kol got to the Mystic Grill, he saw Stefan and Elena standing outside talking.
"The two of you wouldn't happen to know what's going on with Bonnie, would you?" asked Kol, still a little stunned by Bonnie's outburst.
"Kol, she obviously doesn't want you to know, so we aren't going to tell you," responded Elena, hoping that he wouldn't ask for more information. The fewer people that knew about this, the better.
"Okay, fine. Can you at least tell me if you know where Nik is hiding?" He asked, looking around the pathetic town.
"Yeah, he's inside the Grill," said Stefan, as he took Elena's hand and led her toward the Salvatore house.
-992-
"Did Nik make for pleasant company?" Asked Rebekah, as Caroline slid Klaus's jacket from her shoulders, her fingers lingering for a moment too long.
"Caroline?! Are you even listening to me? What are you doing with Nik's jacket?" Rebekah demanded, getting up out of her bed and walking over to Caroline.
"Um, it was cold, so he let me wear it. Is that a problem?" Caroline asked hesitantly. She was starting to actually tolerate this Rebekah, and she didn't want to ruin their possible friendship.
"Of course it is fine, unless…" Rebekah trailed off, her eyes moving between her brother's jacket and her new friend.
"Unless what?" Caroline asked, bringing Rebekah back to the present.
"Unless Nik is falling for you. Do not misunderstand me, I would be delighted to have you courted by my brother, especially Nik, only I have never seen him show real interest in any girl before," she said, turning around to sit back down on her bed.
"So you wouldn't be mad, though, if he were interested in me?" Caroline asked, looking hopefully at Rebekah. She started undoing the ties at the back of her dress.
"No, I would be happy, I'm just not so sure that others would be. Like father. He has never gotten along with Niklaus, especially now that he knows that he is not his biological father. I could see him forbidding Niklaus from ever courting anyone of his own choosing, unless…" Rebekah trailed off again, leaving Caroline curiously waiting.
"Unless what, Rebekah?!" Caroline asked, slightly shocked at the amount of interest she had in this situation. She was supposed to hate Klaus, right? But even as she told herself that her budding attraction to him was wrong, that didn't quell her feelings.
"Unless father is convinced that were you to marry one of his sons, he would not receive any money. Father loves his money." Rebekah said, rolling her eyes.
"Well that shouldn't be hard to do, seeing as I really don't have any money," Caroline said, excitement warming her face. She was grateful for the darkness of the room so that Rebekah couldn't see just how red her cheeks had become.
At dinner the following night, Caroline and Rebekah started to enact their plan. "So Caroline, tell us about your family. I'm sure we are all curious." Rebekah asked, inwardly smiling as she noticed her father looking at them.
"Well, I have no siblings, and my parents were married but my father left my mother for someone else, and then he died," Caroline said, trying her best to suppress the memories of her father's death. "So it was just my mother and me, living alone, and my mother had to start working to support us because my father left us with nothing," she finished.
Mikael seemed very interested as soon as Caroline mentioned her mother working. Rebekah was pleased that the first part of their plan had been successful. Now for part two.
"Nik! Wait, I need to talk to you!" Rebekah called to her brother as she chased after him. After dinner, Niklaus had gone for a walk to clear his head, partially hoping that Caroline would decide to come along. He definitely did not want his sister to accompany him.
"What is it Bekah?" He asked, turning around to reveal his slightly agitated expression.
"How was the walk last night?" she asked, a knowing smile working its way onto her face.
"THAT was the urgent matter that you needed to talk with me about? Seriously?! Bekah, I am tired and I would really enjoy some time alone," he said, turning away from her and continuing on his way.
"I know that Caroline enjoyed it…" called Rebekah, smirking as her brother whipped around, walking towards her.
"She told you that?" He whispered, ashamed that he had reacted in exactly the way that Rebekah had planned.
"Yes she did. She also asked many questions about how I would feel if she were courting one of my brothers," said Rebekah, still smirking as a small smile appeared on Niklaus's face.
"Okay, so that is what you came out here to tell me? That Caroline might fancy me?" He asked, his mind still focused on the beautiful blonde.
"No, I came out here to tell you that we have come up with and started working on a plan that will ensure that father allows her to be courted by you."
-2012-
"Brother, I see that you are a regular at this homely establishment," Kol said, coming up to sit next to Klaus at the bar.
"I am not a regular, Kol, I was outside dealing with a bunch of idiots and this was the closer than going all the way home for a drink," answered Klaus, annoyed that his younger brother had found him.
"When you say 'a bunch of idiots,' that wouldn't happen to include Stefan and Elena, would it?" asked Kol, hoping that his brother would be more forthcoming with information than the lovebirds were.
"Yes. And my least favorite hybrid, Tyler Lockwood," Klaus said, downing the rest of his glass.
"Hmm… So Bonnie and Elena, Caroline's best friends, and Tyler, Caroline's on and off boyfriend, and you, Caroline's stalker were all in one place and more than one of the aforementioned became agitated as a result?" Kol speculated, as his brother's glare became more and more hateful.
"Yes." Said Klaus through gritted teeth.
"So what's happened to Caroline? There's no way you would have endured the company of those 'idiots' if something hadn't happened to her," asked Kol, smirking as Klaus rolled his eyes.
"The Bennett witch accidentally sent Caroline back in time because the witch spirits forced her. They wanted her to go back and soften me up, or what have you, and then she can come back," said Klaus, careful to avoid eye-contact with his mischievous brother.
"Ahh. That does actually explain the headaches and the gorgeous blonde I have recently been remembering," said Kol.
"Kol, do you remember that time I told you that I would tear out your liver if you said another word? Well, the offer still stands," Klaus responded, finishing another glass as he threw a threatening look at Kol for good measure.
"Fine, Nik. I'll leave. But just so you know, I hope the spell works. No one deserves to find actual happiness in life more than you," Kol said, getting up and walking out of the bar, leaving Klaus alone and wondering what Kol was up to. No one had ever said anything to him like that. Ever.
I hope you liked it! I have already written the end of this story, so it's just a matter of filling in the middle, so I have no idea how long the story will be. I hope you don't mind the Konnie and Stelena that I am throwing in there. I might be adding more pairings as the story progresses. Thanks for reading!