Previously on ATCL: '…it was something that made the most powerful creature on the planet take a seat. It was ultrasound pictures of his child.'
It was early the next morning; by now, Katherine and Caroline had been in New Orleans for three full days. Marcel's party was the following evening, and the ladies of the house had plans to go shopping later on. Of course, that would be many hours later as it was currently four in the morning, and everyone but Rebekah was fast asleep. She had something to take care of, and it was a matter that did not require her family's input.
The pretty words that Marcel had fed her—that he wanted her to be his queen—had been replaying in her head for days straight. She had not made an official decision at the moment he asked her. Now she had her answer.
Rebekah reclined against the outer wall of her old home. The 'M' that had once been her family's personal crest adorned every surface that it possibly could—short of being obnoxiously tacky, that is—and it evoked a strange feeling in the thousand year old woman's stomach. "You're late, Marcellus." She said, unimpressed with his tardiness.
"I got held up, Rebekah." He crossed his arms, looking her over like a lion would to a fresh cut of meat. "So, what's your answer? Are you going to join me at your rightful place as Queen of the city, or will you continue at the side of your destructive family?" She avoided his eyes. "They will never change, Rebekah. You should just leave them and be finished. Take the right side in this war."
"My family may be the poster child for dysfunction," The lady agreed "and maybe I should leave while I have the chance. But you underestimate the bonds of my siblings. We may alternate between hating and loving each other, but we are family. And we stick together as one." Rebekah pushed herself off the wall and looked the man who had charmed her into submission square in the eye. "I refuse to become your trophy queen, Marcel. You will not possess me for a third time. I will stand beside my remaining brothers in this war for the city, and my family and I will win. You have been playing king amongst children for too long. Consider yourself, and your crown, at risk."
With that, Rebekah Mikaelson walked away from the man that had managed to weasel his way back into her heart, not even turning around at his calls of protest. She had done it yet again. She had been that girl that fell in love too easily, and even with his betrayal centuries ago, she had actually allowed herself to believe that he had changed. That he loved her. Well, he did not. All she had been was a prize to be won. Something that could be dangled over Elijah and Klaus's heads. Rebekah herself had been nothing to the man that she had just left, and she now saw that.
She was done. If there had been a humanity switch left, the young woman might have considered switching it off. And it was not because of extreme grief, or because something traumatic happened. No, it was because Rebekah's heart had been broken yet again by an unworthy man, and while this one hurt just like all the other times, this was the last straw.
She was finished with love. For now, at least.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Rebekah had managed to get home before anyone noticed that she left, as her brothers had not exactly been notified of her and Marcel's renewed tryst. Not that there actually was a tryst, anymore. Good riddance to the asshole, in her opinion.
Everyone eventually gathered for breakfast, and when Caroline came down, Rebekah was surprised to see that the girl was still as sunshine-like as ever. Honestly, it's like rainbows and glitter followed her wherever she went. She had expected the girl to be in a less-than-happy mood, and that's exactly what she told Caroline.
"What, because of me and Tyler breaking up?" Caroline raised her eyebrows. "That was almost two weeks ago. I'm getting over it." Every morning thus far, the seating arrangements at the breakfast table had stayed the same, and Caroline took her normal seat directly in the middle of the table. "Now, hurry up! We need to leave soon." She quickly switched topics, clearly a bit uneasy about discussing Tyler in front of Klaus, of all people.
"Leave to go where?" Elijah asked from behind his newspaper.
"Katherine, Rebekah, and I are going dress shopping for that party tomorrow night. I know that Katherine and I are going to need full ensembles… Rebekah, what's the state of your closet?" Caroline asked rhetorically, tapping away on her phone. "I've been thinking colors and styles and I think you would look best in blue with maybe a mermaid style—you pulled off the dress at your family's ball fabulously, so I was thinking like that—and then we've got jewelry and shoes to think about." Feeling the stares, she looked up. "What? This party is clearly a political move by Marcel! We have to be dressed to kill, and I do not mean literally!"
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "You really are a control freak." However, internally she liked the idea of a girlfriend helping with the dress process. She hadn't done this in like…ever.
