"You've been here for six months, we've had how many conversation about your life before? You never mentioned her, not once." Cami said. Klaus was amused by the sharp edge of jealously in her tone.
"There are many things I've never shared with you, Camille."
"It just seems like if you were so in love with some girl, you would have mentioned her before now." Cami said. She shrugged like it made no difference to her, even though it was obvious that she cared very much.
"Sometimes the things that matter most are the most difficult to share."
"So what made her so special?" Cami asked.
Klaus smiled remembering the way Caroline had bristled when he called her special, "Absolutely nothing."
Caroline stepped off the plane, followed by her entourage of protectors. Stefan, Bonnie, Haley, and Elijah. Rebekah and her mother had wanted to come, but she insisted that they stay behind in Mystic Falls. They were both human and vulnerable. She wouldn't have them risking their lives unnecessarily. She would have come on her own, but the other wouldn't hear of it. Stefan carried her carryon, but both he and Elijah flanked her. She wished they'd let her come alone. Maybe she would have gotten herself killed, but as it was she wasn't really living. She couldn't take a step without someone rushing to her aid. She wasn't sure if Rebekah's concern was for her wellbeing of for that of the impossible pregnancy.
She looked around the airport while the other pulled their bags off the carousel.
She had the strangest feeling that she was being watched. She turned slowly, scanning the crowd for a familiar face. Her eyes stopped on a man dressed as a chauffeur. She saw the sign in his hand and flinched as she read the name "Caroline Forbes".
"Guys," she said.
The Vampires heard her over the commotion and Stefan got Bonnie's attention. Caroline pointed to the chauffeur.
"What the hell is going on?" Haley growled under her breath.
Caroline walked toward the gentleman holding the sign. Elijah caught her arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked.
"We came here for answers." Caroline said, "Seems to me the random stranger with my name on a sign would be a pretty good place to start."
He released her arm and she walked up to the chauffeur.
"I'm Caroline Forbes."
"Right," he said in a thick accent, "And all dese people are wit'cha?"
"They are."
"Right den," He said, "best be on our way."
He let them to a limo and helped them load their bags. Elijah offer Caroline a hand to get into the limo, she would have refused, but she found it difficult to slide into the low vehicle with her stomach in the way.
Haley slipped in beside Caroline before her bodyguards could claim their usual places and Caroline shot her a grateful smile.
The limo pulled away from the airport, and Caroline felt her stomach twisting into knots. She knew the limo wasn't taking them to Klaus. He hadn't known they were coming. But in a matter of hours she would see him again. She had put herself back together over the past six months, but she wasn't sure she was so healed that seeing him would break her all over again.
They drove for what felt like forever, but was probably only about a half hour. She fiddled with the bracelet latched around her wrist. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry, but the knowledge that she could not take it off made it weight heavy as a shackle.
"How you doing?" Haley asked under her breath.
Caroline inhaled deeply and looked out at the unfamiliar city. It was beautiful, full of life and history. Caroline instantly understood what would have drawn Klaus to this place. Almost exactly a year ago he had offered to show her cities like this one. What a difference a year could make.
"I think I'm about to find out." She whispered as the limo slowed to a stop in front of a grand old house.
"This is the place," the chauffeur announced.
They walked up to the front door and stopped. Caroline took a deep breath, and knocked.
The door opened to reveal a petite, elderly woman with skin like crumpled paper and piercing blue eyes.
"Caroline Forbes," She said in a voice crackling with age, "The girl who lives again. I have heard a great deal about you."
"Who are you?" Caroline asked.
"My name is Josephine," she said, "And I am a friend." She stepped aside. "Please come in. You may bring your witch, but I must insist that your Vampires wait outside."
"Yeah," Haley said, stepping in front of Caroline, "that's not going to happen."
"The pleasantries were but a formality," Josephine said, "In truth, I wasn't asking. She will enter, and you will not."
"How do we know that she will be safe in your hands?" Elijah asked.
"We'll just have to learn to trust each other." Josephine said, pressing her mouth together in a lipless smile.
"It's okay," Bonnie said, "I'll make sure she's safe."
Elijah's jaw locked in displeasure, but he gave his assent in a quick jerk of his head.
Caroline took her best friend's hand and together they stepped over the threshold and into the witch's house.
"I am sorry for the theatrics," Josephine said as she led the girls into a spacious sitting room, "but I have learned to treat vampires with a degree of suspect, especially those who bear the last name Mikaelson."
"No need to apologize. I have some experience with Mikaelson's myself," Caroline said as she and Bonnie took the offered seats.
"So I have heard." Josephine said, inclining her head.
"Have you," Caroline said, "And do I have you to thank for this?"
She held up her wrist to display the bracelet.
"No, for that you can thank my mother."
Caroline launched to her feet, as best she could, and spun around. She recognized the voice instantly, but it was not the Mikaelson she expected to find in the Quarter.
"Kol," she breathed.
Kol flashed a mischievous grin and Caroline could feel Bonnie preparing to attack her.
"Hello Caroline," He said, "Can I call you Caroline? Miss Forbes feels a bit too formal, don't you think?"
"What are you doing here?" Caroline demanded.
"Is that any way to talk to the person who's currently saving your life?"
Sorry for the late update! It totally slipped my mind yesterday!