"Oh, and I brought my whole arsenal of makeup and hair products from the dorm,"
"By which she means almost a small suitcase full…" Katherine interjected, shooting Caroline a playful wink.
"so I figured that we ladies could combine efforts and get ready together. These things are always so much more fun when you don't have to do it all alone, and then maybe we can decompress together afterwards or something. I know a few movies that we could watch."
"I would really enjoy that." Rebekah grinned, which made Caroline happy as well. She had seen the lingering glances the older vampire had given her and her friends in Mystic Falls, and eventually she had reached the conclusion that Rebekah was just lonely. Travelling the world with your brothers for a thousand years doesn't exactly leave much room for girl time, after all.
"Since I haven't exactly had the pleasure of experiencing a Caroline Forbes coordinated Girl's Night, I will of course be up for this." Katherine commented idly, sipping her mug of tea.
"Perfect!" Caroline clapped her hands, smiling brightly. "It will be absolutely fabulous!"
Looking over at Caroline chattering happily with his sister and Katherine, Klaus fell in love with her all over again—for that is what he was sure he felt for her. Love. Something he had thought that he would never experience again. Caroline was a miracle worker. She had managed to make his sister truly happy again; Bekah had not seemed this girlish in almost a thousand years. And of course there was Elijah, sneaking glances at Katerina when he thought no one was looking. Six months ago, those few glances would have been enough to send him into a tirade. But now… Klaus could feel light seeping into his soul. And it rocked him to his very core.
-0-0-0-0-0-
It hadn't been longer after, that the ladies residing in the Mikaelson home took off to the high fashion hub of New Orleans; Canal Place. It was the place to shop for the upcoming party. Anything they needed could be found there.
On the way there, Rebekah dragged Katherine and Caroline to a place where she knew they could find the perfect gowns.
"If we had the time, I would have insisted upon flying to Paris to talk with my personal dressmaker for a custom gown. Maybe for my birthday." Rebekah shrugged. "Anyways, the last time Marcel threw a soiree like this, I went into a tirade because I didn't have a gown. Thankfully I discovered Fleur de Paris at the last minute, or it simply would have been a disaster."
Caroline tried not to be intimidated by the casual demeanors of Katherine and Rebekah, but it was hard. While her wardrobe had always been nice enough, the concept of personal dressmakers and shopping in Milan and Paris was mind-boggling. Hell, even being in this store with its crazy-expensive gowns was freaking her out enough. She couldn't help but feel how young she actually was, in that moment. "How old will you be, anyways?" She asked, genuinely curious.
"One thousand and forty is my closest estimate." The older blonde threw out nonchalantly, browsing. "I was born in what I believe to be the year 972, right as winter was setting in. I celebrate my birthday on January the 4th."
"And your brothers?" Caroline may or may not have been fishing for information one certain Original brother's birthday, but it would have been strange to specify just him, of course.
"Well I can tell you Klaus's because I went to his party in 1492." Katherine held up a gown, but put it back on the rack. "It's March the 17th. I was at his…five hundred and twenty-fifth birthday party." She quickly computed.
"Klaus was born on St. Patrick's Day?" Caroline asked, finding this extremely amusing.
"Well it wasn't exactly called St. Patrick's day back in the tenth century, now was it?" Rebekah laughed. "But yes, that is our closest guess. And he finds it extremely annoying, so do not mention that fact." She held up a gown. "What do you two think of this?" At their disgusted faces, she sighed and replaced it. "Anyways, back to the previous topic… Elijah and Finn were eight and six years older than me, both born around harvest time. Kol and I were the closest in age. About fifteen months separated us. He was born in the late spring, and I in the winter. Henrik was a summer child. He was four years younger than I." Sadness tinged her voice as she spoke of her dead brothers, both the long-gone and the recently-felled.
"I cannot imagine growing up in such a large family, but at the same time I imagine that it must have been very nice. It was always very lonely, being an only child. Then again, my parents started having issues when I was very young, so siblings never really happened." Caroline said, moving along to another rack of dresses.
"It wasn't too terrible." Katherine said. "Divorce wasn't exactly an option back then either, you know. Marriage truly was a lifelong commitment."
"My dad was cheating on my mom with another man. I don't know if a divorce was avoidable." The sunshine girl pointed out wryly. "And even then… My dad was happier, after he left. I'm glad he got to be happy, even if I did spend the majority of my preteen years pissed at him for it." She gathered a bundle of dresses in her arms. "Well, I'm going to try on dresses, so you two get over to the dressing rooms and get cozy. I am going to want detailed opinions on each of these." Caroline flounced off in the direction of said rooms, calling out over her shoulder, "I suggest you guys pick your dresses! Someone's up after me!"
Two boxes of chocolate covered strawberries and one bottle of champagne later, the ladies had found their dresses.
Caroline had gone with a sleeveless black gown. With the exception of a lace bodice and neckline, the rest of the dress was fairly plain, but elegant. The material clung to her body and yet it flowed, and there was a bit of a train. It was a dress fit for a queen, as Rebekah said. Speaking of Rebekah, she had chosen a deep blue—almost purple—mermaid gown with a wide black sash and a very deep v-neckline. It was perfect to flaunt her curves and yet still be proper for an evening such as this. Katherine went with a dress that was very…Katherine. In her trademark fashion, she had chosen a black, purple, and white confection that seemed almost see-through—which it practically was. The dress was a one-shoulder gown with a slit up her thigh, and was made out of embroidered flowers set upon sheer fabric. It was undeniably sexy, and exactly what would help her get back to her old level of confidence.
They soon moved on to shoes, where the girls finally got to the famed Canal Place after only three or so hours of shopping. It was tough work, finding the perfect dress. Unfortunately the accessories were proving to be even harder.
"What about these?" Katherine held up her fourth pair of heels.
"No." Was the twin response from her companions.
"Stay away from the pumps, and try a gladiator heel. It would look nice, and accentuate the slit in the dress." Rebekah lounged on a very comfortable chair. She was lucky to have her full wardrobe at her disposal, and so already had the perfect pair of shoes at home. Instead she was treated to the entertainment of watching Katherine and Caroline browse through stores and stores full of shoes.
"Fine…" The former stomped away, muttering under her breath about some favorite pair of shoes of hers.
Caroline collapsed beside Rebekah. "I had forgotten how exhausting shopping could be. And we haven't even gotten to jewelry, yet."
"Which we could do, if Katherine would just pick a decent pair of shoes." Rebekah whined.
"She's just trying to look nice. She may not say it, but I'm fairly sure that her confidence has taken a blow with this whole falling-apart thing." Caroline pointed out.
"She's a Petrova doppelganger." Rebekah deadpanned. "She could look fabulous wearing a sack, her hair unwashed, and sans makeup. Besides, she has no one to look nice for!" Caroline gave the former a look, which she unfortunately understood. "No…" She flung her head back against the back of the chair in grief. "No, no, no. How dare she mess with him again? It was my understanding that she was just using him to gain her freedom."
"That's what everyone thought, apparently. But I can vouch that she wasn't." Caroline was cut off however, by Katherine's return. And unfortunately she had heard part of their conversation.
"Can vouch that she wasn't what?" The brunette asked, taking a third chair and setting a shoebox down.
"Caroline thinks you still have a thing for Elijah." One did have to give Rebekah points for being honest. Brutally, so.
Katherine sighed. "Did the bleach finally soak in your brain?" She asked. "Of course I am still madly in love with your brother. But due to my current health predicament—and the fact that he ripped my heart to shreds—I won't be going there anytime soon." The honesty seeped out of her eyes, and Rebekah believed her, no matter how much her head was screaming that this was going to end up like Tatia all over again.
"I don't like you very much. You remind me too much of Tatia." Rebekah stated. "But even you are better than that wolf Hayley. I could not stand to have her around as a partner of my brother's. But you… I can go an hour in your company without wanting to murder you. So you will do." Again with the brutal honesty. "At least you don't dress as if you dug rags out of the bin and threw them together."
"She truly does, though!" Caroline laughed.
A devious look crossed Katherine's face. "Though, Rebekah, it isn't me that you should be worrying about being around often." She paused dramatically. "It's Caroline."
"For the last time, there is nothing going on between me and Klaus!" Caroline shrieked, pouting at the 'are you kidding me?' looks that she got in response. "Truly, there isn't!"
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Katherine winked.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life." Rebekah added. "If you and my brother had any more eyesex, you would be fucking each other on every surface in that bloody manor. The tension is so insane, I have been close to locking you two in a room before just to make it go away!"
"I just got out of a long-term relationship… I can't hop into another one." Caroline sighed.
"What was the deal between you and Lockwood, anyway?" By now Katherine had finally found a pair of comfortable shoes, and they were moving on to jewelry. "I get the werewolf appeal… Mason was a beast in bed," The blondes gave their other companion a grossed-out look "but Little Lockwood was too young for me to ever see anything."
"He did look marvelous shirtless, I will have to give him that." Rebekah popped in. And, well, said ex of Caroline's did look very yummy without a shirt on.
Caroline tried to give them dirty looks, but it had been so long since she had actually been able to have a day out like this—a day where she could just giggle and talk about boys and clothes and all the supernatural threats had disappeared—that she couldn't help but smile. It was moments like these where she actually saw that beyond Katherine's bitchy façade was just a very lonely person, and that Rebekah really was a very fun person when she let herself act like a girl. They were more enjoyable to spend time with than she had guessed.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Her face dropped, going into distant memories. "We bonded over being new to the supernatural world. He triggered his werewolf curse shortly after I transitioned, and we just…bonded. Tyler was there for me in a way that no one else could be. The Salvatores' were both just too experienced to really get it. Elena, Bonnie, and Matt… While I love all three, they didn't know what it really felt like to become something entirely new, and to have that identity struggle, and Tyler was just there." She breathed deeply, distracting herself with the displays all around her. "I didn't fall in love with him immediately. It took a lot of time. Hell, we started out as friends with benefits, really. But he was the first person that I ever really considered to be my rock, and even then he wasn't around all that much." Caroline swallowed. "Does that make me pathetic?"
Rebekah thought long and hard. "I cannot address the feelings of him being the constant factor in your life, because through everything Niklaus was always there for me. Even when I didn't want him to be." She studied the young girl. "But it does not make you pathetic or weak, I can say that."
"Speaking from experience," Katherine said "leaning on a man for support doesn't like…take away your lady-card. That is something that has taken me too many years to become okay with. You're allowed to cry one day and then go out and fuck shit up the next. Don't get caught up in that stereotype of the eternally-badass-and-pulled-together woman. She doesn't exist." She advised. "You may feel weak and broken now, but you are much stronger than you think, Forbes. It's just that everyone sees it but you."
-0-0-0-0-0-
After many, many, hours of shopping, manicures, and champagne—for according to Rebekah, champagne was something that she liked to drink when trying on clothes—Caroline, Rebekah, and Katherine burst into the manor in a hurricane of giggles and bags. Continuing into the parlor, the three ladies came upon the men of the manor.
"So this is what my family does on a Friday evening?" Rebekah turned to her companions "vampire book club?" She arched a mocking brow. "God, you two are boring."
"One clearly cannot say the same for you, Bekah." Klaus sniped from his book. Looking up, he took in the happy expressions of his sister and Caroline—for he was indifferent to Katherine—and was internally satisfied. "Well, how did it go? From the mountain of bags you have, I must assume that it was successful."
"Oh, it was a ton of fun!" Caroline exclaimed, maneuvering her pile of purchases to the table where Katherine and Rebekah were depositing theirs, before sinking into the sofa. "I've never shopped couture before, and the clothes were all so beautiful, and really I just had a marvelous time. Not to mention that I had fantastic shopping partners."
"I certainly liked my shopping partners better this time around." Rebekah remarked slyly. At the confused looks she received, she laughed. "The last time I went on a shopping spree like this, I was with Stefan and Niklaus. Needless to say, they whined the entire time about how long it was taking me."
Klaus made a face, as if remembering that time. "The only thing I enjoyed that day, sister dear, was when we finally left."
The five supernaturals continued with their activities, idly chatting about the stores they went to and the hideous pictures they took. Overall, it was a very light-hearted moment. The happy dynamic in the room did not last for long, however, as a certain werewolf came slouching into the room.
"See… I told you she dresses as if out of the bin." Rebekah muttered under her breath to Katherine, though all the vampires in the room could hear her comment. Caroline had to hide her giggle behind her hand, and Katherine almost snorted, she was so amused. Key word being 'almost'. Katherine Pierce does not snort.
Hayley took a look at the mountain of bags, and she actually did snort. "Please tell me you three did not do the stereotypical thing and shop all day. Shallow, much?"
"Please tell me you didn't pull this ridiculous weak act all day and pretend like you can't move. Attention-whore, much?" Caroline sneered, crossing one heeled leg over the other. "I am glad that you think shopping is cliché and superficial. It means that I don't have to worry about inviting you next time."
"As long as she doesn't come to our afterparty tomorrow, I could care less about what she does all day. I'm not having my first ever girl's night spoiled by her presence." Rebekah muttered, but to either Katherine or Caroline, no one was sure.
"What are you going to do at this afterparty, love?" Klaus set his book on the side table. "Knowing your gift for planning, I can see this thing becoming huge."
The younger vampire rolled her eyes. "By afterparty, I mean the three of us are going to dress up in slutty pajamas, get fabulously smashed, and dance around to a bunch of music that we'll hate in the morning. Oh, and I've got Mean Girls lined up to watch. It's like…a girl's night staple." She especially enjoyed the way Klaus's eyes darkened at the mention of slutty pajamas; not that she would ever tell him that. "I would have them with Bonnie and Elena after like every Founder's party back home, and that was probably once a month." Caroline paused for a moment to breathe. "Anyways, I figured that we had to do one because these two," She gestured at her lovely shopping companions "have been deprived from ever experiencing the awesome thing called a girl's night. I've taken it upon myself to educate them."
"Wait, what?" Hayley asked in the background, but everyone ignored her.
"And it will be such a sacrifice, I am sure." Katherine sniped. "The only reason I'm agreeing to this ridiculous concept in the first place is—"
"Is because you've been starved of female companionship for hundreds of years?" Rebekah hopped in this debate. "I'm surprised, Katherine. With your charming personality, I would have expected you to have all of the girls simply lining up to be your new best friend."
"It's not like you had everyone queuing up to befriend you, now is it? No wonder you were so eager to fit in at that pathetic little high school." Katherine tsked.
"Wait a second!" Everyone's least favorite wolf shouted. When everyone turned to her, she rolled her eyes. "If you're having an afterparty, then that means that there must be a party that you're going to before, right?"
"A round of applause for the village idiot." Katherine intoned under her breath, before raising her voice. "Yes, wolfie, we're going to a formal event tomorrow evening. Which is why we spent all day shopping." She fixed the other brunette with a look. "Any other stupid questions you would like to ask?"
"Why wasn't I invited?" Hayley pouted, making eyes at Elijah.
Klaus scoffed and stood up. "The moment the whining in this house ceases, I will make an appearance. In the meantime, I will be somewhere quiet and away from…that." He waved his hand at Hayley as he walked out of the room, his footsteps receding up the stairs.
"I want to go to the party Elijah." The werewolf bit her lip. If looks could kill, Hayley would have been dead seven times over from Katherine's glare.
"Sorry honey, but you wouldn't enjoy it." Rebekah's face was like stone. "After all, we aren't going to a strip club." With that, Caroline and Katherine could not hold in their amusement anymore, and burst into a pile of laughter. Even Elijah, with his ever-stoic expression, cracked a smile at his sister's wit. Unfortunately the wolf did not notice his expression, and went back to her simpering.
"Elijahhh… Make her stop..." Hayley reached over and touched his arm, which was the last straw for a certain brunette.
Katherine knew that she was being painfully obvious, but she didn't have to watch this bullshit. She stood and swept out of the room, not even bothering to acknowledge anyone. As she quickly headed up to her room, Katherine could feel herself cracking. Just the other night she had told him how she felt, damn it. And now he just sat there and let the werewolf rub all over him. Elijah Mikaelson was hers and hers alone, but yet he was not. Being reminded of that fact at every turn was almost too painful for her dying heart to bear.
"What's her problem? Too much teen drama?" The offender asked.
Caroline just rolled her eyes and stood, gathering both her and Katherine's pile of bags in her arms. She walked past Elijah's chair and to the door, before sighing and turning back to stand in front of him. Fixing the ancient man with a cold look, she started to speak. "Look. Normally this wouldn't be any of my business but Katherine has grown to become a good friend of mine, and if there is one thing that I won't tolerate, it's when people mess with my friends." She shifted the bags around a bit in her arms. "And frankly, you're kind of scary at times, but right now I can't even bring myself to care about that because you're hurting her, okay?" Caroline's expression hardened even more, and she subconsciously took on a regal tone. "You're supposed to be this great and moral guy who never breaks his word, right? Well right now, I'm not sure if that's some big façade that you project or what, because you don't seem like the man that Katherine told me about. The guy that held her heart for five hundred years wouldn't have let that," She tilted her head at Hayley, distaste obvious in her voice "rub up against him like a cat in heat, I can be sure of that." She sighed once more, taking a couple steps away, saying, "Goodnight, everyone" before leaving the room.
Hayley followed shortly after, muttering about needing food or something, leaving the two siblings alone.
"You clearly have something to say to me, Rebekah. Please just let it out." Elijah said, lying in wait for his sister to lecture him. Her answer turned out to be most surprising.
"I don't like Katherine." She started out. When Elijah opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. "I wasn't finished, so don't even think about talking until I'm done." She smiled sarcastically at the peeved expression on her older brother's face. "I don't like Katherine Pierce, that is very true. At least, not all that much, even if she does have fabulous taste in clothes." Rebekah arched a perfect eyebrow. "But, I like her a hell of a lot more than I like the werewolf." The female Original sighed. "And more than I liking her—or even Niklaus not wanting to kill her for once—is the fact that you are completely and hopelessly in love with the woman." Elijah started to object, but his sister cut him off with a look. "Don't even attempt to protest, brother. After a thousand years, I can read you like a book. You're in love with a woman that you let slip through your fingers five hundred years ago, and you haven't been able to shake her since. And right now you're putting her through emotional hell by not pushing away Hayley."
"She won't have anything to do with me anyways, sister." Elijah said, his expression softening as he ran a hand through his hair. "Not right now."
"Then I suggest you find some way to heal her before she's gone for good, and your chance for happiness with her." Rebekah stood, grabbing her things. "You can work on fixing your issues once she does not have an expiration date."
Before she walked out the door, her brother's voice stopped her. "How did you become so versed in the matters of the heart, Rebekah?"
She gave her brother a soft smile. "I simply fell in love many times over the past millennia, and had my heart broken almost as equally. One learns." He gave her a curt nod, and Rebekah exited, leaving her brother to his many thoughts.
AN: So... Love it? Hate it? I would love to hear your opinions!
Most of you don't know this, but writing this story takes a ton of research to make everything believable. Well, this chapter was easily the most fun to research for. I spent hours searching for the perfect gowns, and if anyone's wondering, the shop mentioned-Fleur de Paris-is actually a high-end boutique in New Orleans that sells designer gowns. And Canal Place is supposedly the place to shop high couture in the city.
There was a lot of Katbekoline in this chapter... I think after nine chapters of the three acclimating to each other's presences they have reached a position where they can be civil, and even enjoy each other's company.
Next chapter is the party at the Abattoir, and one of my very favorite Kalijah scenes is in the chapter. Chapter 11 is also my longest chapter to date. It's at 20 pages in Word currently, and I still have at least two more scenes to finish writing. So... It's going to be a monster of a chapter. I've been working on it for at least two weeks by now.
Anyways, thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Please feel free to give me your opinions-I love to hear them.
-Abi